Hardy cyclists ride down Te Mata Peak. Photo / NZME.
Hardy cyclists ride down Te Mata Peak. Photo / NZME.
Elisabeth Easther gets a little taste of what the generous fruit bowl of New Zealand has to offer.
Origin of name: Hastings was named for an English statesmen who was Governor-General of Bengal for a spell during the 18th century. Maori know the area as "heretaunga" which means "heavy dew".
Population: 75,000.
Town slogan:Hastings - Heart of Hawkes Bay.
Famous locals: Sir James Wattie of Wattie's foods fame, motor-racing legend Greg Murphy, Xero founder Rod Drury, author Alan Duff, broadcaster Paul Holmes and rowers Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell.
Big business: Food production from Heinz to Wattie's, Mr Apple to the Lowe Corporation.
Sources of pride: The people, the food, the wine and the variety of things you can enjoy, from beaches to rivers, mountain biking to tramping.
Good works: The U-Turn Trust, led by Henare O'Keefe, is doing fantastic things in Flaxmere, turning negatives into positives and helping keep families safe.
Town fiestas: The Hastings Blossom Parade is blooming marvellous, the Horse of the Year Show is a ripper, ditto the Hastings A&P Show. Food and wine event F.A.W.C. is livening things up in both winter and summer.
Melting pot: Over the years Hastings has become very diverse and every year in Cornwall Park there's the International Cultures Day which showcases the food, music and tastes of a vast range of ethnicities.
Famous locals Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell. Photo / File
If you're here for a short time: Explore Te Mata Peak, linger over coffee in one of the many cafes or shop for delicacies at the Hawkes Bay Farmers' Market, every Sunday morning at the A&P Showgrounds.
Best reasons to stop: The fresh produce, Rush Munro's icecream, and Ocean Beach and Waimarama
Best place to take the kids:Splash Planet is the most amazing water park or, if it's skating you're into, there's a super new skate park in the middle of Hastings.
Best park: Cornwall Park has ducks, swings and slides, a splash pad, a large aviary and cricket grounds, or head to Havelock North to ride the BMX track.
Best walk:Te Mata Peak Park contains a range of walks from 15-minute strolls through to three- to four-hour hikes, including five Great Walks within the park; mountain bikers are also welcome.
Best view: Drive to the top of Te Mata Peak Park for 360 degree views across Mahia, the Ruahine Ranges, Waimarama and Ocean Beach.
Best place to pull over: The Cape Kidnappers coastline is out of this world, wait for low tide then travel by tractor or on foot, if you're walking it's a three-hour round trip.
Best swims: The beaches around here are stunning, Ocean Beach, Waimarama and Haumoana to name just a few.
Best museum: Hastings doesn't have a museum of its own, but Napier's recently refurbished MTG Museum more than makes up for that lack. Or head to Haumoana to look through the privately run British Car Museum which has more than 400 vintage vehicles on display.
Cultural outings:Waimarama Maori Tours bring the area's indigenous history and culture to life.
Nice arts: Havelock North's Black Barn Gallery is a popular restaurant and gallery. Birdwoods Gallery is great value, plus they have a really sweet old-fashioned confectionary shop. Creative Hastings is a lively gallery housed in a picturesque Spanish mission-style building.
Top shop:Bellantinos in Havelock North sells fine artisan food including cheeses, meat and fresh breads, making it the perfect picnic stop.
Cream of the coffee:Hawthorne in Havelock North have won swags of awards for their coffee. Bay Espresso have several outlets dotted around Hawkes Bay and they're all consistently good: their Orchardist Breakfast is famous for setting up growers and pickers for the day. The Box, a shipping container in Clive, is perfect too for a stop.
On the Maraetotara Falls Heritage Walk. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today
Baked: Ya Bon, originally from Greytown, have opened a boutique branch in the region. They do their baking in Hastings, and sell their wares in Havelock North.
Best food: Visit any of the region's top wineries for classy kai. Elephant Hill has a stunning backdrop, Craggy Range is a classy joint, Vidal's, one of the oldest established wineries, is also sublime, as is 1024 on Pakowhai Rd where the eclectic menu changes each day.
Wet your whistle:The Common Room is a hip, hippie joint, voted best bar in recent hospo awards. Aside from beverages, they host bands, poets and DJs. Sometimes the audience is even invited to join the orchestra. Or try Grunge, a comfortable makeshift bar that hosts all manner of entertainment. Never pretentious, always fun.
Best mountain biking:Esk Mountain Bike Park, it's beyond Napier but in the Hastings District, ideal for beginners to hardcore riders. Te Mata Peak also has great riding, but the trails are steeper so you'll want to be confident in the saddle.
Best adventure: The Triple Peaks Challenge allows entrants to bike or walk to the top of Mt Erin, Mt Kahuranaki and Te Mata Peak all in one day. The first two mountains are on private land, so it's the only time you'll gain access to these private peaks.
Best kept secret: Maraetotara Falls are awesome with lots of jumping platforms for leaping into freezing cold water. The pool is as deep as my thoughts, and on a 30C day the water is still icy cold. You'll know you've found it when you hear the screams.
Wildlife: Cape Sanctuary at Ocean Beach has the longest predator-proof fence in New Zealand and they've introduced all sorts of native species back to the coastline, including kiwi and takahe. They're not open all the time but they do have occasional public open days.
