While Staying in Hawke's Bay

Take in the fantastic views from Te Mata Peak. The Hawke's Bay Farmers Market is a great place on a Sunday morning to taste a wide variety of local products. See the beautiful art deco city of Napier only 15 minutes drive away, or another unique attraction is the gannet colony on the very tip of Cape Kidnappers — believed to be one of only two mainland gannet colonies in the world. Gannets are large sea birds with long, pointed wings and golden yellow heads.

Adventure & Wine Experiences

You can also find plenty of adventure in Hawke's Bay — rafting on the Mohaka River, horse trekking, hunting and trout fishing or golfing on superb courses all over the bay. The Hawke's Bay region also features many wineries — Craggy Range, Sileni Estates, Te Mata Estate and Matariki to name but a few — many of which are only a short drive from Portmans Motor Lodge, or you could take a wine tour, with many to choose from. Whatever you may want to do in the region, choose Portmans Motor Lodge for your next stay.

10 destinations in 10 minutes

Grab a show at the majestic Hawkes Bay Opera House

One of the Southern Hemisphere's most impressive examples of Spanish Mission Architecture
the 985 seat Opera House is the home of the Arts in the Hawke’s Bay.
Formally known as The Hastings Municipal Theatre Complex, the Hawke's Bay Opera House proudly boasts a reputation for being one of the best lyric theatres of its type in Australasia.
Offering a unique range of venues and services, the attached Municipal Buildings also house Hawke's Bay's largest ballroom (complete with fully restored sprung dance floor).
www.hawkesbayoperahouse.co.nz

A round of Golf at one of Hawkes Bays 24 Golf Courses

The Hawkes Bay club, at Flaxmere near Hastings, is notable for its native tree plantings, lakes and wide greens.  Hastings Golf Course at Bridge Pa is a well groomed course that has hosted many national and international tournaments. Both are ranked amongst New Zealand’s best.  Or play the ultimate round at Cape Kidnappers Golf Course, consistently ranked in the top 50 courses in the world.

Grab a bike or walk the Rotary Pathways, tracks or trails

Cycle or walk the 70kms (or part of) the Rotary Pathway that connects Napier, Hastings and Havelock North.  Enjoy beautiful coastal and landscape scenery that can only be viewed off road.

Soar high on a scenic hot air balloon ride

For a simply magical experience, go ballooning over Hawke's Bay Wine Country and enjoy panoramas from the mountains to the sea and the very best views of Hawke's Bay.
www.early-am-balloons.co.nz

Get arty at over 50 art galleries & studios across the region

Follow the Art Trail to more than 50 galleries and artists’ studios to enjoy Hawkes Bay creative talent.  See artists at work, discover new talent and pick up a memento to remember your visit.

Learn about bee’s at Arataki Honey

Home to the honey bee and New Zealand’s largest beekeeping enterprise, tucked under the foothills of iconic Te Mata Peak, since 1944. Enjoy learning about the honey bee, the honey they make and how important honey bees are to our valuable land-based industries and environment.
www.aratakihoney.co.nz

Splash Plant

Cool off in the summer sun and head to Splash Planet, New Zealands only water-based theme park.  Located in more than six hectares of sub-tropical gardens, the park is a whole day’s fun for thrill seekers and families, with a wide choice of rides and attractions.
www.splashplanet.co.nz

Take a self guided walk through Hastings CBD’s Art Deco Heritage Buildings

Guide yourself to view the fabulous collection of Art Deco, Stripped Classical and Spanish Mission architecture the Hastings CBD has on offer, largely built after the 1931 earthquake making the region one of the most unique architectural centres in the world.

Go shopping in the stunning city of Hastings and ‘chic’ Havelock North.

The central business area of Hastings City is compact with shoppers able to walk from one end to the other in 20 minutes, enjoying the many street art sculptures that line the route.
The busy village of Havelock North is known for its boutique shopping and is also a bustling weekend destination for coffee connoisseurs. HavelockNorthNZ.com

Picnic in Frimley Park, or Cornwall Park and drive down the famous Oak Avenue

Frimley Park is one of the Districts finest parks, providing a magnificent circular rose garden with more than 5,500 roses. Reminiscent of an old English garden the park also has a wide variety of rare and beautiful plants and shrubs in a unique layout. Specimen trees some of which are the largest or rarest in the Southern Hemisphere are registered with the National Notable register. Cornwall Park spreads over 8 hectares in an English village green environment. Situated on the edge of Cornwall Park is the authentic Chinese Osmanthus Garden. Commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the sister city relationship with Guilin, PR China. This garden consists of Chinese style ponds, pavilions, bridges and flora.
A mile long of oaks planted in the 1860s, as a driveway to one of Hastings original homesteads,
Oak Avenue is one of the scenic features of Hastings.

Have a Famous Rush Munroes Ice Cream

And of course you can’t stay in Hastings without treating yourself to a Rush Munroes IceCream
Frederick Charles Rush Munro first arrived in Hastings in May 1926 and started producing his luxury confectionery. 
Handmade, batch churned ice cream made from 100% natural ingredients have become a world famous Hawke’s Bay landmark and family tradition.
www.rushmunro.co.nz