Hastings Travel Guide

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Cornwall Park is a large park filled with ponds, native trees, an impressive collection of foreign trees, a hot house for the public and many beautiful and well maintained flower beds. It is a very peaceful place to relax, take the children or enjoy the wonderful fauna. The playground includes equipment for disabled children and is very safe. The series of ponds and streams are well maintained with plenty of ducks for the children to feed. The nice aviary with a small collection of native and exotic birds is a big hit with children. The hot house filled with exotic plants and the fernery are very impressive and well maintained. There are plenty of places for a picnic and the Mahora shops just down Tomoana Rd are the perfect place to pick up a dinner or lunch to have in the park.

Rush Munro's is a Hastings icon. The freshly made local ice cream is good value, full of natural products and in a huge variety of flavours. A small number of sorbets have also been added to the menu. The flavours change to reflect seasonal availability and on a daily basis as they sell out. A small courtyard and some covered tables are available to enjoy your treat as well as a goldfish pond for children to make wishes. The peak ice creams are the best value and inspired by Te Mata Peak, looming behind the city. Open into the early evening in summer and always busy, no trip to Hawkes Bay is complete without a visit to Rush Munro's.

Favorite Dish: It's hard to pick from the fantastic flavours, but feijoa, boysenberry and chocolate are the best. Feijoas are a fruit very popular in Hawkes Bay and the ice cream shows off the unique taste perfectly with lots of real feijoa. Boysenberry is full of real berries and the chocolate is just fantastic - rich with a slight nutty flavour. Their take on the iconic hokey pokey is also a delight.

Nimons run a very reliable service around the Hastings-Napier region. Services are somewhat limited - generally 1 an hour during the week - but they run on time, are fairly priced and are very safe. Services to Flaxmere, Havelock North, Napier, Mahora, Raureka and Camberley all depart from either the Kmart Plaza or in front of the library in Hastings.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Lightweight clothing that covers most of your body is good for summer to avoid sunburn. A hat and sunglasses are a must - the sun is very strong. It does get quite cold in winter so a warm coat would be an essential.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Don't leave home without sunblock. The sun is very harsh in Hastings - you don't tan, you burn. Even sitting in the shade for half an hour can leave you with a very nasty burn. Insect repellent can also be good for the summer.

Miscellaneous: A good quality padlock or bike chain may be a good idea to secure your bags or for lockers at some attractions.

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A drive around the eastern outskirts of Hastings is wonderful. Either behind Te Mata Peak or along Mts Kahuranaki and Erin, the views are stunning and there are many great places to picnic. Photos just can't do it justice!

For behind Te Mata Peak - Get onto Te Aute Rd in Havelock North. Follow this east until you reach Te Mata Rd, then follow this. Turn right onto Waimarama Rd. Further down this are stunning views of Te Mata Peak and the Tukituki River from a view few tourists see.

Mts Kahuranaki and Erin - Get onto Te Aute Rd and follow this east. From here, just explore. Mt Erin Rd offers many gorgeous views, as do Maraekakaho (my favourite) and Okaihau Rds. Matanginui Lookout near the eastern end of Okaihau Rd is especially gorgeous.