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City in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Photo: Original uploader was WikiDon at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hastings is a city in Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of two cities in Hawke's Bay, the other being nearby Napier. It was heavily damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, but because there were no fires much of it survived and is still visible in the city's downtown architecture. This contributed to the damage it did suffer makes Hastings the 'jewel' in the crown of the 'Napier' earthquake. This is mixed with Art Deco. Hastings has in the past been known as being an unattractive place to visit, but with the council's push for central business district redevelopment the city is returning to its previous splendour. It is the food-producing capital of New Zealand and has many different types of food. Its cuisine is unrivalled anywhere else. It also receives 2200 hours of sunshine a year, making it one of the sunniest places in New Zealand.
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A water theme park that offers 'A whole day's fun'. It is set in a park-like setting and has many non-aquatic activities for those who don't like swimming. Splash Planet's 'logo' is a planet-like ball with a 'water' comet whizzing around it on the brown signs scattered throughout Hastings on the lamp-posts. Follow where those signs point. Splash Planet is well worth the effort for your kids. If you get lost, you should pull over and any friendly local will point the way for you! It can be found by travelling on Karamu Rd until you reach a set of traffic lights with a car dealer on the corner. Turn to go down the side with the car dealer on it, or follow the small brown signs posted on lamp posts. Following Grove Rd (toward Karamu High School) and you can't miss it on the right.
Runs hour-long tours of their orchard, which grows 85 varieties of pip and stone fruit, and educates visitors about how fruit is grown around Hastings. Has historical displays, a cafe and a souvenir shop, as well as the fruit shop selling their produce.
Sells a good quality meal of fish and chips and also has a large menu of other fried foods. You can call ahead and pick the food up when you are ready.
Offers a wide range of Chinese buffet food. It has takeaways and a small restaurant.
Serves reasonably cheap alcohol. Quite nice. Good for basically anyone to go to. And it has pool tables.
King Street. A great pub with friendly atmosphere and bar staff. A good place for the backpacking crowd to mix in the summer.
Set in a beautiful tree-packed park-like setting. A short walk to the Windsor creek, Splash Planet water theme park, a dairy and Windsor park.
In the main shopping centre of Hastings, just two shops down from the cinemas. It is just a single doorway opening onto the footpath, so can be a little hard to find. It is near many bars, banks and shops. Great place to stay.
On busy Stortford St, which is usually known as Stortford Rd by the locals. It is near many international takeaway chains and liquor stores.
A new backpackers set in two acres of grounds at edge of town. 2.5km from Pak-n-Save supermarket. Bus #12 stops at gate. Dorms, share and twin rooms and cabins. Include wi-fi, full kitchens, TV rooms, laundry facilities, BBQ, hammocks, off-street parking. Bike hire available. Mostly backpackers long stay for seasonal work.
Named after the nearby theme park Fantasyland that became Splash Planet. The motel maintained its name and characteristic donut shape.
Spanish, elegance, cooking facilities, spa/air bath, queen size beds, air conditioned, pool, parking, quiet. Has a popular conference centre for business meetings.
A modern motel across the road from Valdez and next to a dairy.
A very stylish motel in a bustling part of Hastings.
Sunny outdoor area with swings, BBQ and outdoor tables. All rooms newly refurbished and painted and with electric blankets. Guest laundry available.
Tariff includes home-made afternoon tea on arrival, evening drinks & canapes and luxury accommodation and breakfast. This is a lovely Edwardian villa set in 15 acres overlooking the Hawke's Bay hills.
Stocks a full range of the best quality second-hand books including non-fiction, quality literature and classics. Specialising in vintage children's books. A delightful treat for bibliophiles.
Hastings is very flat, dry and not very windy, so muscle power is an excellent way to get around.
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Napier · Regional · NPE
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