//
Region of New Zealand
Photo: Bruce Bisset Brucieb, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Hawke's Bay is a region on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The population centre is on the Heretaunga Plains, consisting of the twin cities of Napier and Hastings and satellite towns. The coastal areas are sunny and relatively dry, due to the location on the east coast. The Heretaunga Plains are renowned for their horticulture – orchards, vineyards and gardens. As the cities suffered great destruction in an earthquake in 1931 and were rebuilt in the 1930s, they are now known for their concentration of Art Deco architecture from that period.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
546 Marine Parade, Napier. The National Aquarium has a reef tank, a travelator which spirals its way beneath the enormous oceanarium, creating the impression of a true underwater experience, and a typical New Zealand rocky shore environment. There are sharks, stingray and hundreds of fish species, many of them representative of the catches from along the East Coast. There are eels, trout, sea horse, turtles, octopus, tropical marine fish, kiwi, tuatara, water dragons, native frogs and crocodile also on display.
Rents classic beach-cruiser bicycles to explore the coastal wineries and other attractions of Te Awanga. There is a dedicated cycleway along the coast linking the wineries.
By bus
InterCity is a coach company that serves more than 600 destinations nationwide.
By plane
By boat
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Napier · Regional · NPE
Loading places around the airport…
a town on the main highway in southern Hawke's Bay
a village in the Central Hawke's Bay countryside on the way to Kairakau Beach
a satellite suburb of Hastings
a city with Art Deco architecture, and well known for fantastic food and copious sunshine
a town that rises from the plains up into Te Mata Hills close to Hastings
hot springs and bush walks in northern Hawke's Bay
a city famed for its Art Deco architecture
known for its old wineries, formerly an independent town, now a suburb of Napier
Articles and travel topics about Hawke's Bay and New Zealand.
Travel tipsCompare and apply for the Australia ETA and New Zealand NZeTA in 2026. Step-by-step mobile app guides, fees, the IVL levy, and trans-Tasman rules.
7 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in January for winter sun, deep powder snow and wildlife, comparing Niseko, Sri Lanka, Tromsø and New Zealand.
7 min read
Travel tipsFive of the best countries for solo female travellers, featuring safe night streets, easy public transit, and essential neighbourhood safety tips.
6 min read
Culture & historyExplore famous movie and tv filming locations around the world, from King's Landing in Dubrovnik to the Hogwarts viaduct in Scotland.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.
