OUR REGION BLOG

We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for things to do in Napier and Hawke’s Bay, – from must-do activities, to gastronomic gems, to amazing walks. Read on below and let us help you plan your ultimate Hawke’s Bay holiday basing yourself here at Fairley Motor Lodge, right by Napier’s Westshore Beach at the northern end of the city, and handy to the airport and expressway.

What you can’t miss

Must-dos are many. For example, you must learn about and taste some of the local bounty of Hawke’s Bay. You can’t visit Napier without appreciating its Art Deco heritage, and guided walking tours are available from the Art Deco Centre. Golfing is huge in Hawke’s Bay, with world-class Cape Kidnappers, and a wealth of others, such as Bridge Pa (Hastings Golf Club). Napier has some great shopping for a dose of retail therapy, and art galleries and design studios abound throughout the region – our Napier fav’s are Quay Gallery and the MTG.  Over in Havelock North you can visit the Arataki Visitor Centre for all types of gorgeous honey, skincare products and even see live bees (behind a pane of glass). Telegraph Hill is an olive-lovers heaven – with all sorts of samples in a working olive plantation. The wineries of course have beautiful wines to sample – try historic Mission Estate, and just down the road Church Road Winery or the eclectic Crab Farm out at Bay View. Why not jump on a bike and see the region via the Hawke’s Bay Cycle Trails. Hit up the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Markets on a Sunday in Hastings – it’s huge and has a great vibe.

Gorgeous wining and dining

For wining and dining, this region is heaven. Clearview Estate in Te Awanga is an authentic, rustic winery restaurant near to Fairley Motor Lodge that offers a real experience of a working vineyard. Mister D in Napier is a trendy joint that would not be out of place in Melbourne and has the best donuts around.  Craggy Range is a very fancy, sophisticated winery and restaurant with world class food and great views of Te Mata Peak. The Emporium in the Masonic Hotel is an art-deco-lovers dream and has great cocktails. Mission Estate Winery and Church Road are neighbouring establishments that give you well-informed and delicious wine tasting and linger-worthy meals in nearby Taradale. The Urban Winery Ahuriri is home to Tony Bish Wines and has a beautiful cellar door & wine bar. There’s an excellent selection of many other unique Hawke’s Bay wines to complement the Tony Bish  range. Plus taps and platters, and live gigs. For a touch of Asian fusion try Sai Thai in the CBD, or Indigo for wonderful Indian fare. Lots of delicious food and all  great for a group of friends.

Rejuvenating walks

After such a gastronomical journey, you’ll be wanting to stretch your legs in the outdoors somewhere spectacular – and Hawke’s Bay certainly delivers in this respect. Head up Te Mata Peak for incredible 360-degree views of Hawke’s Bay. It has 99 hectares of parkland with a number of walking trails. Bell Rock and Shine Falls are lesser known walks that are equally as stunning – Bell Rock is for the more adventurous and has an epic ledge and bell-shaped rock formation. The Hawke’s Bay Trails of course are a huge highlight, featuring some 200 kilometres of gentle walking and cycling trails – taking you past wineries, beaches, galleries and more. Walking the Art Deco guided tour definitely counts as a walk – and a very informative one at that. For a gorgeous beach stroll, explore Ocean Beach, and watch the surfers ride the waves. Maraetotara Falls is a gorgeous signposted loop track with loads of industrial history. The coastline near Fairley Motor Lodge is also a stunning walk – think open spaces, views of the port or head around the estuary over the road to find the migratory Kuaka/Godwit and other native birds.

These are just a sampler of what you can do in beautiful Hawkes Bay. We look forward to hosting you here at Fairley Motor Lodge, which is centrally located to all of it!

For a bit of peace right on the doorstep of Hawke’s Bay attractions, a wealth of rich history, all the amenities you need, and cycle trails nearby, you can’t beat Napier as place to base yourself when you’re staying in Hawkes Bay. Here at Fairley Motor Lodge, we’re all about helping you explore the region, and of course Napier is our closest centre.

Grand History

Napier runs south from Bluff Hill, a small promontory of Hawke Bay, along the coast and inland towards Hastings, and north to the coastal communities of Westshore, and Bay View. Rebuilt in an art deco style after the 1931 earthquake, the CBD is a bustling place, with many boutique fashion stores, galleries, restaurants and bars. Napier is separated from Hastings, its neighbour and rival, by orchards and vineyards. Founded in 1855 by the government, Napier (formerly known as Ahuriri) is Hawke’s Bay’s oldest town. The town was established on a small semi-island between the sea and an inner harbour, which was prone to flooding. However, it was an ideal location for a port, which was why Napier became the leading town of the region. Lack of space remained a problem until 1931, when the Hawke’s Bay earthquake raised the inner harbour and the city was reborn.

Handy amenities

The city offers has everything you might need. Wonderful eateries, and shopping for everything from artisan food to designer clothing and boutique art galleries. Shop at Vetro for all types of exotic fare, or the local wineries for a tipple to take back to your Fairley Motor Lodge suite, along with gourmet sausages from the nearby butchery. For an evening out, stroll over to the portside village of  Ahuriri, where you can take your pick of dining styles, from pub grub, to Thai restaurants and funky food. Stay on for a night cap at one of the quayside bars. For breakfast or lunch, check out the local Cafés for a coffee and tasty treats.

Cycle Trails

If you’ve got your bikes with you, a couple of the gentle Hawkes Bay Cycle Trails are right there. From Westshore you can ride inland on the Puketapu loop for a country pub lunch, stopping at Mission Estate or Church Road for a wine tasting on the way. Alternatively, you can head along the Marine Parade Explorer and out to the Kidnappers Coast trail through some picture-perfect beachside communities all the way to the start of the famous Cape Kidnappers cliffs. With around 200km of mostly flat riding, the paths are easily-ridden finely crushed limestone, but E-bikes make the trails even more fun! You can also hire bikes when you get here from one of several hirers.

Conservation

Just across the road from Fairley is the Ahuriri Estuary. This long, narrow estuary with its wide range of fresh to salty, shallow to deep, and sandy to muddy habitats supports an extremely diverse range of birds, fish, invertebrates and plant life. This important wetland is a sanctuary for a wide variety of wading birds including grey herons, royal spoonbills and pied stilts. Over 70 species of resident and migratory waterbirds use the estuary as a feeding and resting area. Bar-tailed godwits/kuaka, knots and golden plovers migrate here each year from their arctic breeding grounds. Shags, kingfishers and even gannets may also be spotted diving for fish in this area.

We do hope you enjoy your stay in Hawkes Bay, and choose Napier as your base. We can’t wait to host you here at Fairley Motor Lodge and help you plan the perfect Hawke’s Bay getaway.