Discover Hastings

Hastings combines parks and gardens with art, local history and insights into water management. Art Deco features and a distinctly historic atmosphere also shape the city centre. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Hastings, you can plan your trip around the things that interest you most: roses and green spaces, historic places, cultural events or water knowledge.

Parks, ponds and rose gardens

Cornwall Park covers eight hectares in the centre of Hastings. Several ponds and a stream are part of its design. In addition, the “Summer in the Park” concerts are held there weekly in January and February. The park thus brings together garden and water features with a seasonal cultural offering. If you’re planning your trip during these concert months, the events can be an extra reason to include Cornwall Park in your stay.

Frimley Park offers a different garden experience: its formal gardens are home to more than 5,500 roses. The large number of roses and the formal layout make the park a clear destination for anyone with a particular interest in garden culture. Cornwall Park and Frimley Park have different features; both give a stay in Hastings a green focus.

Art and the city's history

At Civic Square, next to Hastings Art Gallery, Ngā Pou o Heretaunga is on permanent display: a unique collection of 18 pou tūpuna, or ancestral posts. The stories represented in this collection span 20 generations. Those interested in the cultural significance of stories and ancestors will find a tangible way to explore this subject here. Hastings Art Gallery also offers exhibitions, public events and school programmes.

The Hastings Urban Heritage Trail is a distinct highlight for exploring the city's history. The trail is 39.7 km long and leads to historic buildings, churches, monuments, parks and other significant places in Hastings. It passes through important historic areas and can be travelled by car or bicycle. Its length and the choice between car and bicycle are useful points to consider when planning the trail into your trip.

Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre is also part of the city's cultural scene. The historic Opera House is its centrepiece; alongside it, Toitoi includes a modern venue with 660 m² of space. Toitoi aims to give the community access to, and encourage participation in, performing arts, events of all kinds and cultural activities.

Water knowledge, events and produce

Waiaroha – Heretaunga Water Discovery Centre explores the journey of water from the mountains to the sea, via rivers, streams, wetlands and aquifers. Through a large window, visitors can see how the water treatment plant works and learn more about its processes. The experience combines a look at the natural water cycle with insights into water treatment.

An annual event with historical significance is the public memorial service on 3 February, the anniversary of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. The special ceremony takes place at Hastings City Centre Mall. If you’re interested in the city's history and commemorative traditions, this date is a specific point of reference for planning your trip.

At the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market in Hastings, you can buy seasonal produce and handcrafted goods directly from growers and producers. The market is for visitors who want to discover local products and shop directly from the vendors.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When choosing your accommodation, you can first consider which side of Hastings you’d like to shape your trip: gardens, local history, art and events, or water knowledge. The places and activities mentioned offer reasons to visit for a range of interests, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one theme.

More places to explore: Poukawa, Karamu, Tuki Tuki, Te Awanga, Clive, Maraekakaho, Clifton, Kahuranaki.

For the wider travel overview: Hastings District.