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Cape Kidnappers

Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui, is an extraordinary sandstone headland to the east of Hastings in Hawke's Bay.

It was named by Captain Cook after an attempt by local Mäori to abduct one of his crew. The cape is home to the largest and most accessible gannet colony in the world.

The 13 hectare reserve includes the Saddle and Black Reef gannet colonies. Both are closed to public access, however the Black Reef colony can be viewed from the beach.

There are several ways to get to the gannet colony - on foot, sitting on a tractor trailer, in a 4WD vehicle or by kayak.

The Australasian Gannet is a member of the booby family, which includes shags, pelicans and frigate birds. Adult Australasian gannets have a wing span of up to two metres and an average weight of two kilograms.

Although ungainly on land, gannets are exceptional flyers and conduct spectacular high dives into the sea to catch fish. They nest over summer; the first chicks hatch in early November and the last chicks depart the colony during May.

Clearview Estate Winery & Restaurant

Established in 1989,  Clearview Estate Winery and its iconic Clearview Estate ‘Red Shed’ Restaurant enjoys an established, leafy coastal vineyard setting near the historic landscape of Cape Kidnappers.

Besides grapes, the estate also grows avocados, olives and citrus trees along with a culinary herb garden to supply the restaurant’s kitchen.

Specialising in brunch, lunch, small weddings, functions & celebrations, the comprehensive seasonal menu features inspired and creative dishes using Hawkes Bay Wine Country produce.

Onsite accommodation in 'The Vidal Homestead' ~ The original 1915 homestead has been converted for self catering four bedroom accommodation, sleeping up to ten in 3 queens & 4 single beds. This is the ideal relaxing location to stay and unwind, connect with the regional cycle trail and as a base to explore the region and nearby Cape Kidnappers and Art Deco Napier.

Enjoy the estate grown, award winning wines. Sit, under the blue umbrellas or amongst the vines, while you explore the comprehensive seasonal menu from the winery restaurant featuring fresh and creative dishes making innovative use of Hawke’s Bay produce.

HAWKE’s BAY Trails

200km of easy-riding trails lead to more than 50 locations to taste, see and experience the best of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's Food and Wine Country.

The Hawke's Bay Trails is also one of 23 Great Rides of New Zealand.

The Hawke's Bay Trails are a genuine year-round cycling experience, with a network of mostly off-road limestone trails which are suitable in almost all weather conditions - although to be fair, you're likely to encounter mostly sunshine in Hawke's Bay!

There's three primary rides which make up the trails network - the Water Ride, the Wineries Ride, and the Landscapes Ride. Each of these trails is also made up of series of smaller sections, which you can read more about on each of the pages.

Alternatively, you can plot your own path and ride wherever the trails take you! From a few hours, to a few days, the Hawke's Bay Trails are an ideal environmentally sustainable way to explore our region.

We highly recommend checking out the official Hawke's Bay Trails website for more details and up-to-date trail status.