Recreation

Welcome to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council webpage on recreation. Hawke's Bay has distinctive braided rivers that provide attractive areas for water sports, picnics, horse-riding, trail biking, mountain biking, whitebaiting, gamebird hunting, and fishing.

The Regional Council manages the riverside areas (berms) primarily for flood control purposes, but recognising the popularity of these areas with the public, in 1996 the Council began a seven year programme to enhance these areas to make them easier to use.

On this page Enjoy our rivers and let other people enjoy them too Order the river recreation guide and map Heretaunga Plains river reserves Pakowhai Country Park Tutira Country Park Ruataniwha Plains river reserves Seasonal activities

Enjoy our rivers and let other people enjoy them too

When you use these riverside recreational areas, please leave them as you found them. Take care of the environment; remove your rubbish and don't damage trees, gates or fences.

Due to the flood risks camping is not permitted and in some river areas Navigation and Safety Rules apply.

Order the river recreation guide and map

Contact us to order a copy of the River Recreation Guide and Map - just give us your address and we'll post it to you.

Heretaunga Plains river reserve

Located close to the main cities of Hastings and Napier, these areas provide great recreational choices for city people. Each has facilities for barbecueing, tracks for cycling and horse riding and places for fishing and swimming. The Council is also working on extending some of the walkways along sections of stopbank to make it easier for people to enjoy our rivers

• Ngaruroro River
• Clive River
• Tutaekuri River
• Lower Tukituki River
• Esk River

Pakowhai Country Park This attractive park is managed by the Council for flood control and recreation purposes. Situated between Napier and Hastings on Pakowhai Road, it offers the open spaces, shady picnic areas and walkways alongside both banks of the clear flowing Raupare Stream, where paths and bridges lead visitors on an easy circuit. Parking is plentiful, access is easy and the family dog is welcome too.

Tutira Country Park

Managed by the Council as a soil conservation project, the country park on the shores of Lake Tutira also offers visitors access to an outstanding wildlife reserve. Located on State Highway 2, 20 minutes north of Napier, this is a lovely tranquil spot in which to enjoy Hawke's Bay's unique environment. Short term camping is permitted and some facilities are provided, should you wish to make a weekend of it.

Ruataniwha Plains river reserve

There are also a variety of river reserves in the southern part of the region in Central Hawke's Bay. Upper Tukituki River Tukipo River Waipawa River Makaretu River Mangaonuku Stream

Due to their isolation, tranquility and clear water these waterways are favourites for fishing at different times of the year - in some cases there is access to some headwaters. However some of the rivers dry out in summer when the low flow drops beneath the gravel beds, resulting in the need to impose some irrigation restrictions.

To the west of Waipukurau, visitors can drive up the hill to the Pukeora Look Out to view the confluence of the Tukituki and the Tukipo Rivers. Just upstream to the north of the town is Lindsay Reserve, a stand of native trees, which provides a tantalising glimpse of the great tracts of bush that once covered much of the area.

Seasonal Activities

• Whitebaiting - August to November
• Gamebird and duck shooting season - May to July
• Trout fishing - all year except May

For information on localised variations to these seasons, please check with this Council or the Hawke's Bay Fish and Game Council.

Please contact us should you require further information.