Looking for the best tours in Hastings? The district around Hastings and Havelock North takes in the Gimblett Gravels, the Bridge Pa Triangle, the Te Awanga coast and Cape Kidnappers, so tours in Hastings run from chauffeured wine tastings and self-guided vineyard bike rides to 4×4 trips out to the gannet colony. Gannet Safaris Overland and Winery Tours Hawke’s Bay cover the guided end of the day, with bike operators based at Roys Hill and in Havelock North village.
1Gannet Safaris Overland
Gannet Safaris Overland has guided visitors across Cape Kidnappers for more than 50 years, driving guests from its Te Awanga base in air-conditioned 4×4 vehicles through Cape Kidnappers Station to within a few metres of the gannet colony. The three-hour trip covers riverbeds, working farmland and native bush with commentary on the station, local Māori legend and the birds, and no walking is required, so it suits all ages and fitness levels. Tours run twice daily in season, with private, sunrise and cruise ship options.
Services
- Regular Cape Kidnappers gannet colony tours, morning and afternoon
- Private tours for groups of up to four
- Sunrise tours to the colony
- Shore excursion tours for cruise ship passengers
- School tours and the full-day Ultimate Day Out
Highlights
- Guiding tours over Cape Kidnappers for more than 50 years
- Qualmark Gold accredited
- Travels through New Zealand’s largest privately owned nature reserve
- Refreshments served at the colony, 100 metres above the Pacific
Location & Contact
Name: Gannet Safaris Overland
Address: 396 Clifton Road, Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay
Phone: 027 243 7508
Website: gannetsafaris.co.nz
2Winery Tours Hawke’s Bay
Winery Tours Hawke’s Bay runs boutique wine tours of Hastings, Havelock North and Napier cellar doors from its base on Riverslea Road South in Hastings. The business is owned and guided by Lorna and Clarence, who plan each route in advance so cellar door staff expect the group, and tasting fees are included in the tour price. Its three minibuses take groups of 2 to 26, with a private option for up to six that works well for cruise visitors and corporate outings.
Services
- Half-day wine tours
- Lunch wine tours
- Private tours for up to six people
- Custom wine tours built around chosen wineries or varieties
- Wine tours for cruise ship visitors from Napier Port
Highlights
- Owner-guided by Lorna and Clarence
- Fleet of three minibuses for groups of 2 to 26
- Tasting fees included in the tour cost
- Visits cover the Bridge Pa Triangle, Gimblett Gravels, Te Awanga, Havelock North and Esk Valley
Location & Contact
Name: Winery Tours Hawke’s Bay
Address: 807 Riverslea Road South, Hastings 4122
Phone: 0800 946 342
Website: winerytourshawkesbay.co.nz
3On Yer Bike Winery Tours
On Yer Bike Winery Tours is a locally owned bike and e-bike hire business at Roys Hill on State Highway 50, running self-guided winery rides through the Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels. Riders are briefed, fitted with a bike and helmet and given a map, then choose their own cellar doors along flat routes where wineries sit 5 to 15 minutes apart. It suits couples, families, hens groups and corporate outings, and wine bought along the way is collected and returned to base.
Services
- Bridge Pa Triangle self-guided winery bike tour
- Gimblett Gravels winery bike ride
- Winery treasure hunt and murder mystery rides
- E-bike, tandem and kids’ bike hire
- Corporate, group and hens’ party rides
Highlights
- Official bike hire partner of the Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels wine districts since 2000
- Fleet of more than 40 bikes, including 13 e-bikes and adult/child tandems
- Wine purchases collected from cellar doors and waiting at base
- On-call roadside assistance during rides
- Dog trailer for hire, so small to medium dogs can come along
Location & Contact
Name: On Yer Bike Winery Tours
Address: 2543 State Highway 50, Roys Hill, Hastings 4175
Phone: 021 292 8080
Website: onyerbikehb.co.nz
4Good Fun Bike Rides
Good Fun Bike Rides is a Havelock North bike hire and tour operator run by Malcolm Eves, working from Revolution Bikes on Donnelly Street. It offers six planned trails, including the Tukituki River valley ride out to the Te Awanga coastal wineries and a climb of Te Mata Peak, and can organise custom rides or two and three day holiday packages. The fleet includes trailer bikes and child seats, so families can ride together.
Services
- Te Awanga winery and café bike trail
- Tukituki Valley and River Road to Perfume Point rides
- Bridge Pa Triangle wine district ride
- Custom rides and multi-day cycle packages
Highlights
- Based in Havelock North village, alongside Revolution Bikes
- Around 30 new or near-new geared bikes, plus e-bikes on request
- Trailer bikes and child seats for families
- Accommodation assistance offered with bookings
Location & Contact
Name: Good Fun Bike Rides
Address: 8 Donnelly Street, Havelock North
Phone: 027 617 9882
Website: goodfunbikerides.co.nz
Tours in Hastings at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Gannet Safaris Overland | Guiding tours over Cape Kidnappers for more than 50 years |
| Winery Tours Hawke's Bay | Owner-guided by Lorna and Clarence |
| On Yer Bike Winery Tours | Official bike hire partner of the Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gra... |
| Good Fun Bike Rides | Based in Havelock North village, alongside Revolution Bikes |
How to Choose the Right Tour in Hastings
- Guided or self-guided: decide whether you want a driver and host for the day or the freedom to set your own pace on a bike with a map.
- Season: the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony tours operate from late winter to autumn, and many cellar doors shorten their hours in the cooler months, so check dates before you book.
- Group size and fitness: minibus tours and 4×4 safaris need no effort at all, while bike tours on the flat wine trails suit most riders, especially with an e-bike.
- What is included: ask whether tasting fees, food, helmets or accommodation pickups are part of the price.
- Area covered: the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle sit west of Hastings, while Te Awanga and Cape Kidnappers are on the coast beyond Havelock North, so pick a tour that starts close to where you are staying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Tours
What kinds of tours are available in Hastings?
Tours in Hastings are mostly built around wine and landscape: chauffeured minibus wine tours, self-guided winery bike rides on flat trails, and 4×4 safaris to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers. Private and custom tours are common for small groups and cruise visitors.
When can I visit the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony?
The gannets return to Cape Kidnappers each spring and the overland tours run through to autumn, generally closing over the middle of winter. Private and sunrise tours can be booked for a quieter visit.
Do I need to be fit for a winery bike tour?
No. The wine trails through the Bridge Pa Triangle, Gimblett Gravels and the Tukituki valley are mostly flat, with wineries a short ride apart. E-bikes, tandems and kids’ bikes are available from bike tour operators in Hastings and Havelock North for anyone who wants extra help.
Are tasting fees included in a wine tour?
It depends on the operator. Chauffeured wine tours in Hawke’s Bay often include tastings and sometimes a platter or lunch, while self-guided bike tours usually leave tastings to be paid at each cellar door. Ask what is included when you book.
Where do tours in Hastings start from?
Bike tours start from operators’ own bases, such as Roys Hill on State Highway 50 and Havelock North village, while gannet safaris depart from Te Awanga on the coast. Minibus wine tours usually collect guests from accommodation around Hastings, Havelock North and Napier, so the nearest option depends on where you are staying.
Can I cycle the wine country without a tour?
Yes. The Hawke’s Bay Trails network links many cellar doors, and you can plan your own route using the official Hawke’s Bay Trails maps. A bike hire operator will still supply the bike, helmet and map, and some will collect wine you buy along the way.
How can I check a tour operator’s quality?
Look for Qualmark accreditation, New Zealand tourism’s official quality mark, which assesses operators on safety, sustainability and visitor experience. You can search accredited businesses on the Qualmark website.
Are Hastings tours suitable for cruise ship passengers?
Yes. Several Hawke’s Bay tour operators run shore excursions timed around ships berthed at Napier Port, including gannet colony trips and private wine tours, with transport back to the ship included.
How We Chose the Best Tours in Hastings
Every business in this guide was found by searching for tours in Hastings, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.