Last updated October 2026
Clifton Beach sits at the end of Clifton Road, 13 km east of Hastings, where Hawke Bay meets the cliffs that run out to Cape Kidnappers. Read the warnings first.
The cliffs behind the beach are prone to landslides and rockfall, both Clifton camps have closed because of an extreme landslide risk, and the beach towards the Cape can only be walked around low tide.
The beach itself is open, reached from the end of Clifton Road by the boat ramp, and Clifton has long been the launching point for boat fishing towards the Cape.
At a Glance
- Location
- End of Clifton Road, 13 km east of Hastings, 8 km from Cape Kidnappers
- Water
- Southern end of Hawke Bay, open sea
- Main species
- Boat fishing near the Cape: gurnard, terakihi, trevally, kingfish, groper, blue cod
- Hazards
- Landslides and rockfall from the cliffs; tide-limited beach towards the Cape
- Access
- End of Clifton Road via the boat ramp; the former camps are closed
- Road works
- Part of Clifton Road has a temporary vehicle closure during camp decommissioning
- Dogs
- Not allowed on the Cape Kidnappers route or in the reserve
- Tide port
- Napier, with Cape Kidnappers offsets
- Rules
- MPI Central
- Licence
- None needed for sea fishing
- High about 5:28 am
- Low about 11:37 am
- High about 5:47 pm
Best times today: around 5:28 am, 11:37 am and 5:47 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 12:12 am and 11:49 am (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best.
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
About Clifton Beach
Clifton is at the southern end of Hawke Bay, where the coast turns into a line of high, crumbling cliffs. Clifton Road ends at a car park, and from above the beach is a narrow strip of gravel and sand between the sea and the cliff, with the road and the former camp squeezed in behind it.
The shoreline here retreats about 0.75 metres a year, faster than at Te Awanga or Haumoana, and the road has been undermined several times.
In February 2026 the No.1 camp was evacuated after a geotechnical report found an extreme landslide risk: heavy rain, high groundwater or an earthquake could bring the slope down with little warning.
The No.2 camp closed in mid-2026, and Hastings District Council has approved a temporary vehicle closure of a short section of Clifton Road while the old camp is cleared.
Clifton has been a fishing base for generations. Frank Gordon gave the beachfront to the Crown for a camping ground in 1936, and the Clifton Marine Club started life as the Clifton Fishing Club. Boat owners moved here from Te Awanga because Clifton is more sheltered, and it is still where most visits to the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony begin.
How to Fish Clifton Beach
Where and when
If you fish from the shore, stay on the open beach near the end of Clifton Road and keep well away from the base of the cliffs.
Do not fish the ledges under the cliffs towards the Cape: DOC advises spending as little time as possible on that stretch. Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes better than slack water.
What to catch and what to use
- Boat fishing near the Cape: local club members list gurnard, groper, kingfish, terakihi, trevally, blue cod and tuna in 70 to 100 metres of water near Cape Kidnappers.
- From the beach: Hawke’s Bay surfcasters look for big snapper from October, with the main runs on the bay’s beaches typically around December, and kingfish at times from October to December.
- Kahawai: a common catch along the Hawke Bay coast, on lures or cut bait.
Before you launch
The boat ramp and marine club sat beside the No.1 camp, which is now closed. Check with Hastings District Council or the Clifton Marine Club that the ramp is open and where to park before you tow a boat out.
Getting There and Facilities
- Access: follow Clifton Road to the end. Public access to the beach is from the end of the road via the boat ramp; the way through the former campground has gone.
- Road closure: a short section of Clifton Road has a temporary vehicle closure while the old camp is decommissioned. Check the council’s Clifton Beach page for where to park.
- Facilities: the camp facilities are closed. Bring water and food.
- Dogs: not allowed on the Cape Kidnappers route or in the reserve, and there is no camping or fires there.
- Cycle trail: the Hawke’s Bay Trails link Clifton with Hastings and Napier.
- More: for the beach and the Cape walk, see our Clifton Beach guide.
Rules and Safety
- Landslides: the cliffs between Clifton and Cape Kidnappers are prone to landslides and rockfall. A slide seriously injured two people in 2019, and another closed the beach in 2020. Do not climb the cliffs, do not cross fresh rockfall, keep your distance from the cliff base, and report new rockfalls to Hastings District Council.
- Closures: the council may close the beach when the risk is higher, such as after heavy rain or an earthquake. Check its Cape Kidnappers landslide page before you go.
- Tides: the beach towards the Cape is passable only around low tide. DOC says leave Clifton no sooner than 3 hours after high tide, and leave the Cape no later than 1.5 hours after low tide. High tides and big seas can block the beach.
- Gannet colony: the track from the beach up to the plateau colony is closed from July to the week before Labour Weekend each year. Keep at least 5 m from nesting gannets.
- Fishing rules: sea fishing follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed. Get swell and wind forecasts from MetService before going out in a boat.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Crafty’s Rods & Guns, 108 Maraekakaho Road, Hastings: sea tackle, kontiki and longline gear, sinkers and bait.
- Rivers to Ranges, 106 Nelson Street South, Hastings.
Official Sources
DOC: Cape Kidnappers gannet reserve: landslide warnings, tide timing and reserve rules.
Hastings District Council: Clifton Beach: current access, road closures and the camp.
MPI Central fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures.
Common Questions
Is Clifton Beach open?
Yes, the beach is open, reached from the end of Clifton Road via the boat ramp. Both camps and the reserve are closed.
Why are the Clifton camps closed?
A geotechnical report found an extreme landslide risk on the slope behind them. The No.1 camp was evacuated in February 2026 and the No.2 camp closed in mid-2026.
Can I fish under the cliffs towards Cape Kidnappers?
It is not advised. The cliffs are prone to landslides and rockfall, and DOC says to spend as little time as possible on that stretch.
When can I walk the beach to the Cape?
Only around low tide. DOC says leave Clifton no sooner than 3 hours after high tide and leave the Cape no later than 1.5 hours after low tide.
What can you catch off Clifton?
Boat anglers fishing near the Cape catch gurnard, terakihi, trevally, kingfish, groper and blue cod. Snapper and kahawai are the usual targets from Hawke Bay beaches.
Can I launch a boat at Clifton?
The ramp is at the end of Clifton Road. With the camp closed and road works under way, check with the council or the Clifton Marine Club first.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. You do not need a licence for sea fishing, but MPI’s Central area limits apply.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ), adjusted from Napier using LINZ secondary port offsets.