Last updated November 2026
These seven walks in and around Hastings take about an hour or less from start to finish, so they fit a stop on a drive or an outing with children.
They range from a heritage walk around Havelock North village and a redwood loop in Te Mata Park to a waterfall and swimming hole off Maraetotara Road, three Department of Conservation (DOC) scenic reserves of native forest, and a lake loop at Tūtira.
How We Chose These Walks
The times come from the managers’ own pages: DOC’s track pages and the Te Mata Park Trust’s walking trails page. For the Havelock North Village Walk and the walk to Maraetotara Falls, which no manager’s page times, they come from the Hastings District Heritage Trails Society’s brochures, which Hastings District Council hosts on its Heritage Trails page.
The rule is the whole walk, a loop or there and back, in about an hour or less; one-way times are doubled and given each way. Conditions change, so check the manager’s page before you go.
Havelock North and Te Mata Park
Havelock North Village Walk
The Hastings District Heritage Trails Society’s Havelock North Walks brochure says “you can walk the distance in less than an hour”, though it suggests you saunter and allow at least a half-day if you stop for food and coffee.
The trail visits 25 sites from the early village, including the hotel, bakery, bank, church, general store, post office and blacksmith, and many are marked with pavement plaques.
The brochure suggests parking in the car park at the rear of the Tavern, beside the roundabout, then crossing to the National Bank site, where the trail begins. It is not a closed loop: the trail ends at Anderson Park, further along Te Aute Road from that car park.
Giant Redwoods (Purple) Track, Te Mata Park
The Te Mata Park Trust gives this loop as 2.7 km and an estimated 1 hour from the Main Gates Car Park on Te Mata Peak Road; starting from Tauroa Road adds 0.7 km and about 15 minutes each way. It passes a lookout over the Heretaunga Plains, native bush and the Te Hau Valley (Giant) Redwoods, 223 redwoods planted in 1927, many now over 40 metres tall.
The Trust grades it Intermediate, with some rough, muddy or uneven sections and simple switchbacks and inclines. Dogs may be off-lead throughout the park, but stock graze there, so keep them under control. The park has no toilets or drinking water inside; the Trust’s Visit page puts toilets at the main entrance.
Maraetotara Road and Mohi Bush
Maraetotara Falls
The Hastings District Heritage Trails Society’s Waimarama brochure describes a tree-shaded walk that leads 10 minutes upstream to the falls, so allow about 10 minutes each way.
A dam built on top of the falls in 1922 fed a hydro-electric power station downstream; the brochure’s downstream section, 20 minutes past the old turbine house and a surge tower, would add to the time.
Hastings District Council says the reserve has two entrances off Maraetotara Road, and public toilets. There is a large swimming spot at the base of the falls, but the council advises against jumping from the top because of possible submerged hazards. The council’s dog rules put rural reserves like this one under leash control.
Mohi Bush Track (Short Loop)
DOC gives 30 minutes for the short loop, one of two loop tracks that join in the middle of Mohi Bush Scenic Reserve; the short loop cuts through the middle, while the long loop (DOC: 1 hour) leads to the far end. Both are reasonably flat and easy to walk, DOC says, past ferns and seedlings under podocarps such as miro.
Look for the rifleman, New Zealand’s smallest bird: DOC says this is one of the few places it is found outside forest parks in Hawke’s Bay. The reserve is 2 km along Waipoapoa Road from Maraetotara Road. Park on the grass in front of the shelter and leave gates as you found them. No dogs.
Central Hawke’s Bay
Elsthorpe Scenic Reserve Loop Track
DOC gives 20 minutes for this 600 m loop through lowland podocarp forest of mataī, kahikatea, tawa and tītoki, home to tūī, bellbirds and kererū. Reach the track by a stile off Kairakau Road, beside a small grassed area with a picnic table; it crosses a boardwalk bridge and loops through the forest.
From Otane, turn off State Highway 2 onto Elsthorpe Road and follow it 21 km to Elsthorpe, then turn right onto Kairakau Road; the entry is on the right. The reserve’s other block, on Elsthorpe Road, has no track. DOC grades the walk easy to intermediate. No dogs.
A’Deanes Bush Walk
DOC gives 30 minutes for this 1 km loop in A’Deanes Bush Scenic Reserve, which it calls the best remaining example of the original forest of the Ruataniwha Plains. The 38.5 ha reserve sits on a flat river terrace and is dominated by mataī and kahikatea.
The track begins at the reserve entrance, and its focal point is a tōtara about 34 m high that takes at least seven people to encircle with their arms; it then passes through the forest to the Tukipo River.
At dusk, watch for long-tailed bats coming out to feed. The reserve is off State Highway 50 south of Ongaonga, on Makaretu Road, 1 km past Sherwood School. No dogs.
Lake Tūtira
Waikōpiro Loop Track
DOC gives 20 minutes for this 1.1 km loop, which follows the shoreline of Lake Waikōpiro past native and introduced plants; DOC calls it “a short, flat walk suitable for families”.
From Bay View, stay on State Highway 2 for 31 km and turn right into Lake Tūtira Regional Park: the track is just inside the gate as you drive in. DOC grades it easy to intermediate. Only non-motorised boats are allowed on the lake. Check DOC’s alerts for the track before you go. No dogs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the shortest walks?
The Elsthorpe and Waikōpiro loops, 20 minutes each by DOC’s times, and the walk to Maraetotara Falls, about 10 minutes each way.
Which walks are loops?
The Giant Redwoods Track, the Mohi Bush short loop, the Elsthorpe and A’Deanes Bush walks and the Waikōpiro Loop. Maraetotara Falls is there and back, and the Havelock North Village Walk ends at Anderson Park rather than where it starts.
Can I take my dog?
Te Mata Park is off-lead throughout, but the Trust says dogs prone to running off or worrying sheep must be on a lead when sheep are grazing. At Maraetotara Falls, Hastings District Council’s rules for rural reserves require a leash. DOC allows no dogs at Mohi Bush, Elsthorpe, A’Deanes Bush or Waikōpiro.
Are there toilets?
Hastings District Council lists public toilets at Maraetotara Falls, and the Te Mata Park Trust has toilets at the main park entrance, though none inside the park. The sources for the other walks list none.
Why start the Giant Redwoods Track at the Main Gates?
The Trust’s 1 hour estimate is from there; from Tauroa Road, the extra 15 minutes each way makes it about an hour and a half.
What should I check before going?
DOC’s alerts for the four DOC walks and the Te Mata Park Trust’s Current Park Information page, which points to its weekly update on track closures. The Trust says tracks may be slippery after wet weather.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Department of Conservation: Hawke’s Bay places to go: DOC’s track pages for the region, each with times, dog rules and current alerts.
- Te Mata Park Trust: Walking Trails: lengths, estimated times and grades for the park’s main walking tracks.
- Hastings District Council: Heritage Trails: the heritage trail brochures for Havelock North, Waimarama and other Hawke’s Bay trails.