Clive: Cycle Trails, Riverbanks and Local History

Clive is a small riverside town between Hastings and Napier. Cycle routes with different time requirements, a reserve on the Clive River and a Heritage Trail to early building sites give the town its distinctive character. When looking for accommodation, you can plan your stay around whether you mainly want to cycle, explore Clive or spend time at local recreation areas.

Cycling with two different timeframes

The Clive–Clifton section of the Hawke’s Bay Trails is 15 km long. Its difficulty is rated 1–2, or very easy to easy, and the duration is 1–2 hours. The route starts in Clive. For comparison, the longer return ride on the Hawke’s Bay Trails from Havelock North to Clive is 37 km. It is rated easy and takes 2–4 hours. These details make it easy to compare the different time requirements of the two rides.

The Hawke’s Bay Trails are mostly easy, wide and flat, with a limestone-sand surface. The trail network is suitable for families and novice cyclists. When planning, you can also check with the trail operator for temporary notices or detours.

Riverbanks, parks and local history

Evers-Swindell Reserve is a one-hectare reserve in Clive on the banks of the Clive River. Farndon Park Domain, one of the oldest recreation areas in Hawke’s Bay, is also on the Clive River. The two places offer different experiences: a compact reserve and a recreation area of historical significance.

Gregory Park is a small neighbourhood playground in Clive with swings, a slide and a seesaw. The Clive/Waipureku Heritage Trail leads to early building sites in Clive and explores the environment and history of the area. Alongside cycling, you’ll find both a local place to play and a tangible way to connect with Clive’s history.

These specific destinations offer different starting points for planning your visit, without every day needing to look the same.

More to explore in Hastings District

In Hastings District, the Heritage Trails guide visitors through cultural, historical and scenic highlights. A Hastings District Council visitor information page dated 4 May 2026 says the trails are open year-round, free to access and do not require booking. As a regional reference point, the Hawke’s Bay Trails include 200 km of easy-to-ride cycle trails in Hastings District and Napier; they are among New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides.

In Hastings District, visitors can drive along Te Mata Peak Road to the summit of Te Mata Peak. The Osmanthus Garden in Cornwall Park, Hastings District, is laid out in a traditional Chinese style. Its features include a large pond, pavilions, the Friendship Bridge and the Crooked Bridge, bamboo and fragrant osmanthus plants.

Frimley Park in Hastings District is an English-style landscape park reserve with more than 5,500 roses in formal gardens. Guthrie-Smith Arboretum in Hastings District is an important collection of many plant species and a refuge for birds and native wildlife. For another regional highlight, Elephant Hill in Hastings District offers wine tastings featuring Hawke’s Bay wines.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kahuranaki, Hastings, Poukawa, Karamu, Tuki Tuki, Maraekakaho, Waiwhare, Te Awanga.

For the broader travel overview: Hastings District.