Haumoana at the mouth of the Tukituki River

Where the Tukituki River flows into the Pacific Ocean, Haumoana lies where river meets coast. The beachfront Haumoana Grange Domain is an open-space reserve near the river mouth. Picnic tables and access to walking and cycling paths along the riverbank give this place a distinct connection to nature and a place to relax. If you are looking for accommodation in Haumoana, you can consider whether the river and coastal landscape or sporting facilities should be the focus of your stay.

Coastal Park and Birdlife

Waitangi Regional Park stretches for about five kilometres along the coast between Awatoto and Haumoana. It encompasses a variety of wetland and coastal habitats that support a large number of bird species. Visitors to the park can spot white herons, spoonbills, godwits and gannets. For travellers interested in coastal landscapes and birds, Haumoana offers a clear connection to nature.

Parks with Different Features

Haumoana Grange Domain can be reached via Domain Road and Grange Road. At Haumoana, access to the mouth of the Tukituki River in Waitangi Regional Park is via the car park on Domain Road. Walking and cycling paths along the riverbank give Grange Domain a different focus from a sports ground: here, the emphasis is on paths by the water and picnic tables.

Haumoana Memorial Park has sports facilities for tennis, basketball, netball, pickleball, cricket and junior football. The park can be reached via Pederson Road and Memorial Park Avenue. This makes it easy to distinguish between a stay focused on riverside paths and one centred on sports facilities. Both parks offer practical points to consider when deciding which activities to include in your stay in Haumoana.

Art and Changing Surf Conditions

The surrounding area includes a local art scene in Haumoana and Te Awanga. The two coastal villages are popular with surfers when there are large swells from the east. Surf conditions are seasonal and variable; if surfing is important to your trip, it is worth checking conditions for your planned travel dates. Alongside nature watching and the parks’ facilities, art and a weather-dependent coastal experience are also interests to consider when planning your trip.

More to Explore in Hastings District

The wider Hastings District destination offers other landscapes and activities. The Hawke’s Bay Trails are among New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides and offer 200 kilometres of easy cycling routes through Hastings District and Napier. Visitors can drive along Te Mata Peak Road to the summit of Te Mata Peak. Cornwall Park is also home to the Osmanthus Garden, a traditional Chinese-style garden with a large pond, pavilions, Friendship Bridge, Crooked Bridge, bamboo and fragrant osmanthus plants. These regional examples complement Haumoana’s coastal and riverside landscape with cycling routes, a drive to a summit and a landscaped garden.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Puketapu, Elsthorpe, Eskdale, Raukawa, Urewera National Park, Porangahau, Fernhill, Havelock North.

For the overview of the wider destination: Hawkes Bay.