Newspaper Article 1981 – Holiday fun in Hastings

Holiday fun in Hastings

Although situated on the fertile Heretaunga Plains, Hastings is only a few kilometres from sea.

Only 9km away is the seaside resort of Haumoana, then on to Te Awanga and Clifton, the last named being the starting point for the trip to the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Sanctuary. 35km away to the south-east by good sealed road is Waimarama, one of the finest of New Zealand’s East Coast beaches. A few kilometres closer to Hastings on the same coast Is Ocean Beach. Both these beaches renowned for surfing.

City is pick of these bunch

OF all the New Zealand towns situated in fruit growing areas, Hastings must be the pick of the bunch.

Favoured by climate and some of the most fertile land in the country, this rapidly growing provincial city is the centre of an expanding food and meat processing industry.

A prolific annual harvest of fruit and grapes has established Hastings as the Fruit Bowl of New Zealand and the Apple and Pear Board cool stores are the largest In the country.

Vineyards were planted early in Hastings’ history and the wine making industry has matured and developed, contributing much to the reputation of Hawke’s Bay as a wine district.

As a holiday centre Hastings proves ideal being within easy reach of popular surf beaches along the East Coast, numerous picturesque country drives, bush walks, trout streams, plus the city of Napier and the borough of Havelock North.

The Hastings Highland Games is an annual fixture at Easter that has gained the recognition of being the Braemar of Australasia and attracts visitors from far and wide.

Fantasyland

Parks abound in Hastings and feature many rare trees, roses, swimming and paddling pools, lakes and streams. Best known is the Fantasyland Playground with its medieval-style castle, and a mini-size train, treehouse, rocket-slide, pirate ship and many other delights for the children and adults alike.

The city is one of New Zealand’s most rapidly growing provincial cities with a population of 37,000 though it serves as the market town for an urban population of 53,000.

The latitude of 39 degrees 38 minutes south corresponds with that of Central Spain or Southern Italy in the Northern Hemisphere. Hastings’ mild climate is therefore comparable with the Mediterranean tourist resorts. With its favoured climate and surrounded by some of the most fertile land in the country, it is the centre of a great and expanding food processing industry and one of the most prolific fruit and grape growing districts.

Canning

Continuous future spectacular growth is seen in the canning industry which is the largest in New Zealand. Frozen and processed meat production plays a big part in agriculture in the district, with 23 per cent of all beef cattle in NZ being produced in the Hawke’s Bay area.

Honey is also an important product of the district – in excess of one million pounds being produced annually.

JAN 17: North Island Saloon Car Championships, Hawke’s Bay Speedway, Meeanee 7pm.

JAN 17-22: National Yachting Fireball Championships from the Napier Sailing Club.

JAN 17: Greyhound Racing – Walls Challenge Cup – McLean Park, Napier, 7pm. On-course totalisator meeting. National Youth Band’s Concert – Hastings Municipal Theatre. Door Sales.

JAN 18: Full-day Surf Life Saving Carnival at Westshore Beach, Napier.

JAN 21: Twilight Surf Life Saving Carnival with Sth Australian State Centre Team at Westshore Beach, Napier from 5.30pm.

JAN 24: Hopkinson USA Camaro Grand National at the Hawke’s Bay Speedway, Meeanee. 7pm

JAN 24-25: HB Regional Sections of the National Frisbee Tournament. Windsor Park, Hastings on Sat featuring Distance and Maximum Time Aloft Events. On Sun at Anderson Park, Napier, featuring Accuracy and Throw, Run and Catch events.

JAN 28-29: Polo – Hawke’s Bay v Zimbabwe at the Tomoana Showgrounds.

Photo captions –

ABOVE AND LEFT: New Zealand’s answer to Disneyland is a proud claim on behalf of Hastings’ Fantasyland, a four-hectare adventure playground.

If on a much smaller scale than its American inspiration, Fantasyland nevertheless captures some of the magic of Walt Disney’s vision.

A two-storey castle with towers, moat and drawbridge competes for attention with a picturesque pirate ship.

Castle and ship border a lake which is the centrepiece of the Fantasyland complex.

Small hire boats ply its surface, though the bank at one sector is reserved for birds – peacocks, ducks, geese and bantams.

Round the whole complex runs a miniature railway 600m track, with carriages.

Noddy Town is a Fantasyland suburb all of its own reached through a concrete tunnel.