Wanderyn
city · NZ

Clifton, Hawke's Bay

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Clifton is about 20 minutes' drive southeast of Hastings, at the start of the coastal route toward Cape Kidnappers, and a car is the only realistic way to get there since there's no public transport to the beach. From Clifton itself, access to the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony is either by guided 4WD tractor-trailer tour along the beach and cliffs (tide-dependent) or, for fit walkers, a long return hike along the same route timed carefully around low tide.
Hours: Beach access to Cape Kidnappers is strictly tide-dependent and closes during the gannet breeding season's most sensitive periods (roughly early July to late October for parts of the colony); guided tours run on a fixed schedule tied to tides, so check with the operator rather than turning up.

Clifton is a small settlement at the base of the cliffs leading out to Cape Kidnappers, home to one of the largest mainland gannet colonies in the world. Most people who come to Clifton are here for one reason: to reach the colony, either on a guided tractor-trailer tour along the beach or, for the more ambitious, on foot along a route that only works at low tide and takes several hours return.

Outside the gannet season and the walk itself, Clifton is a quiet beachside spot with little in the way of infrastructure beyond a campground and a couple of places to eat, functioning mainly as the access point and staging ground for Cape Kidnappers rather than a destination to linger in on its own.

Clifton, Hawke's Bay FAQs

Do I need a guided tour to see the gannet colony, or can I walk there?

Both options exist: guided 4WD/tractor tours run on fixed, tide-timed schedules, or you can walk the beach route yourself at low tide, which takes around 5 hours return and is only advisable for fit walkers checking tide tables carefully.

When is the best time to see the gannets?

The colony is most active with chicks from around November to February; parts of the colony are closed to visitors during the most sensitive breeding period.

Is the walk to Cape Kidnappers dangerous?

It's not technically difficult but it is tide-dependent and people have been caught out by incoming tides on the beach section, so timing against the tide table is essential.

Is there anywhere to stay in Clifton itself?

There's a campground and limited accommodation; most visitors base themselves in Hastings or Napier and drive out for the day.

How far is Clifton from Napier?

About 30-35 minutes' drive, making it an easy half-day trip from either Napier or Hastings.

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