Discover Waipawa: History and Walks

Waipawa is one of New Zealand’s oldest inland towns. Historic buildings and the one-hour Waipawa Pavement Walk give the town a distinct cultural and historical character. The Tukituki Trail, Waipawa Spring Festival and Golf Club offer other interests. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether you mainly want to explore the town’s history on foot or include other activities.

Historic Buildings in Waipawa

At 23 Main Street stands the former Bank of New Zealand building, a Category 2 Historic Place that now houses a museum. The CHB Municipal Theatre in the centre of Waipawa is a historic, extensively restored building. For many years, it has been used for community events, celebrations, performing arts and educational activities.

The building at 51–55 Ruataniwha Street is considered Waipawa’s oldest commercial building and dates from around 1870. The Pines at 2 Rose Street is the oldest house in Waipawa. St Peter’s Church (Anglican) at 52 Kenilworth Street is a Category 2 Historic Place and is listed as privately owned. These historic landmarks therefore differ in both building type and status: from the former bank building now used as a museum, to the theatre, commercial and residential buildings, and the privately owned church.

An Hour on the Waipawa Pavement Walk

The Waipawa Pavement Walk is an easy, one-hour walk to significant historic sites. These include the old town centre, churches, the railway and former shops. The walk starts at the Heritage Trail board in the car park beside the Central Hawke’s Bay Museum. Its duration gives the walk a clear time frame, while its stops bring together several facets of the town’s history along one walking route.

Tukituki Trail and Golf

The Tukituki Trail runs between Waipukurau and Waipawa along mostly flat limestone paths beside the Tukituki River and is suitable for walking and cycling. One limestone section of the trail connects via the road to Waipawa Township. Unlike the Pavement Walk, the focus here is not on a stated duration and historic stops, but on the connection between the two towns, the trail surface and its use for walking or cycling.

Waipawa Golf Club is a traditional 12-hole golf course near the Waipawa River. If golf is a factor in your travel plans, check the current course configuration before your visit, as it may change.

Festival and Events Programme

The Waipawa Spring Festival, also known as “Duck Day”, is a Central Hawke’s Bay tradition dating back to 1995. At the 2026 Duck Day, held at Nelly Jull Park in Waipawa, the programme included market stalls, food trucks, live music and entertainment for all ages. The programme may change between editions. Before planning a visit, check the date and programme details for the relevant edition.

The historic sites, Pavement Walk, trail, festival and golf course offer different ways to enjoy a stay in Waipawa. The specific information about walking time and historic stops makes the Pavement Walk especially easy to plan; the trail focuses on the connection between the towns and opportunities for walking and cycling.

Discover more destinations: Patoka, Puketapu, Takapau, Elsthorpe, Wallingford, Porangahau, Waipukurau, Havelock North

For the broader travel overview: Hawkes Bay.