Central Hawke's Bay Walks
Walks toward the Coast
Walks toward the Ruahine Range

Elsthorpe Reserve
This reserve can be reached from either Waipawa or Havelock North through pleasant scenic country. Visitor facilities are provided adjacent to the Kairakau Road and a 20-minute loop track enables visitors to observe this attractive stand of native forest and bird life.

McLean’s Bush (Porangahau)
Located off Whangaehu Road some 16km south of Porangahau. The McLean family gifted this 27-hectare reserve to the Crown in 1973. It is an important remnant of pre-European coastal forest, of which there are few examples left in Hawke’s Bay. There are no tracks within the reserve but a stile at the sign-posted lay-by indicates the access point to the reserve.

The Hilltop with the World's Longest Place Name
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipu-kakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, is the longest place name in the world. It is the name given by the local Maori people, Ngati Kere, to a prominent hill to celebrate the achievements of Maori ancestor, Tamatea Pokai Whenua. From the top there are spectacular views north to Blackhead Beach, south to Cape Turnagain, the beautiful Pacific Ocean and to the east and west spiritual, ancestral mountains.

Tamatea was a famous chief and warrior of his time. His son Kahungunu was the founder of the Ngati Kahungunu tribe, which extends from Gisborne to Cape Palliser. Tamatea was so grieved over the loss of his brother in the Matanui battle, he would sit on the hill and play his lament on what is called the koauau or Maori flute. The name means 'The hilltop where Tamatea, with big knees, conqueror of mountains, eater of land, traveller over land and sea, played his kaouau (flute) to his beloved'.

This is a moderate 4 hour walk over private land and begins on Wimbledon Road, 5 kilometres south of Porangahau.