The 2021-22 season will commence on Sunday 3rd October 2021 and online bookings are now open!
(If you just want to check dates and times, our schedule is available here)
Discover the magic of Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui – the ocean, the majestic cliffs and the glorious gannets. Join our experienced guides and visit the largest mainland gannet colony in the world!
Our tour operates in an outdoor environment that is always changing, where there are inherent risks and where conditions can alter quickly. The tour route can be subject to unpredictable slips, rockfalls, rough and rugged terrain and other naturally occurring hazards. The recent QRA report (jointly commissioned by Hastings District Council and Dept. of Conservation) states the safest way to experience the beach route to Cape Kidnappers is with our organised tour to ‘take advantage of local knowledge and reduced exposure time’.
Come on a unique, fun eco-experience tour, in a beautiful and iconic part of the Hawke’s Bay region.
Our ‘one of a kind’ tour provides a 4-hour mild adventure, travelling along the majestically rugged coastline from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers, on vintage American tractors. The Cape is not only home to four gannet colonies which bustle with the daily rituals of these amazing seabirds, but is one of the most geologically fascinating parts of our country. The trip is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and our experienced guides have safely transported passengers and helped them enjoy this amazing area for almost 70 years.
During your time with us you will:
- Spend time with and get incredibly close to the majestic gannets in their natural habitat;
- Discover how nature has shaped and formed (and continues to!) the towering cliffs of the Cape Kidnappers coastline;
- View ancient earthquake fault lines & fossils, and see gullies formed by wind and water;
- Enjoy a memorable tour experience while travelling on our iconic vintage tractors.
A ride with Gannet Beach Adventures can be many things – a nice day beside the sea, an opportunity to view the amazing wildlife, or a trip back in time as told by the layers in the coastal cliffs. Put them all together and it is a really special experience – come and see for yourself!
The adult gannets are back in full-force by the time we open each September, settling back in and preparing their nests. We generally see the first chicks at the Black Reef colony, from mid to late November, and they will leave the colonies at around 15-16 weeks of age. As the adults start to leave once their chick has fledged, bird numbers do get low during the latter part of our season (late March/April).
Bookings are essential.
We only run one tour per day, and as our tours are extremely popular our trailers can fill up – make sure you book early to avoid being disappointed!