Electric Bikes to Crab Farm

We visited the sunny Hawkes Bay in December, and stayed in Napier – the art deco capital of the world. Situated on New Zealand’s east coast, Napier has a little bit of everything: small city hustle and bustle, coastal walks, funky public art, exquisite winery trails, and great cafes.

We were favoured with clear skies and blustery winds, and decided to go for a stroll along the beach in front of Marine Parade. After admiring some of the colourful 1930s streetscape (which gives Napier it’s title as Art Deco capital of the world), we stumbled upon Fishbike – a quirky bicycle hire shop located right on the waterfront. Their friendly staff and range of bicycles and hiring options had us captivated. They had something for everyone: kids bikes, tandem bikes, cruisers, mountain bikes and electric bikes! They even had coffee if you need a boost before your ride. Tempted by a need for speed, we jumped on a bright pair of red and yellow electric bikes, and sped off up the coast.

Hawkes Bay is renowned for its wineries, and we decided to spend the day following the coast and the wines. Flat coastline and extensive paved cycleways make Napier a fantastic spot for cycling, and despite a strong headwind, we had no trouble covering the kilometres thanks to the surprising torque provided from our electric bikes! In no time at all, we’d gone 11 kilometers, and we weren’t even tired when we reached Crab Farm Winery.

We arrived by lunchtime, and parked up our bikes to enjoy a cheese platter and a glass of wine.  We loved Crab Farm’s relaxed, low-key atmosphere, and felt free to explore the vineyard and surrounding country landscape. With the sea and beach bordering the east, rural countryside and lots of walks to the west, and more wineries to explore north, we were spoilt for activity choices.

We spent the whole day cruising the coastline on the e-bikes, enjoying the wineries, and taking in all the region had to offer. We were sad to return the bikes at the end of the day, but vowed to return and try a different bike next time – perhaps a tandem? Or maybe a fat bike, to ride along the beach? We loved some of the unique details of Fishbike (such as the fact they name their bicycles after the first person to ride them), and the ease of reaching different parts of the Hawkes Bay from their beach-front location.

After hanging up the helmets, we found a great restaurant in Napier to replenish our energy levels and plan our next adventure!

-Lucy Tothill