Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony tour: Drive the plateau, no walking

Watch gannets dive from meters away while the vehicle does the climbing

Gannet Safaris Overland is a 3-hour guided tour that drives onto the private Gannet plateau at Cape Kidnappers, stopping at multiple viewpoints across the 360-degree Hawkes Bay landscape. The minivan takes you within meters of the gannet colony; no walking is required. Tea and coffee are served during the tour, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

• Drive over private Cape Kidnappers farm
• Stop at lookout points with 360 views
• View cliffs and Clifton Beach
• Observe gannets diving and swooping
• Enjoy tea and coffee

The Experience

The tour starts with a drive across the private farm of Cape Kidnappers Station and its wildlife sanctuary, climbing toward the plateau itself. Along the way, you stop at several lookout points that open onto the full span of Hawkes Bay—cliffs dropping down to Clifton Beach below, farmland and coastline stretching to the horizon. The vehicle does all the elevation gain, so the focus stays on what you are seeing rather than the effort of getting there.

Once on the plateau, you are within meters of the gannet colony. The birds dive and swoop in the air around you, and the guide points out their behavior and what makes this site significant for the species. Tea and coffee are served while you watch, and the air-conditioned minivan means you can stay as long as the light and the birds allow without the heat becoming a factor. The whole experience runs three hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan transport.
• 3-hour fully guided tour.
• tea and coffee service.
• access to multiple viewpoints across Hawkes Bay and the Gannet plateau.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Gannet Safaris Overland

Is this one for you?If you are staying in Hawkes Bay without a rental car, this tour picks you up from your hotel and handles the drive to Cape Kidnappers—no navigation, no parking logistics, and no walking once you arrive. The minivan also means you stay comfortable in the heat while watching the birds, which matters on a full afternoon in the sun.

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Top questions

What exactly happens during the three hours on the tour?

The tour includes a drive across Cape Kidnappers Station with stops at multiple lookout points offering 360-degree views of Hawkes Bay and the cliffs above Clifton Beach, then positioning you on the Gannet plateau itself within meters of the colony so you can watch the birds dive and swoop. Tea and coffee are served during this time.

Do I have to walk to see the gannets?

No walking is required on this tour. The minivan drives onto the Gannet plateau, so you reach the birds and the viewpoints without leaving the vehicle or climbing on foot.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes transport in an air-conditioned minivan, the 3-hour guided experience, and tea and coffee served during the tour.

Where does the tour pick up from?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available as an option at checkout; if you do not select that option, you will arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

Can I book this tour if I am arriving on a cruise ship?

This tour is not available for cruise ship passengers. Gannet Safaris Overland offers a separate tour designed specifically for cruise arrivals, bookable through their website.