A local’s guide to the coastal Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail: Clive, Haumoana & Te Āwanga
November brings one of our favourite fixtures on the regional arts calendar: the Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail. Across two weekends, artists open their studios, galleries and creative spaces, inviting visitors to see what they make, how they make it, and perhaps take a little something home.
We were delighted to see the Arts Trail featured in the latest issue of Kia Ora magazine. It also reminded us how fortunate we are to be part of Hawke’s Bay’s coastal creative community. Along the stretch from Clive through Haumoana to Te Āwanga, a remarkable concentration of artists and galleries sits within easy reach of one another. You can spend a very satisfying day discovering new work without spending half of it in the car.
So, if you’re planning your Arts Trail itinerary, allow us to introduce you to our corner of the region.
Art, with a little sea air
There’s a particular pleasure in exploring art at a leisurely pace, and the coastal route lends itself rather well to that. Between studio visits, there are ocean views, rural roads, local cafés and the occasional compelling reason to stop somewhere you hadn’t planned to. As Kia Ora magazine puts it:.
“Between studio visits, travellers take in sweeping coastal vistas, vineyard country and heritage townships before stepping into creative spaces where painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, photography and printmaking are brought to life.”
It’s an appealing combination: a little culture, a little fresh air and plenty to look at. And with such a variety of artists working in this small stretch of coast, there’s no need to confine yourself to one medium or style.
Whether you’re an established collector, an enthusiastic browser or simply curious about what’s being made in your own backyard, this is an excellent place to start.
Your coastal Arts Trail itinerary mini-trail
The official trail makes it easy to plan a route, and our neighbourhood offers a particularly rewarding cluster of stops. From ceramics and sculpture to painting and gallery exhibitions, there’s plenty to discover along the way.
Here are the local stops to look out for:
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A living gallery within a working café, showcasing work by a variety of local artists across different media. A good place to pause for coffee, something to eat and a little art along the way.
📍 468 Clifton Road, Te Āwanga
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Visit the historic woolshed setting to discover sculpture by Marcus Helmore, whose carved Mount Somers and Ōamaru stone birds and animals combine clean, minimal forms with a lovely sense of movement. Jane Gray also exhibits here during the Trail, with painting and ceramics shaped by the environments in which she works.
📍 475 Clifton Road, Te Āwanga (Marcus Helmore); Jane Gray exhibits at Clifton Station Woolshed, Clifton Road.
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Expect vibrant landscapes, florals and abstracts in a range of sizes, alongside original paintings and prints. An inviting stop for anyone looking for a piece that brings a little colour home.
📍 45 Kuku Street, Te Āwanga
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That's us! Your coastal art itinerary wouldn't be complete without a visit to us. Paper-Works is a contemporary gallery showcasing established and emerging New Zealand artists, with original paintings, photography, limited-edition prints and sculpture. Take your time, look closely and see what catches your eye.
📍 268 Clifton Road, Te Āwanga
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Jo's oil paintings capture the landscapes of Hawke's Bay and beyond, with a distinctive fluidity and ethereal quality. A stop for those drawn to evocative interpretations of the natural world.
📍 261 Clifton Road, Te Āwanga
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Sea-inspired ceramics full of swirls, fish and colours drawn from shells, sand and the ocean. Suellen's work is all about movement and joy, with pieces that feel closely connected to the coast.
📍 157A Raymond Road, Haumoana
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Working across acrylics, oils and mixed media, Lesley explores colour, abstraction and landscape. Her background in fashion design and textiles lends each work a distinctive, considered character.
📍 29 Side Road, Haumoana
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Elizabeth creates contemporary relief wall pieces inspired by historical decorative plates. Intricate floral forms, cast in plaster or resin, give these works their finely detailed, sculptural quality.
📍 13 Clifton Road, Haumoana
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Playful, graphically bold paintings and oil pastels make up Robert's practice. Look out for strong visual statements and expressive use of colour and form.
📍 12 Holden Avenue, Haumoana
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Ema and Stephen create elegant stone designs defined by simplicity, balance and flow. Made in a home studio designed by Ema's father, architect John Scott, these tactile forms sit beautifully at the intersection of art, material and architecture.
📍 9 Haumoana Road, Haumoana
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Annette's ceramic work celebrates the ordinary things that make up everyday life. From one-off objects to still-life compositions and small sculptures, her practice finds plenty of creative possibility in the familiar.
📍 148 Ferry Road, Clive
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Drawing on her experience in fashion pattern-cutting and millinery, Emma creates striking, tactile artworks from wheat-straw braid. An unusual material and a considered process make this a particularly distinctive stop on the trail.
📍 20 Deakin Place, Clive
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A diverse gallery featuring affordable work across abstract art, Māori-focused pieces, modern landscapes and vibrant figurative painting. Worth a look for visitors interested in a broad range of styles and perspectives.
📍 10 Plumtree Lane, Clive
That’s thirteen stops, all within a relatively compact stretch of coastline. You could visit a handful at a leisurely pace, or make a day of working your way through the list. The beauty of the Arts Trail is that there’s no prescribed order and no particular pace to maintain. Follow your interests, linger where something appeals, and leave a little room for the unexpected.
Make a weekend of it
The Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail is self-guided and free to attend, making it an easy outing whether you’re a serious art enthusiast, looking for something different to do with friends, or simply curious about the creative talent on your doorstep.
When: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, and Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026.
Where: Across Hawke’s Bay, including the coastal route through Clive, Haumoana and Te Āwanga.
Plan your route: Download the official 2026–2027 Hawke’s Bay Arts Trail Guidebook from Arts Inc. or pick up a physical copy from the Hastings Arts Centre.
Our advice? Gather a few art-loving friends, set aside more time than you think you’ll need, and resist the temptation to rush from one stop to the next. Some of the best discoveries happen when you give yourself time to look properly.
We’ll be opening our doors at Paper-Works Gallery on all four days of the Arts Trail, and we’d love to see you.
See you on the coast.