Hawke's Bay
All scenic roads lead to Hawke's Bay (Te Matau-a-Māui), whether you're crossing a geothermal highway, hugging a beautiful coastal stretch, or passing through the heart of wine country. It's stunning once you arrive, too.
The world's most complete Art Deco city awaits, as does a sprawling 200-kilometre network of cycle trails, and dramatic natural wonders steeped in Māori mythology. The temperate climate helps the east coast region live up to its name as 'the fruit bowl of New Zealand', while the blossoming wine appellation is one of the country's oldest and largest. Fresh produce is the star of the show at some of the country's best restaurants and farmers' markets, and you can knock back champion syrah and chardonnay from more than 200 vineyards, 70 wineries and 30 cellar doors.
See & Do
Take a tour of dramatic natural wonders, get up close to a huge gannet colony, or unwind on one of the region's best beaches.
Climb (or drive) up a sleeping giant
Te Mata Peak is considered to be the most significant natural landscape in Hawke’s Bay. It has cultural importance to Māori, with evidence of pā sites and settlement, while legend says the hill portrays the body of the Waimārama chief, Te Mata. Today, you can walk, cycle or drive right to the top of the “Sleeping Giant” for sweeping 360-degree views across Hawke’s Bay and Heretaunga Plains, from Māhia to Cape Kidnappers. Read more
Te Mata Peak rises up to 399 metres. BROOK SABIN
Te Mata Peak rises up to 399 metres. BROOK SABIN
Insider tip: On the way down Te Mata Peak, pop into the Big Redwood Forest, where you'll find more than 200 Californian redwoods — the tallest tree species in the world.
The dramatic walk you've never heard of
New Zealand's own version of Pride Rock is tucked away deep in Hawke's Bay. It's called the Bell Rock Loop Track, and there's a bit of effort for your reward. First, there’s an hour drive north of Napier. Then, a three-hour loop track through lush native bush and across the rolling hills on the Maungaharuru Range. At the top you'll find a series of enormous alien-like rocks clung to the side of a cliff, overlooking the vast hinterland below. The rocks are open to walk on and have your "Rafiki” moment high above the Pride Lands, but commonsense is important – don't go near the edge. Read more
The best farmers' market in New Zealand
Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market is one of the oldest and largest farmers' markets in the country. The weekly gathering, held at Hastings' Waikoko Gardens since 2000, is the ultimate destination for breakfast and provides an opportunity to meet the region's growers and producers. Hopping between stallholders, you might learn how to grow your own mushrooms, pick up fruit and veggies harvested the same morning, and be treated to samples of buttery walnut brittle. Bring an empty stomach and a tote bag to load up on everything from fig salami to honeycomb, hot sauce and hemp. Read more
Real fruit ice cream is a popular market choice in summer. BROOK SABIN
Real fruit ice cream is a popular market choice in summer. BROOK SABIN
It's called Taumata Hill for short. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
It's called Taumata Hill for short. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
The longest place-name in the world
At 85 letters, this hill in Hawke’s Bay not only claims the longest place-name in New Zealand, but also the longest in the world. It was given this name after a battle here between legendary chief, adventurer and warrior Tamatea and the local Ngāti Hine tribe, during which Tamatea’s brother was killed. Grieving, he spent several days afterwards on the hill playing his flute in a mourning tribute. Locals will pronounce all 10 metres of the sign fluently for you, but its everyday name is Taumata Hill. Read more
Where to find the best beaches
With hot weather always on the menu and an endless stretch of coastline, nothing beats summer in Hawke’s Bay. There is no shortage of epic beaches and coastal haunts to explore. Beautiful seaside cliffs and white sand make Waipātiki Beach a popular destination in the warmer months. Waimārama is the perfect place to catch one of the first sunrises in the world, while further south the quintessential Kiwi beach of Pourerere offers safe swimming in the lagoon. Read more
The world's most complete Art Deco city
Hawke's Bay is the scene of New Zealand's deadliest disaster – the 1931 earthquake killed 256, injured thousands, and destroyed most buildings in Napier.
For a new Art Deco-inspired city to rise from the ashes in just two years – despite little insurance and the ongoing fallout of the Great Depression – is remarkable. It’s arguably one of the country’s greatest achievements.
Don't miss spending (at least) a night in the city regarded as the best celebration of Art Deco in the Southern Hemisphere – it's like walking around one big open-air museum.
The Art Deco Trust does an excellent job of telling the fascinating story of Napier's destruction and its reincarnation as the world's most complete Art Deco city.
Most of its tours are on foot, but it's novel and fun to be chauffeured around in a vintage car by a well-informed local guide who is dressed in genuine 1930s clothing.
Read more
Insider tip: The Art Deco Trust has both downloadable maps and apps available for purchase so you can take a tour of Napier's architecture in your own time.
A spectacular wildlife experience
On Gannet Safaris Overland three-hour guided experience you are driven out to see the huge nesting colony of gannets near the end of the Cape Kidnappers promontory. This is one of only three sites in the whole country where gannets nest on the mainland – and it's arguably the most dramatic and spectacular one. Around 20,000 birds, with two-metre wingspans and gorgeous golden plumage on their heads and necks, gather here from spring. You'll see them in the distance arrowing into the sea for fish and flying overhead to land near their neatly-spaced nests. Read more
See around 20,000 gannets in their natural habitat. BROOK SABIN
See around 20,000 gannets in their natural habitat. BROOK SABIN
Mission Estate's rosé long lunch is a highlight of the F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic. SUPPLIED
Mission Estate's rosé long lunch is a highlight of the F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic. SUPPLIED
The best times to be in and around Hawke's Bay
As you would imagine from a region calling itself “Food and Wine Country”, Hawke's Bay has plenty of nourishing activities throughout the year to satisfy visitors. Highlights on the calendar include the country’s only festival dedicated to cider and a multi-day, multi-venue food and wine celebration. But it’s not all about eating and drinking. From indie music festivals to glitzy Art Deco takeovers, the area is also a haven for entertainment lovers. Read more
MUST-VISIT NATURAL WONDERS
Lake Waikaremoana
Around a three-hour drive from Napier in Te Urewera is the large and deep Lake Waikaremoana. Legend has it the “sea of rippling waters” was created by a powerful taniwha while trying to reach the sea. An ancient petrified forest sits beneath the water’s surface and the lake is surrounded by one of the North Island's largest untouched native forests. The 46km one-way track is one of New Zealand’s most remote Great Walks. It’s a three- to four-day hike which follows the coast of the lake. The track and lake are currently closed to the public.
Shine Falls. BROOK SABIN
Shine Falls. BROOK SABIN
Shine Falls
A trip to Shine Falls, Hawke's Bay's most spectacular waterfall, is an excellent way to spend a hot summer's day. It sits an hour and a half north of Napier, with a further hour-long walk through farmland and native forest to get to the falls. It's worth the effort; the thunderous 58-metre drop, nestled in dense bush, is a wondrous sight and particularly popular with locals. On the drive home, take a pitstop at Waipatiki Beach, a golden stretch of sand with cliffs either side, for a cool-off and ice cream.
Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui
Another spectacular site with historical significance is Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui. According to Māori tradition, the dramatic headland represents the hook that Māui used to fish up Te-Ika-a-Māui. To really get an appreciation of the towering cliffs which date back five million years, take the 19km walk along the beach. It’s only accessible at low tide and is subject to landslides. The world's largest and most accessible mainland gannet colony sits at the top of the peninsula.
Cape Kidnappers. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
Cape Kidnappers. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
Maraetotara Falls
Found just 15 minutes outside Havelock North and 40 minutes from Napier, Maraetotara Falls is well-loved and known by locals, but a hidden gem for those new to the region. To access the 15-metre tiered waterfall, it’s an easy 10-minute walk from the carpark down wooden stairs and through native bush. The large swimming hole is the perfect spot to cool off from the last of the scorching summer – just be cautious swimming below the falls. Between swims, there's also the kilometre-long Maraetotara Historic Walk to a heritage power station.
Hidden Gems
Soak in a private hot spring overlooking nīkau forest, explore the coast by railbike, and visit Hawke's Bay's most underrated small town.
Learn about traditional Māori navigation
The spectacular Ātea a Rangi Star Compass is one of the Hawke's Bay latest waterfront attractions. To the untrained eye, it looks like New Zealand's version of Stonehenge. More than 220 stars were used by early Māori for navigating, and the star compass is a traditional way of referencing them to help seafarers get their bearings. The compass is now being used to teach a new breed of navigators, who before Covid-19, were making trips throughout the Pacific in double-hulled sailing waka using only the stars. The site also marks the first place in Hawke’s Bay where Europeans and Māori lived together. Read more
Ātea a Rangi Star Compass is located in Waitangi Regional Park. BROOK SABIN
Ātea a Rangi Star Compass is located in Waitangi Regional Park. BROOK SABIN
National Aquarium of New Zealand is a rescue centre for little blue penguins. BROOK SABIN
National Aquarium of New Zealand is a rescue centre for little blue penguins. BROOK SABIN
Feed the world's smallest penguins
New Zealand is home to the smallest penguin on the planet, and Napier’s National Aquarium of New Zealand operates a rescue centre for these little blue penguins. For those who can't be reintroduced to the wild, they start a new life at the aquarium’s penguin park, and you can get a chance to feed them. The 45-minute feeding and tour includes a close-up look at the rescue centre, and a sit-down feeding session where you hand-feed the curious critters. Read more
The secret life of bees
New Zealand's most popular honey brand, Arataki, has launched a 'honey encounter' where you can experience what happens from hive to pot. You'll be fitted with a beekeeper’s outfit and taken to a hive to have a look inside. You'll learn about the drone, worker and queen bees and get a chance to try and find them all within the beehive. After the experience, you'll get to taste all the different types of honey Arataki produces. Read more
Your own private hot pool in the rainforest
Mōrere Hot Springs is a hidden gem found on the Pacific Coast Highway between Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. The charmingly basic pools are set in 364 hectares of rainforest and fed by ancient seawater bubbling up to the surface through a fault line. A beautiful 10-minute walk will see you arrive at a series of secluded hot pools. And you only need to pay $4 on top of the general entry price to secure your own private pool overlooking the nīkau forest. Read more
Insider tip: A pair of free thermal pools sit in the Kaweka Forest. It's a windy, hour-long drive from Napier to reach the popular Mangatutu Hot Springs camping, picnic and fishing spot.
Walk with the dinosaurs
The Bay of Plenty-Hawke's Bay border cuts right through the middle of this prehistoric rainforest. The Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne conservation park, called a 'dinosaur park' for its ancient species of rimu, tōtara, mataī and miro, stretches over 60,000 hectares. The best way to see them all is on one of the various walking tracks. The Arohaki Lagoon Track is a popular short walk to a platform looking over a rain-fed lagoon surrounded by towering kahikatea. Read more
The Big Redwood Forest can be found up Te Mata Peak. BROOK SABIN
The Big Redwood Forest can be found up Te Mata Peak. BROOK SABIN
Arataki Honey offers honey encounters. BROOK SABIN
Arataki Honey offers honey encounters. BROOK SABIN
Cape Kidnappers represents the hook that Māui used to fish up the North Island. BROOK SABIN
Cape Kidnappers represents the hook that Māui used to fish up the North Island. BROOK SABIN
The walk to Shine Falls crosses farmland and through bush. BROOK SABIN
The walk to Shine Falls crosses farmland and through bush. BROOK SABIN
Inside Napier's haunted prison
Napier is full of delights, but it does have some dark tales to tell, and its prison, up on the hill, is a fascinatingly grim place to hear some of them. Napier Prison is the oldest jail in the country, built in 1862 and housing reluctant guests for over 130 years. Today it welcomes interested visitors, who can wander through on a self-guided tour listening to and reading stories about those who did time here. There’s fun to be had too, including escape room challenges, orange prisoner jumpsuits and even a potential ghostly guide. Read more
Ocean Spa has open-air pools and heated spas. BROOK SABIN
Ocean Spa has open-air pools and heated spas. BROOK SABIN
An ocean spa with sea views
You don't need wads of cash or to venture into the rainforest to unwind in Hawkes' Bay. At Napier's suitably named Ocean Spa you can be sitting in a waterfront spa pool with beach views for just $10.70. It's the perfect place for kids to the play in the cooler pools, while adults enjoy a bit of peace in the warmer spas. After your soak, grab a coffee, and head on a daily guided walk of the city’s Art Deco features. Read more
Rail bikes are a great way to see the coast. BROOK SABIN
Rail bikes are a great way to see the coast. BROOK SABIN
Rocket ride on two wheels
Most people associate Māhia Peninsula with New Zealand's version of NASA: Rocket Lab. Gisborne Railbiking wants to put the region on the map for a new reason: a spectacular railbiking adventure. The world-first design sees two push-bikes fused together on a rail line, with a steel chassis holding them in place – you can’t fall off. The ride starts along the rugged coast before crossing a 200-metre bridge and weaving slowly up into the hills, offering spectacular views of the expansive beaches below. While in Māhia, head to a secluded beach for a walk or swim. Read more
The most underrated place in Hawke's Bay
While Napier and Hastings often get the most attention, there's a bustling little village that's the most underrated place in the region. In recent years, Havelock North was named the country's most beautiful suburb – but that’s not the only reason it should be on your radar. If you shrunk Melbourne down to the size of a village and surrounded it with vineyards and orchards, you'd be starting to get the idea. It has a thriving café, restaurant and boutique shopping scene that just gets better each time you return. The region also boasts a shrine to all things figs, a winery that feels like a slice of Tuscany and an interactive honey centre. Read more
TOP WALKING & CYCLING TRAILS
Tukituki Trail
A must for both walkers and cyclists, these trails can be taken as leisurely as you like, or in the case of mountain-bikers, as strenuously as you want. The trail along the Tukituki River has undergone improvements, and offers a wide variety of sights as well as easy riding and walking. Make sure you get time to check out the 100m-long Tarewa Swing bridge.
Longview Hut
If you want some excellent views of the region, and you don’t mind working up a bit of a sweat, then a trip to the Longview Hut on the Kashmir Road tramping track could be for you. At 1200m, it is situated above the bush edge, but below the ridge. The advanced trail is a 2–3 hour (one-way) hike through the Ruahine Forest Park and provides access to the tussock-covered high country. The hut itself has 12 bunks, and is first come, first served.
Marine Parade Explorer. KIRSTEN SIMCOX
Marine Parade Explorer. KIRSTEN SIMCOX
Lake Tūtira
There are plenty of trails for all levels of fitness in and around the freshwater Lake Tūtira. This popular fishing spot is also a bird sanctuary with an abundance of wildlife including black swans, white-face herons and fantails. Shorter walks, including 1-5km loops, give amazing views across the lake and hill country to the Kaweka Range, while longer tramps include visits to the Table Mountain trig station.
Marine Parade Explorer
One for those who may be short on time but want to get the best the area has to offer, the Marine Parade Explorer is a 15km gentle ride taking in Napier’s parks, gardens and kids’ activities. At Waitangi Regional Park, have a stop at the Ātea a Rangi Star Compass and learn about how Māori navigators traversed the Pacific Ocean. There are plenty of stops to grab some refreshments along the way.
Sunrise Track
One the region’s most popular tracks is the Sunrise. It’s a good one for families with children and new trampers. The 5.2km trail snakes its way through changing forest types and offers some great views of the Hawke’s Bay plains. The Sunrise Hut is situated on the tops of the Ruahine Range and in a tussock basin beside the bush edge at 1280m. As the name suggests, it’s a great place to watch the sun come up.
Wineries Ride. SUPPLIED
Wineries Ride. SUPPLIED
Wineries Ride
This one does exactly what it says on the tin: a ride through some of the country’s top vineyards. You can choose to take the long leg from Clive at 60km or the shorter one from Roy’s Hill Reserve at 30km. Either way, be prepared for some stops at cellar doors in the country’s oldest and second-largest wine region, including the likes of Stonecroft Wines, Alpha Domus and Black Estate.
Eat & Drink
Dig out your loose change for New York-style pizza, wrap your hands around a plump bacon sandwich, and hop between cellar doors.
Take your palate to the forest floor
Hastings Distillers is said to be New Zealand's first producer of certified organic artisan spirits and liqueurs. The boutique gin distillery was launched by Kate Galloway and David Ramonteu after decades-long careers in the wine industry. The couple’s elegant tasting room in central Hastings is the spot to sample unique creations. Visitors can walk in and sit down for cocktails and gin flights, or book ahead for guided tastings to sample a bitter orange apéritif and a premium sipping gin infused with kauri gum. Read more
Hastings Distillers' tasting room is found on Heretaunga Street East. HASTINGS DISTILLERS
Hastings Distillers' tasting room is found on Heretaunga Street East. HASTINGS DISTILLERS
Getting figgy with it
Figs are one of life's great joys and this humble edible flower is celebrated in full glory at the region’s very own figgery. Te Mata Figs is an organic farm and cafe in Havelock North, and owner Helen and Murray Douglas seriously give a fig about the 30 varieties they grow. The on-site café is a shrine to figs, with delicious creations like toasted fig bread, fig walnut and blue cheese pizza and a salted fig chocolate tart – to name just a few. Figs are generally picked late summer, so if you head there soon, you're in for a treat. Read more
Fresh figs are available in late summer and autumn. BROOK SABIN
Fresh figs are available in late summer and autumn. BROOK SABIN
Fresh eats for pocket change
If you like Mexican food, you’ll love Mamacita in Napier and Havelock North. Tacos, quesadillas and nachos lead the menu, but don’t dare leave without ordering the deep-fried churros. Napier's Vinci’s Pizza is the spot to chow down on classic New York-style slices, as well as the region’s largest pizza, while Funbuns in Hastings dishes up Asian fusion street food and cocktails. Look out for the Korean-inspired steamed bao and tandoori loaded fries. Read more
Vinci's Pizza dishes up thin-crust slices. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
Vinci's Pizza dishes up thin-crust slices. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
The Bacon Sandwich Co. sells between 450 and 700 butties every Sunday. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
The Bacon Sandwich Co. sells between 450 and 700 butties every Sunday. HAWKE'S BAY TOURISM
The ultimate hangover cure
Since The Bacon Sandwich Co.’s arrival at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market in 2008, the food truck has become one of the most popular stalls. Mark Verry's butties are impossible to miss – unless you turn up once they’ve sold out. Follow the wafts of bacon, retrace the steps of market-goers quietly tucking into their plump sarnies, and you’ll eventually encounter the little white food truck. The menu is as straightforward as Verry's business name; visitors can choose from six menu items – four of which feature bacon – plus coffee. Read more
This is food and wine country
If you're still hungry, there are plenty more places to treat your taste buds. The main meals at Napier's Central Fire Station Bistro are tasty – but nothing beats the white chocolate mousse with tangy poached fruit. It’s one of those desserts you don’t forget. Havelock North's bright pink Pipi pizza café serves slices made with local ingredients and delicate bases, Black Barn Bistro is where you can dine under the vines, and The Puketapu is where locals go if they want some exceptional pub food. Read more
Three spots for a cold one
It's not all about squashed grapes in the country’s second-largest wine region. Brave Brewing is a popular taproom and eatery serving sessionable craft beer and American diner-style grub. Havelock North brewpub Giant Brewing is the spot to sample full-flavoured European-style pilsner, fruity India pale ale and coffee mocha stout. Visitors to GodsOwn Brewery's beautiful brewery and hop farm in Maraekakaho can enjoy seasonal brews and wood-fired pizza while lounging between hop bines or sitting in a safari dining tent. Read more
Brave Brewing is one of Hawke's Bay's most popular taprooms. HEATHER LIDDELL
Brave Brewing is one of Hawke's Bay's most popular taprooms. HEATHER LIDDELL
Insider tip: For a taste of Craggy Range in the city, head to Mary's Wine Bar in Havelock North. It's a collaboration between top chef Casey McDonald and the award-winning winery.
Wine and cinema meet at Smith & Sheths. BROOK SABIN
Wine and cinema meet at Smith & Sheths. BROOK SABIN
Havelock North's secret wine studio
Winemaker Smith & Sheths has a secret wine studio in Havelock North, which looks like it could be straight out of a James Bond film. You'll be led to a dimly lit room, with plush leather couches, before being guided through a private tasting with a sommelier. It’s intentionally dark to awaken your other senses. With each tasting, you'll be shown a spectacular film of where your wine comes from – even getting to sample straight from the barrel. Read more
THE BEST CELLAR DOORS
Elephant Hill
A stylish cellar door with nautical accents, Elephant Hill has a beautiful coastal setting complete with decorative infinity pool, ocean views and endless vines to look out to. Choose the front deck, tasting room or the sunken lounge and sample the wines while looking out to the cliffs of Cape Kidnappers. You can also just pop in for a glass of wine if you don’t want to do the full tasting.
Trinity Hill. SUPPLIED
Trinity Hill. SUPPLIED
Trinity Hill
Trinity Hill is in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels area, the unique stony gravel wine-growing region that makes many of Hawke’s Bay wines famous. The cellar door is a classy and warm setting with views to their white barrel hall through a glass window, where you can see winemakers in action. There’s seating outdoors with an expansive lawn for those lovely sunny days. Choose a self-guided tasting, or a guided tasting with Trinity’s wine experts.
Te Awanga Estate
With expansive views across the vines and out to the coastline, Te Awanga Estate is a beautiful spot to enjoy nature, alongside quality wines. Enjoy their grazing menus or famous pizza to go with your wine tasting in a relaxed, sunny setting outdoors, that will make you feel like you’re relaxing at the bach. Find a spot on the deck or take a picnic rug down the lawn to enjoy the afternoon. Children are welcome and you can bring your pooch.
Te Awanga. SUPPLIED
Te Awanga. SUPPLIED
The Mission Estate. SUPPLIED
The Mission Estate. SUPPLIED
Mission Estate
Established by French missionaries in 1851 to make communion wine, Mission Estate has a rich winemaking history. Many traditional winemaking techniques have been handed down from their early French pioneers and are still used today. Enjoy the tastings in this restored seminary building with beautiful views of Napier and soak up the French heritage.
Te Mata Estate
Named after the magnificent ridge line, Te Mata Estate was gifted this name by Ngāti Kahungunu. The winery was established 1896, making it a unique winemaking heritage site. Today, it produces around 40,000 cases a year of premium wine. Guests can sample six of the current release wines, add a winery tour to the tasting, or choose a special VIP private vineyard and winery tour with seated tasting.
Church Road. SUPPLIED
Church Road. SUPPLIED
Church Road
One of the oldest wineries in New Zealand, Church Road oozes sophistication and elegance with beautiful grounds big enough to host live music events. There are several tasting options, but you can also opt for premium experiences with behind-the-scenes winery tours, or the full TOM experience, a tour based on Church Road’s flagship range that is only produced in outstanding vintages, named after pioneering winemaker Tom McDonald.
Stay
Sleep in style at a luxury lodge overlooking the Pacific, book into a hidden safari tent, and stay at a magical retreat in the Hawke's Bay hinterland.
A tranquil haven in the countryside
Tucked away in rural Havelock North, this sprawling 2.2-hectare property comprises two separate holiday homes — John's House and The Pavilion — as well as the residential property of the owners. John's House is an architectural gem that looks out on to a massive garden lush with a mix of native, exotic and fruit trees. There's ample space; two bedrooms and an adjoining room can together comfortably sleep around 10 people. Read more
The Masonic is located in the centre of Napier. ART DECO MASONIC
The Masonic is located in the centre of Napier. ART DECO MASONIC
Right royal accommodation
Everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Mark Twain has stayed at the Grand Dame of Hawke's Bay hospitality. The Masonic Hotel has been a mainstay on Napier's waterfront since 1861. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way — it was destroyed in a fire and then levelled by an earthquake. But it bounced in Art Deco style thanks to architect W J Prowse. This is no cookie-cutter beige motel. Each room is an explosion of colour, ornate feature walls and exquisite furnishings abound. The hotel offers a choice of suites, king- and queen-size rooms, plus a two-bedroom apartment for groups and families. Read more
The luxury tent fit for an emperor
This luxury glamping retreat can be found at the base of Cape Kidnappers on a private farm in its own little valley. The safari tent has everything you need for a winter escape: an indoor fire, enormous comfy bed, and an outdoor firepit and bath for stargazing. Four excellent wineries are a five-minute drive away, but Clifton Glamping has done everything so well, you won't want to leave. Grab a drink next to the fire, then head for an early night in the super-soft bed and fall asleep to the rustle of trees. It's bliss. Read more
The garden pool at Te Mata House. BROOK SABIN
The garden pool at Te Mata House. BROOK SABIN
A grand escape to behold
Tucked away in Havelock North is a grand villa that has been so meticulously restored, it's as if you're stepping foot on a movie set. Entrepreneur Jacqueline Taylor moved to the region in 2016 and set about restoring Te Mata House. Now, it's one of the most immaculate properties in the country, and visitors can get a taste of this wondrous place by staying the night. Guests can stay in one of two detached houses and use the expansive grounds, including a large pool, spa, loungers, a tennis court, and even a tree house for the kids. Read more
Sleep amongst the vines
Most people venture to Craggy Range for cellar door tastings, or to experience the two-hatted restaurant, but you can also spend a night here. The most popular option is the two-bedroom vineyard cottage. If you have a little more cash to splash, the vineyard has a series of river lodges that sit between the vines and the Tukituki River. The grand lodges have two opulent bedrooms – the kind with eight pillows resting on each bed – an enormous kitchen and two outdoor patios, including one designed around an impressive fire. Your villas in the vines have a kitchen, but you'll want to enjoy at least one meal at the on-site restaurant. Read more
New Zealand's best luxury retreat
If you want a taste of how millionaires live – look no further. On one of New Zealand's most breathtaking peninsulas, among 6000 acres of rolling coastal hills you’ll find The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. Every detail in this remarkable 22-suite resort is extraordinary. The striking entrance is like walking through doors to heaven; the dining area is a glass-fronted masterpiece with coastal views as far as the eye can see; the library has extremely pricey art hanging in every direction. You'll also find an impressive infinity pool and one of the best golf courses in the world. And as you'd expect at a world-class retreat, the food is remarkable too. This place makes your normal "five-star hotel" feel like a backpackers. Read more
There are a number of places inside The Farm to relax. BROOK SABIN
There are a number of places inside The Farm to relax. BROOK SABIN
The magical escape in the middle of nowhere
Deep in the Hawke's Bay hinterland is a sprawling homestead that's a bit like finding gold at the end of a rainbow. Originally home to the pioneering Ormond family, the immaculate Wallingford retreat is now run by Jeanette Woerner and her husband Chris Stockdale. A series of large rooms overlook the tranquil grounds, with balconies for guests to unwind on. There is a constant rotation of snacks on offer, and by night guests are treated to an elaborate degustation — be prepared for some of the best food you've ever eaten. It's the kind of place that forces you to unwind. Just don’t make the mistake of staying for only one night. Read more
Clifton Glamping is strictly adults-only. BROOK SABIN
Clifton Glamping is strictly adults-only. BROOK SABIN
Sunrise is a magical time at Craggy Range. BROOK SABIN
Sunrise is a magical time at Craggy Range. BROOK SABIN
The view from The Farm's infinity pool is glorious. BROOK SABIN
The view from The Farm's infinity pool is glorious. BROOK SABIN
The grazing board or DIY dinner box at Clifton, both optional extras, are highly recommended. BROOK SABIN
The grazing board or DIY dinner box at Clifton, both optional extras, are highly recommended. BROOK SABIN
The beautiful grounds at Wallingford. BROOK SABIN
The beautiful grounds at Wallingford. BROOK SABIN
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is set on 6000 acres of coastal farmland. BROOK SABIN
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is set on 6000 acres of coastal farmland. BROOK SABIN
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Best of Food and Wine Country itineraries
Craggy Range. BROOK SABIN
What are the ingredients of the ultimate Kiwi getaway? Check out these six recipes for your next Hawke's 'Baycation' and taste the best of the region.
Church Road Winery. SUPPLIED
Craggy Range. BROOK SABIN
Craggy Range. BROOK SABIN
Church Road Winery. SUPPLIED
Church Road Winery. SUPPLIED
Visuals: Brook Sabin
Words: Brook Sabin, Stephen Heard, Siobhan Downes, Lorna Thornber, Alan Granville, Juliette Sivertsen, Trupti Biradar, Pamela Wade, Sharon Stephenson, Liz Carlson.
Editors: Trupti Biradar, Stephen Heard
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