Home to a variety of attractions and favorable weather in all seasons, the Hawke’s Bay is a year round destination. Known for being one of the premier wine producing areas in New Zealand and the country’s oldest wine region, the Hawke’s Bay boasts over 70 vineyards and is well regarded for its excellent quality wine along with its fresh produce.
Mission Estate Winery is New Zealand’s oldest winery being established in 1851 by the French Marist order and is now one of the most iconic wineries in the country. Known for the stunning seminary building overlooking Napier, Mission Estate is a popular venue for weddings and conferences as well as hosting the annual Mission Concert which over the years has headlined guests such as Lionel Richie, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and Ray Charles.
Other top class wineries in the region include Esk Valley, Trinity Hill, Craggy Range and Church Road. The Black Barn Winery offers an amphitheatre which has been described by many performers as the best outdoor venue in New Zealand.
A number of operators run tours of the wineries and one of the most popular ways to see the region and visit the wineries is with one of the numerous bike tours in which visitors pedal their way to various wineries while taking in the sights.
The Hawke’s Bay is not only about wine with many other activities and attractions on offer. Gannet Beach Adventures offer visitors the chance to see the world’s largest mainland Gannet colony on the famous Cape Kidnappers coastline.
Known as the Art Deco City, Napier, located in the south of Hawke’s Bay, boasts the world’s largest collection of inner city art deco buildings in the world and every year thousands of enthusiast flock to the city for the Art Deco Weekend Summer Festival.
A short drive down the coast sits the city of Hastings, home to the Hawke’s Bay Opera House and numerous art galleries. Te Mata Peak and Cape Kidnappers are two of the stunning natural features that adorn this area and with activities such as hot air balloon rides, a visit to the Splash Planet water park, wandering the Art Trail or playing a round at ‘Cape Kidnappers Golf Course’ – one of the top 50 golf courses in the world designed by legendary golf architect Tom Doak, there are plenty of options for the whole family.
Stretching from Mahia in the north to Porangahau in the south, the Hawke’s Bay covers 1.42 Million hectares with the shoreline spanning 350km of the Pacific Ocean.
