North Island

Hawke's Bay

Best timeLong sunny summers and mild winters.

Getting thereNapier is about four and a half hours' drive from Auckland and four from Wellington.

Main townsNapier, Hastings, Havelock North, Waipukurau

Art Deco streets, more than 70 wineries and flat cycle trails between them: Hawke’s Bay is one of the easiest and most enjoyable food-and-wine regions in the country.

Highlights

Napier Art Deco The city was rebuilt in Art Deco style after the 1931 earthquake; take a guided walk or vintage car tour.
Wineries Bold reds from the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa, and Chardonnay across the region.
Hawke’s Bay Trails Around 200 km of mostly flat cycle trails linking wineries, beaches and towns.
Te Mata Peak Sweeping views over the Tukituki valley and out to sea.
Cape Kidnappers One of the largest mainland gannet colonies in the world (tours run roughly October to April).

Best time to go

Long sunny summers and mild winters. Late summer and autumn (February to April) bring harvest and the best cycling weather.

Getting there

Napier is about four and a half hours’ drive from Auckland and four from Wellington. Hawke’s Bay Airport in Napier has direct flights from the main cities.