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THE NORTH ISLAND'S PRINCIPAL WINE REGION IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR QUALITY WINES. VISITORS DISCOVER HAWKE'S BAY'S EXCELLENT BEACHES, A REBORN ART DECO CITY, AND WORLD-CLASS GOLF, TOO.
PHOTO CREDITS: VENTURE HAWKE'S BAY (TOURING wine country BY AUTO; WINE TASTING IN THE VINEYARD; acting out in ART DECO NAPIER; BALLOON OVER HAWKE'S BAY vineyards; CAPE KIDNAPPERS' GANNET COLONY; VISITING A WINE CELLAR;
HORSEBACK ON THE BEACH); NZ Tourism (TE MATA PEAK; SHOPPING TO DIXIELAND IN NAPIER).
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Wine may be the big attraction here in Hawke's Bay, but this sunny,
prosperous corner of the North Island profits from multiple personalities.
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Attractions in the Hawke's Bay Region: Shaped by its geography, geology, and climate, Hawke's Bay is a region distinct and separate from neighboring regions to the north, west, and south. Walled in by rugged, if not supremely high, mountains, Hawke's Bay evolved in relative isolation from the Rotorua and Taupo region to the west, Gisborne and the Eastland region to the north, and the Wairarapa region and Wellington to the south.

• HAWKE'S BAY WINERIES: The relatively dry, warm,
   coastal climate of Hawke's Bay with plentiful
   water for irrigation provided by its border
   mountains is ideal for agriculture, and especially
   for the production of grapes and other fruit.
   Hawke's Bay has become the principal wine
     region of the North Island, producing export
   quality wines in sufficient quantities to become
   recognized internationally as a major white
   wine (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) exporter.
   In recent years the region has expanded into
   red wine production with some international
   success. With more than 70 wineries Hawke's
   Bay's Wine Trail is both compact and dense,

Te Mata Winery produces some of the finest
wines of the Hawke's Bay region from
its winery southeast of Hastings.
Photo credit - 'Venture Hawke's Bay'

   making it easy to visit several wineries on a day tour of the region. The annual
   Harvest Hawke's Bay food and wine festival draws thousands to wineries-turned-
   festival venues throughout the region each February.
 

Napier celebrates its Art Deco architectural
 heritage with an extravagant Art Deco
Weekend festival each February.
Photo credit "Venture Hawke's Bay"

• TWIN CITIES WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES: The
   Hawke's Bay region has two principal population
   centers, Napier and Hastings, located just
   twelve miles apart in the alluvial plain near the
   coast at Hawke Bay. Napier—with about
   58,000 residents slightly smaller than its twin—
   is flashy and gregarious, offering a seafront
   with miles of sandy beaches, and a lively
   cultural calendar that welcomes visitors. After
   major earthquake leveled Napier in 1931, the
   city rebuilt itself in the dominant, dressy Art
   Deco style of the period. The popular, showy
   architectural style has been carefully
   maintained and today acts as living set for

• CAPE KIDNAPPERS: Named for the failed
   abduction of a Tahitian servant of
   Captain Cook's Endeavour voyage in
   1769 by local Maori, and once principally
   known only for its great mainland colony
   of gannet seabirds, Cape Kidnappers has
   in recent years become a destination for
   international golfers. Spectacular cliff
   and headland formations of the narrow
   peninsular extend into the South Pacific,
   making a unique, dramatic location for a

The dramatic landscape of Cape Kidnappers headland
 includes 600' high cliffs and sharks' teeth "haystacks".

Lodgings: Top quality bed and breakfast lodgings in and near Napier close to all central city attractions, beaches, and convenient for hopping on and off the Hawke's Bay Wine Trail.

 

Home At First's Hawke's Bay
region lodgings provide creature
comforts with convenient access to
Napier, Hastings, beaches, and the
Hawke's Bay Wine Trail.
Photo credit - 'Venture Hawke's Bay'

Getting around Hawke's Bay: Use of a rental car is essential here. Expect congested traffic on city streets only. State Highway 50/50A is the fast Napier-Hastings Motorway connecting the twin cities' centers. State Highway 2 also connects Hastings and Napier, but takes a slower route that follows the coast. Away from Napier and Hastings, roads throughout Hawke's Bay are usually lightly traveled.

Getting lost on the back roads of Hawke's Bay
guarantees the serendipity of discovering 
an off-the-beaten-track winery with
some superb bottles for sale.
Photo credit "Venture Hawke's Bay"

Getting to/from Hawke's Bay: Home At First guests arrive in Hawke's Bay by rental car, normally coming east from the Rotorua/Taupo region in 2-4 hours. Most depart Hawke's Bay southwest for Wellington in about 5-7 scenic hours via the impressive Manawatu Gorge.

Once you are in Hawke's Bay, all
roads lead to quality food and wine.
Photo credit: "Venture Hawke's Bay"

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