Hawke’s Bay is a vacationer’s passion and every child’s dream come true – the child in every man! The beautiful scenery and crisp Mediterranean climate makes it an affair to remember. The land is reputed for graded wines and fine dining and loads and loads of family fun. In fact, Hawke’s Bay has an arts community that has kept its rich and vibrant history and cultural heritage alive and throbbing. The wild life at Hawke’s Bay is as unique as its flora and fauna and manmade architectural delights.
The tourism boom has been fuelled by the presence of many quality lodging options and restaurants that offer fine dining options. Hawke’s Bay is a whole wine country by itself, where you not only get to soak in the sun on warm, sunny days, but can also sip on great wines – many of which are award winning blends. This is one food and wine destination that comes with hospitable locals and great scenery.
Hawke’s Bay flaunts Spanish Mission style architecture and is recognized as one of the Art Deco cities in the world. The museums and galleries keep you occupied and mesmerized for hours on end and so do the local Maori legends. There are artistic workshops organized and your travel agent is equipped to offer you great packages that combine sightseeing, bed-and-breakfast and access to in house facilities free of cost. The region is home to over 40 wineries that make it one of the leading food and wine destination in New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay flaunts a diverse landscape that enables you to be a part of the environment and native species anytime, anywhere.
"a small New Zealand town that seems sometimes fictional" Far from the world's great population centres and from the European and American cities where 20th Century design evolved lies a small city that is unique. Napier, New Zealand, was rebuilt in the early 1930s following a massive Richter 7.8 Earthquake. Subsequent fires destroyed most of its commercial heart. By the end of the decade, Napier was the newest city on the globe. Nowhere else can you see such a variety of buildings in the styles of the 1930s - Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission, and above all Art Deco, the style of the 20th Century - in such a concentrated area. And Napier's Art Deco is unique, with Maori motifs and the buildings of Louis Hay, admirer of the great Frank Lloyd Wright. Enhanced by palms and the angular Norfolk Island pines which are its trademark, and bounded by fertile fruit and grape growing plains, dramatic hill....
Hawke’s Bay is know as “Wine Country”, so why not let us take the hassle out of driving around the wineries, and join one of our expert tours. We pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation within the greater Napier, Hastings and Havelock North areas. A wine tour will typically include a food tasting to set the palate for the wine tasting. This could include Silky Oak Chocolates, tasting award-winning cheeses at Hohepa Cheeses, or sampling the range of olive oils and accompaniments at Telegraph Hill Olivery. Then, on to the wineries, where you will typically sample four to six wines (red and white), along with commentary about each wine from the cellar door hosts. The tour will visit three or four wineries. Visit 3-4 Wineries & tastings Visit 1 specialty food outlet Enjoy a complimentary cheeseboard Afternoon - 1pm to 5pm....
Hawke’s Bay is know as “Wine Country”, so why not let us take the hassle out of driving around the wineries, and join one of our expert tours. We pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation within the greater Napier, Hastings and Havelock North areas. A wine tour will typically include a food tasting to set the palate for the wine tasting. This could include Silky Oak Chocolates, tasting award-winning cheeses at Hohepa Cheeses, or sampling the range of olive oils and accompaniments at Telegraph Hill Olivery. Then, on to the wineries, where you will typically sample four to six wines (red and white), along with commentary about each wine from the cellar door hosts. The full day tour blends the morning and afternoon tours, and provides a great day out touring the Hawke’s Bay countryside and sampling the finest wines on offer. Full day - 10am to 5pm....
The 1 hour return trip on the innovatively designed trains takes you through replanted native kauri forest and includes 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels, 5 reversing points and several large viaducts as it climbs up to the mountain-top terminus. Called the Eyefull Tower, this handsome new building offers great panoramic views out over the island-studded Hauraki Gulf with the forested valley and mountains behind. Getting here – From Thames, take highway 25 to Coromandel. Driving Creek Railway is on Driving Creek Road 3km past the township. Train Timetable 2012 10:15am & 2pm daily throughout the year over the summer period, additional trains run at 11:30am, 12:45pm, 3:15pm and 4:30pm. extra trains may be available at 11:30am, 12:45pm, and 3:15pm throughout the rest of the year for groups of more than 5 adults.....