Lap up the sun in Hawke’s Bay

THIS EAST LYING TEMPTRESS WILL SEDUCE YOU WITH SUN-STAINED LANDSCAPES, FINE BAYS AND INTOXICATING WINES.

Visitors fall hard for the fresh ocean air, rich harvest and handsome architecture of Hawke’s Bay. As one of New Zealand’s leading food and wine regions, fertile soils lend themselves to chardonnays and syrahs, as well as freshly squeezed fruit juice. With long summers and winters that rarely drop below 10 degrees, trying to resist this mini- Mediterranean is futile.Dryer and flatter than many areas of the North Island, an east coast beauty like Hawke’s Bay doesn’t need lush greenery and towering snow-capped mountains to beguile. In Napier, art deco buildings are bathed in pastel hues and the promenade oozes with seaside joviality. Alfresco tables spill onto the streets, silently inviting passers-by to join them, and the shops are always dressed to impress.

Hastings is a town that leaves taste buds in a tizz with its restaurants, breweries and vineyards. The local markets boast a bounty of goods and orchards burst with seasonal plums and berries. After gorging relentlessly, overindulgence can be offset with cycling. Scribbled with a 200km network of scenic trails, the Bay’s routes are smooth, flat and peppered with pubs and vineyards. Drink up the ocean views and then full-bodied reds.

Come summer, thousands of gannets flock to the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers to dine on a menu of seafood. The world-acclaimed Cape Kidnappers Golf Course teeters on a lofty ridge and enjoys the world’s most dramatic spot to tee off, and Te Mata Peak beckons in the distance, with huge redwood trees nestled beneath. It’s impossible to ignore the magnetism of this region, and nor will you want to.

Bareknuckle, Hastings

Hawke’s Bay Tourism

WINE TASTING

No trip to Napier would be complete without sampling the local wines. There’s a huge range of renowned local wineries to visit and alternative ways to get there. One of the best options is to cycle or take a guided tour. Download a handy wine trail map at www.hawkesbaywine.co.nz which details the region’s 72 wineries, some with top-class restaurants, and has tips on tasting etiquette.

Clearview Wine

Hawke’s Bay Tourism

Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve is a major drawcard. Observe thousands of birds at the Reserve's four colonies, best viewed between September and April before the gannets migrate.

Gannets on Cape Kidnappers

Hawke’s Bay Tourism

CYCLE TRAILS

The Hawke’s Bay Cycle Trails are a 200km network of year-round bike rides that you can pick and choose from. Most are flat, off-road and don’t go above Grades 1 and 2 so even the littlest of legs can give it a whirl. Pint-sized cyclists will definitely like the numerous playgrounds en route. Most trails can be done in one day but there are endless ways to expand your voyage into a multi-day adventure by utilising the region’s accommodation options.

Te Mata Peak

Hawke’s Bay Tourism

The Big Easy: coming to the roads of Hawke's Bay every Easter Saturday, this annual bike ride is not to be taken too seriously. From those dressed in tutus, to the Easter bunny handing out chocolate eggs, it's all about having fun.