'''Hawkes Bay''' [http://www.hawkesbaynz.com/] is a district on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

Regions

  • Northern Hawkes Bay
  • Central Hawkes Bay
  • Cities

  • Hastings - includes the districts of Flaxmere and Havelock North, also has '''Art Deco''' architecture and is well known for fantastic food and copious sunshine
  • Napier - famed for its '''Art Deco''' architecture. Includes Taradale.
  • Wairoa - small coastal settlement in northern Hawkes Bay
  • Other destinations

  • '''Cape Kidnappers''' - Bird (Gannet) sanctuary. Walking access at low tide along sea shore.
  • Clive
  • Elsthorpe - excellent rural New Zealand.
  • Puketapu
  • Central Hawke's bay
  • *Dannevirke
  • *Waipukurau
  • *Waipawa
  • *Porangahau
  • *'''Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu''' (which translates into English as ''The hilltop, where Tamatea with big knees, conqueror of mountains, eater of land, traveller over land and sea, played his koauau (nose flute) to his beloved'').
  • *Tikokino
  • Northern Hawke's Bay
  • *Lake Morere
  • *Mahia Peninsula
  • *Lake Waikaremoana
  • *Te Urewera National Park
  • *Morere Hot Springs
  • Understand

    The ''Hawkes Bay'' district gets its name from '''Hawke Bay''', a large bay in the North Island's eastern coastline. The district extends south almost to Woodville in Wairarapa.

    The Hawkes Bay was one of the original colonial provinces when New Zealand was colonised by British settlers in the mid to late nineteenth century. The flat fertile land has been developed for farming. Initially sheep, later beef and dairying as well as forestry, orcharding and cropping. The warm dry sunny climate makes the region ideal for winegrowing and the vineyard industry has developed strongly in recent years.

    Talk

    Get in

    By bus

    [http://www.newmanscoach.co.nz/ Newmans Coach Lines] operates a premium sightseeing tours throughout the North Island.

    [http://www.intercity.co.nz/ InterCity Coachlines] is New Zealand's national coach company and operates over 150 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide.

    By road

  • '''State Highway 2''' passes through the centre of Napier and Hastings and the provincial towns.
  • '''State Highway 5''' - the Napier-Taupo road - joins '''State Highway 2''' just north of Napier.
  • If travelling from the south, '''State Highway 50''' provides a scenic route that is more direct to Napier and bypasses Waipukurau, Waipawa and Hastings. This road is of a slightly lower standard than State Highway 2 and has some narrow winding sections that need to be taken slowly as well as a couple of single lane bridges with sharp approach coners at the bottom of steep grades, so take care.
  • If travelling from '''Taihepe''' the historic Taihepe road over the Kaweka ranges could be entertaining. It has an incrediably steep bit called the 'gentle anne' and and the store keeper at the bottom kept a team of Draught horses especially to carry wagons over this one piece of road. Much of the road is dirt, but still easily driveable in a 2 wheel hatch back. It comes out at '''Fernhill''' halfway between Hastings and Napier.
  • By plane

  • The '''Napier Airport''' serves the region with domestic flights from most locations withing New Zealand.
  • By boat

  • Luxury cruise liners often visit '''the port of napier''' and allow day excersions around Hawkes Bay. If you are visiting it would be wise to hire a car if you are interested in exploring
  • Get around

    See

  • '''Cape Kidnappers''' - gannet colony and panoramic views of the bay
  • '''Te Mata peak''' - drive to the top for panoramic views
  • '''National Aquarium of New Zealand [http://www.nationalaquarium.co.nz/]''' located 546 Marine Parade, Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The National Aquarium has a reef tank, a travelator which spirals its way beneath the enormous Oceanarium, creating the impression of a true underwater experience, and a typical New Zealand rocky shore environment. There are sharks, stingray and hundreds of fish species, many of them representative of the catches from along the East Coast. There are eels, trout, sea horse, turtles, octopus, tropical marine fish, kiwi, tuatara, water dragons, native frogs and crocodile also on display.
  • Itineraries

    Do

  • '''Hawke's Bay Wine Tours'''. Hawke's Bay is the country's oldest winemaking region, and tours depart Napier at 1PM, returning at 5PM. The tours visit 4-5 local wineries for tastes of Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and other wines as well as local cheeses.
  • Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Esk Valley'''. Just north of Napier is the beautiful Esk Valley home to vineyards and wineries, some the oldest in Hawkes Bay, Lavender Farm, Historic Church and cafes. It is 12 minutes north of Art Deco Napier and 25 minutes from the wilderness rivers such as the Mohaka. In the valley there a number of fine family run accommodation providors. Esk Valley Lodge for example is a fully restored old farmhouse set in vineyards orchards and gardens.
  • Stay safe

    Get out