Hawke's Bay

One of New Zealand’s top wine producing regions, Hawke’s Bay is a food and wine lover’s paradise, and is a must-visit on your holiday to the North Island. Among the many wineries of note (explore them by bike), the Mission Estate Winery is the oldest surviving vineyard in the country, and sits among a host of other well-known producers, such as Church Road and Craggy Range. There are several beautiful vineyards offering tastings at the cellar door, and many have excellent restaurants too - Black Barn Vineyards is one of our favourites. You also shouldn’t miss the farmers’ markets, bursting with fresh local produce.

Yet the region holds more treasures than just its great wine and food; as well as lush green countryside, mountains, forests and sweeping surf beaches, you’ll also find some of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in Napier, and the largest mainland gannet colony in the world at Cape Kidnappers, which also has a spectacular clifftop golf course.