Hawkes Bay

Hawkes Bay is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and long hot summers. The region is also well known for producing great wines and food, and is the first stop on the classic New Zealand Wine Trail.

Although best-known and loved for its excellent wine and food trails, the Hawkes Bay region offers much more for visitors than just opportunities to sample the regions wonderful Cabernet Sauvignons and locally grown fresh fruits. The Art Deco centre of Napier will delight and inspire History and architecture enthusiasts, while nature and wildlife lovers will enjoy exploring the many walking trails and visiting the Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers.

And after all that feasting and exploring you’ll also find plenty of long sandy beaches that stretch out along the coast when you’re ready to relax and have a break.

Don’t Miss

  • A wine tasting tour of the region by car or bicycle
  • A walking tour of Napier’s Art Deco architecture with a local guide
  • Seeing the largest mainland colony of gannets in the world at Cape Kidnappers
  • Viewing the statue for Captain Cook in Poverty Bay

Where is Hawkes Bay?

The Hawkes bay region of New Zealand is on the East Coast of the North Island, stretching some 100km from The Mahia Penninsula in the Northeast to Cape Kidnappers in the Southwest.

It enjoys a year-round warm sunny climate – one of the main reasons it’s gained such a solid reputation for the grapes grown and wine produced there – giving visitors plenty of opportunity to enjoy as much time as possible in the great outdoors, exploring all that the area has to offer.

Visiting Hawkes Bay

If your idea of a perfect holiday is sitting in the sunshine, sipping a cool glass of Sauvignon with a bellyfull of wonderful locally produced fare after exploring some of the worlds best remaining examples of stunning 1920’s and 30’s architecture, then The Hawkes Bay might just be the place for you!

The biggest township in the area is Napier – which is officially a city, but it has such a small, friendly feel to it, we still always feel like we should refer to it as a town – with its wonderful Art Deco buildings, illustrating it’s rather turbulent past. The whole town was destroyed in a huge Earthquake resulting in Napier being rebuilt in the style of the time, which happened to be Art Deco.

You can take a guided walking tour to learn more about some of the most significant buildings, or if your legs need a break, a tour of the town in an open topped 1930’s vintage car is a real treat!

Ready to visit Hawkes Bay? Get in touch!

Insider Tips


Pamela  is one of an enthusiastic team of volunteer guides who work for the Napier Art Deco Trust.

Pamela recommends a guided tour – “They’re inexpensive and you’ll gain a much greater insight into the history and unique architectural styles of the 1930’s than if you just meander around town on your own.”

Hawkes Bay Experiences


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