Hawke's Bay Stories

Art Deco architecture

The streets of Napier and Hastings are packed with a treasure-trove of Art Deco-era buildings, perfectly preserved and boasting quirky motifs unique to their New Zealand roots.

Fine wine

Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s premier wine-producing regions. Mission Vineyards, established 150 years ago to make sacramental wine, is the nation’s oldest surviving wine producer.

Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

Cape Kidnappers is home to the largest mainland gannet colony in the world, occupied by hundreds of seabirds that seem entirely unafraid of human visitors.

Te Mata Peak

A short drive from Napier, the 399-metre summit of Te Mata Peak offers breathtaking views of Hawke’s Bay and beyond, to Mt Ruapehu, on clear days.

Great cafés and shopping

Despite its small size, Napier has a very cosmopolitan central shopping precinct crammed with interesting boutiques, antique stores and enticing eateries.

Havelock North

South of Napier, near the base of Te Mata Peak, picturesque Havelock North offers village-style shopping and cute country pubs in the heart of a fertile fruit-growing district.