Hawke's Bay
Food, Wine and Beautiful Scenery
Hotels in Napier
Sightseeing in Napier
Hotels in Hastings
Hotels in Gisborne
By
Richard Moore
We
really like Hawke's Bay. It has sophistication with great food,
excellent wines and a laidback atmosphere.
In
some parts, such as around Havelock North, you can almost smell
the wealth of the inhabitants.
A
little cut off from the rest of the country Hawke's Bay is a destination
you choose to go to, rather than one you stumble across.
The
weather is some of the best in New Zealand and its main centres
are Napier, the city rebuilt
after being destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1931, and Hastings,
which is not as pretty as its sister but does boast an opera house!
Summer
is the best time to visit Hawke's Bay as it really is an outdoors
region.
Travel
around the wineries, stop and have lunch and just mooch about enjoying
the countryside.
Take
a drive up to the top of Te Mata Peak and check out the views. They
are stunning. Look out over the tortured landscape of Hawke's Bay
and the azure waters of Hawke Bay (yes it is different), or Cape
Kidnappers.
Speaking
of Cape Kidnappers - the area boasts some of the largest
gannet colonies going and you can take tours to see the birds.
One
way is to hop on a tractor and cruise along the beach at low tide,
or take a four-wheel-drive bus over the farms around the colonies.
The
Gannet Safaris bus trip is terrific and you can have an absolute
hoot with guides such as Jo Fisher. She's a local artist - with
a fabulous style of colourful landscape painting - and will let
you know everything you need to know about the peninsula, its geography
and history.
If
you are lucky you'll even get to be the gateboy - that's hopping
out of the bus to open and shut animal barriers on the farm. I was
the lucky one on our trip.
You
get to have photo stops every now and then - including one at a
stunning spot overlooking the 300-metre cliffs - and are cheerily
introduced to the Bankers' Corners. These are sheer drops that farmers,
ever enamoured of banks, think financial managers should take drives
off.
Now
beforehand we were warned that the gannet colonies are pretty stinky
places - courtesy of the projectile-pooing birds - but it wasn't
that bad.
The
gannets begin to lay eggs in October and November and the best time
to visit is late January/February.
There
are three main colonies, including one you can get very close too,
and the more spectacular one of the end of the Cape above some fabulous
rock formations.
The
adventure takes about three hours, costs $60 and is well worth both
the time and effort. And don't forget to take your camera as the
birds are just so graceful.
You
join Gannet Safaris near Clifton Beach and the tractor-riding Gannet
Beach Adventures at the beach itself.
Nearby
is a great cafe where you can relax before or after your trip.
Across
the road and down a bit from the cafe is Wool World, a magnificent
old building that houses a fascinating museum - with live shearing
- on the place of wool in New Zealand.
You
get a great guided tour and can buy wool items as well as see how
the little baa-ey things get shorn with both hand shears and modern
equipment.
Two
places that are highly recommended to have dinner at are simply
amazing spots.
The
Old Church in Meeanee Rd is stunning. The building is fabulous,
the outdoor eating area is gorgeous and inside it is a decorator's
delight. Check out the photos.
Food
wise, The Old Church is excellent and the prices very reasonable
for what you get. Often you'll pay as much for a meal at a city
cafe as you will to have a really great night out here.
The
second highly recommended spot is Pipi in Havelock North. Pipi is
highly visible - being a shocking pink building.
Inside
the tables are pink-and-white stripes and the Wednesday we went
in it was packed to the rafters.
We
learned why as the food was brilliant. The gourmet pizzas are spot
on and the pasta dishes superb.
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