Hawkes Bay Travel Guide
Hawkes Bay accommodation, Hawkes Bay activities and attractions, Hawkes Bay maps, transportation to and around Hawkes Bay - the ALL NEW Jasons Hawkes Bay Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Hawkes Bay.
Plenty of sunshine, superb gourmet food and wine, and art deco treasures are the hallmarks of the prosperous wine-producing region of Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay is home to more than 30 of the country's vineyards and a favourite destination for gourmet travellers. Cabernet sauvignon, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc are among the many varieties produced in Hawke's Bay. You can book a tour or hire a cycle to explore the many vineyards, or discover some of the delicious fresh produce on the Hawke's Bay Wine Country Food Trail. There are some delightful winery restaurants for dining out and if you're visiting in February, then join in the fun of the Harvest Hawke's Bay Wine Festival, which celebrates the best of the region's wine and food.
The twin cities of
Napier and
Hastings are the main centres of Hawke's Bay, and both are famous for their wonderful art deco buildings - a legacy of the disastrous Hawke's Bay Earthquake of 1931. Each February, Hawke's Bay celebrates its art deco heritage with Napier's famous Art Deco Weekend, complete with vintage cars, glamorous deco costumes, fancy dress balls and live jazz. The Hawke's Bay region also enjoys a lively arts scene, with many art galleries and craft
studios to explore. For something a little different, you also see the hill with the longest name in the world at Porangahau (south of
Waipukurau) – Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamatea-
turipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu ('The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as landeater, played his flute to his loved one').
Visit the official tourism site for
Hawke's Bay
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Geographic Location
East Coast of the North Island extending from Mahia Peninsula to Cape Kidnappers
Population
145,000
Climate
Mediterranean
Summer average: 24°C
Winter average: 13°C
Average rainfall
780mm/year