Helm Crag

Things to do

Wine

With it’s long sunshine hours and warm summer nights, Hawke’s Bay’s temperate climate produces ripe fruit with balanced acidity. The area has a rich winegrowing heritage—more than 150 years—and, today, more than 70% of New Zealand’s Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec are grown here.

HB is the second largest wine growing area in NZ and represents 23% of the total NZ vineyard area.

There are at least 28 cellar doors open to visitors and loads of ways to visit them—by bike, by chauffeur driven limousine, a guided wine tour or self-drive. We would be happy to suggest an itinerary.

Food

Hawke’s Bay is known at the fruit bowl of New Zealand—the fertile plains, high country pasture, abundant coastline and rivers accentuated by the Mediterranean climate help growers produce a huge variety of foods.

You can visit Te Mata Cheese, Arataki Honey, Telegraph Hill Olives, Pernel Fruitworld, The Strawberry Patch, Rush Munro Ice Cream, Te Mata Mushrooms and Silky Oak Chocolates. There are around 85 producers on the Hawke’s Bay Food Trail.

There are also many fantastic restaurants including Terrior at Craggy Range, Vidals, Mission Estate and Estuarys.

Activities

From mild to wild there is loads to do for the adventurous. Ballooning, helicopter safari, beach adventures or overland experiences. You can bike, cruise, drive or charter a fishing boat. You can jet boat, ski, row, kayak or just laze by the sea or a river.

There are 5 top class golf course to test your skills.

Beaches

Waimarama and Ocean Beach are about 45 minutes to the South and Waipatiki is about 30 minutes north. All 3 are beautiful sandy beaches and are popular for swimming, surfing and boogie boarding.

Architecture

Napier is famous for its Art Deco architecture built mostly in the 10 years following the devasting earthquake of 1931. Walking tours are available from the Art Deco Trust shop or the Visitors’ Centre. They leave at 2pm from the Art Deco Trust and 10am and 5.30pm (26 December—31 March) from the Visitors’ Centre. Bookings are advisable. You can access their website from our links page.

The predominant architecture in Hastings is Spanish although there is also a fair amount of Art Déco as well.