Hawkes Bay trip - facts and figures by Mark Sukhija

Accomodation in Napier

We spent two nights at the Scenic Hotel Te Pania - which is centrally located. Rooms were spacious and comfortable, reception was very efficient. Breakfast service was a bit haphazard.

Dining out in Napier

We took dinner in Take Five Restaurant and Jazz Bar (189 Marine Parade, Napier) which was excellent. Service was unsurpassable - keen staff eager to help with plenty of info on food (usually local and organic) and drinks (almost all New Zealand produced.

The Steak Out Licensed Restaurant (255 Marine Parade, Napier) does an excellent range of steaks accompanied with the kind of matter-of-fact service with which I am so enamoured.

Gannet Colony Tour

Our overland tour to the Gannet Colony with Gannet Safaris. We booked in person at the Napier i-Site, took over three hours and cost 90NZD per person including pickup from the Napier i-Site.

Wine Tour

The wine tour of Hawkes Bay we booked directly on the Bay Tours and Charters website. Our four hour "Vintage Tour" covered 4 vineyards including Moana Park, Mission Estate Winery, Unison Vineyard and Matariki Wines. Costs were 85NZD and we were picked up from our hotel.

Art Deco walking tour

The Art Deco Walking Tour was run by the Art Deco Trust. The 90-minute walk was preceded by a presentation about the history of Napier and followed by a video of Napier. The afternoon tour cost 20NZD and start at the Deco Centre, 163 Tennyson Street, Napier A variety of tours are offered - including one in an vintage car of the 1930's.

Further reading