TIKOKINO GARDENS - Tikokino
Tikokino Gardens consists of Six beautiful Gardens; Trenrose Paeony Garden & Gallery, Awatea Daffodils, Gwavas Garden, Awatea Country Garden, Springvale Garden & Sentry Hill Garden. Open during late spring and summer and by appointment. stroll through beautifully cared for settings, some of which are held in high regard by house & garden magazine. During the year they hold fun weekends where there is an entrance fee for each garden and within each garden you'll find food, gifts, wine, art & charity stalls.
You have a bit of a challenge here trying to find information about the gardens or service providers catering to them.
Enquire at the local Information centre in the Hawkes Bay to see if anything is on or utilize the service operator if any are listed below.
Location: Various locations, Tikokino.
Price: from $5 to $30 each or around $90 for a group tour (Lunch, coach etc...)
Hours: vary, enquire at the information centre & view the link below.
Web:
CENTRAL HAWKES BAY SETTLER'S MUSEUM
- Waipawa
The Central Hawke’s Bay Settler’s Museum displays a variety of pioneer artefacts, there are also informative ‘homestead’ displays and an original, well designed river waka (canoe).
Location: 23 High St, Waipawa
Price: $2.00
Hours: 10am-4pm
courtesy of CHB Settler’s Museum
THE HAWKES BAY OPERA HOUSE - Hastings
One of the few buildings to survive the earthquake, the Hawkes Bay Opera House is designed in spanish mission style and consists of ballrooms, event areas, business centres and is one of the top three lyric theatres in the southern hemisphere.
While in town enquire about the current shows available.
Tours are available on art deco weekend.
Opera House Administration Office; Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
TicketDirect Office; Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm and Sat 9am to 1pm
Price: varies, depends on the show.
Location; 101 Hastings Street South, Hastings
photograph courtesy of Hawkes Bay Tourism
HAVELOCK NORTH SHOPPING CENTRE
-Havelock North
A quaint shopping centre, Havelock North Shopping Centre greets you with semi-paved footpaths & crossings and small appealing shops.
Here your greeted with a cosmopolitan Boutique appeal.
Very popular with visiting NZ Residents and international tourists, your bound to enjoy your time in the Havelock North Shopping Centre.
HASTINGS CITY ART GALLERY - Hastings
The Hastings City Art Gallery displays contemporary NZ and international art. Worth a look if your interested in art or on that rainy day, there are always exhibitions promoting local and national artists which are stylish, modern and interesting.
Location: 201 Eastbourne St, Hastings
Hours: 10am-4.30pm
Price: free
Web: http://www.hastingscityartgallery.co.nz
photograph courtesy of Hastings City Art Gallery
THE LONGEST PLACE NAME IN THE WORLD
- Porangahau township vicinity
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, is the name given by the local Maori people, Ngati Kere, to a hill to celebrate the eponymous ancestor Tamatea Pokai Whenua.
Location; close to Porangahau, south of Waipukurau in southern Hawke's Bay.
Price: Free
Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu
photograph courtesy of Kurkista MMVI
TE MATA PEAK - Te Mata Peak
Te Mata Peak is at the western boundary of the wine-producing Heretaunga Plains and stands nearly 400 metres above sea level. You can drive, hike or bike to the summit for amazing views in every direction. There is also a restaurant near the top of the peak.
For the best view of the Hawke’s Bay, you can strap yourself to a hang glider, or see the nature trails by mountain bike. It’s quite a workout going up, but the panoramic views make the effort totally worthwhile.
The Hawke’s Bay region is a wonderful collection of natural landscapes. Bare limestone hills lead down to the vast Heretaunga Plains, which are patchworked with vineyards and farms. All roads eventually lead to the Pacific coast and the twin cities of Hastings and Napier.
photograph courtesy of Chris McLennan
WESTERMAN'S & CO BUILDING - Hastings
The Westerman’s & Co building is a very good example of the Spanish Mission style of the 1930's, and is regarded as perhaps the most significant of the post-earthquake commercial buildings in Hastings and as something of a landmark. It makes creative use of the Spanish Mission style to provide a building of interesting patterns and textures along the very long Russell Street facade, breaking it up into well-scaled parts.
Location: cnr Russell & Heretaunga St E, Hastings Hastings
Price: free
Hours: 24 hours
Web: http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?Rid=178
BIKE THE VINEYARDS
When on a holiday that’s all about indulgence, a little exercise is definitely a good thing.
One of the best ways to explore the wineries of Hawke’s Bay is on a mountain bike - the terrain is as flat as a billiard table and the scenery is magnificent.
If you aren’t up to pedalling, there are local tour operators to drive you from cellar door to cellar door.
photograph courtesy of Chris McLennan
ART CENTRES
Hawkes Bay has a wide variety of art centres from which to view both local and international talent, including world class galleries, art studios and collectives.
Some of the art centres to choose from are the Hawkes Bay Muesum & Art Gallery, the Hastings Community Art Centre, Birdwoods Gallery and the Hastings City Art Gallery.
CAPE KIDNAPPERS GANNET COLONY
- Cape Kidnappers
The Black Reef section of the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve can be viewed from the beach.
Getting to the reserve is half the fun - you can walk along the beach at low tide or catch a ride on a tractor-trailer tour. There is also a 4WD option through farm land and up to the cliff top. The gannets nest over summer; the first chicks hatch in early November and the last chicks depart the colony during May.
Location: A 20km drive out of Napier, take state highway 2 on to Mill Rd, then on to Parkhill Rd & through Te Awanga, from there you'll need to walk or find alternative transport.
Price: free - fees apply if you use a tour operator.
Web: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/hawkes-bay/hawkes-bay/cape-kidnappers-gannet-reserve/
photograph courtesy of Chris McLennan
Hastings, Havelock Nth, Waipukurau, Waipawa
Hastings Sights
Chris McLennan
Renowned for its significant art deco architecture, the Hawkes Bay region is a 1930's display of style.
Hawke’s Bay in the north island is renowned as being at the origin of New Zealand’s wine industry. The region is now the second largest wine producing region. The region boasts more than 30 award-winning vineyards, and has achieved world-wide recognition for its quality red.
Hawkes Bays Māori legend is based on the Māori chief - Te Mata o Rongokako, a giant man, who fell in love with another chief’s beautiful daughter. In an attempt to dissuade Te Mata o Rongokako, the father laid a series of difficult tasks to accomplish.
On the final task - whilst Te Mata o Rongokako was eating his way through a hill - he choked on a rock and fell dead. From this it is said that Te Mata Peak and the hills south to Kahurānaki are formed by his body.
Home to 42 of 70-plus vineyards which offer cellar door experiences, the Hawkes Bay offers a variety of opportunities to enjoy Hawke’s Bay wine in heritage and modern surroundings.
Dining is available in many wineries offering either restaurant or alfresco dining, while vineyard tours take advantage of the flat landscape and warm climate. Vineyard tours offer the opportunity to meet the producers and sample a wide variety of fresh produce and artisan products, gate to gate.
Boutique accommodation is available within the vines through some vineyards, there are also private lodges and boutique cottages for rent.
Hot air balloon flights offer an early morning view of the vineyards, orchards, farms, and wide open spaces.
Fly to vineyards for an exclusive lunch or wine tasting session by private helicopter, or into remote spots for trout fishing and rafting.
"the Hawkes Bay offers a variety of opportunities to enjoy Hawke’s Bay wine in heritage and modern surroundings."
