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Located on the east coast of the North Island, Hawke’s Bay is one of NZ’s premier
food, wine and lifestyle destinations. Home to NZ’s oldest operational winery it’s
also the largest red wine producing region in the country. Wine lovers will discover
more than 50 wineries in the region; over 30 of them provide a cellar door experience
where you can visit, tour and taste. At some of the more boutique style vineyards
such as Clearview Estate the knowledgeable person actually pouring the wine is often
the winemaker themselves! We take three days to tour Hawke’s Bay towns of Napier
and Hastings where we fill our picnic hamper to bursting point with gourmet delights
found en route, then travel south to the capital city. We visit Marineland and the
National Aquarium of NZ, taste the regions’ award winning wines, join locals at
a Farmers’ Market and follow a trail of museums south to Wellington, home of Te
Papa, the greatest museum of them all.
day two: napier to hastings
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
After a continental breakfast inhouse, Bob’s keen to depart early. Today’s plan
is to visit several vineyards and sample gourmet products created in specialist
kitchens in the region. But first we drive to the richly ornate art deco National
Tobacco Company building in Ahuriri, then through the art deco suburb of Marewa
to Taradale’s McDeco McDee’s. It was formerly the Taradale Hotel, but in 1997 it
was converted into a McDonalds.
But a burger is out of the question as Taradale is also home to some of Hawke’s
Bay’s finest vineyards. We visit Mission Estate, NZ’s oldest winery, established
in 1851 by the Marist Brothers. Its tasting room, cellar, restaurant and gallery
are all housed inside a former seminary building nestled high on a plateau and it
has a special ambience. We enjoy a small tasting then wash it down with a latté
on a verandah overlooking the vines.
The next stop is at Taradale’s 114 Avocados where we have a complimentary tasting.
I purchase ten avocados in various stages of ripeness for our picnic basket while
Bob collects recipes from the owner, and then it’s on to Ruby Glen where we wander
amongst the brambles collecting our own raspberries. Bob ends up looking like he’s
wearing lipstick – more berries end up in his mouth than the collection basket –
and his face turns the same colour when the checkout operator laughs and says his
mouth is ‘Ruby Red’, like most who visit here.
Before hitting Hastings, we drive out to the coast at Te Awanga for lunch at Clearview
Estate. When we arrive, winemaker Tim Turvey leaves the shed where he’s busy testing
barrels and walks over to greet us. He leads us to an atmospheric tasting room,
where riddling racks line the walls and cobbled fl oors meet tables crafted from
wine barrels.
To read the full story
please click the link to download the full
hawkes bay to wellington scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals
new zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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