Hawke's Bay is becoming internationally renowned for its wine and grapes. Personally, we have eight favourite vineyards - Sacred Hill, Te Awa Farm, Trinity Hill, Cross Roads, Ngatarawa, Sileni Estates, Linden Estate and Alpha Domus. A very pleasurable weekend can be spent visiting these vineyards, most of which have restaurants on site. And if you haven't brought your car, there are several winery tours available.

The region is also known for the gannet colony on Cape Kidnappers, a unique site. There are a variety of ways to get there - riding on a trailer behind a tractor along the beach, hiring a 4 wheel bike, being driven in a unimog, going overland in luxury 4 wheel drive vehicles ... and even walking!

Known as the "Fruitbowl of New Zealand", Hawke's Bay has an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables.