Lawn Cottages
Lawn Cottages are 3 stand alone, separate, private and very stylish Cottages nestled amongst 3 acres of expansive lawns. Centrally located, these 5 star, 2 bedroom cottages each have their own secret gardens and a self-contained kitchen. I could easily spend my whole holiday here and not go anywhere- it feels like home away from home.
Lawn Cottages are situated in the perfect location to experience the Hawkes Bay region. The Cottages are a 5-10 minute drive to Havelock North Village, Napier, Hastings, Te Awanga, Cape Kidnappers and many local Wineries.
We stayed in the Flax Cottage, which features a Queen Bedroom and Twin Bedroom, an open plan kitchen living area with French doors that open on to the wide verandah that overlook the secret gardens and ponds. There is a BBQ and outdoor seating on the verandah from which you can view the magnificent gardens.
The Cottage was generously equipped with quality bed linens and towels, breakfast provisions including toast, free range eggs and Shona's 'Mother's Marmalade'. There is a flat screen TV, Sky, a DVD player, a Tivolil Audio System with an iPOD Port and Wireless Internet. So basically everything you could possibly need. Did I forget to mention she has her own vegetable, herb and fruit garden that guests are free to use for their cooking.
Shona, the owner and operator of Lawn Cottages is a very friendly and welcoming host who went out of her way to ensure we had a very comfortable stay. Prices start from $275 per night for 2 guests. For more information please visit her website at: www.lawncottages.co.nz
NAPIER
Church Road Wines
Church Road as been operating for over 100 years, making it one of the oldest wineries in Hawke's Bay. Some of its most infamous years were spent under the leadership of pioneer winemaker Tom McDonald, now widely acknowledged as the father of New Zealand's premium red wine industry. Today, the Church Road Winery remains at the forefront of New Zealand's quality wine production with its Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style red wines enjoying national and international acclaim.
HASTINGS
Open 10am to 5pm daily, Church Road offers a memorable experience for visitors. From their winery tours and fascinating museum to wine tastings. We took a winery tour with the friendly and knowledgeable Di and explored the impressive winery, Tom McDonald Cellar and their unique museum that traces the history of wine making in Hawke's Bay. We were actually able to see their winemakers in action and watch the grapes being dropped into a huge container from the truck.
We then visited the wine museum which is housed underground in old concrete wine vats whose adjoining walls have been opened up. The walls are encrusted with sparkling, gem-like crystals, formed from the acid in the wine once stored their. The stains on the wall told a story of hardship and manual labour in order to produce the quality wine that we have today.
Then it was time for the wine tastings. Tastings are held at their cellar door, which also offers a wide range of wines for purchase, including some rare vintages, as well as wine accessories.
The winery and museum tour costs $12 per person, which includes the tasting. Tours take place daily at 11am and 2pm. For further information visit their website at: www.churchroad.co.nz
Ballina Motel
Ballina Motel is situated on the outskirts of Napier and a hop skip and a jump from Taradale's town centre. Ballina is more than a standard motel. Tim the owner and operator of the motel has focused on those important finer details to ensure that his guests have a relaxing and memorable experience.
Despite us not having very nice weather during our stay, Tim assures me that the air-conditioner, which we used as a heater, is regularly used during Hawke's Bay high summer temperatures. I am just destined to have cold, miserable weather for the duration of this trip.
Our one bedroom suite was furnished to a high standard of quality which is reflected in their '4 star plus' independently assessed Qualmark grading. The spacious comfortable bed, Sky Digital TV, free boradband and internet, superb ensuite (with a spa bath!) and well equipped kitchen ensured our stay was very relaxing after a hard days work- swimming with the sharks etc. You know how it is.
What makes the Ballina Motel special is that Tim and his staff go the extra distance to welcome and look after their guests. As soon as we arrived Tim got to work organising tours and attractions for us to do and see during our stay.
For information on rooms and rates visit their website at: www.ballinamotel.co.nz
Takaro Trails
Wine, rain and me on a bike is a combination I wouldn't like mix very often but who would have thought you could have so much fun on a bike- even though the weather was horrific! Jenny Ryan is the creator of Takaro Trails and has provided tourists with a unique way to view the Hawke's Bay region and visit some of the finest wineries in the country at the same time.
Before we disembarked on our journey, Jenny set up our bike to ensure optimum comfort on our ride. We were also provided with riding instructions, a local area map and a quick lesson on basic repairs and bike adjustments. Then it was time to set off for our first winery, Unison Estate.
We enjoyed an array of artisan products, gifts, olive oil, art and of course wine in the Unison Estate's underground barrel hall cellar door. The next winery, Te Awa featured an acclaimed restaurant, which was opened in 1999 and has been a celebrated part of the Hawke's Bay scene ever since. The third winery that we visited was Trinity Hill. The tastings took place in a stunning modern building, designed by Auckland architecture, Richard Priest.
Due to the weather we did a shortened version of the Takaro Trails' Winery Tour. Other vineyards you will visit on the full tour are:
Salvare Estate
Ngatarawa & Farmgate
Triangle Red tasting centre, Bridge Pa Winery
Abbey Cellars
Alpha Domus
Sileni Estates
If wine is your passion then this is the ride for you! It costs $55.00 per person, which includes your bike and helmet hire, transfer to/from the Napier or Hastings i-Site, riding instructions and water bottle. For more information visit their website: www.takarotrails.co.nz
The Art Deco Trust
The earthquake that struck the Hawke's Bay region on February 3, 1931 was one of the worst disasters in New Zealand history. 258 lives were lost in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, and in the fire which followed. Within two and a half minutes, Napier's ornate Victorian architecture had been reduced to rubble.
Rebuilding began twelve months later. As there was so little left of the original structure of both Napier and Hastings, the programme of works was extensive. Today the streets and buildings are filled with the clean and uncluttered lines of the Art Deco movement. The result is that the city can claim to represent one of the most interesting and significant groups of Art Deco buildings in the world.
The best way to see these spectacular buildings is on an Art Deco Tour with the Art Deco Trust. There are several different ways to tour the town: a Guided Walk, a Vintage Deco Car Tour, a Deco Bus Tour or if you have your own vehicle a Self Drive Tour.
Our guide Leigh met us at the Art Deco Trust building in Napier and boy did he look the part. Dressed in 1930s Art Deco attire, he chauffeured us around Napier's outer region in a 1939 Austin vintage car.
On this 75 minute tour we drove around the Napier hill and through historic Ahuriri to the National Tobacco Company building then on to the Deco houses and gardens of Marewa, Napier's 1930's Art Deco suburb.
After the Vintage Deco Car tour Leigh took us on a mini guided walk through the compact Art Deco Quarter in Napier's vibrant city centre. We then took a visit to Decorum Costumes and Antiques. Decorum specialises in recreating the twenties and thirties look for customers, especially for Napier's summer and winter Deco Festivals.
The Vintage Car Tour costs $130 for up to 4 people and $15 per person for the Guided Walks.
National Aquarium of New Zealand
Nowhere else in New Zealand will you discover a wider range of marine animals and native species in a single facility than at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier. Uniquely situated on Napier's foreshore, it is designed to be a centre of education, entertainment and cultural experience.
An underwater travelator takes you beneath the massive oceanarium as hundreds of fish swim and feed above and around you. For the more adventurous souls you can dive into the marine life and actually swim with sharks.
There is no thrill on earth like coming face to face with a shark! After I found out I would be entering the water alone, I started to sweat a little... Then I saw the size of the sharks that I would be swimming along side and that's when I really started to freak out. 'Okay you can do this Nicquel' I started repeating over and over in my head. After asking Leigh for the 10th time 'now you're sure they have been fed and it is completely safe' I slid into the icy cold water.
As I journeyed through the oceanarium I became a member of this amazing marine community, discovering not only the awesome collection of native fish but also the majestic stingrays as they glide by.
Looking down at the gazing eyes in the underwater travelator I followed their vision and was faced with a humongous shark heading in my direction. “OH MY GOD” I practically screamed as I attempted to back paddle away from the greatest predator of the deep and every Australians worst fear.
You can swim with the sharks at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier for only $50, which includes all the gear you will need. For more information on the aquarium visit their website at: http://www.nationalaquarium.co.nz
Gannet Safaris Napier
Cape Kidnappers is the largest most accessible mainland colony of gannets in the world. The 20, 000 gannets at the cape are members of the Booby family, with distinctive black eye markings and a pale gold crown. Oh and they absolutely stink but apart from that, they are very fascinating birds.
Travelling in comfort and style in Gannet Safari's air conditioned 4 x 4 wheeled vehicle, through Cape Kidnappers Station. We traversed through riverbeds, broad rolling pastures, native bush, steep gullies and breathtaking inclines. The stop at a spectacular cliff top on the way showcased panoramic views of Hawke Bay right across to the Mahia Peninsula.
On arrival at the gannets we all got out to stretch our legs, enjoy some refreshments served by our guide and watch the gannets perform around us.
We were able to see adults and young nesting in compact rows carrying out their daily routine. In the air above our heads these amazing birds with their two metre wing span swooped and dived as they brought the fish back for their young. Their landing technique is far from graceful and their dancing style very bizarre. We observed in awe as they performed the dance of the gannets' recognition ritual.
The birds can be seen from September to early May. The chicks are then fattened up in preparation for their first flight to warmer climates in early May.
For information on prices and tours visit their website at: www.fannetsafaris.co.nz
Elephant Hill Estate Winery
Situated on the same road as the Gannet Safaris' Depo is the Elephant Hill Estate Winery. This stunning new and innovative winery estate is a producer of premium single-estate Hawke's Bay wine and enjoys the spoils of a temperate, dry climate and an extended growing season.
With an enviable location, the blending of contemporary architecture with its natural surroundings, stunning views of the vineyard, and outstanding service this restaurant is a must during your stay Hawke's Bay.
Stylish, warm and inviting the full restaurant offers a dining experience to savour and remember. Inspired by contemporary European cuisine their dishes are made with only the freshest of seasonal produce and ingredients. As soon as I saw the special of the day “Salt and Pepper Squid” being brought out to the table adjacent to us, I instantly decided what I was going to order. It tasted just as good as it looked if not better.
For those of you who are like me and have no idea which wine to choose to enhance the flavour of the food, Elephant Hill has done the hard work for you. Each meal is complimented and matched with a wine from their premium international selection of the finest wines around.
For more information on the vineyard, please visit their website: www.elephanthill.co.nz
1 comment:
What a shame you didn't get very good weather for your time in Hawkes Bay, Nicquel. We are known for our fantastic weather here and that particular week was just one out of character. I think you did justice to us all the same except you didn't mention wonderful Havelock North as a place you visited, so I hope you did in fact come here. It is the most delightful place!!
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