Hawkes Bay- 2 days

[silkwood]

I'm headed to North Island NZ in October. Much of the trip is taken up fishing (come on, this is the home of Tongariro, a true pilgramage ) but have a couple of days to head for the wineries. Is Hawkes Bay region my best bet for two days and if so, what are the must visits?

Cheers,

Mark

[orpheus]

I think HB is your best bet.

I would visit Craggy Range, if you can, and Bilancia. I personally like Cross Roads as well, but that is perhaps idiosyncratic.

The NZers will have some tips about what is likely to be open and what is the best approach. I know someone who went last year and found that a lot of places weren't open, so perhaps there are some tips about how to get access to the best places.

[Craig(NZ)]

Expect the fish to be a bit bigger than that thing in your avatar Mark

Ive toured Hawkes Bay basically every year since 1994. Lots of changes. Taking into account the "full experience" being wine quality, service, food and general interest. You should get these done in two days. One piece of advice, Hawkes Bay is quite expansive I would definitely tour it sub region at a time to save driving all day! You should be able to knock off 4-5 a day in a relaxed manner while doing a few of the side trip things.

I would recommend:

Gimblet Gravels Area:
Unison Vineyards
Stonecroft
Trinity Hill

Havelock Area + Te Awanga:
I would recommend a drive up Te Mata Peak for the views and Te Mata Cheese if you wanna stop for a snack. Waimarama Beach is stunning on a good day. I want to retire there!! As for wineries:
Te Mata Estate
Craggy Range (has great formal restaurant)
Clearview (has great casual outdoors restaurant)

Northern Bay:
Esk Valley
Mission Vineyards (great winery buildings, views. has restaurant, looks flash but never personally eaten there. Church Rd is right next door too, you may want to drop in there too though it is a bit of a "shop")
If you want a cold beer overlooking the ocean Eastpier and a number of nice places around the boat harbour near bluff hill

I dont think you will have too many problems with opening hours for these guys except perhaps Stonecroft

[cuttlefish]

At a recent HB tasting in Sydney, I was impressed by the reserve "Declaration" wines from CJ Pask. Stonecroft were nice wines also.

[silkwood]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. Craig, that trout WAS in New Zealand, a beautiful little brownie from a small South Island stream! Don't worry, I've caught bigger in NZ and I'm well aware of the potential monsters I may see in the Tongariro (I wish!).

Having looked at the plan a little more carefully I realise I only have 1.5 days in the area (two nights) so would I be best just going to the Havelock area? I didn't realise it is a full days drive from there to Auckland next day. I also have a couple of days in the Hamilton region, or thereabouts. I'm fishing whilst the other half is at a conference. Are there any wineries in this area, or should I simply concentrate on the fish and take a few nice bottles from Hawkes Bay?

Cheers,

Mark

[Craig(NZ)]

Mark

I thought I was setting myself up with the fish comment

I think you will find if you have a full day you could fit a couple of gimblet gravels wineries in before lunch, then across to havelock for a late lunch at craggy, then te mata after lunch and depending on your enthusiam even clearview after that though you may be pushing it if you stop for lunch at Craggy. If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket you must splash out at Craggy Range's Terrior restaurant which is the best in the country in my opinion (and ive been to all the top ones except herzog). Te Whau would be my next pick on Waiheke. Lunch on the deck beneath Te Mata Peak is hard to beat, the food, service and wine list is impecible.

Last time I was in the bay drove from Taupo in the morning. We did Unison, Trinity Hill, Craggy Range and Te Mata before 3pm and retired to the motel for cricket on tv and an antipasto we threw together from Hastings New World supermarket which is an excellent shop for wine friendly provisions (hastings is between gimblet gravels and havelock north). Buy yourself a bottle of Te Mata Coleraine, Craggy Range Le Sol or the like, commit infanticide and enjoy. Only will cost you $3.50 Australian at current rates?

Failing 5 in a day perhaps clearview next day and esk valley/mission on the way out. depends how wild you wanna go with the winery hopping but it is possible. if it is a clear sunny day you might want to enjoy Te Awanga, the beach and the awesome outdoor restaurant Clearview offers.

Hamilton area hasnt got any wineries worth dragging you away from the fishing though viligrad winery near hamilton does a great hearty country style spit roast lunch on a sunday. awesome food but unfortunately the wine is crap. Those dalmation types know how to cook a good feed

Taupo (aka event capital of NZ) has a great wine shop, one of the best in the country called scenic cellars right down on the lake shore on the main road through (a couple of shops away from the kfc, can't miss it). The deli shop in the front of it does allpress coffee too if you want to try one of the best coffee brands here too

C

[via collins]

God all this talk of Havelock and Hawkes Bay is making me jealous!

All of our family found the journey around this area one of our NZ highlights back in April.

Quite aside from the delicious wines, as Craig says, currently selling at knockdown prices to Australians, there is the superlative terrain of the Te Mata range neighbourhood. Clearwater was a magnificent lunch, and their 09 semillon was an unexpected treat as a bonus.

Happy travels!

[silkwood]

Craig your a gem. I'm sending you the dates, you can plan the itinerary for us! Seriously thanks for the info, it really does most of the planning for us.

Thanks again everyone for the comments and suggestions. Can't wait for the trip.

Cheers,

Mark

[Craig(NZ)]

and would recommend if it is a clear day (which it usually is down there) a drive up Te Mata Peak after Te Mata Estate if you want the best vantage point in the bay for a view. Looks down on Craggy Range and across the entire Hawkes Bay. Grab a tourist map and you will be able to pick the road up which is only a couple of minutes drive from Te Mata winery