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Map of Hawke's Bay Adventure including New Zealand

Explore your own beautiful backyard bay

Make for the mild climate, lush vineyards, long stretches of beautiful beach, picturesque peaks and coastal plains of Hawke’s Bay with this four-day Intrepid local adventure on the North Island. Begin among the Art Deco pastels of Napier and get an inside insight into the story and buildings that make the town unique. Taste local flavours among the vineyards that make this one of the oldest and best wine regions in the country. Get active along the coast, learn the tribal history and traditions of Hawke’s Bay with a local Maori guide, and get back to nature with two nights on an eco-lodge set on a regenerative farm. This trip has everything you need from a local adventure.

Flexi Pledge

Travel local with peace of mind - $99 deposits, the ability to change your dates or to cancel up until 24 hours before departure.

Terms & Conditions
Start
Napier, New Zealand
Finish
Napier, New Zealand
Destination
New Zealand
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
PHLB
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 10

Why you'll love this trip

  • Enjoy an insight into the unrivalled Art Deco architecture of Napier, hearing the stories and heading behind the scenes with a special tour to some of the town’s best looking buildings.

  • Get a taste for the Bay’s famously fantastic produce during a wine tour with your leader. Sip and graze your way around several of our favourite local wineries.

  • Jump in the saddle for a ride through the best sights of Napier, through the vibrant suburb of Ahuriri and the peaceful countryside, past landmarks that tell the story of the area’s culture and history, and Pacific Ocean views.

  • Uncover the stories, traditions and kaitiakitanga work of the Maori people of Hawke’s Bay as you take a journey through the lives of a local tribe.

  • Stay at a beautiful eco-lodge on a regenerative farm – experience the farm life while lending a helping hand and choose from a number of optional activities to explore the scenic property.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip includes a cycling excursion – while the ride is relatively easy, there a pre-bookable e-bikes available for those who prefer an easier battery powered option.

New Zealand Hawkes Bay Winery
New Zealand Hastings Beach Coastal View
PHLB - Bike ride on the Estuary Trail 2019
PHLB - Views from Elsthorpe Eco Lodge
New Zealand Waimarama Beach Coast
PHLB - Art Deco Style - The Masonic Hotel
PHLB - Ike at Waimarama
PHLB - Waimarama Maori Statue
PHLB - Eco Farm Cows
PHLB - Views from the Mangarara Eco Lodge

Itinerary
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Welcome to your Hawke’s Bay getaway here on the North Island. Join your group and leader at 10 am at a centrally located meeting place in Napier, rebuilt as an Art Deco haven after an earthquake in the 1930s. After a welcome meeting, when your leader will give you an overview of the upcoming itinerary, enjoy a special insight into the local architecture with an exclusive tour that lets you discover the story behind, and the exterior and some interiors, of a selection of stunning buildings not usually accessible to the public. Afterwards, sip your way around the city during a tour of some of Napier’s best wineries with your leader, who will explain why the region is such a paradise for wine lovers. Drink in some fantastic views, and a few memorable vintages too. You’ll also swing by some local food producers to sample local specialties such as figs, honey and cheese. Tonight, your host will suggest a local restaurant for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Napier - Art Deco Building Tour
  • Napier - Winery Visits with Wine & Produce Tastings
Meals Included
  • Lunch
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be checking insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let an Intrepid representative or your travel agent know. Find details of the meeting point in your Essential Trip Information.

Saddle up after breakfast this morning for a ride north of Napier to an area that was mostly inland sea before the Napier earthquake of 1931. Back in the time of Captain Cook his ship found shelter in the estuary here, and you’ll cycle through the vibrant suburb of Ahuriri and the peaceful countryside, past landmarks that tell the story of the area’s culture and history, and enjoy Pacific Ocean views. The Ahuriri Estuary (Te Whanganui a Orotu) is the remains of an extensive pre-earthquake lagoon, home to endangered wetland wildlife, native and migratory birds and a nursery for ocean-going fish. The wider estuary area contains a wildlife sanctuary in the wetlands, recreational pond area, cycle pathways and farmland. Cycle back to Napier and enjoy some free time to grab some lunch. In the afternoon head south to Waimarama for a chance to get to know the tribal history and traditions of the area with a local Maori guide. Waimarama beach was one of the stopping points of the great migratory canoe Takitimu in Maori tradition, and you’ll see why and where the Maori stayed, establishing the Hakikino fortress in the nearby hills. Learn more about tribal history and traditions, and drop into a native plant nursery and conservation area to understand how the Maori here are working to protect, restore, and reserve areas of remaining bushland. Afterwards, drive to your accommodation in the beautiful Hawke's Bay countryside for the next two nights, an eco-lodge designed to connect you back to the land. Stop along the way for a quick drink at a tavern, a community hub near the Tuki Tuki river where you can mingle with the locals and the resident fox terriers, getting a real slice of local life. Then head on to the lodge, which overlooks a 40-hectare lake.
Accommodation
  • Eco Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Napier - Bike Tour
  • Waimarama - Waimarama Beach History Tour with Local Maori Guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Your accommodation is focused on not just sustainability, but regenerating the land while farming. After breakfast this morning – made with fresh produce straight from the property – you’ll take a tour of the farm and find out how the owners’ introduction of silvopasture has improved the health of the soil, the animals and biodiversity, and how the farm strives for a positive impact on the land and surrounding community. Follow the farmer as pigs are fed, eggs collected, cows milked and livestock shifted. If you’re feeling in the agricultural mood, then there are a heap of other farm jobs you can observe or lend a hand to. Afterwards you’re free to make the most of the farm’s 1500 acres – perhaps try trout fishing in the nearby Tuki Tuki river. This evening join your group and celebrate the end of your Hawke’s Bay adventure with a final dinner that makes the most of the farm’s fresh produce.
Accommodation
  • Eco Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hawke's Bay - Sustainable Farm Experience
Optional Activities
  • Hawke's Bay - Tuki Tuki River Trout Fishing - NZD200
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to Napier where your tour ends at approximately 11am.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Bicycle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Eco Lodge (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Napier - Art Deco Building Tour
  • Napier - Winery Visits with Wine & Produce Tastings
  • Napier - Bike Tour
  • Waimarama - Waimarama Beach History Tour with Local Maori Guide
  • Hawke's Bay - Sustainable Farm Experience

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Hawke's Bay Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

All travellers on Intrepid trips (outside Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands) are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. From 1 December 2021, all travellers on Intrepid trips, including in Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands, are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

A single Supplement is available on this trip for day 1 only, subject to availability.

This trip starts at 9am in Napier on day 1 and finishes with a drop off at 11am in Napier on the last day.

Bicycle hire is included on day 2 so we require your height at the time of booking.

We recommend you wear close-toed shoes and suitable clothing for the walks and cycling.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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