Hawkes Bay Historic Homes & Wineries Tour
A Short Getaway to the sunny Hawkes Bay
Payment
50% at time of Booking, balance 30 days prior to tour date
Package Includes:
Door to Door transportLunch x 2 (L)
Breakfasts x 3 (B)
Dinners x 3 (D)
All attractions as listed
Christmas is looming, so why not take a wee break to recharge your batteries in preparation for the upcoming festive season.
We will return you home with inspiration in readiness for the Christmas holiday season.
Let us look after you totally for a four-day (3 night) getaways to the Sunny Hawkes Bay. The Hawkes Bay is blessed with a wide variety of houses built during 1870-1914. We will host you to some of the finest private homes designed by Natusch, Gummer and others from this period – Belmont, Tauroa, Arapata are included which we can gain access to. Our short break will allow you to experience first-hand, the story of New Zealand’s formative years by visiting beautiful homes from this time. You will also enjoy a tour of Art Deco city with its exquisite period buildings, and of course we must indulge you in a winery or two. This is the region of fine wines and great food. No tour is complete without a trip up awesome Te Mata Peak and to one of the countryside strawberry gardens, finished off with a boutique chocolate factory tasting.
Sit back and enjoy the region with its manicured road verges, orchards, vineyards, and historic homes. This will be a fabulous relaxing tour.
We depart Tauranga and head off towards Napier – stopping at L’Arte Café in Taupo for lunch. Voted Lonely Planet’s No 1 cafe pick for the Central North Island and one of the top 10 places to visit in New Zealand. L’Arté Café and Gallery is not to be missed when visiting Taupo. The café and gallery are both set in a magical, art filled garden, complete with an outside mosaic living room. Discover a dream world of extraordinary dimensions in this tranquil mosaic-filled haven.
Fully indulged with splendid food, wine & company, you can now sit back and enjoy the scenery as we drive from Taupo to Napier. As we approach Napier we drive through Eskdale – a rural community on the edge of the Esk river and home to a multitude of vineyards and wineries within the valley. Then along the past the old port area of Ahuriri before arriving at our beautiful 4-star accommodation, where we will stay for next 3 nights. Our Napier hotel enjoys a premium waterfront location on Napier’s Marine Parade. The hotel’s slender curved form echoes the shape of the bay and guests are treated to sweeping views out over the water. A short stroll and you are amid the art deco city centre, and directly across the road is the Ocean Spa complex. You will want for nothing – it is all at your front door.
Overnight – Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Relax, sleep late if you wish, rise early & go for a walk along the waterfront, go to the gym, and dine leisurely over breakfast in house.
Later this morning we will venture out to visit our first historic home. We have engaged Historic Homes expert John Vickers to host us over the next two days, John is a fifth generation New Zealander with a lifetime interest in New Zealand Heritage.
As a child, he spent most of his time in a large district homestead, and being familiar with all the other homes on the tour, gives John a broad knowledge of their history, design aspects and place in New Zealand’s development.
John has also restored a “Chapman-Taylor Courtyard” house with his wife Sarah, as a home for their three children, Woodleigh House.
All the historic homes are privately owned and designed by English Architects between 1880 to 1915 in styles concurrent with international trends. 100 years on they are set in mature grounds, hidden away in the beautiful New Zealand countryside.
Some of the architects of these grand designs are C T Natusch, F deJ Clere, J.W. Chapman-Taylor, G F Allen, Russell & Bignell. Mostly all known for building fine homes for wealthy people. These men have left a legacy of design for us to marvel over.
No day would be complete without a visit to a winery. We are spoilt for choices in this region, so we will surprise you.
Back at our hotel we can relax for awhile or walk across the road to the Ocean Spa, and take a quick swim or maybe a treatment.
We will dine together this evening in an interesting historic building which is close by. The historic Art Deco Hotel.
Overnight – Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Today is another day of exploring these grand heritage homes & beautifully manicured gardens with John. We will also venture to the top of Te Mata Peak to enjoy the views of this amazing region.
Then it is back to our hotel for a wee rest before indulging in yet another grand old building – The famous Mission Estate Winery. Established in 1851 by French Missionaries and is New Zealand’s oldest winery – hence the birthplace of New Zealand wines.
Mission has never lost sight of its French heritage, as over the years Brothers of the Order have travelled to France to study and learn viticulture and winemaking skills. Our current winemaker Paul Mooney has been at Mission for over 30 years and was originally trained by the Fathers.
Tonight, we dine at the Mission Estate Winery
Overnight – Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Sleep late, enjoy breakfast and the ocean views. We will browse the shops for some retail therapy this morning , add in a visit to the strawberry gardens for some fresh fare, maybe even the chocolatier and travel home, feeling rested, relaxed, refreshed, envigorated and enthusiastic about Christmas, family & the upcoming holiday season.
Door to Door Transport
Attractions where stated, 4 – 5 historic homes, 2+ wineries
Accommodation x 3 nights – 4 Star Hotel – Te Pania (play video)
Breakfast x 3, Dinners x 3, Lunches x 2.
If you have any questions please phone us on 07 572 4118
