Hawkes Bay

The Hawkes Bay region is located on the east coast of the North Island and is a semi-circular bay which extends 100 kilometres/60 miles. Both the coast and the interior are scenic and hilly.
It is one of the most important wine-producing regions in the country where over 70 wineries exist mainly close to the city of Napier. These exist mainly because Hawkes Bay is one of the warmest and driest regions in the country to be enjoyed during Hawkes Bay tours on a New Zealand vacation.

Napier is a seaport and tourist resort which enjoys a warm and dry Mediterranean-style climate. Due to an earthquake in 1931, the city was redesigned and became known for its Art Deco architecture. In fact, it is known as the Art Deco City and is totally different in this respect from other cities in New Zealand. One highlight is the Pania of the Reef, one of the most photographed tourist attractions on a New Zealand vacation and something akin to the Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen. Hastings, the other major city, was also affected by the earthquake and again offers examples of Art Deco and also Spanish Mission design.