Area Attractions Introduction to Havelock North Te Mata Peak Information Wineries & Vineyards Hawkes Bay Attractions Introduction to Havelock North – Hawkes Bay Welcome to Havelock North, the jewel in the crown in the heart of Hawkes Bay.  Havelock north is located about 5 minutes east of Hastings and about three minutes from The Barn.  We are close to the wonderful café culture that Havelock North is famous for and of course the fabulous boutique shopping and Art Galleries The most spectacular attraction of Havelock North is Te Mata Peak, the magnificent look out point nearly 400 metres above sea level which overlooks fabulous views of Mahia, the ski slopes of Mount Ruapehu and out towards the Ruahine Ranges.  This is a must see view when visiting Havelock North.  Should you wish to take the scenic route to the top of Te Mata Peak, there are walking tracks that have been very well graded and marked and it is most rewarding when reaching the Peak. There are many award winning wineries close to  Havelock North Village or within driving distance if you want a spectacular day out.  We can also arrange to drive for your group should everyone want to sample the delights of the wines in Hawkes Bay. The restaurants in the area are top class providing many different culinary delights and we can provide you with menu’s to many of the restaurants within the area.   To avoid disappointment we recommend that you book as soon as possible. What are you waiting for.  Come and see the magnificence of  Hawkes Bay and Havelock North and further your experience by staying in “The Barn”. The Legend of Te Mata Peak The most frequently told legend of Te Mata Peak is that the hill is the body of the chief Rongokako, the ancestor of all the iwi of Ngati Kahungunu.  Although given to warfare, Rongokako was swayed from his plan to attack the Heretaunga people when he saw the beauty of the Heretaunga chief’s daughter.  A series of difficult tasks were set for Rongokako to prove his worthiness.  He completed all but the last, which was to eat his way through the hill. Looking towards the Peak from Hastings the huge bite that choked Rongokako can be seen.  The outline of his body forms the skyline.  The Peak was then known as Te Mata O Rongokako meaning “The Face of Rongokako”.  The name commonly used since as been shortened to Te Mata Peak. When you stand at the top of Te Mata Peak it is a “hog back” ridge of erosion resistant limestone dipping steeply to the west.  Across the Tuki Tuki Valley immediately to the east is another limestone rock ridge – these sedimentary rocks – originally deposited in horizontal layers on the seabed have been tilted and bowed upward by the geological forces generated  by the collision of the pacific and Australian techtonic plates. Te Mata Peak gives a view of Napier to the North, Mahia Peninsula across Hawke Bay, soft rock hill country to the south and east, and across the Heretaunga Plains a view of the Ruahine, Kaweka and Maungaharuru  ranges with the volcano Mt Ruapehu often visible behind them. History of Te Mata Peak Te Mata Peak, “Te Mata O Rongokako” is part of land originally settled by the Ngati Ngaurengare, a sub-tribe of Ngati Kahunguru. The land that makes up Te Mata Trust  Park was included in a block purchased in 1862 by John Chambers.  In 1927 his sons gifted the 98 hectares which make up the park to the people of Hawkes’s Bay. The Park is administered by the Te Mata Park Trust Board and supported by Q.E. II National Trust.  Other support comes from the Royal Forest and Bird Society, service clubs, and the Hawke’s by community, with financial assistance from local authorities. Wineries & Vineyards Hawkes Bay has the perfect climate for growing grapes, it is extremely hot in the summer and a lot cooler in the winter, often prone to frost conditions.  There are a number of award winning wineries in Hawkes Bay, many that we highly recommend and they are listed below. An Article on Hawkes Bay wines appeared in the November 2004 edition of Condé Nast Traveller Magazine, voted the best interactive magazine in North America.  There is wonderful history on Hawkes Bay wines plus they talk about the quality of wine in the Hawkes Bay Region.  Well worth a read. Sileni Estates Established in late 1997 Sileni Estates is a winery that we highly recommend, not only do we grow grapes for Sileni but it has to be the most spectacular winery, their wine shop is second to none with separate cheese room for cheese lovers providing a variety of top cheeses from around the country.  The selection of locally made gourmet products ranging from chutneys, sauces, pickles and relishes are mouthwatering, not to mention handmade gourmet chocolates.  This is one place that you will not want to leave.  Sileni have produced a number of award winning gold and silver medal wines. Vidal Estate One of the oldest wineries in Hawkes Bay Vidal’s opened its doors in 1905, and as you can tell when you visit their restaurant which has to be one of the finest winery restaurants in the Bay, open for both lunch and dinner, you will see a lot of historic art on the walls giving you the history of the winery.  Vidal also produce some magnificent chardonnay the best of course being their Reserve Chardonnay.  Ngatarawa Wines Ngatarawa Wines (pronounced Naa Taa Raa Waa)  is a maori name meaning between the ridges, it is surrounded by hills and is situated in the golden triangle of Hawkes Bay which boasts some of the best conditions for growing grapes in the country.  The cellar for tasting is located in a lovely old stable and you will feel most relaxed here in this environment, there is wonderful outdoor setting with tables should you wish to sample some of your purchases on the property while you take in the ambiance that surrounds you.  Their wines are some of the best value for money around and Ngatarawa also produce some of the best wines especially in their Alwyn range, named after Alwyn Corban the winemaker here. Matariki (Matariki is the Maori name for the small cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus)  The majority of the growing land at Matariki is in the Gimblett Gravels area, in which the grapes just thrive in the stoney barren soil conditions.  They are producing some magnificent wines especially their top of range wines, being the Reserve Chardonnay 2002, Reserve Merlot 2000, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Syrah 2000.  Definitely worth a visit to try quality wine. Te Mata Estate Te Mata Estate Vineyard is the oldest winery in New Zealand originating back to the late 1890’s, they have three different growing areas, Havelock Hills area was the original location where everything started, the Golden Triangle, and Woodthorpe, over towards the Napier area .  Te Mata’s top wines are Colleraine in the Reds which has won a number of international awards and Elston in the Whites which is a magnificent chardonnay.  There is no restaurant located on the premises but a wonderful tasting and sales room. Hawkes Bay Attractions Experience the Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers through Gannet Beach Adventures, with over 50 years experience you will have a magical experience on the back of tractors which is fun for all ages, traveling to Cape Kidnappers and discovering the history of the Cape.  For the less adventurous, Gannet Safaris Overland bus tours are another option. The Arataki Honey plant, established in 1944.  Guided tours can be arranged for you, to visit one of the largest honey plants in the southern hemisphere boasting 17,000 hives and a wide range of honeys.  Visit the Lavender Farm – Casa Lavenda, in the village of Maraekakaho on state highway 50 and take in the aroma of acres of Lavander, browse through the gift shop and have a coffee and lunch in the café. Visit our wineries page and see the wide range of wineries to visit in the area.  Wine tours such as Vicky’s Wine Tours can arrange to drive you if everyone in your group would like to sample the wonderful Hawkes Bay wine.  If you would prefer to take a more scenic look at the wineries bike tours are another option. At the weekends are the Village Growers Market on Saturdays and the Farmers Markets on Sundays.  Many of the local businesses display their gourmet products  to give people the opportunity to buy.  Everything from fruit and vegetables from the market gardeners to the gourmet relishes, chutneys, pickles and sauces are for sale.  St Andrews Limes products are also available at the market. If you would like to see what New Zealand is really famous for its sheep!!  Take a tour of Classic Sheepskins you can take a free tour of the sheepskin tanning factory  and enjoy factory prices, you can purchase everything from New Zealand Souvenirs to woolen clothing and of course the sheepskins themselves. For golfing enthusiasts there are a number of courses in the region but a lovely course close by and open to the public is the internationally renowned Cape Kidnappers Golf Club, which is currently ranked the 41st best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine. For the more adventurous visitors we can suggest a number of activities such as Early Morning Hot Air Ballooning or Tandem Paragliding from the top of Te Mata Peak, certainly an experience you will never forget. If you are from the city and would like to experience the Rural aspect the Hawkes Bay has to offer then Prinsy’s Rural Experience & Wine Tours would be the trip to take, everything from sheep shearing, trout fishing or visiting a red deer farm are just some of the activities that will be arranged for you as well as tours of the wineries if you wish.