The most beautiful colourful blend of teas and infusions, all handcrafted in store by Megan, alongside her botanical elixirs, aromatherapy and essential oils and body care. A beautiful place to indulge.

More than 20 years of organic, sustainable and wholefood traditions are baked into Hislops. A beautiful range of delicious cakes and raw desserts adorn their counter with a healthy sit-down menu to match. Good coffee and don’t leave until you try their stoneground wholemeal bread.

Holistic-based body massage, bodywork and facials using wildflower botanicals. True healing beauty from where the mountains meet the sea.

A heavenly kingdom of Lavender under the majestic Seaward Kaikoura mountains. Rustic-style accommodation, beautiful gardens, and a shop filled with so many lavender products on a working lavender farm. Winter is beautiful as the farm is back-dropped by snow-capped peaks, while late summer’s hot days are when the harvest peaks.

The Giant Among Us as Te Mata Peak is known sits as a striking landmark on the flat Heretaunga Plains. The park is on of the most loved in Hawke’s Bay. Walking paths and an adventurous mountain bike trail criss-cross the mountain. The views from the top are amazing and a must-see for tourists.

From the ashes of the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake and consequent fire that raged through the Edwardian ruins came a beautiful Art Deco townscape and seaside promenade. The Colonnade, Veronica Sun Bay memorial, Soundshell and Marine Parade gardens are iconic to the seaside city and the best place to start to explore the unique architectural journey.

Once known as Scinde Island when the landmark was surrounded by water Napier Hill can be seen looming in the distance from all over Hawke’s Bay. The big hill takes on the names of Bluff Hill, Hospital Hill and Napier Hill. A journey through the steep streets is an architectural history of the city, from 18th century fisherman’s cottages, Edwardian and Victorian villas, Spanish Mission and Art Deco homes to modern construction and the interesting and ghostly old Napier Cemetery and Botanical Gardens.

Carved by a team of 20 from ancient totara, the presence of eighteen large pou carvings stand proudly, each representing an ancestor from marae around the Heretaunga district in Hastings City Civic Square. The figures are significant and mark the association between the tangata, people, and the whenua, land.

One of Hastings most prominent landmarks the Art Deco Clock Tower is inscribed with the names of the 93 residents of Hastings who died in the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake. Grazing below are five concrete-cast sheep, characteristic to the rural market town. The quaintest feature is the fountain bisected by the railway line. The area is a significant and central meeting place in the city. Across the road is the beautiful and elaborate Westerman’s Building, built in Spanish Mission style.

The names of dachshund Schnitzel von Krumm and tomcat Scarface Claw fall off the lips of most kids. Anyone who has entered the world of Lynley Dodd’s books and the adventures of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy and his friends will identify with the life-sized bronze statues of her magic feline and canine literary characters on The Strand waterfront. They’re worth a stop and fun for kids of all ages.

A snap of our favourite maunga, or mountain, is a must for every traveller. The cone-shaped volcano rising up on the horizon can be seen from north to south welcoming travellers to The Bay. It’s the best vantage point for a panoramic view and a beautiful place to be in touch with nature.

The enduring smoke of Whakaari, or White Island on the horizon is visible from throughout the Bay of Plenty. A visit to the spectacular active volcano, 50 km of Whakatane, with its bubbling mud pools, sulphuric moonscape and steamy surrounds will be an everlasting memory.

The sheltered sandy bay with its iconic row of Norfolk Pines is a family-friendly destination for barbecues, water sports and swimming. The views across the harbour to the busy Port of Tauranga and Kamai Ranges are especially beautiful at sunset. Experience a real slice of New Zealand, grab some take-a-way fish and chips wrapped in newsprint and eat them on the beach.

Although the kiwifruit isn’t native to New Zealand the kiwifruit berry has become synonymous with the Bay of Plenty. The orchard towns of Te Puke and Katikati have built their wealth around the nutritious furry harvests. Kiwi 360 is a stop where you can experience a 40-minute tour by KiwiKart to discover the secrets of this fruit and finish off with a delectable kiwi dish at the cafe.

The Giant Among Us as Te Mata Peak is known sits as a striking landmark on the flat Heretaunga Plains. The park is on of the most loved in Hawke’s Bay. Walking paths and an adventurous mountain bike trail criss-cross the mountain. The views from the top are amazing and a must-see for tourists.

The park is known for its 364-hectares magnificent rain forest as well as the hot relaxing springs, where many litres of hot ancient sea water pours though. My favourite is the small pools at the end of the Nikau Walk. Pure bliss.

It is so much fun to grab and old inner tube or boogie boards and head for these amazing falls, where you can hoop and holler as loud as you can as you take the ride down the natural rock formation. Kids love it and why not find your inner child and have a go.

Cape Kidnappers has lots of stories to tell with amazing cliffs and earthquake faults, sea life, and views back to Napier. Taking a tractor trip along the coast is an awesome experience where you can witness a variety of sea birds, some of which are being rehabitated at the nearby Cape Sanctuary, but the most well-known is the world’s largest and most accessible gannet colony at the end. It’s a walk up to the nest site and the trip is tide dependant, although it will have you talking about it for years.

Feeding a wild animal is especially thrilling and even more so when it’s a graceful marine creature, known for its stinging barb. The beautiful docile rays and playful kingfish all vying for the tit bits will take your breath away, and you don’t even have to swim, just clad up in a wet suit and walk out to the reef.

Moutohorā Island, also known as Whale Island is a small volcanic cone sitting of the coast of Whakatane and Ohope. It is a wildlife refuge, free of introduced pests and managed by the Department of Conservation so there’s restricted access. Slowly the island is being replanted with natives and a significant bird breeding colony with many threatened and endangered birds thriving. You can access the island through a commercial tour. Often the short boat trip is often accompanied by dolphins and there may be an opportunity to swim in the warm thermal waters at Sulphur Bay. It is a beautiful place with magnificent bird song where you can see New Zealand as it once was.

Our maunga is much-loved and the volcanic cone can be seen on the horizon throughout the Bay. From the easily-accessed base track it is easy to get a taste of what a wonderful wildlife sanctuary it is for resting seals, shags, black-backed gulls and penquins. If you visit early in the morning the chances of seeing dolphins and orca cruising by is high. It is well-visited and the climb to the top is worth it for the awesome views from Coromandel Peninsula to East Cape on a clear day. There is a superb camp ground on the lower reaches in Mount Maunganui itself.

The white sandy surf beach with its outlying islands and vista across to Mayor Island is a firm favourite with locals and visitors. It can be the most serene and beautiful place in the world or the ocean can churn up some huge wild surf, which favours only the more experienced surfer. Sitting on the rocks at the blow hole at the end of the Leisure Island is pure bliss. The sandy beach extends 20km up to the Kaituna River and cafes and food outlets on Marine Parade support the local beach-crowd and visitors.

With such a beautiful coastline getting out on the water is a must to see the abundant marine life. There are commercial operators who do dolphin tours, where you ‘re highly likely to come across wild dolphins and very likely to bump into orcas, whales, turtles and seals and much more. Getting out on the water is the only way to experience the natural wonder of the area.

The Kamai Ranges form a natural backdrop to the Bay and host a number of walking and tramping tracks, some connected with overnight huts, suitable for more experienced trampers only. A lot of them associated with historic mining and logging sites. There are many short to medium walks through the bush clad valleys and hills to wonderful rivers and waterfalls. The walks around Aongatete near Katitkati are easy to get to.

A lovely new addition to Ahuriri with unique gifts and some gorgeous English Heron Cross Pottery, children's gifts and Plasma Cut sculpture-ware and cottagey chalk-painted furniture. It's a great place for gifts.

Start lining up because the opening of James Beck’s new addition to the Hawke’s Bay dining scene is eminent. This leading chef is bound to create fresh seasonal goodness with a modern take if his former culinary ventures are indicative of what is to come.

Hapi, clean kai co op, just opened and is the latest eatery in central Napier to offer a twist on good healthy raw food. Here’s a taste – raw soaked bircher with coconut yoghurt, strawberries, almonds and mint finished with a macadamia tumeric latte. Guaranteed you walk out buzzing with extra zing.

The latest coffee house opening on funky Tennyson Street concentrating on making the best coffee, fresh pastries and baguettes. Keeping it perfectly simple and doing it very well.

The coffee cart has only been open two with plans to open on weekends only and business has been so good there are now plans to open daily. You’ll find this delicious ‘barking good’ expresso opposite the Cape View shops right on the cycle trail. It’s fast becoming a popular place to stop off with the locals.