An award-winning contemporary restaurant in one of the elegant Victorian houses on Marine Parade, known as the Six Sisters. Priced at the higher end of the scale, their superb “dressed to kill” cuisine has gained Mint a Beef and Lamb Excellence Award since 2011. How does the lightly smoked Angus beef sirloin, Reuben tortellini and beetroot gratin feta, beef cheek and mushroom goulash sound?

Schist stone and a big stone fireplace reflect the Otago origin of this brand. In true southern style Speights boasts an array of beef and lamb dishes, including shearer’s shanks, the Scotsman, Poolburn porterhouse, lamb’s fry and spiced beef salad. Try an award-winning hearty Speight’s Brewery ale to wash down these very large servings.

A rambling, historic country lodge, with guest accommodation and fully-licensed function rooms set on a 3,000 acre beef and cattle station in Central Hawke’s Bay, a short distance from Porangahau Beach. Cordon Blue chef Charlotte Robinson, holds New Zealand Beef & Lamb Hallmark of Excellence Awards for 2008 and 2009 and is on the list again for 2014.

Chef Simon Bold is leading the charge this year in the New Zealand Beef & Lamb Hallmark of Excellence Award. This is one of Ahuriri’s most popular restaurant and bars, boasting a wide west-facing deck overlooking the marina. Try the scrumptious new season lamb rack with the olive and herb crust or the “Pure South” beef fillet with the truffle mash.

“I love my trade - taking a large piece of nondescript meat and turning it into something carnivores crave,” says The Village Butcher. The trimmed lamb racks rubbed with whole grain mustard with a panko, rosemary and pine nut crust will have even the staunchest of vegetarians dribbling. All their meat is free range and they really do make the best sausage in NZ, having achieved the Supreme Award in the Devro NZ Sausage Competition.

As well as the opportunity to relax with a beer, glass of wine or bubbly, the 45-seat luxury theatre in the seaside village of Ahuriri offers its own “snacks with a difference menu”, including single-serve gourmet pizzas from Pizza Pazzi next door. You don’t have to go far.

Open late and conveniently located next door to the four-screen Reading Cinema complex, The Station, is a fitting choice for a quick drink or full-on pre or post movie dining. The menu is extensive, from snacks, pizza to restaurant meals, or if you want a sweet treat try building your own dessert.

With its very own 7-day licenced café on the premises it’s a no brainer where to go to eat. The Art Deco building has recently been refurbished into a boutique three-screen cinema, showing a range of art-house and mainstream movies. Share one of the platters with friends – there’s a choice of Italian, French, cheese & nut or fondue, with a yummy chocolate dipping sauce.

A short walk away from the Odeon Multiplex in Gladstone Road, The Rivers is perfect for a quick drink or to grab a bite to eat before or after a movie. It can be popular so book ahead.

How about some pub grub before immersing yourself in the comfortable surroundings of Cinema Gold in Havelock North. The Irish-theme carries right through to great hospitality, good value and quick and efficient service.

An animal lover’s dream and great value for a family outing. There are animals everywhere, so it’s the perfect stage to play Dr Dolittle, where you can walk, talk, feed and pat them. There are pony rides and horse trekking opportunities too. Take a picnic and enjoy a break, because the kids will entertain themselves and have lots of fun here.

Swimming with sharks is so cool. And I really love that they are well fed. If you’re lucky you may get to brush past the biggest shark, Sarah, all of 2.8m. But if getting up close and personal to the killer of the deep is not quite your thing, you can view all the 24 resident sharks and sting-rays from the underwater viewing tunnel of the oceanarium. Lots of exhibits and interactive activities and a great place to fill in half a day with the kids.

There is enough here at this technology museum to entertain any family for hours. Kids of all ages can embrace this technology museum, full of olden-day memorabilia. A touchy feely paradise full of interactive gems.

It’s Locals Day on Sunday July 13 and the Napier i-SITE are hosting the i-SPY Fun Challenge. Free fun for all ages so get a team of family and friends together and follow the clues. There’s opportunities to win lots of spot prizes, including a chance to win the ultimate family Napier weekend worth $2,500.

The MTG, Museum Theatre Gallery is the cultural heart of Napier and there are lots of educational highlights to interest the whole family, at any time of the year. Remember those days of the secret society. The Gathering of Taciturn Masters, or GTM, is recruiting new members these holidays and if you can answer their questions on the Kid’s Activity Trail you will be invited into a secret world of code breaking and fact finding.

A blazing fire pit to warm the body in winter, live music to lift the soul and heart-warming wines topped off with some delicious food. A heavenly place to heat up your friends.

Warming, spicy, home-made food from a family-owned business is a good choice for a cold winter’s day or evening. This place won’t disappoint as it rates consistently high for great food and service. Take-away food is also available.

It’s a country affair, and a short drive from Taradale, Napier, or just off the Hawke’s Bay Cycle Trail Water Ride. The pub is a classic watering hole – traditional, charming and award-winning. Amazing food at great prices. It’s guaranteed you will return.

Terrôir restaurant is a great place to share a meal in front of the roaring wood fire - the setting is grand, much of the produce is from the garden and the food is to die for, with perfectly matched Craggy Range wines. They do everything superbly well here. It’s totally recommended and should be on top of your list.

Traditional Thai, this place is warm and cosy and at the city end of Marine Parade. I like C1: the Gaeng Keow Wahn green chicken curry so much I have yet to branch out, and my friends recommend S1: Bet Yhang, the sizzling Thai Roast Duck and C3: Pad Panang curry with prawns. We love these dishes so much we know the menu number off-by-heart. Good service, tasty authentic food and well-priced.

As well as being an education centre and entertainment for the whole family the National Aquarium is running the Aquarium School Holiday Programme, Tuesday –Thursday from July 8 – July 17. Get your hands dirty, with a Deep Sea Discovery programme and a gutsy dissection, or join in The Animal Games in week two. Fishy business I say.

If you’re over 11-years-old, up for a challenge and like adventure, try one of these school holiday escapades - rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, bush exploration or one of the other outdoor pursuits. It’s all about learning and getting into the outdoors, with an emphasis on safety.

Lots of inside fun at the Flaxmere, Hastings and Havelock North District Libraries, with story-telling, paper-folding, movie-making and a self-defence master class among them. This space is also great to find a quiet spot to read and relax.

Favoured for their extensive OSCAR and school holiday programmes the YMCA hold day programmes, before and after programmes, and camps to suit 5-13 year-olds all run by skilled YMCA and youth leaders in a fun and safe environment.

Enrol now for to be challenged, inspired and motivated in a drug, alcohol and smoke-free environment. Regular Atomic kids say it’s the best school holiday programme in the Bay.

Sit outside on the deck and enjoy the views or snuggle around the open fire pit inside. An historic venue with a state-of-the-art sound and light system and big screens plus three 50 inch plasmas to screen those major sporting events. Great menu and bar list.

Turks is party central to the Havelock North crowd, and alive for any big game with 38 big screens TVs and a TAB on site, and just in case your favourite team isn’t winning there are 18 gaming machines to lose yourself in.

Get off to a roaring start dockside, but start early before the crowd arrives. Plasmas and big screen TVs, free WiFi, big fireplaces, outdoor dining, private and fine dining spaces. Extra parking at the rear. This place is likely to go off.

The Bluewater Hotel Sport’s Bar is a popular night spot, sports bar and TAB. The big venue has big views across the inner harbour and marina. Live music at the weekend.

The Westie, as this local hub is known, is Hawke’s Bay oldest pub and a sport’s bar, gaming lounge and TAB with a selection of TV screens to watch live events. It has a popular award-winning bistro on site, and just down the road is Westshore Beach Inn - good, clean budget accommodation should those local wines and craft beers prove too tempting. It’s a TripAdvisor favourite and is a popular choice in hospitality and food awards.