There's absolutely no point in counting calories in Hawkes Bay, I put on about three kilos in six days of food heaven, but hey, life is for living - diet when you get back to the real world I say! It's also important to note that you will need a detox when you end your trip here, for this is wine region and frankly, you will forget what water tastes like when there are more exotic options on offer.

I stayed in Napier, the art deco city which is a great place to base yourself due to its close proximity to the surrounding areas of Hawkes Bay which boast a serious number of wineries. It would be a crime to travel to this region without plenty of visits to the local vineyards and many a glorious lunch and dinner can be spent whiling away the hours trialing the different wines the region has to offer.

One of the first 'must visits' is Mission Estate Winery. Established in 1851, Mission Estate is New Zealand's oldest vineyard and is just a hop, skip and a jump (or 15 mins drive) from Napier city central. When you approach Mission Estate you will feel as if you have been transported back in time - it's a gorgeous old stately home with manicured grounds and fantastic indoor and outdoor dining areas. We enjoyed outside dining under a blue sky, but the indoor restaurant looks welcoming for a cosy evening meal. To be honest, I'm not overly enamoured with the Mission Estate wines that I have tried, so I'd recommend you choose from the top end of the menu to avoid disappointment, but the meals are always wonderful and don't even think about trying to leave without savouring the crème brulee. Seriously, just find a way to squeeze it in no matter how full you are!
Mission Estate Winery
198 Church Road

Greenmeadows

Napier

Ph: 06 845 9350

Just outside Havelock North and only 25 minutes drive from Napier city sits the much more contemporary yet no less impressive Craggy Range Winery. Dining at the Terroir Restaurant is a definite 'must do'. Situated at the bottom of Te Mata Peak, the views can only be described as soul-soothing and the service is exemplary. Head Chef Stephen Tindall specialises in rotisserie and wood-fired oven cooking - the foods are simple, yet completely flavoursome. I had the eye fillet which, compliments to the chef, was cooked perfectly 'medium rare' as I requested and was accompanied with a hollandaise sauce and fried potatoes. My partner in crime devoured the duck. There were many delighted groans throughout the meal and we so enjoyed dining there that after letting our full bellies settle during a visit to Ocean Beach we returned that day for dessert consumption. The wines served were delicious and made us regret that we had not set up camp within walking distance.
Craggy Range Winery
253 Waimarama Rd
Havelock North
Ph: 06 8730 143

Other vineyards that have come highly recommended and would be worth looking into are: Black Barn, Church Rd and Sileni Estates Vineyard and Winery.

Te Mata Cheese Company

I worship cheese. The stinkier and mouldier the better in my humble opinion, and if like me you could quite happily grow old and fat on platter after platter of coagulated milk, then you absolutely have to stop in at Te Mata Cheese Company. The café serves delicious snacks and lunches - with cheese as the highlight of course. Try some tasting samples and then head to the store to purchase your favourite cheesy delights to gorge on in the comfort of your own room.

Te Mata Cheese Company
393 Te Mata Road
Havelock North
Ph: 06 875 8282

After days of extravagant dining and bills to match, sometimes you just want something cheap and cheerful... And that something may well be Antonios Pizza & Pasta Parlour. Be warned this is a local fave, so it gets BUSY and you will need to book. We had no idea of the popularity of the place and just as my partner in crime and I were settling a dessert debate over an arm wrestle (this is the sort of behaviour nobody bats an eyelid at Antonios!) the waitress sheepishly informed us our table had been booked at that time for someone else. At least it settled the dessert debate. We enjoyed a pizza each ($15 each) and a simple, but very tasty salad with avocado, bacon and scallops ($8). Wines start at around $5 a glass. Satisfying and budget friendly.

Antonios Pizza and Pasta Parlour
cnr Carlyle & Craven Sts
Napier

Ph: 06 835 5814

The Silky Oak Chocolate Factory
Perhaps you have managed to exercise some restraint, and you actually have room to squeeze in a little midday dessert? Or possibly your blood sugar levels have actually reached their ideal state? If it's time for another sugar rush, a few minutes tiki-tour from central Napier you will find a very small and unassuming 'factory' that is dedicated to the art of chocolate, as am I! We stopped by the small factory area to buy some bags of goodies then walked over to the café area for a coffee and yet more sugary indulgences. There is a good selection of foods here and the drinks are something to behold in themselves... on the drinks menu is 'chocolate soup' - you have been warned.
The Silky Oak Chocolate Factory
1131 Links Rd
Napier
Ph: 06 845 0908

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