WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Visiting the area revolves around sampling the divine local produce, from any number of eats at the weekly Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market (hawkesbayfarmersmarket.co.nz) to a tasting or two of the region’s award-winning wines. Black Barn Vineyards has luxury getaway packages with a wonderful bistro and market to complement their cellar door, plus beautiful accommodation (blackbarn.com). For lovers of Art Deco, the coastal city of Napier has enchanting architecture around every corner, and the elegant heritage suites in The Crown Hotel’s original 1932 building are filled with charming period decor (thecrownnapier.co. nz). While in Napier, take a relaxing soak in the heated outdoor saltwater pools at Ocean Spa (oceanspanapier.co.nz) before dining at Mister D’s, with heavenly doughnuts for dessert (misterd. co.nz). For more places to see in Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, visit homebeautiful.com.au. The journalist and photographer travelled to Hawke’s Bay courtesy of Jetstar Airways.