Local knowledge

Taxis

You’ll want to book cabs in either of the two larger towns: try Napier Taxis (06 835 7777) and Hastings Taxis (06 878 5055). The Hawke’s Bay region is large, though, so this isn’t really an economical way of getting around, unless you’re simply travelling back to your hotel after dinner.

Tipping culture

Nowhere in New Zealand is it really expected, but adding up to 10 per cent on top of the bill if you’ve had great service is appreciated.

Siesta and fiesta

Shops, banks and post offices operate to regular business hours. Wineries in the area sometimes open all week, although check before visiting, as others only operate weekends. It’s not really the right part of the world for night owls. You wouldn’t want to be seated any later than 9pm at a restaurant; on Friday or Saturday night you might find a bar open past midnight, but don’t count on it.

Packing tips

Oversize sunnies, a Callaway golf outfit and a designated driver (of the human variety, as well as the golf club kind).

Recommended reads

Delve into the area’s strong Maori roots, with Witi Ihimaera’s The Whale Rider, about a Maori girl’s struggle to assume leadership of her tribe (Niki Caro’s moving film of the book was shot here). Alternatively, try distinguished Maori poet Hone Tuwhare’s collection Deep River Talk or David Fingleton’s Kiri Te Kanawa: A Biography – the opera star was born in nearby Gisborne, with Maori and European ancestry.

Cuisine

If the buzz words in the food world right now are local and seasonal, Hawkes Bay is well ahead of the times. With fertile land and the perfect climate, just about everything is grown or gathered here: meat, seafood, cheese, honey, olive oil, a whole array of fruit and vegetables and even coffee. All of that is then utilised by top-class chefs to create menus that can blend Asian tastes with European traditions, or at local cafes for something a little more low-key. Guaranteed: whatever you eat will be the freshest it can be.

Regional specialities

Order a local glass of wine to match: names to watch out for near Havelock North and Cape Kidnappers include Craggy Range Winery (www.craggyrange.com) and Te Mata Estate Winery (www.temata.co.nz).

Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZ$).

Time zone

GMT +12 hours.

Dialling codes

Country code for New Zealand: 64. Hawkes Bay: 06 (drop the zero if calling from an international number).

Do go/don't go

Summers (November to February) are bright, warm and mellow, ideal for Hawke’s Bay’s outdoorsy way of life, and winters are temperate here too. Besides, even if it does rain, you can still go wine tasting.