Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

There are no skyscrapers with viewing decks to take advantage of in this part of the world, and many of the natural peaks take more than a little energy to reach. So what better way to get a bird’s-eye view of the area than from a chopper? Helicopters Hawke’s Bay (www.helicoptershawkesbay.co.nz) offers a range of trips starting with 20-minute scenic flights over the craggy coastline and the inland region’s lush forests.

Arts and culture

The Maori village of Whangara, just north of the Hawke’s Bay region, was so overwhelmed by the influx of tourists when the film Whale Rider was released that there are now signs outside the town asking visitors to stay away. The only way you can see the town, marae (Maori meeting house) and beach, and hear about the legends that inspired the book and film, are to join Hone Taumaunu, an elder and consultant on the movie, on one of his two-hour Whale Rider Tours (06 862 6118).

Something for nothing

Plenty of cellar doors in the area offer complimentary tastings, and if you’re a fan of red you’ll want to spend at least a few hours sipping slowly. At last count there were 71 wineries, with 4,700 hectares under grape. Download a list from Wine Region Tours (www.wine-region-tours.com).

Shopping

Meet the growers, taste their produce and ask them all about it at the Hawkes Bay Farmers Market (Saturday in Napier and Sunday in Hastings (www.foodhawkesbay.co.nz). Having stocked the picnic basket, regular viewers of guilty pleasure Antiques Roadshow should explore Napier’s vintage shops (www.villageinfo.co.nz/shopping).

Daytripper

If you’re a history buff head for Gisborne, a cute coastal town at NZ’s most easterly point which claims to be the first city in the world to see the sun each day. It was also the first part of the country to feel the imprint of a European foot, when Captain Cook arrived on the Endeavour in 1769 and his crew promptly killed six Maoris who greeted them with the traditional welcome(admittedly the wero looks aggressive, but Cook’s guys obviously had a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ directive).

Best beach

Go gaga over gannets at Black Reef Beach. The serene ocean-side cliffs here, and nearby sites at Cape Kidnappers, are home to the world’s largest mainland colony of the seabirds, which come here to nest from late September until early May, with chicks hatching December and January. It’s a two-hour walk from Clifton; or take an organised tour by tractor, 4WD or helicopter. Try Gannet Safaris (www.gannetsafaris.com) or Gannet Beach Adventures (www.gannets.com).

Perfect picnic

You won’t need to pack a bottle of wine when you prepare lunch for an alfresco spread at Ngatarawa, a vineyard 10 kilometres west of Hastings. It’s a beautiful place, with vines (of course), gardens, an historic stable yard and an ace view of Te Mata Peak.

Walks

Picturesque Lake Waikaremoana is hidden in the massive Te Urewera National Park, north of Hawke’s Bay. A 46-kilometre track runs around the lake, but it can be attacked in short sections. Some of the walking, particularly going uphill to Panekiri Bluff, can be pretty strenuous, so you’ll need to have proper boots and plenty of water. The Department of Conservation (www.doc.govt.nz) has downloadable publications of lake walking trails and other hikes in the national park.

Children

City kids in particular will get a kick out of Wool World at Clifton Station (www.cliftonstation.co.nz), a working farm at Cape Kidnappers. There are shearing shows, sheep dog demos, wood-chopping displays, a museum and the chance to interact with sheep, a milking cow and the station’s pet pig.

Activities

Rugged Te Mata Peak, south of Hastings, has both staggering landscapes – sheer cliff faces and an eerie atmosphere – and views across the mountains, vineyards, forests and distant ski fields. Get your heart pounding by tandem-paragliding off this rugged peak with Airplay (www.airplay.co.nz). You’ll swoop over awe-inspiring, otherworldly landscapes with views across the region.

And

The amazing clifftop-meets-ocean greens at the Tom Doak-designed golf course at Cape Kidnappers (www.capekidnappers.com) are enough to convert even the most uncertain swinger.