The Hawke's Bay region, including Haumoana, New Zealand, offers a vibrant food and drink scene reflecting the country's rich agricultural heritage and cultural diversity. Its sunny climate and fertile soils produce leading red wines like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and chardonnays, making it a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. Visitors can explore over thirty cellar doors connected by flat cycle trails for scenic bicycle tours through vineyards and artisan producers. The region also hosts weekly farmers markets showcasing fresh produce, cheeses, breads, and other delights.
In terms of dining experiences, Hawke's Bay offers standout options catering to various tastes. Crab Farm Winery provides sharing platters of venison and seafood in a cozy atmosphere with live music. Mission Estate, New Zealand's oldest winery established in 1851, is known for international music concerts and unique culinary delights. Fine dining enthusiasts can enjoy Pacifica Restaurant's five-course degustation menu highlighting local ingredients like kina, muttonbird, and garden-grown garlic. The region also features the Twilight Odyssey Progressive Winery Dinner, offering a 3 to 5-course degustation experience across three wineries with stunning vineyard views.
Known as "The Fruit Bowl of New Zealand," Hawke's Bay produces an abundance of stone fruit such as Golden Queen peaches, yellow-fleshed nectarines, apricots, and Black Doris plums. During summer, road-side stalls sell fresh fruit, while winter months bring opportunities for truffle and mushroom foraging. Local eateries like Silky Oak Chocolates and Telegraph Oil offer artisan products including chocolates, creamy fudge, olive oil, and hemp seed dukkah.