Art Deco

OK, i can't be talking about Napier without a bit of an introduction.

if you have read this post you will already know where Napier is on the map.
so, apart from some great wineries in this region, Napier is also famous for its Art Deco styled buildings.
Napier was levelled by an earthquake in 1931 (New Zealand's worst earthquake: 7.8) and most of the buildings were then re-build in the then popular 1930's Art Deco style.
80 years on and these buildings still stand today, preserved in all their glory.

every year in February an "Art Deco Weekend" is held with events and festivals around the city.
check-out this website for details if you are in the area.

here are a few shots i took of some buildings in the city center.
i'm not really into taking photos of buildings.... so hard to get nice angles...



anyway, you will just have to go to Napier to see the real thing as these just don't do the buildings justice.

Te Mata Peak

not far from Elephant Hill Estate & Winery lies Te Mata Peak (i always thought it was called tomato peak until a few years ago!), towering 400 meters above sea level.
OK, well not towering...

aparently it's a great place for cross-country BMX biking, or a good place for hiking, but my city-boy instincts kicked in and i drove up to the top of the peak.

at the top you're rewarded with breathtaking views looking out over east coast towards the Pacific Ocean, the Heretunga Plains and the Tuki Tuki River below. the landscape could have been taken right out of The Lord Of The Rings!

i used to come up here when i was a kid to watch hand-gliders take-off.
then there were no "take-off ramps" back then, it was just run-&-fly, but today a few have been erected and fenced off for the publics safety as you can see below (bottom left pic).



but it's not only the views at the top which are stunning.
the views at the base of Te Mata Peak are just as amazing.



so after lazing in the afternoon sun (the wines at the winery before helped) i then went in search of the "redwood forest" which i also remember from childhood.

just a 20 minute stroll through New Zealand's natural bush and there they were standing tall and proud, the redwoods. but these ones are only babes, the huge redwoods i was hoping to see were another 20 minutes walk away through the valley. unfortunatly time wasn't on my side so i had to make do with the smaller ones. maybe next time im back down-under...

Elephant Hill Estate & Winery

another winery i visited in Hawke's Bay was one called "Elephant Hill Estate & Winery".
yup, there are many wineries with Hawke's Bay being New Zealand's 2nd largest wine growing region (2nd to Marlborough in the South Island) with over 70 wineries!

but back to Elephant Hill.
an odd name considering there are no elephants in New Zealand, and i couldn't see any hill close to the winery. it's a new winery having been only opened earlier this year by its German owners.
the location is great. it's located on the idyllic Te Awanga coast with vast Pacific Ocean views looking out towards Cape Kidnappers.

Cape Kidnappers? what kinda name is that?!

well it's a long peninsular which got its name after an attempt by local Māori (New Zealand's indigenous people) to abduct a crew member of Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour in 1769.
(thank god for wikipedia...)
it also has the world's largest on-shore gannet colony and (yes, there's more) and is home to one of the world's top golf courses (ranked 41st).

Cape Kidnappers, gannets, & the golf course


way off track now...

so Elephant Hill doesn't have the history and charm like the Mission Estate Winery, however it is very sleek and modern. there is a great sun-drenched desk to sit out on over looking the vineyards while having a few wines, or like most wineries in New Zealand, a delicious meal!

i tasted the "black pepper crusted tuna served with a rocket salad tossed in a chive oil, mustard and garlic dressing".... very light and refreshing!

i also got to sample the "herb coated groper served with roasted potato wedges, sautéed spinach and white wine butter sauce".... just as good as the tuna!



sitting out on the deck i couldn't help but notice the trendy sun umbrellas.
under each arm of the umbrella was this grayish box like feature. it turns out that in the evenings when it cools down the umbrellas double as heaters! flip of a switch and warm air is distributed from under the umbrella! wow!!
not very energy efficient, but i'm not complaining!


if you do visit, ask to have a look at the cellar, it's beautiful and doubles and a private dining area too!
maybe good on a winters night...

the cellar



Elephant Hill Estate & Winery
86 Clifton Road
Te Awanga
Hawke's Bay
New Zealand

Mission Estate Winery

i've just returned from a trip "down-under" to New Zealand.

it's a good 12 hour flight from Hong Kong which made my 1-week stay there go far to quickly...

this time i spent most of my time in Napier (Maori: Ahuriri) a city in Hawke's Bay.

Hawke's Bay is the green section on the map.

Napier is a extremely sunny city located on the east coast of the North Island and is famous for its delicious stone-fruit, award winning wines, and art deco styled buildings.

during my stay here i couldn't miss a visit to my favorite winery; Mission Estate, which is the oldest winery in New Zealand being built in 1851.

the Mission Restaurant is a beautifully restored building nestled in the hills with sweeping views over Napier, amazing food and naturally divine wine!

i couldn't resist coming all the way to New Zealand and not having the lamb on offer, and what a perfect choice! "Hawke's Bay natural lamb rump with rosemary rub, on roast kumara with green pea and pearl onion nage" .....mmm

if you are ever in Napier i highly recommend a lunch over a few glasses of award winning white wine!

Mission Estate Winery

198 Church Road

Greenmeadows

Napier

Hawkes Bay

New Zealand