After the Hawke's Bay Marathon: Havelock North

The Route: Napier → Havelock North → Te Mata Peak → Napier Logistics: About 25 minutes by road from Napier. A hire car or a booked driver is the sensible choice, because you will not want to drive after a tasting. Marathon Month: May Duration: 1 night

Napier ──(about 25 mins by road)──> Havelock North ──(about 15 mins)──> Te Mata Peak
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Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) <──(about 30 mins by road)──────────────────────────┘

The Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon finishes at a winery on a Saturday in May, and the following night is well spent in the country inland. Havelock North is a small village with restaurants, cellar doors and a good deal of sitting down.

May in Havelock North: autumn. Days are typically 12 to 17°C, with cold mornings and occasional rain. The grape harvest has finished or is finishing, so the vines are turning colour, and some cellar doors and restaurants have shorter winter hours. Check each venue's opening days before you set out.

Night One: Havelock North

The village centre is level and compact, with cafés and shops around the main street, and most of it can be walked in 15 minutes. Te Mata Peak is the region's best-known viewpoint, and a road runs to the top, so drive up for the view and take a short walk on the summit paths rather than a long climb. Check road access and the weather first, because wind and low cloud can close the top.

Craggy Range and Te Mata Estate are established wineries near the village, and Black Barn Vineyards is nearby. Seated tastings are the most recovery-friendly option, and prices and booking requirements vary by producer. Do not drive after tasting.

For a bed, Mangapapa Hotel is a boutique property with its own restaurant, and Black Barn Retreats offers accommodation at the vineyard. Book early, because boutique rooms in the village fill on race weekend.

For a meal, the restaurant at Mangapapa Hotel needs a booking and suits a planned dinner, and Craggy Range's restaurant, Terroir, is a well-known option. Check opening days in winter.

Te Mata Peak on Tired Legs

Te Mata Peak rises to about 399 metres, and a road runs to the summit car park, so you can drive to the top and take a short path to the viewing points. Wind and low cloud can close the top or ruin the view, so check the weather and road access before you go. The longer walking tracks on the peak are steep, and they can wait for another visit. In May the air can be cold at the top, so bring a windproof.

The Sunday Market

The Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market runs on Sunday mornings at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, and the day after a Saturday marathon it is a convenient, level and covered place to buy breakfast and local produce. Check the current opening times and location, because they can change. Local stalls sell fruit, bread and preserves, and it is easy to walk slowly around it.

Getting Around the Village

Havelock North is small enough to cover on foot. The main street and the square are level, and most cafés, the bakery and the shops sit within 500 metres of each other. The wineries are a short drive from the village, generally 5 to 15 minutes, and the roads between them are quiet country roads with no footpaths, so walking between cellar doors is not practical. Book a driver or a small tour if you plan to taste, and check that the cellar doors you want are open on the day, because winter hours are shorter.

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