Rueha was a heartless cruel guide. Because of her i had a broken ankle and was left to fend for myself. The wound hasnt healed yet. They even put up a bogus complaint on tripadvisor.com and i had to complain to get it removed. So if you use them, go well prepared. If something goes wrong they won't help you and you are on your own

We chatted with the visitor center employee. She was very welcoming and pleasant. We received tips and recommendations on routes and the weather, which made us enjoy our time in the area even more. The center is very educational and beautiful. There is an accessible parking lot with public restrooms. For sure, we are gonna come back. Thanks Carol!

Awesome staff, very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Surprisingly, a fantastic place to buy gifts for Christmas. Big range, great prices. Pieces from local artists also for sale. Situated on the river with Mud Duck next door. So much to do in Whanganui that it is worth a visit to find out what's available that you might otherwise miss.

Used to live in this town a long time ago in 2010. Last visited in 2016. Good memories last forever. Hope to come here again. ❤️❤️❤️

Situated conveniently right beside the river (that has a riverside board walk for cycling & walking on, plenty of seating, recycling rubbish containers & even a drinking water station. Really helpful staff, plenty of pamphlets about various activities & road maps. An awesome to scale 3D model of Taranaki on a large table that you can walk around and visually see distances between places. There are public toilets inside the building and bicycle stands outside. Plenty of free 1hour parking. Mud Ducks café adjoins the Visitor centre.

Friendly and welcoming staff. Has a cafe and nice snacks souvenirs for sale.

Very helpful, clean and tidy, wonderful models to view and gifts , coffee shop on site.

Helpful staff. Very knowledgeable

The walk through the tunnel towards the elevator is well lit with changing colours. The elevator itself is still an experience not to be missed. Nice to know it is run by paid staff now. Lovely views of Wanganui city and the river from the rooftop.

Even though I live but a stone's throw away from this incredible transportation attraction, I haven't visited it for some time. Here's some picture updates of this must see one-of-a-kind in NZ...from the top anyway.

We were naive and didn't look up their operating hours (showed up 8 mins to closing), but the operator was very friendly and let us walk down to the bottom before taking the lift back up as his last ride of the day. Worth the stop here if you're passing through as the experience in the tunnel is quite unique — especially if you're the only party there. This is one of two community-servicing elevators left in the world, and the ride is very affordable!

Nice experience with the short tunnel with colourful lights. Durie hill lift is very old school but very well maintained. Nice view from the top. Worth visiting if you haven’t been there. Prefer to park the car at the car parking close to the river bridge and go for a short walk and enjoy the tunnel walk and hill view.

Cool view overlooking the town. Fun for kids to walk the tunnel with the lights

A great place to climb to the top and view the Whangnui river of to the Sea, and surrounding area. Wonderful for photos. The platform at the top is open, but fenced. Probably a dozen parking spots at the foot of the tower

This is a real kiwi hidden gem. Well worth a look if you are a visitor to Whanganui. The Elevator is one of only two in the world and was built to allow a new garden suburb to be developed in 1919. A real social experiment. At the top of the ride is the suburb worth a few minutes exploring especially the different building styles of the 1900s to 1930s. It's only a couple of dollars ,the staff are passionate and knowledgeable. Photos are taken from the WW1 tower at the top of the elevator ride

Like one of the best parks ever 😍🥳🤘 Me and my three daughters always stop in for park play when traveling down from Auckland too catch the ferry too Picton or when getting off the boat too travel back home, I always say that I wish they had this park in Auckland lol it's beautiful, colorful, so many options and there's separate age group objects suitable for the babies and ages going up 😊 the entire park is amazing, it's drawing and the primary too intermediate age group objects are super cool too

Amazing place withs lots of play options for all ages . This have picnic area dog are and community kitchen . We had amazing day here today . Thanks

Great place to stop during road trips. Kids get to stretch their legs, play basketball, swings, slides, you name it, they have it. Adults can purchase coffee (ice coffee was amazing) Toilets lovely and clean.

Great place for a picnic for families, kids and dogs.All are fenced and can be freed with hands.

Excellent for a stop off for the kids. Easy parking and open the back doors and watch that pent uo energy get quickly spent. Get em to run when they pull up the flying fox to the start, thatll wear em out for the next leg of your trip!!

Great for kids playground and can book for birthdays with toilet facilities. Have events for family in the weekend with plenty of space and korhanga. Shopping across the road in the main street. Pity the small 🚂 rides weren't working.

Using Google Maps to remember my home town 20 years ago as a child, as a Brit, who eventually went back. The adventure park was brilliant then and is more or less the same as it is now. Epic way for a kid to grow up, I can confirm the memory stays with you forever.

A dutch style windmill in the middle of a small New Zealand town. The shop has an amazing range of different foods (e.g. cheese, croketes, and sausages) and other things like cups, tulips, and even cloggs. Went there during an event celebrating the Dutch heritage of the town.

Authentic Dutch pancakes, possibly the best around the Wellington region, well priced pastries and bakes...the brownie was to die for...good food menu too, awesome staff and super-quick service...must visit in Foxton, right across the windmill

There are plenty of seating options to choose from, and the décor feels harmonious and well-balanced. Drinks are tasty — a bit pricey, but fair considering the cozy and relaxing atmosphere. The view outside is beautiful and quite striking, especially with the windmill-shaped building nearby. A great place for friends’ hangouts, casual dates, or family gatherings. 🌿☕️

Tons of good Dutch food and household items. Some items were a little on the pricier side but all of it is authentically Dutch so I would imagine its quite a feat to get it all shipped. Paid the extra little bit to tour the upstairs area. Very interesting to see and love that they provided a booklet with information. Well worth it!

What an experience - both entertaining and informational. This was my first time in a windmill and it was awesome. The best part was knowing that this is a working mill. At the ground floor is the information centre and shop where you can buy milled flour and other goodies. The ladies were great and very friendly. I arrived at a quiet time so was exploring by myself. As the windmill was not operating when I visited, I was able to walk all around the balcony. And the balcony provided some very excellent views. It was a real experience being able to walk between the different floors and view the various equipment that was required for milling the flour.

The only fully working windmill of it's type in the southern hemisphere. Built mostly from locally sourced timber and very earthquake proof. We were welcomed by friendly staff and volunteers then we were taken on an informative tour up three flights of stairs to see how it all worked including onto the railed balcony. Where you could really appreciate the power of the wind turning the sails. There is a small shop selling goodies from the Netherlands and the flour ground by the windmill

Great fun climbing up the levels ($2 donation and take care on the steep stairs) and seeing all the big gears and milling wheels. Amazing views in all directions from the viewing platform whether you look up, out or down. Buy cheeses and other Dutch ingredients and goodies or have a go at the games on the first level. Well worth your time

An 11 out 0f 10 experience! a must if you are ever in or passing Shannon. The glow worms are awesome and fascinating. Ross and his staff have really out done themselves A+

Exceeded expectations. I expected a small place but there was enough to do and see to occupy a few hours. Good variety of animals and perfect for families with young children

It was way too expensive for what it has to offer. The guide tour is short and shows only plants and a few owls. The picnic area was nice. There's a pony, peacocks and guinea pigs.

We are new to this area so going to owlcatraz was such a great experience was a little different to most animal attraction getting greating by staff but all in all was really good tour guides were fantastic great for the children as my nephew loved the fact he could fead the animals 👍

Fantastic place with plenty to see. All the animals are friendly including the eels. Staff are amazing and do the group tours professionally and are amazing with the children. Certainly recommend the guided tour, even with children. It is great value for money.

Amazing, friendly staff. Janette and her staff offer a fantastic opportunity of a life time which is to be able to walk through the Ruru (Morepork) enclosure with nothing between you and the magnificent birds. The Farm yard friends are so cute. Thanks again 🙂

Fabulous service, wonderful people and very interesting facts and stories on the tour. Recommend!

Absolutely lovely place to visit if you're a hobbyist and love trains. The place is immaculately managed by Collin and has a wealth of knowledge of the sets he has in place. Great models and sets available for purchase as well. Prices are very reasonable.

A lovely treasure of a place, we stopped on the way to Auckland and didn't regret the slight detour. Highly recommended if not for the effort that's gone into a multi-layout giant set + shop.

Our little 3yo absolutely loved coming here. He was squealing the whole time pointing out all of the trains. It's really interactive and you can see all the passion that the owner has for his set up.

Great for kids. Amazing live model scape. Has every bit of model kit, rare locos and rolling stock for sale. Must see.

True life's work . Layout is brilliant and interactive for visitors, young and old. Hobbiests will enjoy this visit. Lots of model trains and accesories available to purchase.

So quaint. If you're passing between 10-4 Saturday or Sunday you must pull in. If you have even the slightest interest in trains or models you will love it. Also great for kids.

Bring back your childhood memories and do Trainspotting as various types of miniature trains criss cross over tracks. Goods train, long distance, intercity, local trains, electric, diesel and more. See trains coupling in action. A must visit.

This place is absolutely fantastic! One of my favorite features is the playground, which is filled with colorful equipment and fun structures. However, it's a bit disappointing that it's designed specifically for younger children—if I could, I would be playing in the dark room and building a brick wall right now! I understand the need for age restrictions to keep the little ones safe and happy, but it still feels a bit limiting. Despite that, the overall atmosphere of the area is vibrant and welcoming, making it a wonderful spot to visit and enjoy the surroundings.

The art museum wasn't exhibiting big collections when I visited, but it was well curated and inspiring Free entrance, quiet during weekday morning. Highly recommended.

What an eye-opening experience! I learned much about NZ bird populations along with the long-finned eels. I love the diligent work to restore the kiwi! Thank you.

Wonderful amazing place kids loved it were visiting palmerston north was a great edition to just shopping

Great place to take kids, interactive and the playground at end is great. Our kids enjoy stopping here

Excellent (free admission) museum with natural history, educational and outdoor displays worth an explore. Upstairs has the Rugby Museum (paid admission), and special exhibitions. Additionally, there is an art gallery with special exhibitions that change seasonally.

Te Manawa (Māori: The Heart) is a museum, art gallery and science centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is operated by the Te Manawa Museums Trust, a charitable trust incorporated on 20 August 1999. From that date, the Trust assumed responsibility for art works and heritage assets transferred to its care but held on behalf of others.

Awesome museum run by a lovely man who loves a good yarn! So much history and knowledge in one place, along with a rugby simulation area. Top notch, would recommend

Incredible collection of historic artefacts associated with the inception of NZ rugby and the evolution of their team over time! Really well displayed in chronological order with detailed descriptions. Would have preferred more variety of items in their gift shop, but that does not take away from an excellent museum and a must visit for any rugby fan!

Expected more. Displays were good, but not enough room to show anything from 2011 on. Was confusing as to where the Rugby Museum was as another museum in the same building.

Where do you go when on a rugby tour? Why the NZ Rugby Museum. Very quaint and educational. I thought I would have been bigger as well as at larger city considering its New Zealand’s Top Sport.

Located Palmerston North. Open 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week. Adults $15 child $6 , card and cash payment ( no pay wave)(Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Good Friday) The New Zealand Rugby Museum contains New Zealand's biggest and most comprehensive collection of rugby memorabilia and records, including some of the world's rarest rugby artefacts. Test out your rugby skills - kicking, tackling, leaping, sprinting and pushing - in the 'Have a Go' area.

Amazing museum, endless information and unique memorabilia. The staff are knowledgeable and passionate it's infectious. We really enjoyed our time there.

Love Rugby 🏉 or not, it's a must see. No Springboks Rugby jersey to see, though. Love Rugby, have to see it!

I go there so many times! It’s perfect for picnics. The flowers in spring and summer are so colourful. It brings me a peace of mind! If you take your time to carefully explore the park, you will love it even more. I’d definitely recommend you going there on a nice sunny day for a stroll. There’s also a cafe! Many sitting areas and birds enclosures.

Kids and I had so much fun. We went on the train ride. Visited the well manicured Rose garden. The place was absolutely clean, people were friendly. So much to do at 1 spot. We loved it. Well maintained playground.

Fantastic park worth while going to . Also great train ride adults and children going through Bush

There's something for everyone here from train rides, nature walk trails, river walkway, beautiful botanical garden, bird sanctuary, birdwatching, picnic spots, lots of shady trees, mini golf and playground. This place is great if you are planning to spend a couple of hours outdoors.

I have visited the Esplanade countless times over the years whenever I am in Palmerston North. This beautiful park has such a variety of trees, flowers, plants and native bush. It’s an absolute delight to stroll along its many pathways and the close proximity to the river only adds to the appeal. Palmy residents and visitors are so fortunate to this beautiful peaceful facility to enjoy at any time of year. 😍

Good quality park. Well maintained. Great for a light walk with your dog.

Worth a stop and wander. Great work from gardening maintenance team at Palmerston North District Council. Wildbase recovery and avairies are a treat to see for free. I enjoyed using my Photography skills for Birds at Wildbase recovery. #palmyproud

Really nice venue with lots of grassed areas and shade on a hot day. The iconic Tui tower is looking in dire need of some TLC before it gets condemned. Food was a bit average which is a shame because it's a great spot to visit.

We had a great lunch with friends last weekend. The pub and get quite busy however we were able to get a table upstairs immediately. It’s nice and quiet up there - perfect for catching up. The food was very good - we had two steak sammies, lamb roll, steak and chicken burgers and a chicken salad - almost one of everything on the menu! Service was excellent, with not too much of a wait and the tap beers very good. Being Tui, there are all manner of quirky things on the walls and tucked into corners.

Visited the Flagon Room function venue as part of a large rail excursion group. Front-of-house team worked really hard to cater for a larger group than expected: their efforts are the reason for the second star. Perhaps better event management would have prevented the last-minute surprise. Around 250-ish people waited in a very slow queue to choose from a single buffet table with one platter/bowl of each dish. Food was listed as 'Kiwiana gourmet'. I'm told the prawn-and-ginger dumplings were mid at best. Nowhere were we asked about dietary needs or allergies. If one of the staff hadn't offered to get the kitchen to prepare me a serve of a different meat, my $45 ticket would seen me eating boiled potatoes and steamed vegies. That extra arrived promptly, and was tender and tasty, but wasn't fully heated through. My double-serve of boiled vegies were cooked to my liking, but very plain & others in our group found them under-done. The aioli zhushed them up nicely, but couldn't disguise how dry and pasty the potato was. It was clear a second serving wasn't on offer. The other annoyance was the 'free drink' included in the ticket price: the only non-alc option was Coke. I had to pay for a lemonade. Colour me unimpressed. Friendly, professional and hard-working staff hampered by lousy management and business planning. Definitely not worth what we paid for.

Friendly staff, good choice if seating indoors and out. Well priced tap beer. Pulled pork pizza and fried chicken were quick to be served and good, tasty accompaniments with the beer

A great cafe in an amazing location. Lovely food and the most beautiful surroundings and atmosphere you could wish for. Indoor and outdoor dining.

We spent a Friday evening here and loved it. I think their double cheeseburger is THE PERFECT burger, all great flavours and well put together, not messy! Amazing hospitality from Tayla, the ultimate bar manager with a wealth of information about the Tui Brewery. She is a national treasure! Really enjoyed the museum, hilarious history (and stretched-truths)! I'd love to come back and spend an afternoon out in the huge beer garden. Things have wound down a bit since the epic marketing campaign of the 2000s but Tui HQ is definitely worth visiting, a really special spot.

Can’t miss this classic brewery if you’re in the area! The food is great and the brewery tour is everything you want it to be. Nice garden to walk around with games to play and fun decor in general. If you have the kids with you maybe skip the tour but lots of space for them to run around outside while you’re having a pint. The store is pretty pricey but has some unique stuff.

This is a lovely campsite - so far our favourite one in NZ (we are 4 days in). It is quiet. The location is beautiful, by the river and the dramatic riverbank. The campsite was quiet on an early November weekday. The facilities are well maintained. The bar has a nice outside terrace and is welcoming. I strongly recommend!

The Awastone is run by great people and the place has a great atmosphere. Highly recommend this place for gaining your grade 2 kayak cert Paul takes his time and really cares about how you go he works at your pace. The course is great value for money. The food and coffee at the cafe is also top notch and exactly what you need after a day on the river.

This is one of my favourite places to stay, ever! In the world. It's quiet, clean and beautiful. I've stayed a number of times over the years on both sides of the river camping, and in the studio cabin. I love it, and highly recommend. Thanks Tricia for being awesome btw 🤩

Not only can you get great food, a beer, and an amazing view you could stare at all day, but I also had the most amazing massage at Awastone. We were camping for the weekend, so I thought why not, and I wasn’t disappointed. I started with a hot tub and then a 30-minute massage, I should have gone for longer, it was just incredible. Tricia was welcoming, professional, had great pressure and her wee cabin was so cosy. I felt totally comfortable and relaxed. We can’t wait to come back over the summer and go rafting.

Beautiful spot along the river. Hosts and cook were wonderful. We even got to feed the lambs. Food was fantastic too.

(Lunch Monday 17.11.25) An absolute treasure. Great friendly service. Delicious food. Spotless bathrooms. Ticks all the boxes.

Awesome hidden spot. Lovely service. Beautyful location. We enjoyed every moment.

Such a lovely place to see all the wonderful things that have been created over the years for the enjoyment of children. We have been 3 years in a row now its so great. The photos with Santa is a Christmas tradition now.

An outstanding visit for young and old . We have taken many of our grandchildren there over the years. A hidden treasure to rival big city efforts .

This place was awesome....run by volunteers....reasonably priced. However lots of steps. Can't wait to take more grandchildren!

It's always a pleasure visiting fantasy cave every year for our family photo with Santa. The staff are wonderful and the kids love them because they are so friendly.

Have never really stopped in town but decided to visit every shop Up one side of the street down the other Enjoyed every minute took about 2 hours Would recommend a visit Friendly chatty shop assistants Great day

Well organized, easy to find, the dogs liked it, the people really knew what they were doing. Good simple facilities.

Great visit for all age groups. Santa gave me a lollie bag even though I am half a century old.

Spent 2 days and nights here March 2025 and did 2 Burn the Breeze horseback rides for experienced riders. The accommodations were clean and comfortable and along the river. The meals provided were varied and home cooked with produce grown on the premises and were quite delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. Our horseback rides were great fun and the horses were wonderful, well trained and responsive. It was a learning experience to ride using Natural Horsemanship and ride without bridles and bits. Miss T was a joy to ride and did many lopes through gorgeous scenery.

Our stay was amazing. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The food was awesome. The scenic rafting tour was beautiful, and our guides, Finn and Tom, were great.

Accommodating is an understatement! We booked a family river rafting cruise, however with me being 20 weeks pregnant at the time, the lodge informed us that per the NZ law I am not allowed to get on a raft, however they immediately had alternative activity options lined up for us and we chose a tour around the neighbouring landscape with e-bikes. What a blast! And this is saying a lot as we had our 3-year old with us which the staff made an effort to accommodate with a toddler bike seat and toddler helmet. They also packed us a lovely picnic to have halfway through our journey. Overall the staff were friendly and accommodating from the minute we arrived and entertained all our toddlers questions and comments :). It is quite the drive to get to the lodge but the views are worth it and the sound of the nearby waterfall makes it feel even more special. Husband and toddler also enjoyed use of the hot tub which had a view of the river. The accommodation is backpacker style but there are options for those (like us) wanting an en-suite bathroom. The bedding is also hotel quality and incredibly comfy. We were there in Autumn so it was cool but heating in the room is sufficient. Definitely a place for nature lovers and people who like to socialise. The restaurant is so cozy. I read about the amazing food that Miranda whips up but I was still blown away. There was plenty of food at dinner and breakfast time and it was super delicious. So definitely something for those that like more luxury than pure backpacker life. There is a communal kitchen if you want to cater for yourself. We didn't use it but seemed clean and tidy. We will be back again when my parents visit from overseas!

This was a delightful place to stay. The food was absolutely amazing. The best vegetables I have ever had. We went for the rafting experience. It was a great adventure. Hazel made the experience so much better! She was funny, very experienced and we always felt safe. Wonderful place!!

Best service, friendliest, most welcoming hosts & staff, and amazing food anywhere. A beautiful natural spot by the Rangitikei River too!!

We want to go back!😍 We experienced the most tranquil and stress free stay. The Valley is both picturesque and breaktaking, the food was 'to die for' and the staff go above and beyond to cater to your needs. I highly recommend adding this stay to your travel itinerary. Thanks again Janey and staff. We will definitely be back for a longer stay in the future! Cam and Chris.

An amazing authentic country lodge with outdoor activities - we had an incredible time whitewater rafting and also horse riding around the beautiful landscape. The food is mostly homegrown and the dinner we had was the best food we had in our stay in NZ. The lamb shank and creamy mash with fresh raspberry crumble was divine. Janey and her team provide a bespoke service and tailor your stay to your wishes. Cannot recommend enough!

Some short parts of the streets leading there are gravel but a really nice scenery 😊 we planned on doing the walk down to the falls but a warning said that the track is pretty steep and partly not secured but there is also a lookout up at the carpark, so we decided that the view from there is beautiful enough for us 😇

A short drive from Dannevirk. Quite rural and narrow road. Good parking spot. Short walk down the stairs to beautiful water falls. Great place for picnic. But please take rubbish with you. No rubbish bin by the water falls. There are toilet at the parking lot.

It's quite nice. But the detour wasn't worth it for us, as we've seen more impressive waterfalls. There's a parking lot with a restroom and benches. The path to the waterfall is easy to walk, but if you're not physically fit, the return trip is quite exhausting :D

I've been travelling new Zealand this year and let me tell you, Waihi Falls is a hidden gem, offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. The cascading water is stunning, especially after rainfall. It's a perfect spot for a picnic or a quiet escape into nature. The new long-drop toilets are a fantastic addition, keeping the area clean and visitor-friendly. A must-visit!

Waihi Falls is a hidden gem nestled in the scenic countryside of Tararua, New Zealand. Located about an hour’s drive from Dannevirke, the falls are a perfect spot for nature lovers seeking a peaceful retreat. The journey to Waihi Falls takes you through picturesque farmland and rolling hills, leading to a tranquil location that feels wonderfully secluded. The falls themselves are stunning, with water cascading down a series of rocky ledges into a serene pool below. The surrounding area is lush with native bush, creating a beautiful natural backdrop that’s ideal for photography or simply enjoying the serenity. The sound of the rushing water and the fresh air make it a perfect spot for a picnic or a relaxing day out. There’s a short walking track from the car park to the falls, which is well-maintained and suitable for most fitness levels. The trail offers a few viewing points along the way, giving visitors different perspectives of the falls. Waihi Falls is not only a great spot for relaxation but also a reminder of the natural beauty that New Zealand has to offer. It’s a perfect destination for a day trip, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Best to go with family as there is also flush toilets and shed with bench and table. Must go if you around the area however there’s gravel road around 15 to 20 kms

Comfortable drive into the falls , a mixture of sealed road and some gravel in places . The falls are easily signposted and for those who just want a Quick Look you can view them from just a few paces from the carpark . Otherwise it’s approx 200m of downhill walking and quite a few steps to get to the base of the falls - not a long walk by NZ standards ! The view is amazing at any time and our son just had to jump in for a swim . Great spot on a hot summers day . Worth the visit folks !

There is a gravel road from Waihi Falls road to the car park roughly 2km. Decent sized parking area there are tables and seating under shelter, toilets, and rubbish bins. It's roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk at max to the base of Waihi Falls. There are some stairs but not much as you can see in the videos. It wasn't as impressive as it is after it's rained, but still a great place to see.

Family run business by an ex All Blacks member. Must phone before go.

Junction Wines is a small boutique vineyard and winery near the Ongaonga turnoff on SH2 in central Hawke’s Bay. Owned by a former All Black and his family, there is a rugby theme to to most of the wines and plenty of memorabilia on display in the rugby room. We escaped a hot summer’s day and enjoyed wine tasting under a shady tree overlooking rows of vines and were kept company by two playful pups. The cellar door showcases excellent wine and warm hospitality in a relaxed setting. Well worth a visit.

A beautiful space to taste the wines and John and Jo the best hosts. We loved every wine we tasted and came home with some treasures. Highly recommend spending an afternoon there relaxing at the table under the tree while tasting some very good wine.

Delightful afternoon of tasting and learning about the history of the winery. John and Jo welcomed us in and told their story behind the whole venture. When you add in some classic All Blacks stories into the mix, you're onto a winner here. Felt like one of the family and we will 100% return again.

Jo and John thank you for the great visit and the great wine. Salley, Heath & Dave

Jo and John made us feel like family in their beautiful country home. This is a 100% must-see stop on any NZ winery tour. The best wine we’ve had in all of New Zealand.

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon! Dropped in for a quick tasting and stayed for a couple hours. Great place to relax with a glass of wine. Jo and John were amazing hosts with the perfect blend of knowledge and kiwi yarns.

Free entry!! Nice same museum. Lots of old shops and services. Home rooms and toys. Favourite part is to try the stamps and type machines ( they have ink and they worked fine) My daughter enjoyed them and took her work to show at her school and there is other interesting ares for kids to interact

Excellent experience. Lots of yesterday year. Plenty of parking. Well worth a visit.

Such a lovely little museum about life in New Zealand during the colonial era. The rooms have been put together thoughtfully and lovingly. You can see different aspect of life, like jobs, lifestyle and private life. Very cute and free. We only had like 15 minutes and were a little sad that we didn't have the time to look and each and a every detail.

This museum is free to visit at present. It is well laid out and jammed full of amazingly interesting things. The staff are also very knowledgeable and helpful. I'll come back again to see the bits I missed the first time round.

I've stopped here a few times over the years with my children as we pass through. Always awesome. Always something you didn't see last time and we love the interactive part. School holidays and they have a treasure hunt code cracker activity. Me & my 6yo enjoyed that. Hoping it stays around for a very long time to come

Free entry nice stop by museum, it takes 15 minutes to take a look

Great museum, hands on activities, large on the inside, lovely staff, great price, loved it

We were 3 campers and 5 people to stay for the afternoon and Sunday nite. Great wines beers and pizzas . Music/ ambience lovely. We had no kids but enjoyed watching the kids and big kids play the games and have lots of fun Highly recommend.

GodsOwn Brewery is a little out of the way, but well worth the effort. From outstanding beer made by owner Godfrey (see what he did with the brewery name there?) to delicious and quirky pizzas (the one with roasted beetroot is my favourite) this is truly a unique beer destination. The whole vibe of the place is summed up in that it is based around several caravans, a glamping style tent. It has the large frames and wires for growing hops. It is as if someone just built everything that seemed like a good idea. Does it look like a cohesive whole? Not really. But that is part of it’s glorious charm. The rural setting, the outdoor and covered (if it rains) seating, the play area for little children mean there’s something for everyone. Be sure you bring a container for take-home brew. Highly recommended.

Absolutely amazing place. Came here for a family lunch at 12 pm on a Sunday. The scenery and vibes are absolutely beautiful. Food is top notch and the service and owner is unreal. Will definitely be coming back here when I travel over from Australia again!

Great brewery! I highly recommend spending an entire afternoon here. The beer was amazing. Good place for kids. A little pricey for food and for tasting tray was kind of average-expensive as well. It’s a beautiful property. Only reason I gave a four not a five was because our pizza took over an hour and we had to keep checking on it because we had to go (luckily they did give us a discount on it because it took so long).

Decided to go for a drive and discovered this place. Super friendly hosts, brilliant beers (had more than intended)and great food. Home made crackers (made from used barley and grain from brewing process)and dip.Pizza to die for. Good location. Kid friendly. Will definately be back. Thought prices very reasonable for both drinks and food.

GodsOwn Brewery offers an array of beers and wood-fired pizzas. When we visited, it took a while for our food orders to be served, regardless, we devoured our pizzas in a snap. We highly recommend the adobo beef pizza. The brewery is a perfect place to lounge especially during summer time because of the outdoor set-up.

Discovered this place through word of mouth and it was not a let down. This is a beautiful spot just outside Hastings that’s perfect for a drink on a nice day. Went here with the intention of sampling a few beers but made the mistake of starting on the stout. Once I tried that I couldn’t change to another this just forces me to go for another visit. Pizzas are pretty tasty as well. Well worth a visit.

Off the beaten track and our favourite winery of the day! Tony is so knowledgeable about his wines and passionate about how he’s made them. The wines themselves were fantastic - both different from a lot of what you get in the area, and some great European varietals that were a real treat. Perfect ambience.

What a great experience. We stumbled upon this winery and it is totally worth it, better than other wineries we visited in the area for the ambiance alone. It was a rainy day and the place felt like home. It was cared for and intentional. The welcome committee is featured in a Wine dogs of New Zealand book. ❤️

Our last visit to this winery was about 8 years ago so we were keen to see their progress over that interval and travelled up there on the Sunday of Labour Weekend 2025. We were well pleased with that decision. Enjoyed a very interesting tasting of some quite different wines and came away with a box of 6. Tony is an excellent host and very passionate about his craft. You learn lots of new stuff. He is also a very creative artist in sculptures. The gardens contain some stunning works, notably the Haast Eagle, the Trout Fly and a representation of R2-D2 from Star Wars ( I think ). We also shared a small pizza for our lunch. If you are thinking about going somewhere innovative, different and very interesting you will not be disappointed in a decision to visit here. Cheers,

Being recommended by other members of the wine industry to visit De La Terre, despite the beautiful location and pleasant wines, the owner was rude and disrespectful. Prompting our group to hurry with our choices of what to taste as he felt there were more important groups coming. For a $15 tasting the pours were miniscule where you could barely get 3 small sips from the glass. We were really looking forward to a tasting from a cellar door run by the wine maker but to be treated so poorly, I wouldnt recommend this vineyard to others.

Occasionally an experience simply makes you smile; de la terre winery did this for us! The grounds are beautiful with every element obviously meticulous crafted and currated, the menu was simple in a yummy way, the wine was clearly a labour of love and the tasting experience informative in an easy unpretentious way. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and now torn between telling everyone how great it was and trying to keep the secret.

This is an outstanding winery to visit. We spent a very enjoyable hour or so speaking with the winemaker who very generously and patiently described how he makes some outstanding wine. The passion and knowledge was clear to see and appreciated. The wines were amazing anyway but tasted that bit better with that little bit of knowledge. We didn't try the food but delicious aromas made us regret that as we left. You need to try the reserve Tannat, just one out of several interesting varietals that are sensational.

Beautiful tasty little pizzas with a lovely side salad. A terrific wine tasting lineup where you get to pick your 5. Such an impressive winery, an array of unusual varieties and very high quality. Everything hand done, even the label. Great venue, cafe and outdoor seating And such a lovely dog. Well worth a trip.

Lovely high tea for a baby shower in the garden room today - a fantastic menu too. The sandwiches were delicious, as were the brownies and cake made for the event. The atmosphere was great - not too crowded, warm and bright with a gorgeous table setting. We couldnt finish all the food on each tower between a few of us! Couldn't recommend it more.

Birdwoods Café is a gem—delightful food served fresh and full of flavour, paired with a wonderful environment to wander through. The gardens and gallery make it more than just a café stop, it’s a whole experience.

Staff were so accommodating and friendly as we showed up without a reservation and the staff were so kind to set us up a table (thank you). The atmosphere & scenes were stunning. The food was so tasty & wholesome. Would absolutely return & recommend to anybody thats never been or planning to go.

Incredible place to stop off at...the sweet store alone is worth it! We only got drinks from the cafe/restaurant however the service was incredible! Easy parking, clean toilets, plenty of beautiful gardens for the kids to explore and art sculptures to admire. Plus you can feed the Ostrich! A very cool place to visit for a quick catch up or family outing...defs worth the effort if you're holidaying and looking for something a bit different yet fun!!

Other than having to sitout in the, The garden room, nice setting, just a bit cold when wet, service great just a bit too long to take our order. Otherwise 100% recommended to visit even just for the sweet store.

Wonderful our multi generation family group loved the relaxed feel, wonderful lunch and beautiful gardens. Space for kids to play, not to be missed if travelling to Hawkes Bay

This is a lovely spot. Amazing sculpture garden and we loved the old fashioned sweet shop. Well worth a visit!

What an amazing view of Hastings. You can see for miles and the drive up is stunning. There's a winery in the distance worth a visit.

Absolutely amazing panoramic views of the region. Tracks are very well maintained. A good day to visit is a nice sunny day preferably without wind as it can get quite windy at the peak.

Great view from the peak, Quite narrow road when driving up and down. There's walking trail too if you don't want to drive

Such an amazing place to visit the views are incredible. Take your time, go for a wonder.. Great photos fresh air 👌 🙌

Beautiful views at the top of The Mata peak. We drove to the top but you can walk from the bottom up.

Many trails to walk so can add if you want, don't mountain bike but those tracks look awesome. Great views from the top Can also just drive to the top but walks are worth it for a day or afternoon.

Always a great place to visit. On a clear day, and the right time, you can take a snap of the best views. Very scenic, great for photographers.

We’ve visited quite a few vineyards, but the giants estate wine tasting experience at Craggy Range with Damian was easily the best wine experience we’ve ever had. His passion and storytelling brought the wines to life.. the way he shared the stories made the whole tasting unforgettable. It wasn’t just about the wine, it was about feeling connected to the vineyard and its craft. Dinner at the restaurant was equally impressive. The plating was beautiful, and the dishes were cooked to absolute perfection. The venison tartare and the duck breast were standouts.. truly truly sublime. Craggy Range has completely raised the bar for us. An unforgettable wine and dining experience that we’d recommend to anyone.

we had the winter Italian menu. It was incredible and good value! The service was the hilight of the night. The girl served us is friendly and funny. She gave me a box of chocolate truffles as to make up for put in my oyster order late. The Earl Grey was very nice. I asked what tea they use but then I forgot. :(

Absolutely beautiful. Staff excellent, restaurant world-class, vineyards and grounds meticulously presented. We stayed in a 2-bed cabin & even the design of the cabin, complementary bottle of Craggy Range wine, and daily generous stocking of breakfast supplies were a great experience. Loved Craggy Range!

Grand feast in Paradise! It’s like scenic beauty which has been painted with a brush by God himself and within this scenic wonder lay a nice restaurant almost as beautiful! And the food and wine... Splendid! I ordered the shared menu starting with the Venison tartare followed by the raw local fish, marinated octopus, roasted hohepa halloumi and roasted crispy duck. All of this was very well presented like you expect in a top tier restaurant and tasted superb. I ordered the Graham's 40 year old Tawny Port which cost $50 for just 60 ml glass. But once again the best port wine I have ever had! The main course had lamb shoulder which was beautifully cooked and the meat just fell of the bone! Perfect! And this was followed by the best dish and one of the best desserts which I have ever had! The Spring Pavlova was start to finish full of flavor! You could actually taste at least 4 different flavors in every morsel which and they complimented each other to perfection! From the presentation, taste to the service, everything was absolute highest quality you could ever find anywhere in this world! It was a bit costly but worth every penny! Can't thank my brother and his wife for treating me to this divine feast right in the middle of paradise! Next time... my turn!

We absolutely have to stop by Craggy Range whenever we're in Napier — it's a must. The accommodations are always amazing, the food is delicious, and the wine pairings are absolutely outstanding. This time, we visited specifically to check out the new restaurant. While it wasn’t open yet, we were still impressed by the stunning decor, inviting ambiance, and unbeatable location. We'll definitely be back soon to experience it properly — can't wait!

We had a great meal at the restaurant. Food was brilliant, atmosphere brilliant, service brilliant.and professional But the thing that made it even better was the friendly nature of the staff who served us. They took the day to another level.

Craggy Range is simply breathtaking – the setting alone makes it worth a visit, with stunning views that create such a special atmosphere. The food was excellent and beautifully presented, and the staff were absolutely wonderful – attentive, warm, and welcoming from start to finish. The wine list is exceptional, with a beautiful selection that showcases the best of the region, and the cocktails were just as impressive. Craggy Range is a must-visit in Hawke’s Bay – an unforgettable combination of scenery, food, wine, and hospitality.

A very well kept and satisfying place to visit. Always love seeing fish in their natural habitat, plenty of fresh water and salt water aquariums. A wide variety of areas to go, easily walkable, cafe and gift shop there as well. Was surprised there were no sharks in the tunnel area though. Still plenty of different species of fish, turtles, stingrays, crayfish, penguins, frogs, lizards, etc. The turtle was very big, did keep bumping his nose on the glass though. Otherwise the turtle seemed okay.

Loved the experience! We were able to see the penguin being fed and fishes being fed by divers. It was a small aquarium and not complete. We were expecting octopus, squid or baby sharks but maybe the ecosystem of the water is not suitable for those. I'm prolly just dreaming. Lol. But I was happy with the stingrays! Too bad we were not able to see kiwis 😭

Exceptional visit here as we booked very early in advance to do the penguin feeding which is limited to a group of 4 a day only. Staff at penguin feeding were very informative and friendly and great hosts to help us feed the penguins. Penguins were our favourite exhibition. The big turtle was great. Kiwi Exhibition was great to see them walking around active. 2pm feeding time in the big tank was also a great watch especially the stingrays.

A nice little experience. We even watched the penguin feeding. It is all more personal in this smaller aquarium. Everything is really clean and you get to see a lot of sea animals, reptils and even Kiwis! One of our favourite experiences was the aquarium tunnel you can walk trough! Loved it!

A very well maintained aquarium near to Napier CBD, there are some shows for the audience which is great to watch and the one for penguin feeding was very informative. Kids love it and will be revising in the future...

Aquarium is tidy, love the turtles! The large turtle would be cool in the big enclosure so you could follow him around but I'm sure he's not for a reason.. probably would eat all the fish! Lady on the front with the stunning red hair was great today, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Customer service like that is hard to come by these days! So cheers! Sorry I didn't get your name!

Very kid friendly and has wheelchair access. However, the value for money is quite $$ for a short encounter with the sea animals. Although, we had the chance to watch the staff feed them. It was still a good experience 😊

MTG Hawke's Bay is a great place to learn about the art and culture of the Hawke's Bay region and beyond. The museum houses a diverse collection of art, including Māori treasures, contemporary works, and historical artifacts from Napier's Earthquake. The Māori collection is particularly impressive, featuring intricate carvings, textiles, and weapons. The museum also has a dedicated Māori gallery, which provides visitors with a deeper understanding of Māori culture and history. Overall, MTG Hawke's Bay is a well-curated and informative museum, however the ladies working there were surprisingly very unkind, which sadly downgraded the experience.

The perfect little museum in the heart of napier, tons of free exhibits with lots of great historical information. Basement floor was closed but only due to renovations which is fair, hope the revamp looks good!

Nice museum and art. Enjoyed the shaking tables you could play with. The video before the room shook like a earthquake was entertaining.

Small but very nice museum. Cool exhibitional hall of Hawkes's bay's story. Can see the view of art deco building from second floor.

Very impressed I learnt a lot about Maori that I didn't know. The basement earthquake simulation made me jump and brought home to me what it would feel like. Impressed that it was free .

Walked into this lovely museum to be met by the nicest lady, so welcoming and knowledgeable.The museum houses a fine collection of attifacts, and an awesome film interview with survivors of the earthquake that wiped out Napier. Easy to navigate, free entry. Photo friendly too.

We visited the exhibition on the history of the 1931 Earthquake in Hawkes Bay. Exhibits was well documented and displayed, and educational. The museum staff are also very friendly and polite. Overall, a lovely visit!

Small but friendly and full of information. This is the place to go to find out things locally and nationally. Especially good for visitors. You can also find an array of souvenirs and goods for purchase. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you're new to town, situated on the Marine Parade next to the Sound Shell.

Very specious place to have your family dine out. Very busy with lots of cruise tourists and locals but you will be served without a delay by its friendly staff.

Met Peter one of the visitor advisor. Very knowledgeable and gave excellent suggestion of ta mata peak on the way to Wellington. Would recommend heading to the visitor centre for all the best places to go in Hawkes bay

Napier is an amazing place. We loved it. The Art Deco architecture lends a real 1920's feel to a vibrant, friendly town. Beautiful. The Hawkes Bay express is an absolute must for anyone visiting. So much history and Will knows everyone and everything. Simply brilliant.

Friendly staff and knowledgeable, they tell you where you can go and see places of interest and supply a map for you to get around.

Heaps of helpful info. Loved our day in Napier, highly recommend hiring an electric scooter and finding the ocean murals all around town. This one was my fav.

They have information and maps for all the happenings in Hawkes Bay. The staff are knowledgeable and very helpful. They also have a good range of souvenirs.

Walked up to bluff hill lookout - mainly road until the last part. About 100m total climb which wasn’t too bad - not many steps. Views are really good nice peaceful at the top sitting on a bench enjoying the sun

I love this place because of the view to the sea. Bluff hill is right on the edge of a cliff, below is the a road and opposite is Napier Port. For me it's beautiful throughout the day, but its more beautiful in early morning or just before sunset. There are benches there and toilets for the public. Some people walk their dogs with leash. Also it has a clear view of ships coming in and out of the port. If you ever come across Napier or just passing through, take a break and visit this place.

It offers spectacular views over Hawke Bay and Napier Port. The viewing area was constructed over the top of a World War II coastal defence gun emplacement. You can walk up to the top or take the car. Lots of bends and slow driving. It takes about 20 minutes to get there by car. No entry fee. Toilets available. Mostly open area. Parking is not that easy. Beautiful place. Lots to see. Great place for photography. Wear comfy shoes, take water, wear hat, sunscreen. Popular place, go early to avoid the heat as well.

Be aware that the Seapoint Road is pretty steep and narrow, so definitely not to recommend for bigger vehicles - take the Thompson Road! But you have a really nice view of the ocean and the area is beautiful designed with flowers and benches to sit 🥰 I personally just didn't like the port in the view...

Steep drive up but really nice view. Well kept but lots of views seem cut off and fenced off. The drive up is a very narrow street and I dreaded any oncoming traffic on the way up or down

The Bluff Hill Lookout is a great place to go to enjoy the views out across the port and harbour, especially on a sunny day. There is plenty of parking at the top. Also has some nice gardens and a public toilet.

Another beautiful lookout point in Napier. View of the port and more. Peaceful and quiet , just right for us away from the crowds

The water is absolutely stunning and super safe for walking around. It’s nice and shallow, making it perfect for a refreshing summer swim! 🤩 Getting there is a breeze, so no worries about tough hikes or anything. If you’re looking for a fun spot to chill this summer, I definitely recommend checking it out!

Fairly easy and quick hike with a few washouts on the way, but possible to walk around them, there are clear paths made by other walkers. However, once you reach the stream, then bouldering on slippery rocks or crossing through the stream barefoot is needed to reach the waterfall. I would say definitely worth it if you are willing to do the bouldering/stream crossing to get to the waterfall, but if not, then this hike is not worth it, the view from afar is not very impressive.

Came here after finishing the waikaremoana great walk - best waterfall I've seen in NZ! The path is a bit dangerous (lots of slips and thorns), you will need to climb over fallen trees. Took 1 hour walk from car. No one there so got to skinny dip :D

A very special place, but I can also see why the track is closed. There are very fresh washouts since the last big rainfalls of winter, gets dangerous and very steep at times so don’t go during or after rainfall and consider taking a PLB with you. Would not recommend to a new hiker.

Spectacular waterfall that flows over towering sandstone cliffs into a small pool. The track to Shine Falls starts in open grassy farmland that meanders under towering sandstone and limestone cliffs then passes through a patch of native bush in the Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve before arriving at the falls where there is a swimming hole and picnic tables. Stunning spot to go for a walk or even a swim if you are brave.

An amazing magical place, a relatively easy walk in, allow 30-45 minutes. A little steep in places, so ensure you have good walking footwear. The waterfall is impressive at 58 metres high, the pool is refreshing and safe, however deep around the edges and near and behind the fall. There's sheltered picnic tables at the car park and a long drop toilet (bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer). Also recommend you take your own drinking water and food/snacks and take all your rubbish out with you. The road there once off the highway is mostly gravel and narrow in places. Drive safely and enjoy. No overnight camping allowed.

Wonderful walk in the countryside where you can see limestone and Sandstone cliffs, grazing sheep, bush and waterfalls. While you travel over unsealed road for about 6kms to get there, it is totally worth it. Be wary there may be prickles on the path in places and if its a hot day, take a sunhat and your water bottle