We were fortunate to stay in the BnB part of this farm where we could both see and smell the lavender and experience Susi and Katie's wonderful and thoughtful and generous hospitality. So much feels right and natural about being here it is impossible to not feel relaxed. Thank you thank you.

Never visit here again .They lady is very rude with my two year old little girl .She don’t have manners to talk to kids very angry n frustrated lady .We go to enjoy the time with family but had bad experience.My little girl picked some grapes and lavender from farm which I don’t know and when we gone to pay at shop she saw and started screaming and shouting on my baby that this is her home and we should do that.we have accepted our mistake that baby should not pick but the lady should know how to talk with babies. she forcefully asked back and my little girl cried for one hour .Very bad experience.Never going back.No humanity 😞

Just off state highway 1 and approx a five minute drive down, we went here off season but once you enter their driveway you'll start to get the sweet smell of lavender. We were greeted by 2 lovely people and a beautiful dog named teddy. The store was open and the guide took us through the store revealing the products they had available for sale and also how they extract the oil from the lavender. Price ranges from $5 to $50 and higher depending on products. Be sure to check their website too as products available online.

A really cool place to pick lavanders. The owner was really approachable. There are some events sometimes like star gazing and some celebration. Just check out their page always.

We visited Lavender Creek Farm on a quite day in December with our toddler and had the whole place to ourselves. The owners were friendly and engaging, they encouraged us to explore the entire farm (visit the lovely little creek and bamboo grove) It's a great place for families and couples, with lots of great photo opportunities. It is worth the $10 donation and we will be back again.

The lavender farm was and is an enjoyable place with lovely scenery and friendly staff. Very welcoming and the kind lady was very friendly and informative, the products are lovely and smelt really amazing too. The explanation and demonstration of how they extract the water and oil from the flower is informative and really wondrous to see in action. Also the dog was very welcoming and a lovely addition to the staff. 100/10 would pet and 1000/10 would come again here whenever we can :)

It's a beautiful lavender farm run by an elderly couple. We were lucky it was just us on the day and both the owners were very nice and welcoming. Great place for a photographer with the right lighting. To the picky people giving it 1 stars. This is someone else's residence so drop your entitlement and be respectful as it IS someone else's private residence.

Winery closed for Winter. Confusingly sign on the road says both "open" and "closed for Winter".

A great location to get away and relax for a bit. Wines are ok without being stunning. They had a good truck and music so had a great day in the sun. Very well sheltered from the wind.

Good place however when we turned up at 3.45 pm nobody around today despite the sign saying "welcome, open". It then took 15 to 20 minutes to get someone and had to make a phone call from just outside the premises. Our impression was that she wasn't in a good mood at first when speaking to us. Kind of spoilt the ambience, tried our best to cheer her up but first impressions mean a lot.

Great place with an excellent selection of wines. We went on an afternoon where they had an American style BBQ band playing. The food was delicious and the service was great. Definitely signup on their website for future events. Great location and staff.

I was one of a party of 17 today, a social wine tasting group, to tour the winery including wine tasting and a fully cooked lunch with coffee/tea and sweets. The cost was $50 per head. The tour and wine tasting was presented by the winery owner/wine-maker, Christine Kernehan. The tour was interesting, I liked all the wines tasted. The buffet lunch was relaxed and the food good - a piece of roast beef, a bacon-wrapped chicken breast, three tasty cold salads, boiled buttery potatoes. The staff were friendly and efficient. The meal was enjoyable as was the weather. The only negative was the food was removed from the buffet before everyone was finished, i.e. No second helpings. The winery produces great wine but is sadly up for sale.

Amazing wine tasting! Sandra was knowledgeable and relaxed. We were able to enjoy a small tasting of all the wines and then had a couple of glasses in the wine garden with our BYO picnic. Tasting paddles are also available to enjoy in the garden. Really recommend the pushmi!!

We were delighted with our accommodation at the Gladstone Vineyard on Waitangi weekend - the ingredients in the fridge for a cooked breakfast were fresh local and generous (and unexpected), as was the complimentary bottle of wine. The bedlinen was crisp and lovely. The surrounding gardens & vines were superb for a late afternoon stroll followed by a wee wine tasting in the cellar room. A quick trip back up the road to the Gladstone Inn for a tasty dinner far exceeding our "pub" expectations. The 9 yr old boy loved the farm feel, with the chickens roaming around and a very cute pig,Bella. Our only regret was that we had to leave at the crack of dawn the next morning We hope to visit again very soon.

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.

We went into the gift shop with the purpose of buying a gift of something local for our out of town friends, but the 2 ladies sitting at the desk were sure to announce the second we entered the door way (3.50pm) they would be closing soon. Obviously they were in too much of a hurry to go home than serve customers. It was a disgusting experience, I will never return.

Great regional gallery, had a couple of really good shows on. No charge, no queues. And good shop

Aratoi always has interesting exhibitions, plus a lovely shop and cafe. Well worth a stop on the trip between Hawkes Bayband Wellington. Photo shows Bev Moon's knitted dumplings from her recent exhibition.

Beautiful museum with nice exhibits. Worth a visit. I loved the Boro exhibit!

Worth a visit, lovely space, well presented

Amazing, new things to see all the time. Would recommend if you are visiting Masterton!

It's a small space expanding into the old church. For me the old hall was where the more interesting art lie. Free to enter. Have a short stroll through even if art is not your thing.

If you like animals "the alpaca place" is a must. The animal are nice funny and realy soft. The tour take 1h30 m. You can feed alpaca, wolk whit them and discover interesting stories about them. We are realy enjoy the alpaca !

Be sure to book online in advance before visting this great tour of an Alpaca farm. Liz and Cheryl are very kind and knowledgeable regard the history of the Alpacas. We got to meet both the male/female Alpacas and their young which are super cute. The best part was feeding time! If you like Alpacas in anyway defiantly do this tour😃

My husband and I had a wonderful time on this tour! The alpacas are adorable and the tour was extremely informative - we both felt like this was time and money well spent.

The Alpaca Place is great. Deserves so much more than the 3 google stars. See Trip advisor for a good idea of the sort of experience you will have. Its a fantastic tour. We have gone on to do business with the wonderful women from The Alpaca Place and now own our own Alpaca. We've been very impressed with the service from being straight out tourists, through to potential buyers, and onto a full delivery service of our purchased alpaca which took a full day of their time at a very reasonable price.

Liz gave a very informative and interactive tour for us. It was a great experience as we've never been to an alpaca farm before. We got to feed and pet the alpacas while understanding quite an extensive history on the cute animal, normally confused with its relative, llama. It's a recommended place to go.

Thanks for the great tour Liz and Sheryl, thoroughly enjoyed it, Ella loved your 'awesome alpacas', so disappointed I didn't buy her one. Highly recommend, especially for kids, my ten year old adored it. So much knowledge about alpacas, their history and industry.

This was so much fun and informative. We got to walk alpacas and hug them and learn all about them, a really cool day out

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

A great place

If you pronounce the name perfectly and happen to have a d20 die with you, the die will always come down to 20.

Thanks for the song "open road" by Ra Costelloe

Finally made it around to this iconic place...

Thank you now i can impress da boiz

Bro Taumatawhakatangihangakoa is so good for living in this I've seen this in YouTube too

Such a cool place i hung out with some hamburbur

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.

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!

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.

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.

Super awesome! A lovely day well spent just relaxing in the sun. Take in the cool ocean breeze. Enjoy the long walks and love that the beach is not over crowded

This is a fun beach. There's no shop nearby. So, bring your own food and drink, especially clean water.

Basically a nearly perfect beach day location for a picnic. No shower, bathroom, or shops that were obvious. Absolutely stunning beach, though. Lots of sand and beautiful cliff views. Definitely worth a visit.

Have been a local of this area and fond we always have a great day. Beach is clean and tidy. On and off lead areas for the dogs just ensure you read the sign. Toilet area is closer to lifegaurd shed and is ok. Right end of beach at low tide has rock pools so great to entertain the kiddys.

Awesome beach! Can get super busy though and not much shade so if you want to park in the shade make sure you get there early, however it is possible someone will double park you. Went there a couple of times had good waves for boogeyboarding and bodysurfing.

Very good beach, love it, the unique problem is the parking lot... To full and Messy... If was more Organized, can be more cars

Beautiful and safe beach with a stunning drive to the beach.

I would like to thank Roger. He gives my whole family the best of the best wine tasting experience. I have been Church Road,3 /4 times. in the past experience, It was too many visitors and hard to get a quality time to learn wine, to know about Church Road. Thank you , Roger. He is passionate to wine and share the best of his knowledge with us. FYI , we booked a lunch time and got an excellent wine tasting before lunch. We tried the $45 & $35 wine tasting. The $45 is the value for money and best value to try all 5 $100 worth wine... 300% recommended.

A friend and I spent a lovely afternoon at Church Road Winery. We had lunch which was delicious, first sharing a cheese board and then opting for the pork belly and the tortellini as our mains while sharing a bottle of the Gwen rose which was very nice. Dessert was an affogato and a chocolate brulee (a must order) Danielle was our server and she was very attentive, answered all our questions easily and was very friendly. After lunch we grabbed another bottle of Gwen rose and headed out to the expansive lawn to finish the day. All the staff we came across were always so friendly and willing to help, when we enquired about the cost of a Gwen tote bag the lady who was asked (it was her first day and we forgot to ask her name) went above and beyond to find out the answer for us. Definitely recommend a visit to Church Road Winery

Great Food, But the Service Ruined It We came today for a tasting and some food — unfortunately, it was a real disappointment. The setting is stunning, both the gardens and the cellar door interior are beautiful. But from the moment we arrived, confusion began: no signage, multiple counters, and no clear direction. After waiting, we were told by a staff member, that he was too busy to do a tasting, despite the venue being only a third full. We were also told to hurry if we wanted food, as the kitchen was closing — before 3:00pm, even though the cellar door closes at 4:30pm. At the food counter, the welcome felt more like an inconvenience. We were rushed, given no explanations about the menus, and then served food without plates, cutlery, or napkins. After fetching our own, the waitress (who was kind) arrived with napkins just as a gust of wind knocked over a glass of wine onto our platter. No one offered help or even asked if we wanted to replace the glass. The food itself was excellent — beautifully made and full of flavour — and the wine was very good. But the service was among the worst I’ve experienced in 16 years as a chef, including three years working in a New Zealand winery. Even basic hospitality standards were missing. I came with fond memories of Church Road wines, but after this experience, I won’t be returning or purchasing their wine again. A real shame — it could easily be one of New Zealand’s best wineries with better service.

Great service. Amazing food. Nice sitting outside on a sunny day. Beautiful atmosphere. I don’t normally have desert but was sold by the waitress that offered it and it was delicious. Will definitely be wining and dining there alot more

Had an amazing tasting session!! We booked the Inspired By The Bay tasting session and the lady who served us, Trina was amazing, thank you so much for being patient with us and taught us so much about how to taste and how different wines are made differently🙌🏻🙌🏻 loved it so much❤️

We were at Church Road for wine tasting. Roger was so knowledgeable and managed the tasting experience so well. Definitely will back either for dinner or spend sometime beautiful at garden.

We started with an Inspired by the bay Tasting which Cherise looked after us for. She was very friendly and informative about the wines which made it a very relaxed and enjoyable experience. The wines themselves were absolutely delicious and for us our favourite was the syrah. After the wine tasting we ate in the restaurant which was beautiful. The tables were carefully set out amongst barrels and it gave it a very special feel. Debs looked after us for our meal and she couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. We had the beef cheeks with a nice bottle of syrah and it was delicious. After we took our wine outside and sat and enjoyed the grounds which were stunning. Every member of staff we interacted with were all excellent and this is certainly somewhere we would highly recommend

We visited for a wine tasting on Thursday and were presented with four different types to choose from. I selected one to start with, and after tasting it, I wanted to try another. Unfortunately, I was told that only one type is allowed per tasting session, and if I wanted to try more, I’d have to go into the restaurant and order a glass. Since my companion was tied up with a long online meeting, I had to give up on the idea. The setting was beautiful and the pricing very reasonable, but the inflexible policy was a bit disappointing.

We got to see The Mission cellar door while we were visiting friends who had just moved to Napier, as part of a wine tour with Frankly Tours (see other review). We did the tour on a Sunday, hoping that the cellar doors would be open, and we were not disappointed. The Mission was our first stop, and what a starter! Fantastic venue and atmosphere, just stunning on the hill. 5 wines tasted from their extensive range, starting with their bubbles. We were given plenty of time to browse the historic photos and artifacts after the wine tasting session. Tour guide was the most knowledgeable of the 3 by far that we met on the day tour, and I think we chatted so much with Q&A that we kind of ran out of time. Absolutely no pressure to buy any of the wines, and indeed we were back on our tour bus before we realised we had not had the chance to purchase LOL. Beyond the wine production the venue and location itself is obviously a major part of their business set up, simple stunning. Recommend you ask for this "cellar door" specifically on any wine tour in Napier.

Beautiful spot, great wines and wonderful history made for a stunning start to our wine discovery. Self guided tasting so you do not feel rushed but stuff there to help out if and when needed. When back for seconds. Also we'll priced celler door wines for sale.

Magic place with incredibly tasty wine, we loved our stop at Mission Estate. Our server was very nice. We went for the aromatic self guided tasting and what a blast ! We ended up by buying four bottles. You should really include Mission Estate in your winery tour !

Well worth the detour. We did some tasting followed by a cheese platter. Yvonne was warm and super knowledgeable - not only about the wine and heritage but also the region. Highly recommended!

Lovely food and staff. Would have been 5 star but a bit odd in their rules on one paddle per person seeing the amount of wine choice’s and how much time and money we spent in the restaurant. The “can’t be in the grass” with the tasting paddle also very odd and comes across as uninviting. They were reasonable at accommodating to food intolerances.

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional dining experience at Mission Winery Restaurant. From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the ambiance and warmth of the place. However, what truly stole the show was the extraordinary culinary journey orchestrated by the talented chef.The steaks, in particular, were a revelation. Cooked to a perfect medium rare, each bite was a symphony of flavors and textures, a testament to the chef's mastery in the kitchen. It's not an exaggeration to say that it was one of the best steak experiences I've ever had.The attention to detail and dedication to quality were evident in every dish served. Beyond the remarkable food, the service was impeccable, adding to the overall charm of the evening.I am genuinely grateful for the memorable dining experience at Mission Winery Restaurant and eagerly look forward to returning to savor more of the culinary delights crafted with such care and passion.