Hawke's Bay food tour: Chocolate, honey & real fruit ice cream

Four hours tasting handcrafted chocolate, mānuka honey, and fresh-blended ice cream across Hawke's Bay farmland

A small-group food tour of Hawke's Bay countryside with a local guide, visiting four artisan producers over four hours. You'll taste handcrafted chocolates at Silky Oak, watch a live beehive and sample mānuka honey at Arataki, browse Birdwoods Gallery in its gardens, and finish with real fruit ice cream at Strawberry Patch, where seasonal berries are blended fresh to order. Pickup is included. The group stays small enough to connect with producers and hear the stories behind their craft.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sweet treats and local flavors tour

• Visit Silky Oak Chocolates
• Explore Chocolate Thru’ the Ages Museum
• Discover Arataki Honey and live beehive
• Browse Birdwoods Gallery and sweet shop
• Enjoy real fruit ice cream at Strawberry Patch

The experience

The tour starts with handcrafted chocolates at Silky Oak, where you can watch chocolatiers at work through factory viewing windows and browse the boutique shop. Next is Arataki Honey, one of New Zealand's most recognized honey producers, where you'll see a live beehive in action and taste a range of honeys including mānuka. The pace is built around small groups: unlike larger coach tours, you get time to linger and ask questions instead of moving through on a schedule.

Birdwoods Gallery comes next, a Hawke's Bay fixture set in gardens with sculptures, art, and a nostalgic sweet shop where you can wander at your own pace. The day ends at Strawberry Patch, a local institution famous for real fruit ice cream made to order: fresh seasonal berries are blended on the spot with creamy vanilla ice cream or yoghurt. The whole route travels through rural landscapes, and your guide shares insight into the region's food culture, local history, and the producers themselves. The people behind what you're tasting.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• tastings at Silky Oak Chocolates and Arataki Honey.
• one real fruit ice cream at Strawberry Patch.
• a local guide in English.
• pickup from your accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 13:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (2 to 17 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Mates travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to taste rather than just see. The stops are built around sampling handcrafted food from local producers, not browsing shops. The small-group format means you'll hear the stories behind the chocolate, honey, and ice cream instead of moving through on a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is real fruit ice cream at Strawberry Patch?

Strawberry Patch blends fresh seasonal berries on the spot with creamy vanilla ice cream or yoghurt, creating a single-serve treat made to order rather than scooped from a tub. The berries change with the season.

Can I see how honey is made at Arataki?

Arataki has a live beehive you can watch in action, and the staff explain how honey is made during your visit. You'll also taste several varieties, including mānuka honey.

Is Birdwoods Gallery open every day?

Birdwoods Gallery operates on seasonal hours, so availability varies. If it's closed on your tour date, the operator substitutes another carefully selected Hawke's Bay attraction to keep the day well-rounded.

How many people go on this tour?

The tour is designed as a small-group experience, which keeps the pace relaxed and gives you time to connect with local producers instead of moving through like a larger coach tour.

Does the tour include transportation from my accommodation?

Yes, pickup is included. You'll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with the group and guide throughout the four-hour route.