Hawkes Bay wine tour from Napier: art deco, views, tasting

See the region in one morning: art deco, farmland, peak views, and wine

A 6-hour guided tour of Hawkes Bay departing from Napier covers art deco architecture in Napier and Hastings, rural farmland, a scenic lookout over Cape Kidnappers and Te Mata Peak, the Southern Hemisphere's largest honey producer, and a seated wine tasting at Mission Estate Winery. The guide speaks English or Spanish, pickup is included, and lunch is at your own cost at a cafe in Hastings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hawkes Bay region highlights

• Learn about Art Deco style
• Visit scenic lookout over Napier
• Drive along coast and hidden valley
• Visit Te Mata Peak
• Tour largest honey producer
• Enjoy short lunch in Hastings
• Wine tasting at Mission Estate Winery
• Drive through Art Deco housing suburb

The Experience

You start by learning what art deco actually is—the architectural style that defines Napier after the 1931 earthquake rebuilt the city. That knowledge frames everything you see next: original buildings throughout Napier and Hastings, then a drive through a residential suburb where the style is still lovingly maintained. A photo book on the bus illustrates the earthquake's history and the region's recovery.

The route takes you to an off-track scenic lookout where you stand with 360-degree views across the entire Hawkes Bay region—Napier below, Cape Kidnappers visible, Te Mata Peak rising in the distance. From there you drive through the landscape you've just surveyed: coastal roads, a hidden valley, and up to Te Mata Peak itself. You'll stop at the largest honey producer in the Southern Hemisphere to watch bees work behind glass and taste varieties including Manuka honey. Lunch happens at a cafe in the Hastings area (at your own cost), then the tour heads to Mission Estate Winery for a seated wine tasting led by the winery staff.

The full loop takes 6 hours and closes by driving back through Napier's art deco suburbs, so the architecture you learned to recognize at the start becomes the frame for how you leave. A guide in English or Spanish travels with you, and hotel pickup is included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Napier.
• 6-hour guided tour with English or Spanish-speaking guide.
• art deco architecture overview and walking views.
• scenic lookout with 360-degree regional views.
• Te Mata Peak drive.
• honey producer visit with tasting.
• seated wine tasting at Mission Estate Winery.
• photo book on the 1931 earthquake and regional history.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Napier without a car—the guide picks you up and drives the full loop, so you can spend six hours taking in art deco architecture, farmland, and peaks without managing transport yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is the art deco architecture like in Napier and Hastings?

Napier rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake with art deco buildings throughout the city and suburbs—the tour starts by teaching you what defines the style, then you see original examples in both Napier and Hastings, and finish by driving through a residential area where the architecture is still preserved.

What will I see from Te Mata Peak?

Te Mata Peak offers 360-degree views across the entire Hawkes Bay region, including Napier, Cape Kidnappers, and the surrounding farmland and coast.

What happens at the honey producer stop?

You watch bees working through a glass wall and taste multiple types of honey, including the world-famous Manuka honey produced there—it's the largest honey operation in the Southern Hemisphere.

How does the wine tasting work at Mission Estate Winery?

The winery staff present a seated tasting session, so you sample wines without standing at a bar or rushing between stations.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch at a cafe in the Hastings area is at your own cost; the tour includes time for a short meal break there.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour start?

Hotel pickup in Napier is included, so you don't need a rental car or to find the meeting point yourself.