Sue's Hawkes Bay Guidebook
Wine tasting & tours
Oak Estate is a gorgeous boutique vineyard. We love their platters & they are easy biking distance from Rosser Retreat!
6 locals recommend
Oak Estate Cellar Door and Kitchen
403 Ngatarawa RdOak Estate is a gorgeous boutique vineyard. We love their platters & they are easy biking distance from Rosser Retreat!
Abbey Winery and Brewery has a great outdoor space, in the summertime they host musicians every weekend which you can enjoy in a relaxed setting. This is also great for locally brewed craft beer, if you need a break from all the wine!!
16 locals recommend
Abbey Winery & Brewery
1769 Maraekakaho RdAbbey Winery and Brewery has a great outdoor space, in the summertime they host musicians every weekend which you can enjoy in a relaxed setting. This is also great for locally brewed craft beer, if you need a break from all the wine!!
Great platters & pizzas, and another excellent wine spot within easy cycling distance from Rosser Retreat.
6 locals recommend
Ash Ridge Winery
2543 State Hwy 50Great platters & pizzas, and another excellent wine spot within easy cycling distance from Rosser Retreat.
Cheese & bread platters available to sustain your bike ride around the vineyards! Another great option for wine tasting.
7 locals recommend
Sileni Estates Winery and Cellar Door
2016 Maraekakaho RdCheese & bread platters available to sustain your bike ride around the vineyards! Another great option for wine tasting.
Trinity is one of the early pioneers of wine in the Gimblett Gravels wine district, making it a must visit when in the Bay!
7 locals recommend
Trinity Hill Limited
2396 State Hwy 50Trinity is one of the early pioneers of wine in the Gimblett Gravels wine district, making it a must visit when in the Bay!
Golf courses
Hastings Golf Club has a 18-hole championship course that is consistently rated among the top ten club courses in New Zealand. It also has a lovely cafe and is very close to Rosser Retreat.
10 locals recommend
Hastings Golf Club
1523 Maraekakaho RdHastings Golf Club has a 18-hole championship course that is consistently rated among the top ten club courses in New Zealand. It also has a lovely cafe and is very close to Rosser Retreat.
The youngest of the four major golf courses in the Bay, the Hawkes Bay Golf Club, formerly the Flaxmere Golf Club, is a 18-hole course.
Hawkes Bay Golf Club
114 Valentine RdThe youngest of the four major golf courses in the Bay, the Hawkes Bay Golf Club, formerly the Flaxmere Golf Club, is a 18-hole course.
Sightseeing
Te Mata Peak is a must do while in the Bay! You will get the best views over Havelock North towards the twin cities of Hastings and Napier, and you can clearly see the sea. You can enjoy this view by driving up the hill - or if you are so inclined, you can walk all the way up or enjoy a more gentle walk amongst the redwood trees.
217 locals recommend
Te Mata Park
Te Mata Peak RoadTe Mata Peak is a must do while in the Bay! You will get the best views over Havelock North towards the twin cities of Hastings and Napier, and you can clearly see the sea. You can enjoy this view by driving up the hill - or if you are so inclined, you can walk all the way up or enjoy a more gentle walk amongst the redwood trees.
City/town information
Havelock North Village is a great place to eat out, only twelve minutes from Rosser Retreat. There is also great boutique shopping and a lovely village atmosphere. The small cinema in the village is comfortable and usually has a lot of current film options.
Some of the restaurants that we recommend are:
Namaskar Indian Restaurant
Pipi Pizza Cafe
St Georges Restaurant
Mamacita
Maina Cafe & Bistro (daytime only)
64 locals recommend
Havelock North
Havelock North Village is a great place to eat out, only twelve minutes from Rosser Retreat. There is also great boutique shopping and a lovely village atmosphere. The small cinema in the village is comfortable and usually has a lot of current film options.
Some of the restaurants that we recommend are:
Namaskar Indian Restaurant
Pipi Pizza Cafe
St Georges Restaurant
Mamacita
Maina Cafe & Bistro (daytime only)
Napier is the Art Deco capital of New Zealand, having been rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931. There is an annual festival of Art Deco architecture, fashion, and design in February each year but even at other times of the year, this a great aspect of the city to explore via walking tours or at the museum.
Walking along Marine Parade is very enjoyable with gardens, the Soundshell, and beautiful statues to view.
The Napier Gardens are also a highlight, along with views from Bluff Hill.
63 locals recommend
Napier
Napier is the Art Deco capital of New Zealand, having been rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931. There is an annual festival of Art Deco architecture, fashion, and design in February each year but even at other times of the year, this a great aspect of the city to explore via walking tours or at the museum.
Walking along Marine Parade is very enjoyable with gardens, the Soundshell, and beautiful statues to view.
The Napier Gardens are also a highlight, along with views from Bluff Hill.
Food scene
An institution since 1926! The original shop fell victim to the Hawkes Bay earthquake, however, the ice cream gardens on Heretaunga St in Hastings have been frequented by adoring customers from 1931 until the present day!!
Some of our favourite flavours are maple & walnut and manuka honey, enjoy these in a waffle cone or in an ice cream sundae.
13 locals recommend
Rush Munro's of NZ
201 Heretaunga Street EastAn institution since 1926! The original shop fell victim to the Hawkes Bay earthquake, however, the ice cream gardens on Heretaunga St in Hastings have been frequented by adoring customers from 1931 until the present day!!
Some of our favourite flavours are maple & walnut and manuka honey, enjoy these in a waffle cone or in an ice cream sundae.
Birdwoods has many interesting aspects - an old fashioned sweet shop, a gorgeous cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, a gift shop & gallery with goods from Africa, and a sculpture garden to wander around.
Highly recommend a visit to Birdwoods, especially to enjoy the garden.
61 locals recommend
Birdwoods Gallery
298 Middle RdBirdwoods has many interesting aspects - an old fashioned sweet shop, a gorgeous cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, a gift shop & gallery with goods from Africa, and a sculpture garden to wander around.
Highly recommend a visit to Birdwoods, especially to enjoy the garden.
Visit the Sunday farmers market at the Hawkes Bay Showgrounds to try a huge variety of local produce. A great place to start your Sunday with delicious coffee and many treats to enjoy for breakfast or brunch, you may also find presents for your loved ones to take away!
64 locals recommend
Hawkes Bay Farmers Market
Kenilworth RoadVisit the Sunday farmers market at the Hawkes Bay Showgrounds to try a huge variety of local produce. A great place to start your Sunday with delicious coffee and many treats to enjoy for breakfast or brunch, you may also find presents for your loved ones to take away!