Central Hawke’s Bay is an easy drive through some of New Zealand’s most picturesque landscape.

The most direct journey from the north is on SH1 from Auckland through Taupo, then on SH2 from Taupo to Central Hawke’s Bay via Napier and Hastings. The trip from Auckland takes a little over five hours. From New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, it takes approximately three hours to get to Waipukurau, the largest township in Central Hawke’s Bay and 428 ft above sea level.

Central Hawke’s Bay is on the national coach route and daily services operate from Auckland, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taupo and Wellington.

New Zealand is a compact country so domestic flights to Hawke’s Bay from the main centres take approximately one hour in the air. The region’s modern airport is serviced by two domestic carriers – Air New Zealand and Origin Pacific. Situated in Napier, the airport is an easy drive of approximately 45 minutes to Central Hawke’s Bay.

Central Hawke’s Bay is the southern gateway into Hawke’s Bay Wine Country and is also linked with the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail which stretches 380kms from Marlborough in the South Island, through to Martinborough, and on to Hawke’s Bay. Get a real taste of Central Hawke’s Bay’s bounty by visiting Pukeora Estate near Waipukurau or Lime Rock Wines in Waipawa.