Activities
Located on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay Wine Country offers visitors an unmatched range of activities, we are confident that there is something here for everyone.

The central location of Driftwood Cottages makes it the perfect base for your Hawke’s Bay Wine Country stay. The shopping centres of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North are within a 10 minute drive and the internationally acclaimed Cape Kidnappers Golf Course is just minutes away.

In and Around Driftwood Cottages
Dining In and Out
Get to Know Hawke’s Bay

In and Around Driftwood Cottages

White-face Heron	Oystercatcher	Beach walks

Take a walk and enjoy the beach, wetlands and wildlife

Start or end your day with a walk along the nearby beach or on the nearby Hawke's Bay Walking & Cycling Pathway which boast magnificent views of Hawke Bay and where if you are lucky you might even see the resident seal sunning himself on the old groyne. Then return through the wetlands which, is home to some of the best bird life the area has to offer, inhabitants include the white-faced heron and oystercatcher.

Explore the coastal trail to Cape Kidnappers
Clive is the gateway to the popular coastal trail to Cape Kidnappers. The trail takes you through the coastal settlements of Haumoana and Te Awanga and on to Clifton where you can pick up one of the tours that takes you out to Cape Kidnappers, home to the world famous gannets, or the energetic can do the 16 kilometre around trip walk along the beach. Along the trail you will also find some great eating places, several award-winning wineries, the studios of some of Hawke’s Bay best known artists and craftspeople and even a car museum. To find what this special area has to offer visit Kidnappers Escape.

Spend time browsing in the library
Host, Rachel, has an extensive library of food and cook books which she invites interested guests to enjoy while staying at Driftwood Cottages. If you would like to spend an hour or two browsing through her collection please ask.

Dining In and Out
Driftwood Cottages are fully self-contained which means that you can easily whip up a meal, however, should you prefer to be a little more relaxed there are a couple of in-house dining options – Ready-to-Cook Gourmet Meals or Dine with Host.

If you would rather dine out Driftwood Cottages are just minutes from the township of Clive which has several good restaurants, alternatively you might like to make the short drive to Napier, Hastings or Havelock North and choose from one of the many restaurants on offer – check out the Eating Out section on the Hawke’s Bay Tourism website or ask your hosts, Rachel and John, for more information about where to eat. We are also happy to make a booking for you if you have heard of somewhere special that you would like to eat.

Get to Know Hawke’s Bay Wine Country

As one of the major wine producing regions in New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay Wine Country is famed for its wine and produce but the area has so much more to offer – here’s a sample so you can start planning your getaway now.

• Tour the region for a gourmet experience guided by Hawke’s Bay food and wine trail maps. Experience the tastes of an orchard, farm, honey, cheese, olive, winery or chocolate tour along the way.
• Visit the traditional farmers market in Hastings and Napier, for the freshest local produce and organic food, or improve your culinary skills at cooking schools run by renowned chefs.
• Learn about the 1931 earthquake and resulting Art Deco architecture with a walking tour of Napier City. Visit the Hawke’s Bay Museum and experience the exhibits from Nga Tukemata and Ngati Kahungunu.
• Self-drive or walk one of the 17 heritage trails in the region and explore Hastings, where Spanish Mission influence is also a result of the 1931 earthquake.
• Follow the art trail and visit galleries, workshops and home studios to find something brilliantly original to take home.
• Join an experienced tour guide who brings to life the traditions and beliefs of the Maori. Visit a marae to experience a powhiri (Maori welcome) and learn about traditional hunting and gathering techniques.
• Paddle a genuine 4 tonne, 18 metre waka on the Clive River.
• Visit Cape Kidnappers, home of the largest, most accessible mainland gannet (takapu) colony in the world, or learn about the penguin recovery programme at Napier’s waterfront marine park.
• Hike the Kaweka and Ruahine Conservation Parks. There are huts for overnight stays and hot pools in the Kaweka ranges, or camp at Lake Tutira and wake up to mystical morning landscapes.
• Find serenity in award-winning country gardens, complete with historic homesteads.
• Paddle a kayak down the Mohaka or Tukituki River or paraglide from Te Mata Peak in tandem with a qualified instructor.
• Rise early for a romantic hot air balloon safari over the plains.
• Fish the ocean or fly fish the rivers for brown and rainbow trout.
• Play a round of golf in the evening twilight or experience the world-class international golf course.
• Walk along Napier’s Marine Parade and visit the many attractions along the way.
• Get off the beaten track and walk to the longest place name in the world or go to the top of Te Mata Peak for spectacular views of the regions.

To find out about any of these activities and more visit the Hawke’s Bay Tourism website.

Note: Guests at Driftwood Cottages will find a selection of brochures and pamphlets including copies of the Hawke’s Bay Wine Country Visitor Guide and the Art and Food Trail maps in their cottages.