Recently the Prinsy's Wine Tour crew were lucky enough to head down to Martinborough for an overnighter, under the guise of "research & development". Why? We wanted to explore the area and find the very best spots to take our guests, as part of our new Guided Transfer service (which can include a trip from Wellington to Hawke's Bay via some nice wee hotspots). What a hard life!

On this trip our team checked out the local winery & tourism scene, and felt we needed to share a couple of our favourites, if you're ever heading that way.

Martinborough Township
If you don't know much about it, Martinborough is a small historical township in the Southern Wairarapa - a little over an hour from Wellington. It's got 20-something wineries and a boutique, laid back feel. Plus, the town and surrounding wineries are nice and condensed so it's easy to explore and make the most of your time.

Must-Do Wineries
Highlights of our own wine tour definitely included:

• Martinborough Vineyard - it's an icon in the region since 1980 (that's pioneering days when it comes to New Zealand wine) and their pursuit of the perfect Pinot Noir is admirable.
• Alana Estate - owner Mike Cornish's mantra of "Make great wine and have fun doing it" is a force to be reckoned with.
• Poppies Martinborough - well this little gem had to be our favourite. The personalised service on offer here really brought us in to their world - we learned the passion they have for their wines and their story from our enjoyable chat with Shayne the Viticulturalist, and Poppy the winemaker, and you can only buy their wines from the cellar door (that's our style!). Their abundance of knowledge and approach-ability means this winery (and its stunning cafe) will definitely be a regular stop whenever the Prinsy's Guided Transfer whistles through from Wellington for a quick wine tour.  If you're passing, make sure you try the rose!

Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Sanctuary
Heading back to Hawkes Bay from Martinborough, a great way to break up the trip is a stop at the wildlife centre at Mount Bruce, where they do lots of great work with conservation and education. The walk through native bush even has wheelchair access and it's a great chance to see rare and endangered birds of New Zealand, including the only white kiwi in captivity, as well as other native wildlife.

Planning your own trip?
For more information on a Guided Transfer of your own (to make the most of travel time between Wellington, Hawkes Bay and/or Auckland and anywhere in between), talk to us today - we'd love to help plan the perfect trip for you and show you the sights through local eyes.
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In Hawke's Bay we are lucky enough to have some pretty nice autumn and winter days, which means you can make the most of many attractions year-round. On the days when the weather isn't playing ball there are always loads of options to stay entertained too. 

We think these 5 things are great to do in Hawke's Bay during winter:

1. Take the guided Art Deco Walk through Napier, the Art Deco Capital. The crowds have died down at this time of year, and you'll be sure to get a unique insight into the fabric of our town. Take a coat and enjoy the fresh air and stunning 1930's architecture every which way you look. Bookings through the Art Deco Trust.
2. Get on your bike! In particular the coastal cycle-ways offer superb sightseeing, with the entire bay visible from Cape Kidnappers out to Mahia Peninsula on a fine day. Along the way there are lots of great eateries and iconic spots to stop - cycle along and make some discoveries! See the Hawkes Bay Tourism website for a downloadable map, or get one from the i-Site or your accommodation's reception desk.
3. Dine al fresco in Ahuriri. Ahuriri is a vibrant community on the port-side of Napier. Something Diane and I love to do when we get the chance is to soak up the seaside with a nice local drop and a good bite to eat. Walk along the boardwalk and take your pick of the handful of eateries there by the sea, find a café in the township or head over to the vibrant West Quay for a view across the marina. In inclement weather, most places have warm dining rooms where you can overlook the moody ocean.
4. Check out the view from atop Te Mata Peak. ​With a 360° view of Hawke's Bay, from the plains to the Pacific Ocean, it's a must see. That's why we make a point of stopping there on every tour possible. While you're up there, take one of the several walks around the peak which show off some stunning views - awesome in our humble opinion!
5. Head off the beaten track and take a bush walk. Drive up to the Kaweka Ranges and totally immerse yourself in beautiful native bush, or for an easy taster of the NZ flora and fauna we recommend White Pine Bush, just 30kms north of Napier on SH2. See the Department of Conservation for details on the many bush walking tracks around, and check for any precautionary notices and safety tips before you go. 
6. Well we know we said it's our Top 5, but how could we not recommend a Wine Tour at #6!! A winter wine tour is a great way to stay warm and get up close and personal with the people and the passion behind some of Hawke's Bay's finest wines. It's a great time of year as things quieten down for the wineries - vintage is done and dusted, the year's wines are doing their thing in tank or barrel, and the vineyard crew are recouping and gearing up for pruning. Come on board a Prinsy's wine tour and we'll show you the sights and tastes!

We hope you enjoy your time in Hawke's Bay and look forward to hosting you on a tour soon. Be sure to let us know if you have anything in particular you'd like to see or do!
Cheers, Hamish
Owner & Tour Guide

Every now and then we are lucky enough to be involved in a momentous event in Hawkes Bay. Later this year, one of those events takes place as the Lions rugby team tour New Zealand and make their way to the provinces. We're all geared up to take all the touring Lions' fans out to see our little slice of paradise in Hawke's Bay and have already had several few jump on-board our wine tours in the last couple of weeks. We can't wait!

A few years ago we were lucky enough to have ex-Lion Gareth 'Coochie' Chilcott join us for a wine tour. Gareth and his group of mates had a great time, even providing Prinsy's Tours with this awesome testimonial:

This year we got all excited and dressed up in our rugby finest for a wine tour of our own - check out the pics below!

If you or your friends are keen to explore Hawke's Bay, we'd love to take you out and show you the sights and tastes - no matter which team you roar for!