Birdwoods is a very special place in the heart of beautiful Hawke's Bay. Set in the countryside just 3km from Havelock North village, Birdwoods is a 'must see' for all visitors and locals, offering a gallery, sculpture garden, cafe, real fruit ice-cream shop and our much loved old fashioned sweet shop.

Opened in 2005 by Bruce and Louise Stobart, the Gallery's home is the original church hall from St Peter's in Waipawa built in 1894. The old hall has since had a beautiful conservatory added and the extensive grounds include an outdoor terrace, a Garden Room, a Sun Room and a large sculpture garden and water feature, inhabited by ducks and gold fish.  Visitors enjoy Birdwoods famous cafe treats all year round in one of the Bay's loveliest settings.

Right next door to Birdwoods Gallery is the Birdwoods Sweet Shop, an old fashioned sweet shop 'just like you remember' housed in a charming one room colonial cottage made from reclaimed materials. Packed to the rafters with a treasure trove of sweets, it’s a favourite of young and old.

The words most often used to describe visiting Birdwoods for the first time are, "serene", "wonderful", "delicious" and "stunning". Come and experience beautiful Birdwoods for yourself - available now via all the tours shown below.

Te Mata Park and its famous peak is one of the most loved and visited places in Hawke’s Bay. Gifted in perpetuity to the community in 1927 and managed by a small group of volunteer trustees.

​With appreciated help from local councils and the community, the Park is a cultural, historical and recreational treasure offering fabulous 360-degree views across the area.

All the tours shown either include a visit to the Peak as standard or can include it on request

There is evidence of past settlement from this period, including pā sites and other earthworks. The Karaka groves in the upper Te Hau Valley area and Moa bones found on the slopes suggest intensive Māori settlement. 

Captain James Cook sighted New Zealand on 6 October 1769, and landed at Poverty Bay two days later. He drew detailed and accurate maps of the country, and wrote about the Māori people.

​His first encounter with Māori was not successful – a fight broke out in which some Māori were killed. However, after this Cook and his men are reported to have had friendly contact with Māori.

The Waikato Māori are said to have invaded the Te Mata area and the Ngāti Pare tribe, which lived along the range as far as Mt Erin, made its last stand at Pakake on the western spurs of Te Mata Peak. The women and children who were spared went to the top and held a funeral ceremony looking toward Cape Kidnappers and cutting their faces and bodies with sharp flints. They were then taken to Waikato.

​Chiefteness Winipere was also captured and recited a lament as she said farewell to Heretaunga from Te Mata Peak; this song was well known by elders as a funeral chant.

The grove of 223 stunning California redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) was planted in 1926 and many are now over 40 metres tall. The Chambers family were great experimenters with tree planting and, having generally favoured eucalypts, decided to try a conifer species. Noting the similarities between the climates of Hawke’s Bay and coastal California, they decided to plant a large grove of redwoods. Native to America and the tallest of all trees, the redwood is an evergreen and extremely long-lived tree with a life span of 2,500 to 3,500 years.

In 1977, Te Mata Park was placed under a Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII National Trust) covenant to ensure permanent protection of this iconic landscape. The purpose of this covenant is to promote the provision, protection and enhancement of open space, for the benefit and enjoyment of all people in New Zealand.

Westshore was already a popular seaside resort when the 1931 earthquake reclaimed the Ahuriri lagoon, a long-time popular spot for yachting and boating activities. However, the quake also transformed the previously dangerous and shingly seashore into a safe and sandy swimming beach.

Established to promote Napier's attractions, the Thirty Thousand Club was among the ardent enthusiasts pressing for beautification of the beachfront. Newly planted trees and shrubs had to battle poor coastal soils and sparse water supplies to survive. This landscaping and other improvements help make this one of Napier's most popular beaches and today a 19.4ha strip reserve flanks the Westshore foreshore.
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Recreational activities include swimming, picnicking and sunbathing, and the reserve includes a children's play area, surf clubs and changing and toilet facilities.

On the coast between Awatoto and Haumoana, Waitangi Regional Park links the Tukituki, Ngaruroro and Tūtaekurī Rivers, the Karamū Stream-Clive rivers and coastal reserves. The park covers an area of 300 ha along around 5km of a narrow strip of coastline.

This part of the coast is an important ecosystem. The birds you might spot include white heron, royal spoonbill, godwits, and gannets. You might also smell or spot a seal or two, when they come inshore. The lower parts of the rivers are popular for fishing, whitebaiting, rowing, waka ama, kayaking, jet boating, jet skiing, and kite surfing.
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The Waitangi Estuary area was an early arrival site for both Māori and Europeans. The Star Compass symbolises the navigational skills of early settlers. On Waitangi Day, 6 February, a popular festival on the Clive River features a re-enactment of the arrival of the first European settlers.

Visit the carpark where Nelson Quay meets Hardinge Road in Ahuriri and you'll find a stunning, swim-safe little beach that the whole family will love. Stretching the length of the beach is a handy boardwalk that will lead you to the scenic Perfume Point to your left, or to Spriggs Park Playground to the right.

​Kids also love exploring the rocky shore alongside Spriggs Park. Within a stone's throw of the beach you'll find an outstanding array of cafes and eateries to keep everyone fed and watered.