New Zealand
There are some great cafes for seriously good coffee in Napier, better in my opinion than the much hyped and overpriced Auckland and Wellington. Too many to mention but Tannyson and Emmerson streets have many examples. Hawkes Bay is best known as a wine destination and there are also some great foods such as local Te Mata Cheeses, Esk Valley Asparagus, farmed abalone, peach and apple orchards - the list goes on. The Farmers Market - saturday at Blackbarn vineyard and sunday at Hastings - are good places to start.
I stayed just out of Napier in the vineyard region of Esk Valley. Great meal on friday night at nearby Crab Farm winery. Very laid back atmosphere with a monstrous log fire, later the guitars came out! And the food was outstanding.
Esk Valley lodge 15 mins north of Napier just past the airport www.eskvalleylodge.co.nz
Map tinyurl.com/eskvalley
www.crabfarmwinery.co.nz/catalog/
Food Hawkes bay guide www.foodhawkesbay.co.nz/index.cfm/our_activities/food_trail
Search Been there