Gisborne & Poverty Bay
In less than magnanimous spirit, Captain Cook landed here in 1769 and after clashes with the Maori, sailed away empty handed, naming it Poverty Bay. Situated in the fertile wine producing region that surrounds the bay, the quiet city of Gisborne was famous for a night, as visitors flocked to the first city to greet the new Millennium.
Napier & Hawkes Bay
Undoubtedly, New Zealand’s most unusual city, Napier was completely rebuilt in Art Deco style, following a devastating earthquake in 1931. Its almost Mediterranean climate, café-lined streets and superb Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines, which are produced in the surrounding region, make it well worth a visit. There are a string of nature based attractions in town - the Kiwi House, Marineland and Aquarium, but those who prefer their wildlife wild should head for Cape Kidnappers, the world’s largest onshore gannetry.
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Northland