On top of a thriving fruit industry it’s is a great spot for tourists, centred around the beautiful art deco town of Napier – rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed it in the 1930s – and with an outstanding selection of wineries to visit.

While the New Zealand wine industry is best known for cool-climate wine styles, Hawke’s Bay has many warm sites and excellent soils such as the justly revered Gimblett Gravels, and the region produces very flavourful, high-quality reds from the Bordeaux varieties.

Among the many wineries to choose from, Church Road commends itself with the quality of its restaurant and also for having New Zealand’s first wine museum.