New Zealand Holidays Hawkes Bay summer time at the river

Tuki Tuki River & the Te Mata Peaks

One of the things I miss most about living in Hawke's Bay is the ability to drive less than 20 minutes no matter which town you live in & find yourself at an awesome spot on the edge of The Esk, Tutai Kuri, Ngarororo or Tuki Tuki River.

On summer evenings when it was too hot to cook at home we'd throw some spuds & a few bits of chicken wrapped in tin foil in the car & head down to the river. With luck it wasn't "too crowded" (there was no one within a kilometre of your spot) & the rope swing was still there at the swimming hole. There is nothing like a river for cooling off! You get out feeling refreshed & clean. It's what made the heat of a Hawkes Bay summer bearable. Then we'd get a little fire going on the stones, cook our tea & kick back while the evening cooled off & the colour faded out of the sky.

There are so many things that make up the unique experience that is New Zealand. For me an essential part of our Iconic Kiwi Lifestyle is the sights, sounds & smells of a Hawke's Bay river. If you're staying in the Bay during summer, take time to sample an Iconic Kiwi experience.