The Bay

Paul and I spent our Easter weekend in the Hawke's Bay. Although a little grey and drizzly, we had a lovely relaxing time. If you haven't been in a while (or at all) I thoroughly recommend it. Only six hours from Auckland and just over four hours from Wellington, it's very accessible.

We stayed at Katharine's beautiful Airbnb just outside Havelock North. A perfect self-contained cottage, tastefully decorated and located on her stunning grounds as an annex to the main house.

We ate breakfast every day at Wright & Co cafe, a new addition to the Havelock North dining scene. Gorgeous food and coffee, great service and wonderful ambience. It was that good, we didn't even bother with other cafes. We had lunch at our old favourite Mission Estate Winery, and dinner at Elephant Hill Winery.

A couple of new retail offerings in Napier. First, the gorgeous Blackbird Goods. Owned and operated by Gemma and Nathan, their small-but-perfectly-formed store on Dalton Street showcases a hand-picked collection of elegant goods. Gemma and Nathan were generous with their time, helping us pick a treasure to take home, and happy to chat about their new life in the Bay.

Guilty as Sin on Hastings Street in Napier offers a well-curated collection of womens clothes and accessories. Brands such as Lonely, Zoe Karssen, Commoners, Camilla and Marc and Juliette Hogan sit side by side in complete harmony. Add to that a very funky space, and you have a winning recipe.