Mates Travel offers Luxury tours designed to showcase the very best of Hawke's Bay and Aotearoa, New Zealand. With a strong focus on authenticity, local connection, and guest engagement, their tours go beyond sightseeing to deliver meaningful, story-rich experiences that their guests will remember for a lifetime.
From farm visits to historical and cultural journeys, scenic adventures, and world-class food and wine tours, they provide a diverse range of experiences suited to a wide variety of travellers. Their Guided tours are educational and immersive and always delivered with warmth, professionalism, and deep local insight.
In addition to Mates Travel's curated tours, they offer private transfers, charter services, and tailored group travel solutions - Perfect for custom itineraries and special interest groups.
With Mates Travel, you get the opportunity to explore New Zealand like a local, with trusted guides, thoughtfully designed tours, and exceptional service every step of the way.
Tours:
- Tuki Tuki Valley Farm -
Experience Authentic rural NZ with a hands-on farm tour in the picturesque Tuki Tuki Valley.
- Scenic Drive Tuki Tuki Valley
- Arrive at Tuki Tuki Dairy Goats
- Meeting with owners and animals
- Sheep Shearing demonstration
- Working dog demonstration
- Art Deco & Distillery Tour -
Discover Napier's rich Art Deco heritage and the craft of premium gin-making.
- Napier Art Deco History and the devastating 1931 earthquake
- Tour the Historic National Tobacco Building and the award-winning Gin Distillery.
- Enjoy a guided Gin Tasting
- Te Matau-a-Māui - Napier Māori Tour -
Discover the living history of Napier on a powerful cultural journey. Visit sacred sites, hear ancestral legends and gain a deeper understanding of Māoritanga - Māori Identity, traditions and connection to the land.
- Kōrero with knowledgeable Māori guide
- Historical accounts of the famous Battle of Ōmarunui
- An exclusive visit to Kohupātiki Marae
- Visit Hawke's Bay's largest Māori Pā
- Ātea a Rangi - Māori star compass visit
- Pinot & Pecorino -
Join Kate and James Clairmont at Craggy Range Sheep Dairy for a behind-the-scenes look at sheep milking & artisan cheese making in the stunning Tuki Tuki Valley.
- Scenic drive Tuki Tuki Valley
- Farm drive + Sheep meet and greet
- Sheep milking shed Tour & Demonstration
- Homestead visit
- Wine & Cheese Pairing with Kate & James
Wine Tours:
- The Urban Wine Tour -
The Urban Wine Tour offers a fresh twist on traditional wine tasting, taking you beyond the vines and into the heart of the city. This special experience introduces you to boutique, city-based cellar doors where creativity, craft and bold winemaking come to life in unexpected places.
- Hawke's Bay Historic Wineries -
Step back in time. Learn the rich history and explore the historical buildings of some of the oldest wineries in NZ, gaining insight into the pioneering spirit that helped shape Hawke's Bay's wine legacy.
- The Craggy Range Deluxe -
The Craggy Range Deluxe is a celebration of Hawke's Bay's most iconic landscapes and wine experiences. Featuring a wine tasting at the award-winning Craggy Range. Scenic drive to the summit of Te Mata Peak and Tuki Tuki Valley before finishing the day along the coast with a final tasting pairing world-class wine with fresh sea air and unforgettable scenery.
- Visit 2-3 Wineries
- Winetasting with a knowledgeable guide
- Meet winemakers and learn what makes Hawke's Bay wine unique.
- Tour iconic cellars and vineyards
- Taste award-winning wine
- Stunning scenic drive between wineries
- Duration approx 5,5 hours
