Enjoyed our time here. I had poached eggs on sourdough with a hash brown and bacon. My friend selected salmon with mushrooms. Topped off with a hot choc and chai latte. The garden is lovely and you can pop into the authentic sweetie shop if you wish.

Wow what a beautiful setting and the personal service as we got met by owner and escorted down to the dining area. The food was beyond expectations. The setting lovely on a winters day. Thk you we will be back with our ladies.

Beautiful place to be on a hot summer afternoon to enjoy a real fruit ice cream, not to mention popping into the lolly shop. While you are here, you could also enjoy afternoon tea at the cafe and a stroll around the grounds and enjoy the gallery.Staff are very pleasant and obliging. Would strongly recommend a visit.😊😊

. Birdwoods has something to offer everyone. There is a gallery, café ☕🍰 a beautiful sculpture garden, and an old school sweet shop 🍭🍬 The Gallery features New Zealand and African art and crafts including textiles, collectables, furniture, jewellery, basketry and ceramics 📿 The food looked and smelled amazing. They also offered caninet food like delicious cakes, scones, with tea and espresso coffee ☕🍰 Bookings are essential. Unfortunately I was turned away, or had a very long wait because I didn't book ☎️ The Sculpture Garden is quite expansive and displays works by acclaimed stone sculptors, as well as artists using recycled material 🌍 The Sweet Shop allows you to take a step back in time, selling hundreds ofold fashioned sweets from my childhood 🍭🍬

Loved visiting Birdswoods. We had a delicious cake and perculated coffee that we enjoyed. Their barista was away because of covid. I loved the gallery, my husband bought himself a hat. The walk around the garden isn't to be missed as plenty of interesting sculptures to see. I recommend a visit here.

We recently held a baby shower using the garden room. While the birdwoods is a wonderful place to visit on any occasion, the service and presentation for this event blew me away. The staff were fantastic, the food glorious, the setting stunning. I would 100% do it all again.

A big must here. Fantastic food service and atmosphere, surroundings. The Cafe through the gift shop which is crazy with keepsakes dishes and alsorts. The shop has a lot of imported goods from south Africa which are just purely beautiful. The money you spend , some is gifted back to the communities in which they are made. The Cafe which haz a lovely menu and cabinet food , is situated out the back. There are rooms to choose a table from outside in the sunroof or in the sun or shade under big trees. Or inside upstairs with a view over the property which is beautifully littered with sculptures. The pond is worth a walk to where the moscovy ducks hide in the shrubbery and pop out to greet you. There is a big rhino head sitting in the water looking realistic. I can highly recommend the carrot cake and a glass of local rose to complement it. The service is friendly and very accommodating. Don't forget the sweet shop also with its many jars where you can pick a mix of your choice. The ice cream shop was closed . The children have a place to play and there's plenty of parking.

Beautiful place with lovely sculptures in the gardens, a colorful candy store and great food. Very friendly staff and owner!

Such a lovely place to visit while in Hawks Bay. Comfy vibe inside out. Foods are all delicious. Can spend quite a lot of time scrolling around the sculpture garden.

Hubby had Slow Braised Beef Cheek burger n chips 4/5. I had Winter Wild Rice with Chicken 3/5. V lil pumpkin& chicken and while nice, was light on the dressing (lil taste) Fab Customer service Coffee ok Great we could book and seating was lovely Have to admit the selection of food items here is very good Lolly shop worth a look, tho pricey Loved ALL the Sculptures outside and shop has some lovely items Definitely worth a visit

I enjoyed my morning tea outing with a friend. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful presentation of the decadent lemon tart and chocolate-expresso cake! They were both delicious! I would recommend this chocolate cake- cake of the day- to all chocolate/expresso lovers out there 😉 Well done!!

Absolutely stunning High Tea. We highly enjoyed the high quality food, bottle of bubbles, range of teas and delicious coffee. The staff were absolutely fantastic and very accommodating. Well done and see you again soon.

This is such a chilled place to visit, with excellent food. Walk around the garden and duck pond, say hello to the ostriches and checkout the fantastic African garden statues and stoneware - all for sale. They also have an amazing gift shop and olde worlde sweet shop. Absolutely love this place, I've been several times and intend to go back a lot more.

Everything is perfect! The view, the food, the staff. We had an amazing family lunch there. Definitely recommend!

Birdwoods is in a stunning location, we sat outside for lunch, it was a little breezy the day we went but the outdoor space is great. Its reasonably sheltered, heaps of room for kids to play on the lawn and the sculpture garden itself is also worth a wander. There were ostriches next to the parking lot which was cool. There are heaps of shade trees and beautiful smelling flowers. The sweet store has loads of delightful things and there is the ice cream cart for the warmer days. Its was pretty busy the day we went so the service was a little slow but the staff were all quite attentive. My grandmother had the salmon quiche which she enjoyed immensely, I had poached eggs on toast which was nicely cooked but the vegetarian options are a little plain. Highly rate the iced coffee I had, that was amazing. The entrance to the cafe can be a little confusing as the path is a little narrow and tucked away so I recommend parking in the overflow car park to walk directly into the garden.

Perfect cafe sculpture garden setting. Can’t decide which part is best; the shop, sculpture garden, lolly shop, real fruit ice cream or ostriches! Recommend this place for a relaxed afternoon lunch or tea

Beautiful place to visit, lovely garden and games for the kids. The only let down was your male server, who took their time coming to take our order and then when he did take our order he didn’t listen because he got the sweet scone wrong, and left off a drink and my childs meal. So the adults meals arrived but nothing for the young one - in service the kids meal should always come out before or at the same time. If i hadn’t have checked, nothing would have come. I have time to write this review as I’m sitting here waiting for the meal to come. Better service required to make it a super enjoyable experience. However, a stunning place with tasty good value food.

Had the set menu with my partner here on Friday 8pm, approx 5 servings throughout, which I accompanied with the matching wines. 10-10 dining experience, delicious flavours, and an all round knock out experience. Probably the best dining I’ve been to in a while, the entire staff were amazing too. (P.S I never tip as I find it a little American, but I actually did tonight because everything was so good it deserved it). Awesome stuff team, will come back again.

We were lucky enough to be able to snag a wine tasting experience without a booking, but book ahead to make sure you don't miss out. The staff were lovely and our wine connoisseur told us about each of the wines we were tasting, the regions and soil profile for each of the wines and how their wines might differ from others from the same region. The wine tasting came in two different classes, with the base 'family' wines costing $35pp, and the prestige tasting $65pp. The prestige tasting includes more wines and also includes side by side tasting of different wines of the same variety or vintage - a real treat for anyone who enjoys wine. Whilst it was a little steep price wise to what we are used to, the whole tasting experience was unique and ultimately we were very happy to pay what we did. The wines themselves were delicious and are to be enjoyed for what they are - don't compare them to what you might be used to from Australia/Europe etc. The Chardonnay was a treat and a real eye opener having never had a drinkable, let alone enjoyable, Chardonnay back home. The Sophia blend was also a real stand out. Food platters were available and ours was delicious, showcasing beautiful local and seasonal produce. The caramelised walnuts were a hit. The grounds and views from the cellar door were also amazing. This winery is a must visit if you are in the Napier/Hawkes Bay region of NZ. Book ahead of time, and allow a good 2 hours at least to make the most of the whole experience if going for the premium tastings.

We had the most amazing lunch at Craggy Range Winery. From the second we turned the corner into the driveway we were blown away beyond belief. The setting is absolutely stunning, service was impeccable and the food was delicious. A one of a kind venue in every way possible.

Excellent service, from the moment we stepped foot inside. Food was absolutely delicious, very flavourful. I would recommend to share a dessert, your eyes will be bigger than your tummy by the end! Drinks were a good choice too, from the cocktail and wine menu! The atmosphere was great. Definitely a winery to visit in Hawkes Bay. Wine and cheese outside as the sun sets, perfect!

Came for dinner here with my parents. We had the set menu with wine match. Was just beautiful. Very very tasty food with plenty of it, friendly helpful knowledgeable staff beautiful local produce. The views are beautiful up to Te Mata peak. I loved it will certainly visit again.

We went to Craggy Range winery, which was another amazing experience. First note: Bookings are Essential! Booking in hand, we arrived at this premier destination in Hawkes Bay. It is a family owned boutique winery with a restaurant, accommodations and well crafted, elegant wines. Based on the reviews, dinner would have been amazing; but, this wine experience was well worth every penny, creating memories that I am packing back to the States. The hostess, Lauren, was friendly and welcoming. We appreciated her beyond words and felt immediately at home. Once seated at an outdoor table, we basked in the fantastic scenery that is Te Mata Peak; and then our wine guru and educator, Michael, joined us at the table and the experience of being in the premier wine country of New Zealand came to life. Michael was wonderful. I asked him to speak slower, as I am not Kiwi-lingual; we laughed and he shared his amazing knowledge, from the story of the winery to his love and passion for each of the five wines I enjoyed. He knew his grapes and, as I asked a ton of questions, he jovially explained and shared his passion with me. It was awesome and a highlight of my trip.

Went in for a simple wine-tasting. The host offered us a private booth for the tasting and joined us as he poured each wine to explain in-depth the history, grape and body of each pour. Had his iPad on his hand to show us the sites of the vineyards. We’ve been to many tastings but this was certainly a notch-above our previous experiences.

We had a wonderful experience at the cellar door, trying over 9 wines from their family and prestige ranges, paired with a fantastic meat and cheese board, particularly want to thank you for Kevin’s help, he gave us a wonderful time for this tasting session, lots of details of wines and story! Their cellar door is in a spectacularly beautiful building with views of Te Mata peak across the street. We also took dinner here and food was excellent, couldnt be better! Must visit!!

Craggy range was an amazing experience. The wine tasting was exceptional, Maddi the staff member who served my friend and I and took us through our wine tasting was amazing and grew our love for wine. Definitely will be going back and will recommend.

Almost a 5 star but dropped the ball at the end of our chefs menu lunch with matched wines. Absolutely stunning property, menu was great and food delicious, however attention to detail got left behind at the last course. While other guests were being offered seats outside to enjoy deserts and drinks, we got asked if we wanted our taxi ordered. When advised no we would like to stay and enjoy a wander around the property we were left waiting almost 20 minutes for our bill. At first we didn't think much of it, then it dragged on and on to the point our waitress had moved on to serving others. Shame that the experience finished the way it did.

We visited the cellar door for a wine tasting and had a lovely time! The views are picturesque, and we enjoyed chatting with Gabriel (our guide for the tasting). The wines were delicious, I'd recommend stopping here if you're looking for an upscale stop on your Hawke's Bay wine tour.

We stayed at the Rose cottage over the Easter weekend and had a top notch experience. From checking in on day one to checking out on the last day everything was spot on. The staff were so attentive, responsive, friendly and very professional. Nothing was overlooked. We had slight issue with the toaster in the cottage which was replaced in an instant. The complimentary breakfasts and bottle of wine were a very nice touch. If I was forced too, the only tiny suggestion would be for one/two other spreads to be available. We also were booked for dinner in the restaurant and theres noit much to say about that as its got to one of the best in the country..... again the staff are well trained, professional and friendly with nothing left to chance. Will be back for sure....

My wife and I visited this place on our 20th anniversary day last month. We chose Craggy range shared menu for lunch and surprised because of the service and quality. When we asked about the single menu to staff, he explained well about it and was very nice. We didn't think we could have this kind of well coordinated course menu. All ingredients of cuisines were very harmonious and very natural. We enjoyed the meal and were very happy all day thanks to satisfaction for the meal. After lunch, we moved to winery to have wine tasting. Frankly, we didn't know much about wine. But staff was very kind and he explained us about wines. It was great time as well. Specially thanks to Jack H at restaurant and Oscar at winery who served us with kind and smile. The staffs and Craggy range gave us unforgettable day.

Had a beautiful meal at the winery restaurant. Exquisite presentation and very tasty! Service was also excellent. The setting Is also quite beautiful, especially when you go out to the terrace for dessert. Highly recommended!

The accommodation at Craggy Range is an incredible experience. From the moment we arrived, we were taken care of and felt very relaxed. The facilities are top notch. The room was spacious and well appointed, bed was very comfortable and the living space was outstanding. The breakfast in the mini bar ready for the next day is a fantastic inclusion.

The experience and facilities absolutely matches the fine wine. We had an amazing experience taken through the different regions where the wines are made by one of the winery connoisseurs. She was so knowledgeable and super friendly. We will absolutely recommend to visit if you’re looking a unique experience when at Hawkes Bay

We had an exceptional dinner at the Craggy Range restaurant last night. My partner and I had the tasting menu and from the moment we walked in we felt very special and looked after. Our glasses never ran out and the food came out frequently. We cannot emphasise enough how good the food is! Interesting and delicious combinations and plenty of it. Sitting at the chefs table, we loved interacting with the kitchen and extra items that weren’t even on the menu came out as a special treat - including one of our favourites the paua, which was a great surprise. We paired with the premium wine tasting and for only an extra $20 would highly recommend. The first was Tattinger which in itself probably paid for the extra price tag. Our waiter looked after us excellently, with great knowledge of the wines that he was serving and a warm and charismatic touch. Nothing was ever too much - eg sensing we were full after the dessert he offered if we would like to share a dessert and they’ll make us some truffles to take away - absolutely just what we felt like. We will definitely be back next time we are in the Hawkes Bay.

We stopped here for lunch during a wine touring event. The wind are (of course) excellent and this rating is for the whole experience, not just the wine. The food itself was well worth the stop. Five stars for the food quality. It had a dazzling array of flavors, tastes, colors and presentations. Certainly Michelin quality. No complaints about the food. I will say it’s odd (to me) but that they offer a la cart, 3 course, and 5 course meal options—- but the whole table has to pick the same option. For our group of five the only choice we could all agree on was a la cart. Maybe there was a staffing issue, but the wait times were surprisingly long. This was a Tuesday 1p lunch. There were 4 tables of 4-6 people elsewhere in the restaurant. The kitchen is open viewing and there were 5 chefs working along with a wait staff of 3. No joke, the wait time between courses wa 30-40 min. Our meal took 2h for an entree and a main course. No apps or dessert. I don’t know if that’s what they’re going for, but on a day where we were touring wineries we had to cancel one stop because the f the delay. Also, again oddly to me, our server disappeared for 20+min and another waiter had to take over our table. Again maybe something was going on… not sure. I don’t think we’ll be back. Food was good tho.

Cannot fault this place, service was excellent and the food was to die for. We all had something different for lunch, and each dish was divine. Beautiful setting, and the staff made us welcome and not rushed. Thanks to the crew at Craggy Range, you made our day one to remember

We enjoyed an awesome afternoon dining in the Resturant a Craggy Range. Service from waiting and front of house staff was 6 star, friendly but not overbearing. Food was phenomenal, we had eight courses and they were all excellent. We sat at the kitchen window bar to eat and were able to watch the kitchen staff go about their work; a well oiled machine and plenty of respect shown to all by all. The restrooms were modern and very clean.

Amazing winery! Our server Laura was incredible. She had extensive knowledge about every wine, and paired vintages of the same style in different years so that we could taste the differences. She answered all our questions and taught us so much. Highly recommend the tasting and the cheese board. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience, Laura and Peter!

Exceptional service - very attentive yet with a nice dash of laidback Kiwi casualness. The food was incredible as were the wines. Cannot beat the location! Loved wandering through the vines to see the impressive kitchen garden afterwards.

We specifically booked this experience for the tasting menu. It’s a lovely five course experience. We’d had a tasting menu elsewhere the day before where each item was individually plated, and I think that spoiled us a little. We do like the performance and art of individual plating, but the presentation and food were both still beautiful at Craggy Range (some of the courses are all served on one plate and each person takes their portion). Dietary needs were accommodated and the wine pairings were thoughtfully explained. We had a table by a window and enjoyed the sweeping views. For a splash out of an evening–this is a lovely spot.

Beautiful location, awesome service, amazing food. We ate at the craggy range restaurant for our 1st wedding anniversary and the staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. The glass of bubbles before our meal and small gift at the end were a lovely touch to an already 5 star experience. Thanks team 🩷

We enjoyed a tasting on the patio followed by the eight-course tasting menu dinner seated at the chef's table overlooking the kitchen. Service was excellent, food was delicious, wines were well paired, and watching the intricate dance that is meal-preparation in a fine-dining restaurant is immensely entertaining. One of our favorite courses was the bread served with Camembert butter with honey and salt. By the time the dessert arrived, we thought we would not be able to eat another bite, but we finished the beautiful soft meringue with rhubarb to the very bottom of the dish. A most enjoyable experience of food and wine.

Heard this place was one Of the best spots in NZ and it truly delivered. We did the set menu, and given I’m dairy free set menus are a pain. Not here, they made each dish as special as the others with a DF twist - service was awesome - I can’t see why many people call this the best restaurant in NZ. Worth every penny.

Cute cozy place to enjoy a glass of premium wine with a superb service. Make sure to ask their sommelier about the story of their CRU collection. 5*

We had a great experience here very professional and attentive service, tasty food and the wine was amazing! Will definitely be back ! Thank you so much

Thank you to Sarah for her wonderful service. Lovely wine, and beautiful location.

As an ex Havelock boy this is a refreshing change.. great staff and good wines.. I like the half glass option and leave it to the wine steward ( sommelier) tasting option. Good place to drop in if you like a good variety of decent wines.

An elegant space to take a wine journey around the best wines NZ. The knowledge and skill of the team is the best in the business.

Fabulous venue for a cellar door/wine lounge; very comfortable with inside, outside and undercover seating areas in the courtyard of Porter’s Hotel. A wine tasting with sommelier Damian guiding us through a comprehensive, excellent quality, wine list was an absolute joy. Damian’s expert knowledge and lovely manner was both educational and entertaining. Highly recommend.

Absolutely delightful recommendation from our air bnb hosts. Would highly recommend a tasting and the fromage platter. We had a beautiful afternoon tasting some of the regions best

Awesome experience. Got the luck to have the wine tasting guided by Mike. Highly recommended.

We came here for a quick drink before dinner and I was really impressed by the service, drinks selection, and ambiance! The staff were quite busy but still very helpful and attentive. We’ll have to come back for a longer tasting.

*** UPDATED *** can't do 6 stars *** Now the tour of the lower and central North Island (Te Ika a Maui), is coming to a close in the Hawkes Bay area, I couldn't pass up a wine and dine session at Smith & Sheth. Now the cellar room has different hours to the wine room... dont let this get in the way of a good time tasting and drinking the region's finest. Plus the meals are great, hence the picture of platter empty.... anyway great staff that know the history of the wines.. with great sense of humour. Holy heck now for an update book yourselves in for the experience that will blow your minds, go for the Heretaunga wine tasting! We did and we got Mike as a wine tasting guru it was very educational, tasty, and most of all fun experience. The best experience in wine tasting.

My partner and I had an amazing wine tasting/oyster session this afternoon in the sun. Our extremely knowledgeable waitress was amazing. Menu looked great. Will definitely return. Highly recommend.

We were told this was going to be a great experience and for some of it, it was. Beautiful sashimi and pork skewers. However our deep fried food was burnt and tasted it. The katsu was dried and hard and fish balls were dry. We advised the staff and it was taken away but not replaced and was still charged. A bit of a bummer to be honest. See for yourself.

Amazing! We went here last night for my birthday and it was everything I'd expected and more, the food was exquisite especially the garlic streak starter and the service was excellent. Anyone who's looking for a great new restaurant should give piku a try.

The food tasted good but was disappointed with the size of the meal, still hungry afterwards. Paid over $30 for one meal so was not impressed. Drinks menu is a bit over the top. Like 5 pages or so. Otherwise, great service. Friendly atmosphere. W9uld recommend if you have lots of money to waste on food.

Excellent service and the right amount of checking all was well. Food serving was beautifully presented and I wasn't made to feel inadequate when I requested a fork as my chopsticks managing years are gone. Lovely flavors and enough to share with my lunch companion. Not noisy and we weren't rushed out even though we were there after they closed. Well done and thank you.

Great experience of fine dining japanese styles. The sushi is expensive but outstanding. Fried rice was average for me and the pork belly was quite fatty. Took the kids and they ate what we ate but kids menu is available.

Food was great, but the tepanyaki beef was a bit chewy. The atmosphere is usually great, but no fault of the owner, we had one lady sitting behind us who was constantly yabbering all night. Couldn't wait to get out of there.

Had a great night. My daughter offered to organise for me a 21st for her little sister. We had a party of 20+ people to cater for. Management and staff did a fantastic job. All courses came out hot, with each course coming to the tables in good time. Prices for this magical food was very respectable, I recommend everyone to take the time to experience this great local restaurant.

Lovely food. Fast service. Tables were too small for sharing plates. 4 people with drinks on a table doesn't work. Good food and very attentive staff.

A very worthwhile eatery. Had the whole place to ourselves for half our sitting. We were late getting in, due to traveling from 2 different cities. Had to be out before the next booking. But we were not pushed to eat faster, just manager came over at the end to remind us. A close second to Masu in Auckland.

Excellent food, one of the best I've been to in New Zealand. The lamb was perfect, along with my salmon sushi. This is a "must go to" if you are in Havelock North.

Great place to visit! You can see bee, beehive and many more. Can get honey ice cream and honey candy, they are yummy. Love the honey there , bought some as souvenir for friends and family :)

I really loved this place. The staff was extremely amazing. The place shows the entire process of how honey is made. Great learning experience for kids. Plenty of marking available at this place. The best park is you can look at the bees hatching. Information videos are played throughout. Bit of history to this place too which is quite great. Honey tasting is free which is a best part. Plenty of options to purchase honey or other items. The prices of honey are quite reasonable too. Will definitely return back.

Enjoyed our visit to this honey farm, lots of hands on displays. If you have children it's a great place to go would be good for a school visit or ece group, they have toilets too. Also honey tasting and a good source of gifts to take home. Staff were very friendly and helpful and best of all it wasn't too busy, plenty of room to social distance.

We loved Arataki Honey! They have about 10 different honeys to try, LOTS of wonderful New Zealand products, and a kids play area. I wish I’d bought more because we are loving everything we bought here!

Visited with my husband's family on our year end vacation and had a blast! I learned so much about responsible and sustainable honey farming, as well as how to help preserve bees' habitats and colony health. Very educational, especially for kids!

What a great place to learn about bees and honey. We stopped here as part of our organised tour with our cruise. We enjoyed tasting the different varieties of honey. Disappointed though we were not able to take honey home to Perth, but totally understand the reason.

Great spot to learn from bees and beekeeping. We really enjoyed the honey tasting, it was great to discover the taste difference between so many honey types! Good spot for families with kids too!

Well worth a visit. Videos on honey production etc except on our visit there was no audio which really devalued the visuals. Small gift shop with some innovative honey related items.

Visitor Centre Havelock North. Discover all about honey and meet the bees that make it a fun and informative way. Visitors learn about the world of the honeybee, how they live. Must visit when you travel to Hawke's Bay Region.

Brilliant place, amazing staff you are all so helpful and took time to chat to me, very informative, free honey tastings and entire experience is free! Super cheap honey as well. Thank you to the lovely ladies who spoke to me, yous are awesome ☺️

Fun experience to learn about different types of honey, the history of Arataki Honey, and to learn about bee life cycles. Great store inside as well with friendly and welcoming staff.

Kids loved it. Was quite busy and hard to see some parts of it so as kids don't wait well, we missed a couple parts, but apart from that, highly recommend!! Wee kids play area great for the younger ones and the handouts /material was fab.

My first visit to a honey outlet was eye-opening! I tasted so many varieties - tawari, pohutukawa, blue borage, rewarewa, you name it. I never knew honey flavours came from the plants bees visit. I loved tawari, blue borage, and rewarewa so much, I bought a bottle of each. Learning about honey at Arataki was such a cool experience.

Great places to spend with friends and family💕💕 there are few different type of honey u can try. Personally, manuka honey is the best for me.

Interesting place to stop off and learn about all things honey and bees from the largest producer in NZ Big gift shop with loads of choice.

Honey Honey and Honey 🍯 😁 so many flavours of honey to taste and liked finding bee queen in thousands of bees 🐝 😍✨

The best place to buy honey in New Zealand! The shop is filled with informative description on the local honey scene. There is two booths for honey tasting available. I personally loved the Clover honey-type. Heaps of merchandise available for sale too. Definitely worth a visit if you are nearby.

Enjoyed our time here. I had poached eggs on sourdough with a hash brown and bacon. My friend selected salmon with mushrooms. Topped off with a hot choc and chai latte. The garden is lovely and you can pop into the authentic sweetie shop if you wish.

Wow what a beautiful setting and the personal service as we got met by owner and escorted down to the dining area. The food was beyond expectations. The setting lovely on a winters day. Thk you we will be back with our ladies.

Beautiful place to be on a hot summer afternoon to enjoy a real fruit ice cream, not to mention popping into the lolly shop. While you are here, you could also enjoy afternoon tea at the cafe and a stroll around the grounds and enjoy the gallery.Staff are very pleasant and obliging. Would strongly recommend a visit.😊😊

. Birdwoods has something to offer everyone. There is a gallery, café ☕🍰 a beautiful sculpture garden, and an old school sweet shop 🍭🍬 The Gallery features New Zealand and African art and crafts including textiles, collectables, furniture, jewellery, basketry and ceramics 📿 The food looked and smelled amazing. They also offered caninet food like delicious cakes, scones, with tea and espresso coffee ☕🍰 Bookings are essential. Unfortunately I was turned away, or had a very long wait because I didn't book ☎️ The Sculpture Garden is quite expansive and displays works by acclaimed stone sculptors, as well as artists using recycled material 🌍 The Sweet Shop allows you to take a step back in time, selling hundreds ofold fashioned sweets from my childhood 🍭🍬

Loved visiting Birdswoods. We had a delicious cake and perculated coffee that we enjoyed. Their barista was away because of covid. I loved the gallery, my husband bought himself a hat. The walk around the garden isn't to be missed as plenty of interesting sculptures to see. I recommend a visit here.

We recently held a baby shower using the garden room. While the birdwoods is a wonderful place to visit on any occasion, the service and presentation for this event blew me away. The staff were fantastic, the food glorious, the setting stunning. I would 100% do it all again.

A big must here. Fantastic food service and atmosphere, surroundings. The Cafe through the gift shop which is crazy with keepsakes dishes and alsorts. The shop has a lot of imported goods from south Africa which are just purely beautiful. The money you spend , some is gifted back to the communities in which they are made. The Cafe which haz a lovely menu and cabinet food , is situated out the back. There are rooms to choose a table from outside in the sunroof or in the sun or shade under big trees. Or inside upstairs with a view over the property which is beautifully littered with sculptures. The pond is worth a walk to where the moscovy ducks hide in the shrubbery and pop out to greet you. There is a big rhino head sitting in the water looking realistic. I can highly recommend the carrot cake and a glass of local rose to complement it. The service is friendly and very accommodating. Don't forget the sweet shop also with its many jars where you can pick a mix of your choice. The ice cream shop was closed . The children have a place to play and there's plenty of parking.

Beautiful place with lovely sculptures in the gardens, a colorful candy store and great food. Very friendly staff and owner!

Such a lovely place to visit while in Hawks Bay. Comfy vibe inside out. Foods are all delicious. Can spend quite a lot of time scrolling around the sculpture garden.

Hubby had Slow Braised Beef Cheek burger n chips 4/5. I had Winter Wild Rice with Chicken 3/5. V lil pumpkin& chicken and while nice, was light on the dressing (lil taste) Fab Customer service Coffee ok Great we could book and seating was lovely Have to admit the selection of food items here is very good Lolly shop worth a look, tho pricey Loved ALL the Sculptures outside and shop has some lovely items Definitely worth a visit

I enjoyed my morning tea outing with a friend. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful presentation of the decadent lemon tart and chocolate-expresso cake! They were both delicious! I would recommend this chocolate cake- cake of the day- to all chocolate/expresso lovers out there 😉 Well done!!

Absolutely stunning High Tea. We highly enjoyed the high quality food, bottle of bubbles, range of teas and delicious coffee. The staff were absolutely fantastic and very accommodating. Well done and see you again soon.

This is such a chilled place to visit, with excellent food. Walk around the garden and duck pond, say hello to the ostriches and checkout the fantastic African garden statues and stoneware - all for sale. They also have an amazing gift shop and olde worlde sweet shop. Absolutely love this place, I've been several times and intend to go back a lot more.

Everything is perfect! The view, the food, the staff. We had an amazing family lunch there. Definitely recommend!

Birdwoods is in a stunning location, we sat outside for lunch, it was a little breezy the day we went but the outdoor space is great. Its reasonably sheltered, heaps of room for kids to play on the lawn and the sculpture garden itself is also worth a wander. There were ostriches next to the parking lot which was cool. There are heaps of shade trees and beautiful smelling flowers. The sweet store has loads of delightful things and there is the ice cream cart for the warmer days. Its was pretty busy the day we went so the service was a little slow but the staff were all quite attentive. My grandmother had the salmon quiche which she enjoyed immensely, I had poached eggs on toast which was nicely cooked but the vegetarian options are a little plain. Highly rate the iced coffee I had, that was amazing. The entrance to the cafe can be a little confusing as the path is a little narrow and tucked away so I recommend parking in the overflow car park to walk directly into the garden.

Perfect cafe sculpture garden setting. Can’t decide which part is best; the shop, sculpture garden, lolly shop, real fruit ice cream or ostriches! Recommend this place for a relaxed afternoon lunch or tea

Beautiful place to visit, lovely garden and games for the kids. The only let down was your male server, who took their time coming to take our order and then when he did take our order he didn’t listen because he got the sweet scone wrong, and left off a drink and my childs meal. So the adults meals arrived but nothing for the young one - in service the kids meal should always come out before or at the same time. If i hadn’t have checked, nothing would have come. I have time to write this review as I’m sitting here waiting for the meal to come. Better service required to make it a super enjoyable experience. However, a stunning place with tasty good value food.

Had the set menu with my partner here on Friday 8pm, approx 5 servings throughout, which I accompanied with the matching wines. 10-10 dining experience, delicious flavours, and an all round knock out experience. Probably the best dining I’ve been to in a while, the entire staff were amazing too. (P.S I never tip as I find it a little American, but I actually did tonight because everything was so good it deserved it). Awesome stuff team, will come back again.

We were lucky enough to be able to snag a wine tasting experience without a booking, but book ahead to make sure you don't miss out. The staff were lovely and our wine connoisseur told us about each of the wines we were tasting, the regions and soil profile for each of the wines and how their wines might differ from others from the same region. The wine tasting came in two different classes, with the base 'family' wines costing $35pp, and the prestige tasting $65pp. The prestige tasting includes more wines and also includes side by side tasting of different wines of the same variety or vintage - a real treat for anyone who enjoys wine. Whilst it was a little steep price wise to what we are used to, the whole tasting experience was unique and ultimately we were very happy to pay what we did. The wines themselves were delicious and are to be enjoyed for what they are - don't compare them to what you might be used to from Australia/Europe etc. The Chardonnay was a treat and a real eye opener having never had a drinkable, let alone enjoyable, Chardonnay back home. The Sophia blend was also a real stand out. Food platters were available and ours was delicious, showcasing beautiful local and seasonal produce. The caramelised walnuts were a hit. The grounds and views from the cellar door were also amazing. This winery is a must visit if you are in the Napier/Hawkes Bay region of NZ. Book ahead of time, and allow a good 2 hours at least to make the most of the whole experience if going for the premium tastings.

We had the most amazing lunch at Craggy Range Winery. From the second we turned the corner into the driveway we were blown away beyond belief. The setting is absolutely stunning, service was impeccable and the food was delicious. A one of a kind venue in every way possible.

Excellent service, from the moment we stepped foot inside. Food was absolutely delicious, very flavourful. I would recommend to share a dessert, your eyes will be bigger than your tummy by the end! Drinks were a good choice too, from the cocktail and wine menu! The atmosphere was great. Definitely a winery to visit in Hawkes Bay. Wine and cheese outside as the sun sets, perfect!

Came for dinner here with my parents. We had the set menu with wine match. Was just beautiful. Very very tasty food with plenty of it, friendly helpful knowledgeable staff beautiful local produce. The views are beautiful up to Te Mata peak. I loved it will certainly visit again.

We went to Craggy Range winery, which was another amazing experience. First note: Bookings are Essential! Booking in hand, we arrived at this premier destination in Hawkes Bay. It is a family owned boutique winery with a restaurant, accommodations and well crafted, elegant wines. Based on the reviews, dinner would have been amazing; but, this wine experience was well worth every penny, creating memories that I am packing back to the States. The hostess, Lauren, was friendly and welcoming. We appreciated her beyond words and felt immediately at home. Once seated at an outdoor table, we basked in the fantastic scenery that is Te Mata Peak; and then our wine guru and educator, Michael, joined us at the table and the experience of being in the premier wine country of New Zealand came to life. Michael was wonderful. I asked him to speak slower, as I am not Kiwi-lingual; we laughed and he shared his amazing knowledge, from the story of the winery to his love and passion for each of the five wines I enjoyed. He knew his grapes and, as I asked a ton of questions, he jovially explained and shared his passion with me. It was awesome and a highlight of my trip.

Went in for a simple wine-tasting. The host offered us a private booth for the tasting and joined us as he poured each wine to explain in-depth the history, grape and body of each pour. Had his iPad on his hand to show us the sites of the vineyards. We’ve been to many tastings but this was certainly a notch-above our previous experiences.

We had a wonderful experience at the cellar door, trying over 9 wines from their family and prestige ranges, paired with a fantastic meat and cheese board, particularly want to thank you for Kevin’s help, he gave us a wonderful time for this tasting session, lots of details of wines and story! Their cellar door is in a spectacularly beautiful building with views of Te Mata peak across the street. We also took dinner here and food was excellent, couldnt be better! Must visit!!

Craggy range was an amazing experience. The wine tasting was exceptional, Maddi the staff member who served my friend and I and took us through our wine tasting was amazing and grew our love for wine. Definitely will be going back and will recommend.

Almost a 5 star but dropped the ball at the end of our chefs menu lunch with matched wines. Absolutely stunning property, menu was great and food delicious, however attention to detail got left behind at the last course. While other guests were being offered seats outside to enjoy deserts and drinks, we got asked if we wanted our taxi ordered. When advised no we would like to stay and enjoy a wander around the property we were left waiting almost 20 minutes for our bill. At first we didn't think much of it, then it dragged on and on to the point our waitress had moved on to serving others. Shame that the experience finished the way it did.

We visited the cellar door for a wine tasting and had a lovely time! The views are picturesque, and we enjoyed chatting with Gabriel (our guide for the tasting). The wines were delicious, I'd recommend stopping here if you're looking for an upscale stop on your Hawke's Bay wine tour.

We stayed at the Rose cottage over the Easter weekend and had a top notch experience. From checking in on day one to checking out on the last day everything was spot on. The staff were so attentive, responsive, friendly and very professional. Nothing was overlooked. We had slight issue with the toaster in the cottage which was replaced in an instant. The complimentary breakfasts and bottle of wine were a very nice touch. If I was forced too, the only tiny suggestion would be for one/two other spreads to be available. We also were booked for dinner in the restaurant and theres noit much to say about that as its got to one of the best in the country..... again the staff are well trained, professional and friendly with nothing left to chance. Will be back for sure....

My wife and I visited this place on our 20th anniversary day last month. We chose Craggy range shared menu for lunch and surprised because of the service and quality. When we asked about the single menu to staff, he explained well about it and was very nice. We didn't think we could have this kind of well coordinated course menu. All ingredients of cuisines were very harmonious and very natural. We enjoyed the meal and were very happy all day thanks to satisfaction for the meal. After lunch, we moved to winery to have wine tasting. Frankly, we didn't know much about wine. But staff was very kind and he explained us about wines. It was great time as well. Specially thanks to Jack H at restaurant and Oscar at winery who served us with kind and smile. The staffs and Craggy range gave us unforgettable day.

Had a beautiful meal at the winery restaurant. Exquisite presentation and very tasty! Service was also excellent. The setting Is also quite beautiful, especially when you go out to the terrace for dessert. Highly recommended!

The accommodation at Craggy Range is an incredible experience. From the moment we arrived, we were taken care of and felt very relaxed. The facilities are top notch. The room was spacious and well appointed, bed was very comfortable and the living space was outstanding. The breakfast in the mini bar ready for the next day is a fantastic inclusion.

The experience and facilities absolutely matches the fine wine. We had an amazing experience taken through the different regions where the wines are made by one of the winery connoisseurs. She was so knowledgeable and super friendly. We will absolutely recommend to visit if you’re looking a unique experience when at Hawkes Bay

We had an exceptional dinner at the Craggy Range restaurant last night. My partner and I had the tasting menu and from the moment we walked in we felt very special and looked after. Our glasses never ran out and the food came out frequently. We cannot emphasise enough how good the food is! Interesting and delicious combinations and plenty of it. Sitting at the chefs table, we loved interacting with the kitchen and extra items that weren’t even on the menu came out as a special treat - including one of our favourites the paua, which was a great surprise. We paired with the premium wine tasting and for only an extra $20 would highly recommend. The first was Tattinger which in itself probably paid for the extra price tag. Our waiter looked after us excellently, with great knowledge of the wines that he was serving and a warm and charismatic touch. Nothing was ever too much - eg sensing we were full after the dessert he offered if we would like to share a dessert and they’ll make us some truffles to take away - absolutely just what we felt like. We will definitely be back next time we are in the Hawkes Bay.

We stopped here for lunch during a wine touring event. The wind are (of course) excellent and this rating is for the whole experience, not just the wine. The food itself was well worth the stop. Five stars for the food quality. It had a dazzling array of flavors, tastes, colors and presentations. Certainly Michelin quality. No complaints about the food. I will say it’s odd (to me) but that they offer a la cart, 3 course, and 5 course meal options—- but the whole table has to pick the same option. For our group of five the only choice we could all agree on was a la cart. Maybe there was a staffing issue, but the wait times were surprisingly long. This was a Tuesday 1p lunch. There were 4 tables of 4-6 people elsewhere in the restaurant. The kitchen is open viewing and there were 5 chefs working along with a wait staff of 3. No joke, the wait time between courses wa 30-40 min. Our meal took 2h for an entree and a main course. No apps or dessert. I don’t know if that’s what they’re going for, but on a day where we were touring wineries we had to cancel one stop because the f the delay. Also, again oddly to me, our server disappeared for 20+min and another waiter had to take over our table. Again maybe something was going on… not sure. I don’t think we’ll be back. Food was good tho.

Cannot fault this place, service was excellent and the food was to die for. We all had something different for lunch, and each dish was divine. Beautiful setting, and the staff made us welcome and not rushed. Thanks to the crew at Craggy Range, you made our day one to remember

We enjoyed an awesome afternoon dining in the Resturant a Craggy Range. Service from waiting and front of house staff was 6 star, friendly but not overbearing. Food was phenomenal, we had eight courses and they were all excellent. We sat at the kitchen window bar to eat and were able to watch the kitchen staff go about their work; a well oiled machine and plenty of respect shown to all by all. The restrooms were modern and very clean.

Amazing winery! Our server Laura was incredible. She had extensive knowledge about every wine, and paired vintages of the same style in different years so that we could taste the differences. She answered all our questions and taught us so much. Highly recommend the tasting and the cheese board. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience, Laura and Peter!

Exceptional service - very attentive yet with a nice dash of laidback Kiwi casualness. The food was incredible as were the wines. Cannot beat the location! Loved wandering through the vines to see the impressive kitchen garden afterwards.

We specifically booked this experience for the tasting menu. It’s a lovely five course experience. We’d had a tasting menu elsewhere the day before where each item was individually plated, and I think that spoiled us a little. We do like the performance and art of individual plating, but the presentation and food were both still beautiful at Craggy Range (some of the courses are all served on one plate and each person takes their portion). Dietary needs were accommodated and the wine pairings were thoughtfully explained. We had a table by a window and enjoyed the sweeping views. For a splash out of an evening–this is a lovely spot.

Beautiful location, awesome service, amazing food. We ate at the craggy range restaurant for our 1st wedding anniversary and the staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. The glass of bubbles before our meal and small gift at the end were a lovely touch to an already 5 star experience. Thanks team 🩷

We enjoyed a tasting on the patio followed by the eight-course tasting menu dinner seated at the chef's table overlooking the kitchen. Service was excellent, food was delicious, wines were well paired, and watching the intricate dance that is meal-preparation in a fine-dining restaurant is immensely entertaining. One of our favorite courses was the bread served with Camembert butter with honey and salt. By the time the dessert arrived, we thought we would not be able to eat another bite, but we finished the beautiful soft meringue with rhubarb to the very bottom of the dish. A most enjoyable experience of food and wine.

Heard this place was one Of the best spots in NZ and it truly delivered. We did the set menu, and given I’m dairy free set menus are a pain. Not here, they made each dish as special as the others with a DF twist - service was awesome - I can’t see why many people call this the best restaurant in NZ. Worth every penny.

Cute cozy place to enjoy a glass of premium wine with a superb service. Make sure to ask their sommelier about the story of their CRU collection. 5*

We had a great experience here very professional and attentive service, tasty food and the wine was amazing! Will definitely be back ! Thank you so much

Thank you to Sarah for her wonderful service. Lovely wine, and beautiful location.

As an ex Havelock boy this is a refreshing change.. great staff and good wines.. I like the half glass option and leave it to the wine steward ( sommelier) tasting option. Good place to drop in if you like a good variety of decent wines.

An elegant space to take a wine journey around the best wines NZ. The knowledge and skill of the team is the best in the business.

Fabulous venue for a cellar door/wine lounge; very comfortable with inside, outside and undercover seating areas in the courtyard of Porter’s Hotel. A wine tasting with sommelier Damian guiding us through a comprehensive, excellent quality, wine list was an absolute joy. Damian’s expert knowledge and lovely manner was both educational and entertaining. Highly recommend.

Absolutely delightful recommendation from our air bnb hosts. Would highly recommend a tasting and the fromage platter. We had a beautiful afternoon tasting some of the regions best

Awesome experience. Got the luck to have the wine tasting guided by Mike. Highly recommended.

We came here for a quick drink before dinner and I was really impressed by the service, drinks selection, and ambiance! The staff were quite busy but still very helpful and attentive. We’ll have to come back for a longer tasting.

*** UPDATED *** can't do 6 stars *** Now the tour of the lower and central North Island (Te Ika a Maui), is coming to a close in the Hawkes Bay area, I couldn't pass up a wine and dine session at Smith & Sheth. Now the cellar room has different hours to the wine room... dont let this get in the way of a good time tasting and drinking the region's finest. Plus the meals are great, hence the picture of platter empty.... anyway great staff that know the history of the wines.. with great sense of humour. Holy heck now for an update book yourselves in for the experience that will blow your minds, go for the Heretaunga wine tasting! We did and we got Mike as a wine tasting guru it was very educational, tasty, and most of all fun experience. The best experience in wine tasting.

My partner and I had an amazing wine tasting/oyster session this afternoon in the sun. Our extremely knowledgeable waitress was amazing. Menu looked great. Will definitely return. Highly recommend.

We were told this was going to be a great experience and for some of it, it was. Beautiful sashimi and pork skewers. However our deep fried food was burnt and tasted it. The katsu was dried and hard and fish balls were dry. We advised the staff and it was taken away but not replaced and was still charged. A bit of a bummer to be honest. See for yourself.

Amazing! We went here last night for my birthday and it was everything I'd expected and more, the food was exquisite especially the garlic streak starter and the service was excellent. Anyone who's looking for a great new restaurant should give piku a try.

The food tasted good but was disappointed with the size of the meal, still hungry afterwards. Paid over $30 for one meal so was not impressed. Drinks menu is a bit over the top. Like 5 pages or so. Otherwise, great service. Friendly atmosphere. W9uld recommend if you have lots of money to waste on food.

Excellent service and the right amount of checking all was well. Food serving was beautifully presented and I wasn't made to feel inadequate when I requested a fork as my chopsticks managing years are gone. Lovely flavors and enough to share with my lunch companion. Not noisy and we weren't rushed out even though we were there after they closed. Well done and thank you.

Great experience of fine dining japanese styles. The sushi is expensive but outstanding. Fried rice was average for me and the pork belly was quite fatty. Took the kids and they ate what we ate but kids menu is available.

Food was great, but the tepanyaki beef was a bit chewy. The atmosphere is usually great, but no fault of the owner, we had one lady sitting behind us who was constantly yabbering all night. Couldn't wait to get out of there.

Had a great night. My daughter offered to organise for me a 21st for her little sister. We had a party of 20+ people to cater for. Management and staff did a fantastic job. All courses came out hot, with each course coming to the tables in good time. Prices for this magical food was very respectable, I recommend everyone to take the time to experience this great local restaurant.

Lovely food. Fast service. Tables were too small for sharing plates. 4 people with drinks on a table doesn't work. Good food and very attentive staff.

A very worthwhile eatery. Had the whole place to ourselves for half our sitting. We were late getting in, due to traveling from 2 different cities. Had to be out before the next booking. But we were not pushed to eat faster, just manager came over at the end to remind us. A close second to Masu in Auckland.

Excellent food, one of the best I've been to in New Zealand. The lamb was perfect, along with my salmon sushi. This is a "must go to" if you are in Havelock North.

Relaxed but still refined experience. The food was really tasty the service was great! The arancini balls were my highlight dish of the evening, can't recommend enough!

I like the booking style so easy to use. The raw fish (in the balls) and oysters are fresh, beautiful flavours.

We were recommended by a lovely girl from Craggy Range. Tiramisu is so good here, vibe is also good.

First time at this restaurant on a night out with my wife for first time in awhile. Loved the food, service was excellent and atmosphere great. Can always tell a popular place with many customers in the place. Only point to note was we were seated near the slide door to outside and at times felt the cold on us. Also be prepared to pay a premium for the experience. Surprised me a little then on reflection happy to pay that price. Would recommend to all. Bon appetite.

Better late than never! We ate at Mary’s a month ago. Food, service and negronis were bomb! We really enjoyed the staff and special shout out to Kayla - absolute legend, those deserts were incredible. Mary’s reminded us that you can find good ones in the sea of colonial privilege. Chur.

5 stars! Mary's is great. Went with some friends for Friday night dinner. We greeted and seated immediately (with the reservation). The servers / hosting was very good. The vibe inside was nice - fun music and everyone was smiling. We ordered our food - sweet & Sour broccoli (incredible!), the chicken & pickles and the octopus for appetizers. For the main, we ordered the spicy lamb and the steak - DELICIOUS!! Definitely/ Highly recommend!!

Visited here tonight for our 11th wedding anniversary ❤️ My go to is always fried chicken or a burger 😅 This beauty had them both and they were the best I've ever eaten!! (Could add a little more to the non alcoholic drink menu tho.. our only option was juice.. maybe a kombucha would be nice) Thanks for the lovely food!

A very nice and fine dinning restaurant. One time visit though. Unfortunately it was busy on this particular Monday (school holidays maybe). But attentive servers. Unfortunately for a single person could not do their banquet which seemed nice. So had prawns as an entree and although just six but very tasty. (24$) highly recommended. For main had their beef fillet which was tasty but their charring had a Strong effect. Although I liked it but wouldn’t try it again. (44$) Also had rocket salad (9$). This was ok For dessert had apple crumble cheese cake with vanilla ice cream. Which was also nice (14$). And a flatty. Overall 96$ without any drinks. So certainly an expensive; one of thing or special occasions.

Mary's is a must if you are visiting the Hawkes Bay. We had a group of 10 and the kids menu kept the little ones happy. Nice wine list and generous sized entrees are more like small plates. The fried chicken was a winner and the lamb croquettes also delicious. My husband enjoyed the burger - it's a reasonably big meal. Would recommend booking as it's not a big place.

Bloody lovey food. The food scene in Hawkes bay is getting better and better. Mary’s is bangin’ great atmosphere, tasty wine and some great cocktails. The food is simple and executed perfectly. Got to be the best broccoli of your life when it’s better than the fried chicken.

I had dinner at Mary's last night for the first time ... and it won't be the last. The meal was amazing and so was the service. The quality: both flavours and presentation; of the food was second to none, and for the first time, in a long time, I did not have to send my 'blue' steak back. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience.