ShoreTrips says...

This is the ultimate experience for any wine aficionado!

Picture this...you're picked up at your hotel or cruise ship pier and transported to the heliport via vintage car. Your helicopter rises effortlessly and your are surrounded by gorgeous vistas in every direction. The temperate climate of this beautiful region is perfect for growing grapes and soon your pilot is gently landing at your first winery, either Clearview Estates or Elephant Hill Winery for a sampling of their expertly crafted wines.

Still savoring the first tasting, your "bird" takes off again, follows the coast and rises over Cape Kidnappers, home to a world-class golf course and one of the world's largest colonies of the Australasian gannet. As you turn inland, you'll marvel at Te Mata Peak, one of the most recognizable places in the Hawke's Bay area and an important symbol of both Maori and European history. Continuing over Havelock North and Hastings, vineyards and orchards reveal themselves, whetting your appetite for your second tasting at The Mission Vineyard. Founded by French missionaries in 1851, this oldest winery in New Zealand has a proud history and a superb product.

From here, we make our way to Crab Farm, a small boutique winery that was built on land that rose from the seabed during the 1931 earthquake. The short distance from the ocean allows their grapes to grow without worry of frost and the result is divine.

After your wonderful winery experiences, sit back and relax as your pilot flies over Ahuriri Marina before landing at the Port of Napier.

I can't imagine a better way to spend your time in port (a little wine humor).