Bay Tours and Charters

21/09/2024

Our last couple of days in Samoa were amazing. With a visit to a plantation and then another free day, we all made the most of our amazing resort, while a few managed to fit in a Sunday church visit, which they loved.

20/09/2024

Tour club had a day of gardens, dining and chandeliers on our Manawatu Gardens day trip today.

Despite the Manawatu being water logged and throwing a bit of water at us at times, we very much enjoyed both Carolines Creative Interiors / Design & Desire boutique and gardens, and Wharerata at Massey University.

16/09/2024

Tour club enjoyed a lovely overnight trip to the Manawatu Tattoo held at Manfield in Feilding.

The Tattoo was helping celebrate Feilding’s 150th anniversary and included a showcase of vehicles through the ages as well as a range of entertainment from local schools, Hato Paora College, the New Zealand Army Band, Carl Doy (sadly Suzanne Prentice was unwell), and many Manawatu/Rangitikei pipe bands, Scottish dancers, marching gals and more.

15/09/2024

Day 5 - Eastern Upolo Tour, stunning vista after vista, blue skys, palm trees and plenty of fales
First up was the Togitogiga waterfall, which some of us swam at the base. Beautiful fresh water, cooler but definitely not cold
We saw another couple of waterfalls including Sopoaga Falls.
Our next stop was To Sua Ocean Trench which is world famous and on every advert for Samoa. I thought the climb down would have put everyone off but 4 determined souls accomplished it and loved the experience
Picnic lunch under cover at Lalomanu Beach was next, and we had a huge turnout in the sea. This beach is rated in top 100 on Lonely Planet, it was delightful and lived up to the expectation
Lastly we stopped at Piula Cave Pool, again a great stop
Our guides Tai and Chris were fabulous and we all loved this beautiful part of the island
A delicious dinner and Fiafia night at Lava Hotel finished the day off beautifully
Day 6 was a trip to Manono Island, the third biggest island in Samoa. No roads, noise or dogs, it was a treat. We took our bus to the wharf and then boats for our 20 min ride across to Manono. The hospitality was again superb, and we had a delicious feast for lunch

12/09/2024

Samoa we love you! Beautiful sights, beautiful people and a relaxed pace, absolute bliss😊
Day 3 was our Apia tour day and we did a lot, the highlight for many was the guided tour at Robert Louis Stevenson museum.
We enjoyed the Cultural Village and the Leulomoega Fou Art Gallery and our guides Tai and Chris from Tai's Native Experience are awesome, so much knowledge. Dinner at Paddles Samoa was fantastic, with food, service, drinks superb. I’m sure some of the ladies wanted to take our host and Paddles owner Giovanni home. You deserve your very high rating in Apia.
Day 4 was a free day and some went into Apia, a mere 7 mins away while others swam in the pool and the gorgeous resort beach, whatever took their fancy.
Dinner was a real honour as we went to Tai’s home and were hosted by family. Dinner was cooked on the umu, and everything was delicious. A fab finish to a nice relaxing day.
Day 5 is the Eastern Upolu tour, wait til you see the pics 🏝️

11/09/2024

We struck another lovely spring day for our visit to Smedley Station, Gwavas Garden Homestead and Taniwha Daffodils Central Hawkes Bay yesterday.

The Smedley Cadet training farm is most interesting and well regarded in the industry, lunch and a garden wander at Gwavas is such a treat, and who can fail to smile in the middle of a daffodil field?

09/09/2024

We have a wonderful group in Samoa hosted by Bay Tours owners Kerren and Ken. Our accommodation for the next 7 nights is the stunning Taumeasina Island Resort
Overnighting in Auckland last night, we had a lovely dinner and an earlyish night in preparation for our bright and breezy start this morning
We had a good flight, met at the airport and transferred to our resort and received a delightful welcome there. First impression, well organised, lovely resort and beautiful warm friendly staff
Time for a group pic and then some checked out the pools before our pre dinner drinks and dinner.
There was also a Manager’s welcome sangria and canapés so it’s fair to say we’ve done very well on our first night.

08/09/2024

We have only 2 seats left on our WOW trip to Wellington on 28 & 29 September.

We're super looking forward to checking out out the new stage format this year to enhance the viewing experience and some exciting new categories - Natural World, Geometric Abstraction and Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival.

Contact us today on 06 845 2736 or [email protected] to snap up those remaining seats and come enjoy the fun.

07/09/2024

We had a magnificent Tour Club lunch at the recently re-opened Off The Track eatery yesterday.

If you’d like to experience their new menu (its delicious!), join us on Monday 30 September for our spring progressive lunch - after our entree at Elephant Hill we’re heading to Off The Track for our main and then dessert at Market Street.

Contact us on 06 845 2736 or [email protected] now to book your place.

05/09/2024

We're on a roll!!!!

The office team entered us in The Breeze Hawke's Bay 97.5FM's workplace competitions and we have won an Enigma Escape Rooms Napier experience, a fun team building outing in the near future...

Stay tuned for a post on how we did!

Congratulations to the team from Bay Tours and Charters for winning an Enigma Escape Rooms Napier experience thanks to Now Business.

We've got one of these to giveaway each month as a bonus prize to everyone who enters for our weekly workplace coffee shout.

03/09/2024

We struck a fantastic spring day for our Mystery Country Day Out today.

Via Takapau and Kopua to Anzac Reserve for morning tea, to the Wopwops (we kid you not) and Norsewear before a walk and lunch at A’Deane’s Bush, an afternoon stroll and ice cream at Ongaonga, and a leisurely vista-filled cruise home via Argyll and Raukawa.

Thanks Ken!

01/09/2024

Also a shout out to our friends at Embra in Taupo who won the Regional Restaurant of the Year in the national Cuisine Magazine awards.

If you'd like to experience Embra, come and join us in February 2025 on our Taupō Luxury Dining tour where we eat at a range of luxury establishments, culminating in a 5-course degustation dinner at Embra. Absolutely not to be missed.

Contact us now on 06 845 27365 (extn 1) or [email protected] to book your place.

Congratulations to Yellow Brick Road Regional Restaurant of the Year – Embra – Taupō
Although it’s named after a city on the other side of the world, this fine-dining establishment that brings superb eating to the lakeside settlement is very much grounded in the locals. Chef Phill Blackburne, who was born in Taupō, ended up in Edinburgh on his OE and ‘Embra’ is short for the place where he began his craft under the mentorship of chef Dominic Jack at the award-winning Castle Terrace restaurant. Since opening in January 2022, Embra has been attracting high praise from locals and visitors passing through who make the happy discovery.

Learn more about their award here: https://www.cuisine.co.nz/awards/regional-restaurant-of-the-year/



Yellow Brick Road
Embra

01/09/2024

While we're on the topic of awards, look who just scooped the Cuisine Magazine Winery Restaurant of the Year award - our friends at Craggy Range Winery.

Well done team, so well deserved! We always love bringing our guests out to Craggy for fantastic food, wine, scenery and service.

Congratulations to Winery Restaurant of the Year – Craggy Range – Havelock North
Showcasing an outstanding New Zealand wine story in a location that is as awesome as it is beautiful, Craggy Range also boasts, in Casey McDonald, a chef who is at the top of his game. Casey has impeccable credentials, having helmed the award-winning restaurant empire of Melbournite Andrew McConnell, and his influence is evident here. Sandwiched between the glorious Te Mata peak and a view of the vines, diners get to enjoy accomplished creations that often draw inspiration from the kitchen gardens. This is not a challenging menu for diners, but it is superbly executed.

Learn more about their award here: https://www.cuisine.co.nz/awards/winery-restaurant-of-the-year/



Craggy Range Winery

30/08/2024

Here’s a close-up of this mornings fantastic win unfolding of Best Customer Service in the Hawkes Bay for 2024, as voted by you all in The Hits - Hawke's Bay 89.5FM competition….

We so appreciate every one of you, staff and customers alike.

30/08/2024

We are delighted and humbled to receive The Hits - Hawke's Bay 89.5FM Best Customer Service award for 2024.

We have an amazing team of staff and loyal customers who make Bay Tours and Charters the success that it is.

A big thank you to everyone for your ongoing support and we look forward to many more fun adventures together.

29/08/2024

Today’s winter (on a lovely springy day!) pub lunch and quiz outing produced one of the closest competitions we’ve ever had - after 8 rounds only 8 points separated the teams, with the lead changing nearly every round, what a bunch of brain boxes!!!!

As always the hospitality at Patangata Tavern was delightful, as was the lovely rolling countryside down Middle Road on the way there.

Come and join us for the next pub quiz lunch outing on Thursday 28 November at The Filter Room in Meannee.

28/08/2024

We have been driving a lovely group of Lincoln University viticulture students (and their leaders) around Hawkes Bay wineries this week.

I wonder if we will tempt any of them to apply for jobs up here???

23/08/2024

Our tour clubbers enjoyed the fun of ABBA last night at the Bjorn Again (AUSTRALIA) Waterloo Anniversary Tour.

Random rock interludes and all!

19/08/2024

*** LIMITED PLACES REMAINING ***

To see Beauty and the Beast with us in Melbourne in November (departing Saturday 9th - returning Tuesday 12th), staying at the classy and elegant 5-star Windsor Hotel.

The first international production of Disney’s musical Beauty and The Beast to visit Australasia in 30 years.

Contact us today on 06 845 2736 to secure your spot.

19/08/2024

Ben Elton has written a very witty comedy showcasing Queen’s songs in the musical We Will Rock You.

Our tour clubbers thoroughly enjoyed the show, dinner at Dragons Restaurant, and a sweet stop at RJ's Confectionery on the way home.

05/08/2024

Our latest 2024-25 Leisure Guide includes everything from ‘support local’ day and dining outings, to show spectaculars, and travel all over New Zealand as well as further afield - Coromandel, Kapiti Island, Otago’s Old Gold Road, Fiordland, Rarotonga, Samoa, Tasmania, cruising on the Celebrity Edge to name just a few.

Have a read and contact us on 06 845 2736 or [email protected] today to come and join us for some tour club fun (spaces are going fast on some of these trips) -https://www.baytours.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1.-LG-Issue-24-2.pdf

02/08/2024

So pleased to give a shout out to our friends at Craggy Range Winery restaurant which was named ‘Supreme Winner’ and ‘Best restaurant’ at the 2024 Hospitality NZ Business Awards at an awards ceremony this week in Christchurch. Another of our popular lunch destinations, Market St in Napier, was named ‘Best Bar’ at the same awards and Wharekauhau Country Estate in Wairarapa, which we visited recently as part of our Capital & Country Luxury Dining tour, was named ‘Best Destination’ - we are so pleased for them all.

Come travelling with Bay Tours and experience the best of the best.

31/07/2024

Check out some of our tour clubbers enjoying a delicious winter lunch at the much-awarded Craggy Range Winery.

We have many more dining outings in our near future - jump into the latest Leisure Guide (https://www.baytours.co.nz/bay-tours-digital-leisure-guide/) and check them out.

27/07/2024

Congratulations to our friends at St Georges Restaurant, well deserved!

We like to support local and enjoy delicious food, so join us on one of our many upcoming dining outings - maybe lunch at the Duke of Edinburgh Porongahau on 6 August, lunch at the newly re-opened Off The Track on 6 September, or a very special fine dining lunch at Wallingford House south of Waipukurau on 26 September, a truly remarkable experience.

Spaces are filling fast so contact us on 06 845 2736 or [email protected] now to secure your spot.

14/07/2024

What better way to spend a weekend than heading to the Wairarapa for our Mid Winter Christmas trip to Greytown and their Mid-Winter Christmas.
Christmas tree grotto, Night market, tractor parade, Christmas shop, dinner at The White Swan, mulled wine and even a mulled gin, so much fun.
As always an amazing group with new friendships made
Only 5 months til Christmas 🤶

29/06/2024

The spectacle that is World of WearableArt (WOW) is getting closer!

With a theme this year of Dream Awake.

If you’ve never been, or just love colour, amazing choreography and creativity, now’s your chance - we have some seats left on our first weekend trip of 28/29 September.

Contact us now on 06 845 2736 or [email protected] to secure your place.

28/06/2024

We enjoyed a delicious 3 course dinner last night at Mangapapa Hotel, plus bread, amuse bouche and a sorbet
Can’t wait to go back!
Our next delicious foodie tours are two Craggy Range Lunch is on 16th July, mmmn we’re thinking about it already.

05/05/2024

Days 4 - 6 of our Delights of the Hauraki Gulf tour have continued to be magical.

Day 4 - from sunrise on Waiheke Island to Bastion Point, a CBD drive, Orewa and Warkworth and the sun going down over Snells Beach.

Day 5 - the Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre, Matakana Farmers Market, Sculptureum and Charlies Gelato Garden.

Day 6 - visiting Kawau Island courtesy of Kawau Water Taxis & Kawau Cruises and exploring Mansion House.

Home tomorrow after another fantastic Bay Tours experience

02/05/2024

Days 1 - 3 of our Hauraki Gulf tour have been magical so far.

Day 1 a leisurely ride through to Auckland stopping on the shores of Lake Taupo for morning tea and Tirau for lunch and a wander.

Day 2 visiting Tiritirimatangi Island - a predator-free conservation island.

Day 3 Waiheke Island exploration, and of course, a long lovely winery lunch at BATCH WINERY

Bring on days 4 - 7!

28/04/2024

A bit of humour to kick the week off….

From one of our drivers transporting the Hawkes Bay’s valuable horticulture and harvest (RSE) workers between Auckland Airport and the Bay