Te Mata Peak

About

According to local legend, 399-meter-tall Te Mata Peak depicts the prostrate body of a Maori chief who choked to death trying to eat his way through the rocky range in an attempt to prove his worthiness to wed the daughter of his rival. From atop Te Mata, you can enjoy 360° views of Hawke’s Bay, with Napier and Mahia Peninsula to the north and east, rolling hills to the south and east, and the Ruahine, Kaweka, and Maungaharuru ranges in the distance. The mountain sits in the middle of a 99 hectare parkland, where well-graded tracks offer some beautiful hikes. There’s even a grove of spectacular California Redwoods to discover.