The Hawkes Bay area is definitely a Food and Wine destination. Some of New Zealand’s premium ‘reds’ come from this region and food is not far behind, especially honey. Many visitors to New Zealand travel with their children and if you’re one of them, why not let the bees at the Arataki Honey Visitor centre entertain the kids for a while.
The Arataki Honey Visitor Centre is located at 66 Arataki Road, Havelock North. I can assure you it’s not a 5-minute drop-in experience. There is much to see here for both adults and children. It’s a very educational and interactive experience.
Let’s start with some honey tasting:
If this doesn’t interest you, their large gift shop will. Even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll be astounded at how many different products honey can produce, be it cosmetic, restorative or nutritious.
Although Michael agreed to pose for this photo, he really couldn’t care less about the gift shop, preferring instead to gravitate towards the live bee colony section:
There was a swarm of kids over by the “Bee Discovered” section. I guarantee, your children won’t move from here until you’re ready to leave. There are microscopes provided and this is where they’ll really get to appreciate the vital role of honeybees in our food chain and the wonderful products they produce. Look at how absorbed these kids are!
Currently, the Arataki Visitor Centre is free of charge. Whoa, I’ve just caught sight of my reflection in one of the glass display cases. Maybe I’ll buy some of that Royal Jelly before I buzz off.
Happy Travelling.
