Wallingford

Wallingford combines a historic garden with scenic flights, distinctive cuisine and excursions to the coast. Wallingford Homestead is set in a historic garden; old tree species and a productive truffle plantation give it a distinctive character. River destinations and coastal landscapes also offer different options for planning your trip.

Historic garden and truffle plantation

The garden includes 19th-century trees, including scarlet and English oaks and Parrotia persica. An avenue of plane trees leads to a productive truffle plantation of holm oaks. Historic tree species and truffle cultivation thus sit side by side in an unusual garden setting. The garden landscape can also be paired with Wallingford’s culinary offerings: at Wallingford Kitchen, you can sample truffles, herbs, fruit, vegetables and Angus beef from the garden, depending on the season.

Scenic flights and coastal days

Scenic flights can depart from and return to the grounds of Wallingford Homestead; flights are available to book. If you are planning a flight, confirm current availability in advance. The nearby coast offers a range of experiences, too. Porangahau Beach is a ten-minute drive from Wallingford and offers long sandy beaches, tranquil coastal landscapes and impressive sunsets. The Little Taikura Beach Walk is a 20-minute drive away. This family-friendly coastal walk leads to a shipwreck, a seal colony and a lighthouse at the end of the trail. Comparing drive times can help you choose between a beach landscape and a coastal walk.

Regional cuisine by season and arrangement

The Wallingford Kitchen menu focuses on seasonal produce and foraged ingredients from local, dedicated and ethical artisans, including hunters, fishers and cheesemakers. The ingredients on offer may vary by season. Wallingford Kitchen offers cooking demonstrations on Sundays. Lunch is available by arrangement for groups of at least twelve; confirm the arrangements before your trip.

Getting your bearings and travel times

To get your bearings in the surrounding area, Porangahau is about a 15-minute drive from Wallingford, Waipukurau about 25 minutes, and Havelock North about 60 minutes. The times given are approximate; traffic and road conditions may affect your journey. Porangahau Beach and the Little Taikura Beach Walk therefore offer different coastal destinations, a ten- and 20-minute drive away, respectively. Porangahau also has golf courses about ten minutes from Wallingford; check before your trip which course might suit your plans.

Fly fishing is another option nearby: the Tukituki River is a 25-minute drive from Wallingford, and the Waipawa River is 30 minutes away. Check local access conditions and regulations before visiting. Waipukurau Airfield is the nearest airport for light aircraft; you will need to confirm any arrangements for its use separately. All roads to Wallingford are sealed, but the driveway to Wallingford Homestead is gravel. Take road conditions into account when planning your journey.

In the wider destination of Central Hawke’s Bay District

Beyond the immediate Wallingford area, the wider destination of Central Hawke’s Bay District has its own nature and outdoor activity options. The 446-hectare Te Angiangi Marine Reserve protects the coast between Aramoana and Blackhead and was established in 1997. On the extensive tidal platform, you can explore rock pools and may see octopuses, crayfish, anemones and migratory wading birds.

The Tukituki Trail is a network of tracks in Central Hawke’s Bay for walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers and horse riders. It combines limestone paths on river stopbanks with road connections between Waipukurau and Waipawa; motor vehicles are not permitted on the tracks. Conditions may change after flooding or maintenance work, so check current trail conditions before setting out on foot or by bike.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Raukawa, Haumoana, Havelock North, Takapau, Elsthorpe, Puketapu, Waipawa, Eskdale.

For the wider travel overview: Hawkes Bay.