Eskdale

Eskdale combines a distinctive location on State Highway 5 with riverside scenery, a memorial church, wine and mountain biking. For visitors arriving from the north via State Highway 5, the town is the gateway to Hawke’s Bay. Eskdale Park lies beside the Esk River; there is also wine tasting at Linden Estate and the Valley d’Vine Restaurant. This gives you several points of interest to consider when planning your trip. When choosing your holiday accommodation, you can think about which of these aspects of the town matters most for your stay.

Eskdale Park on the Esk River

Eskdale Park covers 12 hectares, of which 7 hectares are open to the public. Its entrance is on Shaw Road, which branches off State Highway 5, the Napier-Taupo Road. This route description can help you find your way when planning a visit to the park during your time in Eskdale. The park provides access to popular swimming spots on the Esk River. Take care when swimming, as cyclone debris may be present in the river.

The precise location of the designated area is also relevant for dog owners: there is an off-leash area on the south side of Eskdale Park. It extends to the end of the access road. If you are travelling with a dog, you can take into account in advance which part of the park is designated for this purpose. The details about the park’s size, public area, swimming spots and dog area describe different aspects of the site and should not be confused with one another.

Wine, cycling and culture

Eskdale is home to a mountain bike park in the private Pan Pac Tangoio forest. If you are considering cycling as part of your trip, this gives you a specific local connection to mountain biking. Linden Estate produces boutique wines from the Hawke’s Bay region in Eskdale and offers visitors wine tastings. Wine tastings at Linden Estate can be booked using a booking form; the winery is located on State Highway 5 in Eskdale. Wine and cycling are different interests to choose from, so you do not have to plan your trip around just one activity.

The Eskdale War Memorial Church on State Highway 5 in Eskdale offers a connection to local history. It was dedicated on 3 December 1920. Local landowner Thomas Clark and his daughter Annie had the church built in memory of Annie’s husband, Lieutenant Percival Moore Beattie. Beattie fell at Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918. The church welcomes everyone who wishes to visit, attend services or become part of the faith community. For travellers interested in local history and commemorative culture, this place adds a personal historical story to the nature and food-and-drink offerings.

Dining and regional wines

The Valley d’Vine Restaurant serves lunch from 12 to 3 pm, Thursday to Sunday. Dinner is available from 6 pm until late, Thursday to Saturday. These hours give you practical guidance if you would like to include a restaurant visit in your day. Together with Linden Estate’s boutique wines, the restaurant offers a distinct culinary aspect of a stay in Eskdale. The restaurant and winery are two separate offerings: the restaurant has the dining hours listed above, while wine tastings at Linden Estate can be booked using a booking form.

If the river and park are your main priorities, you can consider the public area of Eskdale Park and its swimming spots as key interests. For a trip with more of a focus on culture or food and wine, the Memorial Church, wine tasting and restaurant offer specific alternatives. Cycling enthusiasts can also consider including the mountain bike park in the private Pan Pac Tangoio forest in their plans.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to continue your search beyond Eskdale, here are some more destinations: Waipawa, Haumoana, Elsthorpe, Wallingford, Raukawa, Takapau, Bridge Pa and Urewera National Park.

For the main travel overview: Hawkes Bay.