415 Marine Parade: This luxury escape is one of Napier's best hidden gems

Hawke's Bay is one of my favourite places in the world.

The landscapes are magnificent, the food and wine scene is dynamic and delicious, and there are some real hidden gems when it comes to places to stay.

One of them is right in the heart of the region, on the fringe of Napier's CBD – where you can wake up in luxury with a view of the sea.

415 Marine Parade is a boutique bed and breakfast with five luxury suites and a communal dining room.

The villa, which dates back to 1860, is run by Esther and Tom Seymour who been involved in luxury tourism for more than 20 years - and it shows. The building was right on the beach in its earlier years, until the 1931 earthquake uplifted the waterfront.

The historical building has been recently refurbished, in keeping with its classic heritage.

We stayed in the Portland Suite, which has French doors leading to a balcony with panoramic views, from Waikawa/Portland Island in the north right down to Cape Kidnappers in the south.

The suite has a plush king bed, espresso machine, and lots of space to unwind - each room also has access to electric or pedal bikes for hire.

A central theme of the villa is an opportunity to socialise: every second evening there's a complimentary happy hour with finger food. The communal dining room has snacks and cake, where you can join your fellow guests to swap stories after a day exploring.

Breakfast is delicious; with buffet and cafe-style options and fresh coffee.

Hawke's Bay is blessed with a huge variety of things to do that'll satisfy every interest. The first thing a new visitor needs to tick off is exploring .

However, the region is far more than a funky city; its vineyards blanket the land in every direction – and from these fertile rolling valleys come much of the country's red wine. There are more than 70 wineries and 30 cellar door experiences to explore.

After visiting the infamous the region's best lookout, stop on the way back at the Big Redwoods Forest. Here you'll find an enchanting collection of 223 Californian Redwoods, the tallest tree species in the world. It'll soak up a peaceful hour walking among the giants.

Waking up and watching the sunrise from our balcony.

I couldn't fault the place – Esther and Tom have been involved in accommodation for more than 20 years, and they've ironed out all the wrinkles over that time.

If you're after a luxury escape within walking distance of Napier's CBD, this should be your top pick.

Hawke's Bay is a four-hour drive from Wellington, or just over five hours from Auckland.

Air New Zealand has flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with connections across the domestic network. See: Origin Air has flights from Hamilton, Nelson, and Palmerston North. See:

Rooms start from $230 a night. See: