Rising 399 meters (1,310 feet) above Hawke’s Bay, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Napier, Te Mata Peak has been protected since 1927. Its full name, Te Mata o Rongokako (The Face of Rongokako), is from a Maori legend that portrayed the hill as the prostrate body of the giant Rongokako. Its lookout attracts over 200,000 visitors annually. You can drive (or hike or bike) to the summit, which offers 360-degree views.
