Peak voted Bay's top natural asset

An aerial image of Havelock North's Te Mata Peak. Photo / Tim Whittaker

Te Mata Peak has been voted Hawke's Bay's best natural attraction in a new poll.

According to the unscientific poll on Hawke's Bay Today's website, 38 per cent of respondents believe Te Mata Peak is the best by far.

Second, with 26 per cent of the votes, was Cape Kidnappers, home of the largest, most accessible mainland colony of gannets in the world.

Lake Waikaremoana received 18 per cent of the votes, rounding out the top three.

Tukituki Valley, Shine Falls, Mangatutu Springs and the Eastern Ruahine Forest Park did not get past 10 per cent of the votes.

Tukituki Valley received 9 per cent, while 4 per cent of the respondents voted for Shine Falls and 3 per cent for Mangatutu Springs.

A minority of 2 per cent believe that the Eastern Ruahine Forest Park is Hawke's Bay's best natural attraction.

In response to the poll, Te Mata Park Trust chairman Bruno Chambers said part of the reason the peak was so popular was because "the accessibility is a huge factor", as well as the "vast terrain". Te Mata Peak is "a great asset, which is available to everyone".

"The open-face environment on our backdoor is a huge plus for the region," Mr Chambers said.

The Te Mata Park Trust is in the progress of establishing a Visitor and Education Centre within the park, providing information on Te Mata Park's geology, ecology, history and cultural significance.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said: "We are lucky to have such a fantastic icon in the region."

"There are a number of things to do," she said.

Conducted in December on Hawke's Bay Today's website www.hbtoday.co.nz, this unscientific poll has a sample size of 300-350.