Visitors cotton on to new tourist trail

Owner Rodger Tynan is silhouetted at Lime Rock Wines, one of 14 Limestone Loop businesses. Photo / Supplied

Fourteen Central Hawke's Bay businesses have worked together to form a tourist trail designed to bring more people through their doors.

The Limestone Loop was the brainchild of Rosie Butler and Rodger Tynan, owners of Lime Rock Wines in Waipawa.

"Having a route for people to follow with things to do makes it a lot more attractive," she said.

The loop follows the geological formation around the Raukawa Range, via State Highway 2 and State Highway 50, and has mixed features including art venues, wineries, dining experiences and businesses.

The idea was presented to Trudy Godwin, Hawke's Bay Tourism's Central Hawke's Bay co-ordinator, who drove the project quick enough for a brochure to be printed in time for summer.

So far response has been good - many people took copies for out-of-town friends they were hosting.

Loop businesses are the Paper Mulberry Cafe in Pukehou, the Otane Market, Otane Historical Pavement Walk and Tree Guys Nursery, also in Otane.

Waipawa has Artmosphere Gallery, The Waipawa Clock Shop, Penny Lane Emporium, CHB Settlers Museum, Misty River Cafe, Jan Gosling Sculptures and Lime Rock Wines.

Waipukurau has Pukeora Estate and Tikokino has the Tikokino Country Hotel and Gwavas Garden and Homestead.

Ms Butler said Lime Rock was experiencing "a surprising" run of Auckland couples visiting the winery who had moved to the Bay.