Napier is a charming seaside city where the fresh whites of Art Deco buildings contrast a blue sky. From Marine Parade, lined with Norfolk pines, to the café culture of the CBD, Napier is an appealing destination. Sunny and warm, Hawke’s Bay is the nation’s oldest wine-growing region and remains a top wine producer. Excellent hiking and mountain biking, and a stunning cliff-top golf course complete the recipe for an unforgettable holiday.
Highlights
Art Deco architecture The streets of Napier and Hastings are packed with Art Deco-era buildings, perfectly preserved and boasting quirky motifs unique to their New Zealand roots. Fine wine Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s premier wine-producing regions. Mission Vineyards, established more than 165 years ago to make sacramental wine, is the nation’s oldest surviving wine producer. Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony The largest mainland gannet colony in the world is occupied by hundreds of seabirds that seem unafraid of human visitors. Te Mata Peak The 399-metre summit of Te Mata Peak offers breathtaking views of Hawke’s Bay and beyond – to Mount Ruapehu – on clear days. Havelock North South of Napier, near the base of Te Mata Peak, picturesque Havelock North offers village-style shopping and cute country pubs. Great cafés and shopping Despite its small size, Napier has a very cosmopolitan central shopping precinct crammed with interesting boutiques.
Destinations
Napier Extraordinary Art Deco architecture and fine wine. Hastings Established wine- and fruit-growing region. Havelock North Charming country village with great shopping and dining. Waipukurau Central Hawke’s Bay town popular for gliding and ballooning.
Getting There and Around
Air Hawke’s Bay Airport, 10 minutes’ from central Napier, has direct daily flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Flights to smaller North Island destinations are also available. Road Napier is 2 hours, 5 minutes from Taupo and 4 hours, 35 minutes from Wellington via Palmerston North. The Napier – Taupo Road is a 142-kilometre highway through a mountain range. Check www.nzta.govt.nz for road conditions. Coaches provide regular services and shuttles operate locally. Napier to Taupo [143 km; 2 hr, 5 min] Taupo to Rotorua [80 km; 1 hr, 10 min] Napier to Palmerston North [178 km; 2 hr, 35 min] Palmerston North to Wellington [145 km; 2 hr, 5 min] Napier to Gisborne [215 km; 3 hr, 5 min]
