Visiting Napier, NZ? 10 Things To See & Do For Fun, Fun, Fun!
- Helen
- Mar 2, 2019
- 6 min read
Napier in New Zealand is a small city in the Hawke's Bay region, found on the east cost of the North Island.
As the 'art deco capital' and surrounded by stunning coastline and wineries, Napier is a must on any New Zealand tour.
Napier and it's immediate surroundings offer the visitor so much to see and do.
With an abundance of wineries to visit, you could spend happy days visiting these alone (see my earlier posts on the best wineries to visit around Napier).
However, within the city of Napier itself there is plenty to keep you entertained and having fun!
Within this post I will enlighten you as to the 10 best visitor experiences in Napier.
Once you have worked your way through these, ensure you also check out my post on the best things to see and do just outside Napier!
10 Of The Best Visitor Experiences In Napier
1. Bluff Hill Lookout
A great way to introduce yourself to Napier and the lay of the land is to visit Bluff Hill Lookout on the northern point of the city.
The lookout can be easily reached on foot from the city centre if you are feeling energetic or it is a short drive with parking available.
From Bluff Hill you will be rewarded with magnificent views of Hawke's Bay, round to Cape Kidnapper's in the south and out to the Pacific. Immediately below you also have a bird's eye view of Napier port, the second busiest working port, with it's industrial activity, alongside cruise liners.
Pick a clear day and take in the setting and surroundings here - it is free to visit.
2. Stroll Or Cycle To Ahuriri
If you fancy a stroll or cycle along the coastline, enjoying the beaches and shore while also passing the working port of Napier, then amble from Napier itself round to Ahuriri.
Ahuriri is a historic fishing village with a marina, a lovely beach and a number of cafes, bars, restaurants and boutique stores to enjoy.
Within Ahuriri you will also find the closest winery to Napier within the stunning National Tobacco Company building, worth exploring for the building alone (for more about the winery here have a read of this post).
3. Art Deco Tour
As Napier is the 'art deco capital' and to spend time there is to feel as though you are on a 1930s film set, one thing that must be done is to learn more about the history behind the city and it's architecture.
One way to really learn about the buildings and the art deco style all around you is to take a guided walking tour of Napier.
These tours are led by a guide who tells you about the earthquake that destroyed the city in 1931 and the rebuild in the art deco style of today that was completed just two years after the earthquake hit.
Pointing out some of the key sights and details along the way and taking you inside some of the buildings to see how the art deco influence did not stop at the building facade, the tour is engaging and fun.
The tours also include a short film which shows more footage about the earthquake, setting the scene fully!
An alternative to taking the guided tour is to do the self-guided walk of Napier's art deco buildings and you can take your own time to learn about the surroundings.
There is a self guided walk booklet available at the i-Site and Napier's Art Deco Centre.
4. MTG Hawke's Bay
In the heart of Napier along Marine Parade, you will find the MTG Hawke's Bay. MTG stands for Museum, Theatre & Gallery and it houses a range of permanent and temporary exhibits within it's museum.
To learn more about Napier's past, ensure you take time to visit the permanent 1931 earthquake exhibition.
This is a moving display of memorabilia, including letters and personal relics, as well as clips of people remembering the day the earthquake struck and the rebuilding of the city from the rubble.
Alongside this, there is a Maori gallery exhibiting historic and contemporary Maori 'taonga', meaning sacred objects or treasures.
Temporary exhibits tell more stories of the people, places and events that have shaped the region or the nation's history.
Free to enter and enjoy, definitely a must do.
5. Waiapu Cathedral
The cathedral found in the centre of Napier is Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist and due to it's global location is the first cathedral in the world to see each new day.
The cathedral standing today is the second cathedral building to be erected here; the first dated from 1886 but was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake.
Today's impressive modern style building was built between 1955 and 1965, replacing a temporary wooden pro-cathedral completed a few months after the earthquake.
Waiapu Cathedral is one of the country's largest and still houses rescued artworks and relics from its predecessor.
Features of note to check out are the small stained glass window made up from fragments taken from the rubble of the original cathedral and the Maori Chapel which includes features which reflect aspects of the Christian faith and Maori culture combined.
The cathedral here is free to visit and certainly interesting, modern and beautiful.
6. National Aquarium Of New Zealand
Found along Napier's Marine Parade sits the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
Housing a 1.5 million litre oceanarium containing hundreds of species of sea life found in the waters around Hawke's Bay and visible through a 50m viewing tunnel, the aquarium here will fascinate young and old!
One of the other key attractions of the Aquarium is their 'penguin cove' where you can watch penguins swim, play and be fed at regular times during the day.
There are also kiwis to observe, alongside sharks and alligators.
For an extra fee, you can also swim with the sharks if you are feeling very brave!
7. Artists For Oceans Murals
In 2016 and 2017, Napier hosted two festivals which brought together 50 internationally renowned artists to paint large murals around the city.
The idea behind this was to enhance the streets and highlight the beauty but also the issues arising from our oceans.
The result of this is a city that offers incredible colour, imagery, fun and sometimes political art on many of it's walls which is fun to seek out and admire or speculate over!
If street art or art in general interests you then ensure you keep an eye out for these murals as you explore Napier.
For those wishing to know more about these murals, there is a guide available to all 50 of the murals at the Information Centre (i-site) which you can pick up for free.
8. Marine Parade
The seafront in Napier, Marine Parade, is a 3km stretch of walkway that not only provides great views across the ocean and onto Cape Kidnappers but is also a hive of activity and attractions.
Along Marine Parade you will find some of the city's most iconic landmarks, such as the Pania of the Reef statue, the Tom Parker Fountain (which is illuminated at night) and the Soundshell, colonnade and plaza which still provide a centre-point to many of Napier's events today.
The parade offers family entertainment with mini golf, children's play areas, a skate park and adult and junior bike tracks.
There are also fun water features, well laid out garden areas and plenty of places to stop for ice cream or refreshment.
Perhaps most importantly to any visitor to Napier is the i-Site which is also located on Marine Parade and is staffed by incredibly helpful and friendly people!
Dedicating a little time to enjoy Marine Parade is a must on any trip to Napier.
9. Shop - Antiques, Art Deco Vintage, Jade & More!
If travelling for you is not complete without an opportunity to release your desire to shop and find local souvenirs & products then Napier will not disappoint you!
Within Napier you will find many opportunities to shop for antiques and vintage items, including jewellery, collectibles, clothing, books or even furniture (if you have space in your suitcase!).
The art deco era of course has a strong influence and so this is the perfect place to grab clothing and accessories of an art deco vintage.
New Zealand is famous for it's jade (or greenstone) which is used to produce beautiful items of jewellery, ornaments and other products. Within Napier you will find a 'Jade Centre' amongst the boutiqes offering jade in a range of traditional New Zealand designs.
Should you also find yourself in Napier over a weekend then you can enjoy Napier's highly regarded farmer's market. On a Saturday morning there is the Napier Urban Farmers Market that is found in the heart of Napier and is very popular with locals as well as tourists. Grab a coffee here and enjoy some local produce!
10. Napier Prison
Can a trip anywhere really be complete without witnessing how they manage their lawbreakers?!?
Napier prison is New Zealand's oldest penitentiary opening in 1862. The prison was closed in 1993 but restored in 2002 and today is open to visitors to explore it's history and internal walls, both day or night!
Either take a self guided audio tour or a tour with a live guide (which you need to pre-book) and see the quarry the prisoner's worked in, the prison cells and 'pound' for unstable prisoners, alongside the prison graveyard and hanging yard.
Entry fee applies but worth it if you want to see the inner workings of a historic New Zealand jail house!
So this completes the 10 best visitor experiences to be had in Napier.
This is a small 'city' but it certainly offers the visitor so much.
Whether rain or shine and no matter your age or interest, I am confident you will enjoy Napier (almost as much as I did!).
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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