Things To See & Do Outside Napier, New Zealand
- Helen
- Jan 19, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: May 30, 2019
When you think of Napier in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, what comes to mind?
Perhaps you first consider the art deco beauty of the city with its associated sights to see and tours to take. You might think of the wineries that Hawke's Bay is world famous for and the opportunities to visit these, indulging in their beauty and fine wines. However, around Napier there are also a number of other things to see, do and enjoy - away from the art deco city and beyond the wine cellar doors (although do these too!).
Whether you enjoy the outdoors, some gourmet delicacies, views or a beautiful cafe to while away your time there is something for you.
Let me introduce you to some of the top things to see and do around Napier.
Things To See & Do Outside Napier
- Experience Te Mata Peak
Situated just outside Havelock North and rising 399 m above sea level is Te Mata Peak.
A visit to the summit here is a must do for incredible 360 degree views of Hawke's Bay, including Napier, Cape Kidnappers, surrounding mountain ranges and plains, alongside the green vineyards immediately below.
Te Mata is set within 99 hectares of parkland, which also offers tracks that people can walk or mountain bike along.
Reaching the summit of Te Mata can be by foot for the brave-hearted or you can drive up, with parking available at the top.
You may also witness people paragliding, hang gliding or abseiling from the peak on your visit.
Breathtaking to experience - don't miss Te Mata!
- Arataki Honey Visitor Centre
Also located in Havelock North is the Arataki Honey Visitor Centre. If you are (like me) a honey lover then this experience should feature highly on your itinerary!
Arataki Honey is one of New Zealand's largest beekeeping and honey producing enterprises and their honey is sold across the world.
The free to visit centre teaches the visitor about the honey bee, the all important honey they produce and why honey bees are so vital to our environment. Information is also provided about bees wax and the uses for this.
There are plenty of honeys from the Arataki range to sample and of course to purchase and take home with you!
A colourful and fun experience that will entertain the young and the young at heart (oh, and any honey lover!).
- Birdwoods Gallery
Located 3km outside Havelock North you will find the picturesque setting of Birdwoods Gallery - two relocated historic buildings surrounded by well maintained landscaped gardens.
Birdwoods Gallery was opened in 2005 and is family run. The main gallery building is an original church hall that was built in 1894, while the adjacent building which now houses an old fashioned sweet shop was once a one room colonial cottage.
Within the 'gallery' is a collection of art and produce from New Zealand and Africa. As the owners say, everything here has a story... they choose their artists and their products here personally and can offer unique stories behind the items on sale. The gallery is a collection of truly unique and quirky items, displayed in a well designed interior that is a joy to peruse!
At the rear of the gallery is a cafe, offering a traditional tea room feel, for visitors to sit in either the bright conservatory or out on the terrace relishing the culinary delights, weather and gardens.
The gardens incorporate a range of sculptures of African and New Zealand origin, with a water feature and large trees to provide shade.
Also here is a traditional sweet shop (as mentioned earlier) and a real fruit ice cream hut.
Definitely a place to visit for refreshments, to enjoy the surroundings and for the great variety of arts and sculptures to explore.
- Atea a Rangi - Star Compass
At Waitangi Regional Park, just along the coast south of Napier is Atea a Rangi (or star compass).
The compass is based on a traditional Pacific Island concept used to teach navigation. The site chosen for the installation here was the first place in Hawke's Bay that European and Maori lived together as a community.
This is a more recent sight to visit around Napier, as the Star compass was only opened in 2017, but it is nevertheless impressive.
Consisting of 28 carved wooden pillars and archway in traditional Maori design, with the backdrop of the ocean behind, this is definitely a place offering insight into traditional methods of navigation used by the people who originally came to this island.
- Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colonies
Cape Kidnappers is an 8 km headland and peninsula which sits out into the Pacific Ocean and is found 20 km south of Napier.
When you are on Marine Parade in Napier you will see the pale cliffs of Cape Kidnappers in the distance upon the horizon.
One thing the Cape here is especially famous for is it's two gannet colonies which are the world's largest and most accessible. The gannets can be seen here between September and April, before they migrate away from the NZ winter!
There are a range of tour options available to access the Cape and gannet colony, either through an overland tour or on a tractor ride along the beach...
The cape can also be accessed on foot but this is an 8 km hike, only possible at low tide and not for the faint hearted!
It is not everyday you can say you have spent time with a colony of gannets up close, so worth the experience when you can!
- Silky Oak Chocolates
For those less inclined to peninsula adventures and more partial to meeting their daily chocolate fix, a trip to Silky Oak Chocolates is needed!
A family run business, with a reputation for producing quality chocolates, Silky Oak is located outside Havelock North and has on it's site a museum, gift and chocolate shop, pantry shop and cafe.
The museum provides you with a history of chocolate, starting 3000 years ago, to the present day. There are also a range of other tours and experiences on offer if you wish to delve further into the chocolate making processes and factory (often pre booking is needed).
There are chocolates to taste within the shop and the cafe serves drinks and dishes with and without a chocolate theme!
We all know that life would be dull without chocolate in the world, and a trip to Silky Oak Chocolates is a good chocolate filled way to pass a pleasant couple of hours!
- Otatara Pa Historic Reserve
A 'Pa' in New Zealand is a Maori settlement, often a hill fort or fortified village.
Otatara Pa Historic Reserve located a short distance from Napier spans an upper and a lower Pa and is one of the largest Pa complexes in New Zealand.
The complex covers over 40 hectares and would have been chosen for it's location, with expansive views, offering a good defensive position and range of resources.
Visiting Otatara Pa today there is still evidence of the remains of dwelling sites and food storage pits, giving an idea of how these villages were built. Wooden carved palisades have been erected across the Pa to help protect the remaining archaeological features and to provide an interpretation of a defensive structure.
There are loop footpaths that take you around the Pa Reserve, with information boards along the way.
Definitely worth a trip for the views back to Napier and Cape Kidnappers, as well as a better understanding of New Zealand's past.
- Art Deco Valley Cafe
If art deco is your cup of tea (quite literally!) and you want a bit more art deco than Napier itself has already provided, then take a trip to the Art Deco Valley Cafe.
Located on one of the main roads into Napier (if arriving from the north side), this cafe, in the stunning Esk Valley wine region, is a lovely setting to sip away an afternoon, enjoying the grounds and the art deco style around you.
Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch or tea (and anything in between) arriving here you will feel as if you have stepped back into the 1920s art deco era.
The gardens are well maintained with private seating areas and the interior is furnished very fittingly to suit the overall style of the time.
Also to note - if you do fancy something stronger than tea, the Art Deco Cafe is also licensed and so you can enjoy some of the wines or beers Hawke's Bay produces so well here too.
- Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market
Should you happen to be in the area on a Sunday then take a trip to one of the largest and longest running farmers' markets in New Zealand.
Found at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, approximately 20 km outside Napier, the market here is very popular with locals and visitors enjoying the best produce from local growers.
Live music accompanies you as you enjoy the atmosphere and the delicacies.
A market can be a great way to truly feel part of a local community when you travel and to support local businesses - plus, the market at Hawke's Bay offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that anyone will enjoy!
Overall, the region of Hawke's Bay around Napier offers so much to any visitor. Of course there are the wineries (and you can read all about them in my earlier posts here) and there is plenty within Napier itself to entertain (post to follow!), but I hope this post has given you an idea of what else this incredible region provides.
Alongside the sights I have listed above, there are the towns of Hastings and Havelock North also worthy of visits and there is extensive coastline to enjoy.
Whatever you choose to do, just enjoy this part (definitely a favourite of mine) of this stunning country.
Please also comment and tell me more about your time in and around Napier or your plans - it is great to share experiences.
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