Napier is a city of about 66,000 people on Hawke Bay, on the east coast of the North Island, 320 km north east of Wellington. On the morning of 3 February 1931 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake destroyed most of it and neighbouring Hastings, killing 256 people. The fires that followed finished the job. The town was rebuilt within a few years, in the styles of the moment, which left it with one of the most complete sets of 1930s art deco and Spanish Mission buildings anywhere. The same earthquake lifted the seabed by up to 2.7 m and turned a lagoon into land on which the airport and several suburbs now sit.
Of the itineraries we sell, 63 come to Napier and 59 of them stay, most for two nights (45 itineraries). They usually arrive from Rotorua (36) or Wellington (14) and move on to Wellington (26) or the Martinborough wine country (14). The two things they book most here are a half day Hawke's Bay wine tour with Grape Escape (21 itineraries) and the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony (19).
- From Taupō
- 140 km, about 2 h
- From Rotorua
- 220 km, about 3 h
- From Wellington
- 320 km, about 4 h
- Nearest airports
- Hawke's Bay (NPE), 8 km, Wellington (WLG), 320 km
What Napier is famous for
The art deco. Walking the few blocks between Emerson Street, Tennyson Street and Marine Parade is like walking a 1930s film set that people happen to shop in: zigzags, sunbursts, stylised fern and Māori motifs, pastel paint, and neon signs at night. The Daily Telegraph building on Tennyson Street is the one on every postcard. The Art Deco Trust runs guided walks from its centre in town, and they are worth the time, because the guides explain which details are original, which are borrowed from Māori design and why a city in a hurry chose concrete. Our itineraries that include the vintage car tour (3) see it from the back seat of a 1930s car.
The second thing is wine. Hawke's Bay is the second largest wine region in New Zealand, and the one for red: syrah and Bordeaux-style blends from the Gimblett Gravels, plus a lot of good chardonnay. Mission Estate, founded by Marist missionaries, claims to be the oldest winery in the country. Our guide to Napier and Hawke's Bay goes into the wineries and the earthquake story in more depth.
Things to do in Napier
- Wine tours: the half day Grape Escape tour is on 21 of our itineraries. Four or five cellar doors in an afternoon, no driving, and you will learn more about syrah than you expected.
- Cape Kidnappers gannets (19 itineraries): around 6,500 pairs of Australasian gannets nest on the cliffs of Cape Kidnappers, the largest mainland colony in the world. Gannet Safaris drive you across a private farm to the edge of the colony, close enough to hear it. The tours run from September to April; early November to late February is the best time.
- Marine Parade: 3 km of seafront with Norfolk pines, sunken gardens, the statue of Pania of the Reef and the National Aquarium of New Zealand (3 itineraries visit it). It is best on a bike: the Hawke's Bay Trails run flat along the coast and out to the wineries.
- Te Mata Peak: the 399 m hill above Havelock North, 30 minutes south, with a road to the top and a view over the whole bay to Mount Ruapehu on a clear day.
- Chocolate: 11 of our itineraries take the Silky Oak Chocolate Company's factory tour, a crowd pleaser for families.
- MTG Hawke's Bay: the city museum and gallery on Marine Parade, including an exhibition on the earthquake and the rebuild.
Can you swim at Napier beach?
Not at Marine Parade. The beach in front of the city is steep grey shingle that drops away sharply a few metres out, and there is a strong undertow; people drown there. Walk along it, sit on it, but do not swim. The council and the surf lifesaving clubs say the same thing.
For a swim, drive to one of the sandy beaches along the coast. Waimārama, about 45 minutes south, is patrolled by surf lifeguards in summer and is the one locals take their children to. Always swim between the flags where they are up.
How to get to Napier
From the centre of the North Island you come over the ranges on State Highway 5 from Taupō, a winding road through forest and high sheep country that takes about two hours. From Wellington it is State Highway 2 up through the Wairarapa and Dannevirke. Hastings, the other half of the twin cities, is 18 km south.
| From | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taupō | About 140 km | About 2 h | State Highway 5 over the ranges; winding |
| Rotorua | About 220 km | About 3 h | Via Taupō; the most common arrival on our itineraries |
| Wellington | About 320 km | About 4 h | State Highway 2 through the Wairarapa |
| Hastings | 18 km | About 20 min | The wineries and Te Mata Peak are this side |
Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) is about 8 km north of the centre, with Air New Zealand flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. InterCity coaches run from Wellington, Taupō and Rotorua. Roads in the region were badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023; they are open again, but check the NZ Transport Agency after heavy rain.
How long to stay, and the weather
Two nights, which is what most of our itineraries give it. One day for the city and the gannets, one for the wineries, Te Mata Peak and the bike trails. One night is enough to see the deco buildings but not the wine country, and the drive in from anywhere takes a good part of a day.
Napier is one of the sunniest and driest places in the North Island, with about 2,300 hours of sunshine and under 800 mm of rain a year. Summer highs average around 25°C and winter highs around 15°C. February is peak season because of the Art Deco Festival, when the city dresses in the 1930s and beds go months ahead; book early or avoid that week. Autumn, March and April, is harvest, with warm days and the vineyards turning. The MetService forecast for Napier covers the city.
Where to stay in Napier
The city centre and Marine Parade are where you want to be: everything is walkable, and you can have dinner and walk back past the lit-up buildings. Ahuriri, by the old port, has the restaurants on the water. Havelock North and the wine country have lodges and B&Bs for a quieter stay. The properties our itineraries use:
- Art Deco Masonic Hotel (18 itineraries): the deco hotel on the corner of Marine Parade and Tennyson Street, rebuilt after the earthquake. The one to pick if you want to sleep in the story.
- Bella Vista Napier (9): motel rooms close to the centre.
- Scenic Hotel Te Pania (5): a modern hotel on Marine Parade facing the sea.
- Navigate Seaside Hotel (4): another option our itineraries use.
You can see every trip through the city on the tours through Napier, from NZ$2,350. If you are coming from the lake, our Taupō page covers the stop before.
What the itineraries do in Napier
63 of our itineraries reach Napier and 59 sleep there: 13 for 1 night, 45 for 2 nights, 1 for 3 nights. Counted from the day by day of every tour, so the numbers move with the catalogue.
- Napier City on 24 itineraries
- Hawkes Bay Half Day Wine Tour with Grape Escape on 21 itineraries
- Gannet Safaris on 19 itineraries
- Walking tracks in and around Hawkes Bay on 16 itineraries
- Triple Chocolate Dipper Tour with the Silky Oak Chocolate Company on 11 itineraries
- Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on 9 itineraries
- Huka Falls Jet Boat Ride on 7 itineraries
- Hawkes Bay Wine and Dine Tour with Grape Escape on 6 itineraries
Where they stay: Art Deco Masonic Hotel (18), Bella Vista Napier (9), Scenic Hotel Te Pania (5), Scenic Hotel Te Pania (or similar) (5), Navigate Seaside Hotel (4), Swiss-Belboutique Napier (2). Every property is named on its tour page, with the room grade.
Most arrive from Rotorua (36), Wellington (14), Taupō (7) and carry on to Wellington (26), Martinborough (14), Rotorua (12).
