You’d be forgiven for thinking time had stood still in Napier. With its downtown rebuilt after an earthquake in the 1930s, this North Island coastal city is a veritable museum of art deco architecture. The city embraces its vintage vibes—there’s even an annual Art Deco Festival. But the city isn’t stuck in the past, and there are plenty of things to do in Napier. Go wine tasting in the surrounding Hawke’s Bay region, admire the gannet colony of Cape Kidnappers, or hike the summit of Te Mata Peak.
The beaches and vineyards of Hawke’s Bay are perennially popular with summer vacationers, and Napier sees the majority of its visitors from December through February. Joining the crowds for the Art Deco Festival in February is great fun, and more than 40,000 people come to Napier to relive the jazz era and celebrate with period costumes and vintage motors. Alternatively, the sunny spring months of October and November are often a great time to bag a bargain on a beach vacation.
Having your own transport is handy when visiting Napier, as many of the city’s attractions, beaches, and outdoor adventures are beyond walking distance. If you don’t want to rent a car, opt for a bike or e-bike—there are more than 125 miles (200 kilometers) of cycling trails. Public buses run around the city and between Napier and neighboring Hastings, while the Hawke’s Bay wine region is best visited as part of a guided tour (you’ll want a designated driver, after all!).
On the northwest shore of Napier, the port-side neighborhood of Ahuriri is the city’s street art hub, where you’ll find the large-scale murals known as the Sea Walls. After following the Sea Wall trail, head down to Ahuriri Estuary to enjoy bird-watching and go kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding at Pandora Pond, then work your way through the district’s growing list of cafés, restaurants, and independent boutiques.
