About Napier

The Hawke’s Bay coastline stretches in an unbroken curve from Cape Kidnappers to Mahia Peninsula on the east coast of the North Island. The ranges to the west give way to rolling hills and plains. These plains provide much of the land used by the region's orchards and vineyards. A network of rivers which are much valued for fishing, swimming, canoeing and jet boating, crosses the plains.

 

Check out the Hawke's Bay Events Calendar to see what's on in Napier and Hawke's Bay.

 

Napier enjoys some of the highest sunshine hours (over 1300 per year) in the whole of New Zealand and has a warm, relatively dry Mediterranean climate with average highs in January of 24.4C (76F) and average lows in July of 14.1C (57F).

 

The coastal city of Napier boasts a magnificent harbour and port. From the lookout at the summit of Napier Hill, close to McHardy Lodge, a 360 degree bird’s-eye views of the city, harbour and countryside can be enjoyed.

 

Hawke’s Bay has an array of activities and attractions to offer visitors to the area and is probably best known for its abundance (over 30) of award winning vineyards.  Napier is a haven for the wine enthusiast who will be in seventh heaven. The vineyards also provide a range of unforgettable award winning dining experiences with creative menus accompanied by fine wines in wonderful settings.

 

However it is Napier’s architectural heritage with its abundance of Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco styles which strikes the visitor on their first visit.Napier is often referred to as the "Art Deco Capital of the World" and continues to amaze visitors with its unique, Art Deco buildings, walks and tours, shopping and events.

 

In February 1931, Napier was levelled by an earthquake, and the Town Centre was destroyed and rebuilt in the popular Art Deco style of the time. Most of the Town Centre remains intact and has been recognised as architecturally unique by enthusiasts around the world. Napier and South Beach (Miami) are considered by many Art Deco enthusiasts as the two best preserved Art Deco towns in the world.

Napier is often referred to as the "Art Deco Capital of the World" and continues to amaze visitors with its unique, Art Deco buildings, walks and tours, shopping and events.Visitors come from all corners of the earth to see, feel, and experience this unique collection of heritage buildings and participate in the Art Deco celebrations.

The largest of all Art Deco events in Napier is the GEON Art Deco Weekend in February. It includes over 200 events, hundreds of 1920s and 30s cars, aerobatic flying displays, steam train rides, a great Gatsby picnic, dinner dance extravaganzas and free outdoor concerts to name a few. Many thousands of guests and locals alike dressed in Deco style bring glamour to the City streets. Feel the atmosphere, live the era of mystique, if only for a few days. The celebrations are a major attraction, a must see and do when visiting our lovely City and region.

Marine Parade close to the centre of the town epitomises the relaxed and fascinating attractions of Napier, with the spectacular beach and Pacific Ocean, the Art Deco architecture and Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery, together with more modern attractions of the National Aquarium of New Zealand and the hot spa pools of Ocean Spa.

 

We also cannot forget one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, the statue called Pania of the Reef. Her statue in Napier is regarded in the same way as the “Little Mermaid “statue is regarded in Copenhagen.