Napier

Stuff we have seen and done: I was born and raised here, and pretty much everything I did in this small town was in walking distance.

• Art Deco Show (February) – in Napier is a glitzy, glamour event and all the best cars are polished off and costumes are put on to enjoy the celebration of this town’s most iconic event – Art Deco in the Art Deco capital of the world.
• National Aquarium of New Zealand
• Hawke’s Bay Trails
• Sunken Gardens
• Napier Prison – open daily for self-guided tours.
• Bluff Hill Lookout
• Marine Parade – it offers a lovely walk all along the beach front with fresh breezes.
• Visit the many cafes and bakeries which deliver each day fresh and delicious food.
• (From Napier) Te Mata Peak – lovely views from this mountain peak.

From Napier:

• Smugglers Museum
• Hastings Pier
• True Crime Museum
• Hastings Castle (ruins)
• Hastings Aquarium

Tours:

• Gannet Safari’s 
• Cape Kidnappers: History Bite: Cape Kidnappers would later be named as such in commemoration of an incident during Captain Cook’s 1769 voyage when Māori traders are said to have seized Cook’s Tahitian cabin boy who they thought was being held against his will.
• Art Deco self-guided walking tour
• Wonderful bike rides and tours from here, if you love biking or hiking tours.
• Wineries are beautiful in this part of the world.
• Fruit Orchards – the fruit in this part of the world is sensational so take orchard tours and taste the fresh fruit and smoothies.