There are so many attractions in Napier, not just the Art Deco, and that doesn’t count all the wineries you can visit. Your first stop should be the iSite, where you can choose what to do and book them.
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If you are travelling around New Zealand, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.
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Attractions in Napier
There are attractions for the whole family, including a great skate park on the site of the old Marineland (with an ice-cream bar) and a mini-golf next to the iSite.
How to Get Here
The Napier iSite is at 100 Marine Parade on the Napier waterfront. Mini Golf is next door.
Art Deco Guided Tour
I have to start with this one as it’s the Art Deco Guided Tour which attracts the most people to Napier and is a great introduction to the history of Napier.
I did the 4.30 pm tour for 2 hours on a Thursday evening. This tour is a great insight into the history of Napier and the buildings that have risen since the 1931 earthquake.
You start with a 20-minute film on what Napier was like before, during and after the earthquake that devastated the city.
Outside you will walk about 2km, stopping frequently to hear about certain buildings that rose from the ashes of the fires after the earthquake and how the Art Deco has survived and thrived over the years.
Stories of the people behind the bricks and mortar and certain aspects that would otherwise be missed are pointed out during this hour-and-a-half walk.
This tour is a must-do if you have limited time in Napier.
How to Get Here
Tours start from the Art Deco Centre at 7 Tennyson Street, Napier.
Times and Prices
For the seasonal time of all tours and prices, please click here.
MTG Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery
The MTG Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery allow free entry giving you an insight into Napier’s history, including exhibits in the art gallery on the floors above.
Current and future exhibits can be found on their website and occupy the ground and first floor, but a must-see is in the basement, the story of the 1931 Earthquake.
The stories and artefacts take you back to that fateful day, 3 Feb 1931, at 10:47 am. A film of survivors’ memories takes you back to the days before and what it was like during and after the earthquake. The retelling of the events that happened that day and their accounts of the conditions days before is, in hindsight, an indication of what was to come.
How to Get Here
The MTG Hawke’s Bay is at 1 Tennyson Street, Napier.
Hours
Daily 9.30 am-5.00 pm
Admission
Free
The National Aquarium of New Zealand
On the waterfront, the National Aquarium of New Zealand sits proudly down from the Spirit of Napier.
Opened in 1976 in its present location, it welcomed 230,082 visitors in its first year, and I may have been one of them.
The National Aquarium houses aquatic life not only in New Zealand but around the world. You walk through rooms with pools and tanks showing fish up close that we don’t see in everyday life like Piranha.
Reptiles such as American Alligator, Tortoises and Tuatara share the space with Kiwi, tropical fish, penguins and sharks.
A tunnel takes you on an underwater adventure where the water is above and beside you, and you can see sharks, stingrays, and other fish gliding over the dome. It’s a great view, especially of the stingrays, as you can see their smiling faces.
To take part in guided tours click here. School holiday program information can be found here.
The National Aquarium is a great place for all the family or your inside child.
How to Get Here
The National Museum is on the southern end of Marine Parade. You can either drive or walk from the City Centre.
Hours
Daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (including public holidays). Last entry 4:30 pm.
Closed Christmas Day.
Admission
For prices, booking and animal feeding times, please click here.
Napier Prison
Napier Prison is currently closed as of April 2024 due to due to concerns around the strength of buildings and retaining walls.
As New Zealand’s oldest prison, Napier Prison has seen the best and worst of Napier. It withstood the 1931 earthquake and has held many infamous prisoners over the years.
Once inside, you can follow a self-guided audio tour. With corresponding numbers on the walls, you can punch them into the device to hear the commentary of the area you are in.
Many interesting facts are also pinned to the walls, like the prisoners incarcerated there. There are also incredible stories. One was the son of a guard waking at midnight to see a prisoner re-entering the prison with KFC. Another was prisoners escaping even though the walls were smoothed down so they couldn’t get a grip.
There are also the horror stories of centuries gone of children as young as eight being locked up for a petty crime. People also paid 1 or 2 shillings to view the hangings as if they were entertainment. Executed prisoners were then buried standing up to ensure that they never rested in peace.
Gangs were also a big part of the more recent history. The most infamous gang in New Zealand is the Mongrel Mob. The gang began in the 1960s with Pākehā (European men), although now it is predominately Maori. Legend says they got their name from a Judge in Hastings referring to the men before him as “mongrels.”
It has also been the subject of shows like Ghost Hunters International, which have found evidence through their instruments of paranormal activity. You can also do night tours and find out for yourself.
It also has Escape Rooms for you and your friends to enjoy.
How to Get Here
The Napier Prison is at 55 Coote Road on Bluff Hill.
Hours
Daily 9.00 am – 5 pm.
Prices
For entry to the Prison and a tour, please click here. For Escape Room prices and to book tickets, please click here.
Waterfront Walk
With just over 2km of activities along the Napier waterfront, it’s a great walk with sights to see and activities to do.
The Napier beachfront isn’t your usual beach. It’s not a safe place to go swimming any time of the year. You also have to be careful along the water’s edge as it is known for rogue waves. People have been known to be knocked down and taken out to sea.
Pania of the Reef
Pania’s story is a Maori legend. Pania was a beautiful maiden that lived in the sea. Every night she would swim to the shore and go up a stream and watch the local chief, Karitoki. One night she put a spell on him, and when he saw her, he fell in love with her and took her to be his wife.
Every morning she would go back to the sea, but Karitoki wanted her to be with him all the time. He consulted a wise elder in the village who told him that if she swallowed hot food, she would not be allowed back to the sea.
When she was asleep that night, Karitoki tried to feed her, but at that moment, a Morepork let out a cry waking Pania. In a panic, she fled to the sea with her son, never to return.
Even today, if you look down in the water, you can see Pania with arms outstretched to Karitoki. Their son is now the guardian of the Bay, a spirit who may be seen as a shark, an octopus or a stingray.
Tom Parker Fountain
In 1936, Tom Parker donated £1000 toward the cost of an electric fountain in Napier to be known as the Tom Parker fountain. He chose the site, and the Napier Borough Council contributed towards any further costs.
After trouble with labourers and parts threatened the opening date but the turning on of the fountain happened the day before Christmas Eve from the Sound Shell by Tom Parker under rainy skies. Over 82 years later, tourists still come down to the waterfront to see the fountain. At night it’s lit by changing colours.
Sunken Gardens
Opened in 1969, the gardens are a great escape from street-level traffic above. Going down the steps, you are taken into colourful gardens with plants, sculptures and water features. In December and January, the Pohutukawa blossom is out, adding to all the colours of the gardens.
Bluff Hill Walk (or Drive)
Walking up, you start across the road from the Ocean Spa on the waterfront, where you’ll find Coote Road (the same road as the Prison), and then all you really need to do is follow the signs up. From Coote Road, take Priestley Road, then on the right-hand side, near the end, you have the Bluff Hill Track taking you through to Priestley Terrace. Turn right at the top onto Lighthouse Road, and you can either follow this all the way to the top or, on the left-hand side, there is another track that takes you up to the lookout.
From the top, you have views of the port, out over Westshore and up the coast toward Mahia Peninsula.
How to Get Here
If you want to drive up, it’s the same starting point at Coote Road, but this time you turn right onto Thompson Road, which leads onto Lighthouse Road on the right, which you then follow to the top.
Napier Botanical Gardens
The Napier Botanical Gardens are 18 acres of gardens, duck ponds and a bird aviary.
You can walk up from Spencers Road car park past the Duck Pond and up, where you can visit the Old Napier Cemetery.
Tours of Old Napier Cemetery are held once a month on a Sunday during summer. Check with iSite or the MGT Museum for details.
How to Get Here
The Napier Botanic Gardens are at 19 Spencer Road, Hospital Hill and the Old Napier Cemetery entrance is off Hospital Terrace, Hospital Hill.
Attractions Heading Out of Napier
There are not only attractions in Napier but outside of it as well. Make sure you have a car to get around these spots to make your stay even more enjoyable.
Cycle Path
Hire a bicycle at one of the hire places on the waterfront in Napier and enjoy kilometres of fun along the cycleway.
You can cycle from Bay View, just north of Napier, to Cape Kidnappers, on 200km of trails. Along the waterfront, past wetlands, and even cycling to wineries, there is something for everyone on the cycleway.
How to Get Here
Clive is halfway between Napier and Hastings. The access points to the cycleway in Clive are off Ferry Road. You can also follow the cycleway from Napier along the waterfront.
Te Ana Falls
The Tangoio Scenic Reserve is a great place to visit just a half-hour out of Napier.
Two waterfalls are situated here, Te Ana Falls and Tangoio Falls, and you can also walk back up to White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve, about an hour and a half return.
Te Ana Falls is about a 30-40 minute return walk on a good flat track, but it can get muddy. After you cross the bridge, there are picnic tables, where you can enjoy lunch or a snack before or after your walk.
This waterfall was one of the most surprising I have seen. It is hidden from you until the last minute.
There hasn’t been much if any, rain over the summer, and I’d like to come back in the Spring to see how much more powerful the falls would be.
Tangoio Falls
The turn-off for Tangoio Falls is 5 minutes before Te Ana Falls on the track.
This track is uphill most of the way and would be very muddy if it had been raining as there was a bit of mud with no rain lately when I did it.
When you finally get to the top (about 20 minutes from the turn-off), you have a wooden lookout, that gives a great view of the falls. Once again, it is somewhere I like to come back to in Spring when the falls would be at their most powerful.
How to Get Here
The car park for both Falls is located on State Highway 2 towards Gisborne. It’s a 26-minute (27 km) drive from Napier City Centre.
Pekapeka Wetlands
Just 10 minutes out of Havelock North, on State Highway 2, is the Pekapeka Wetlands, a nice place to walk around and see the local wildlife.
You can walk up the lookout and see the boardwalks over the water to explore on the left and right-hand sides. Over the boardwalk, you can follow the track up to Totara Hill, where you can have a snack or lunch using the picnic table.
You can go towards the lookout and then take the path to the other boardwalk to see more water birds. This path also takes you back to the car park.
How to Get Here
Pekapeka Wetlands are located at Roys Hillon State Highway 50, 25 minutes (26 km) from Napier City Centre.
Te Mata Peak
Just out of Havelock North is Te Mata Peak. Like Bluff Hill in Napier, Te Mata Peak has great views across Hawke’s Bay, the mountain ranges, Hastings, Napier and out to sea.
You can drive or walk up with about 5 walks around and up to the peak. There is also a Redwood Forest here that you can walk around. You can park at the picnic grounds as you start up the hill. From here is a map of the tracks, or you can drive all or most of the way up.
How to Get Here
Te Mata Park is a 36-minute (27 km) drive from Napier City Centre. Take the Napier Road towards Havelock North and follow the signs for the Peak.
Maraetotara Falls
Maraetotara Falls is a quick and easy walk you can drive or cycle to. It’s only a 20-minute return walk it is a nice track but can get muddy when wet.
The track starts by going down and then follows the stream back upstream to the falls.
The beautiful Maraetotara Falls and the great swimming pool will keep you cool on a hot summer’s day.
When you reach the falls, you will find a large pool that is great for swimming in the summer. Around the left side, you’ll find another smaller waterfall, which has a lovely mossy cliff face.
How to Get Here
The Falls are located at 394 Maretotara Falls Road. It’s a 34-minute (34 km) drive from Napier City Centre via State Highway 51 and Waimarama Road.
Conclusion
There are many more attractions in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and further afield. Hopefully, this has given you a taste of what’s on offer when you visit this fantastic area.
If you are visiting in February, check out the Art Deco Festival which lasts about 5 days, over a long weekend. I visited the 2019 festival, and you can read the blog here. If you would like more on places to visit on the North Island, click here.
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What a fabulous round up of things to do and see in Napier! I really enjoyed the stories … you’re a natural tour guide!
Thanks Gabby. It’s hard to know if you’re on track sometimes but thanks to your comments I know I am.
Wonderful account of activities and sights to see and explore whilst in Napier. Great article
Thanks Marilyn. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
You are right about that beach – it’s dangerous. My cousin drowned there.
We are going to Napier in January next year and will be following your recommendations, thanks. It’s been a long while since I was there last and not really as a tourist but for my Aunty’s funeral. This time it will be as a tourist.
I’ve never even heard of this place! Finding the closest botanical gardens is my life hack anytime you want good photos.
I’m glad I could help, Lauren. Hopefully, you’ll get to visit them one day.
Goodness, there seems to be a wealth of things to do in Napier! Love the art deco architecture and also hikes and waterfall visits. We hope we get to visit New Zealand someday – I wonder how they’re going to re-start tourism now they they’ve declare themselves virus-free? Thanks for this great post!
Thanks, Susan. Who knows what’s going to happen travel-wise the next 12 months, but I hope that you get to visit Napier sometime soon.
This really brings me back to our short and windy visit to Napier. I wish we had been there longer. We hiked the cycle path and did the art museum but missed several of the other attractions you suggest here. I hope to return. Thank for the memories.
Thanks, Laureen. I’m glad that you had such a great time there, and hopefully, you will get back to see more. Try and make it in February for the Art Deco Festival. You can check it out on my blog.
Great post of many of Napier’s highlights.
Thanks, Kelly