Napier Travel Guide: City Rebuilt with Vision
Napier budget travel guide includes all the essential information and the best things to do in Napier, New Zealand's city rebuilt in Art Deco style after a destructive earthquake. Read more about top attractions, tips on where to stay, how to get to Napier, when to visit, what to pack.
Napier is a small coastal town on the North Island of New Zealand, and when we were talking with locals about our future plans to spend at least one day in Napier, three words which no one failed to mention were an earthquake, Art Deco, and wine. In this exact order.
We don't like earthquakes (we've experienced earthquakes several times already, and it is really not a situation we like), but the interesting architecture and great wine combined with splendid hikes along the coast, were for sure appealing for us and were among those things we wanted to do.
Also, Napier is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can get away from crowds, and that's why it is a popular getaway with locals, who like to arrive here to relax.
Therefore Napier is a great place for travelers who want to experience an authentic atmosphere of traditional New Zealand's coastal sunny town.
After a massive earthquake in 1931, Napier city center was rebuilt. But not just like that, impulsively to repair damages as quickly as possible, but with a vision, in the Art Deco style.
The deadly and devastating earthquake was not the end for Napier, but the new beginning.
This terrible tragedy which took many lives united people together, and when the necessary time to grief had passed, the city got a new impulse and started to thrive.
For starters, it is worth mentioning that most of the structures and buildings in Napier were leveled by the powerful earthquake of 7.8 on Richters Magnitude
To give you an idea of how the earthquake was strong, the entire area was lifted by more than two meters, and by another sixty centimeters in some specific places!
It is unbelievable to imagine, that a large part of today's Napier was under the sea before the earthquake.
Napier at that time was quite a young town because it was founded in 1855, although Maori tribes settled in the region centuries ago.
It's the oldest town in the Hawke’s Bay and was formerly known as Ahuriri. Thanks to the disaster, most of the buildings, that form the historical core of the town were built in the unique Art Deco style.
It's no wonder, where Napier's nickname, the Art Deco capital of the world, came from.
Because of Napier's proximity to Hastings, the town often sees international visitors, because the whole Hastings area (Hastings city is the largest city near Napier) is famous among young travelers on Work and Travel visas who arrive in Hastings to pick apples, cherries or pears as there are many orchards nearby, and usually visit Napier during their time off.
In this post, we would like to introduce Napier as a cultural, wine and outdoor destination, and increase awareness about its beauty, because the town definitely deserves it.
Here's our travel guide on the best things to do in Napier, top attractions, tips on where to stay, what to pack, and simply how to best enjoy your time.
BEST THINGS TO DO
As we want to be honest with you, we must say one thing first before we dive into introducing the best things to do in Napier.
Napier is not the typical must-see destination, at least when we compare it with other places around New Zealand, and to be quite frank, there is not much to do in the classical touristy point of view.
If you are from Napier, keep your pitchforks down, it gets better, we promise. If it's your first-time visit to the country of white cloud, you won't probably have enough time to fit Napier in your New Zealand itinerary, because simply the country has so many absolutely stunning places common travelers have on their bucket list.
The thing here is, that people usually travel from Auckland to Rotorua, Taupo, and then to Tongariro National Park, and they skip Napier and the east coast of New Zealand's North Island completely.
Sometimes creating the perfect travel itinerary is not easy, and we all have to compromise, and as an unfortunate result of our actions, some places won't make it to the final list.
However, Napier is a very laidback town with impressive architecture, and we must admit, that we really enjoyed our stay there, even though only for a few days.
Thanks to its picturesque location and perfect weather conditions for wine growing, the town and the whole area is getting more popular every year, and is slowly getting to the guidebooks, travel blogs and to people's minds.
And there is more than just wine tasting and art deco. The nature around Napier is absolutely breathtaking.
For some travelers, nature beauty might not be as striking as on South Island where you can find all those fjords and snow-capped mountains, but Napier's landscape is gorgeous in a different way, and places like Cape Kidnappers or Lake Waikaremoana are the highlights of this region.
To give you something to think about, you can ask yourself, how many times have you seen a Gannet Colony from up-close?
Here is our personally curated list of the best things to do in Napier and its vicinity.
BEACHES
360 kilometers long stretch of Hawke's Bay is lined with many beautiful beaches such as Waipatiki, Waimarama, and Ocean Beach.
These sun-drenched beaches are a perfect getaway for locals and also for travelers, who after a hectic road tripping around New Zeland, seek fun in the sun.
As we all know, beaches in New Zealand are often not that idyllic as they look like in the travel magazines because of the cold winds and sandflies, but we recommend you to give swimming and sunbathing near Napier a try.
However, the pebble city beach in Napier itself, which follows the Marine Parade, is not safe for swimming. There is a drop-off, large waves, and strong current.
It's a delightful place to take a stroll on a sunny day with seagulls flying overhead or have a picnic on one of its lunch spots, only don't go for a swim there.
ART DECO
In the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco or solely Deco was already a popular architectural style in Europe and the US.
The style has roots in France, where it first appeared in 1925. You must understand, that on the break of the 19th and 20th century, Art Nouveau with its pure lines, and garish colors was the most influential style in the world.
But there were also new styles, more modern styles, like cubism, the world was changing fast with groundbreaking inventions, and industrial development, and all these trends had an immense impact on a new style, Art Deco.
Despite the fact, that Art Deco was, at least at the beginning, aimed at rich people, it became so popular, that it spread everywhere.
Simply put, Art Deco was a fashionable art style back then, so after Napier was destroyed by the earthquake, it was decided, that the new city will be rebuilt in this new style.
The reason behind the decision of choosing Art Deco was not only that it looked pretty, but the reason was more pragmatic. The buildings were more earthquake resistant and cheaper to build.
Make sure you will have time on your schedule to walk around the heart of the town with your eyes wide open.
The city center is pretty compact, and it is even enough to have two hours to spare, to see the best from this architectural style and soak up the atmosphere.
If you happen to be in town in February, Napier annually celebrates an Art Deco Festival, and most of the events are free.
This travel-back-in-time event features live concerts, vintage cars parade, fashion shows, or fine dining experiences.
To know more about the region and Art Deco style, it is possible to take a guided tour.
Here you can reserve a Napier Art Deco Guided Walk.
CAPE KIDNAPPERS
Despite its frightening name, Cape Kidnappers, a rugged peninsula on North Island, is only a short drive from Napier, and a must-visit place when in the area.
And as a matter of fact, Cape Kidnappers is home to the largest gannet bird colony in the world.
If you are not into birds, gannets are snowy white long-necked yellow-headed blue-eyed stunning animals famous for their mating rituals when the male and female entwine their necks.
It's a wonderful thing to see even for someone who doesn't plan their trips around bird watching.
The trail to Cape Kidnappers starts from Clifton and will take you along the yellow sandy beach and under pale high cliffs.
The hike is quite easy, although the harsh sun and wind make it a bit challenging, the trail to Cape Kidnappers is very rewarding.
Here is the best part.
You do not need to bring binoculars to see the gannets, as one of the viewing platforms is right on the edge of the colony, and you can get so close, that you will almost feel you are the part of the colony.
Sure, go ahead and bring binoculars if you wish, there are more plateaus where the birds breed and live, so you can have a better look, but we were really pleasantly surprised how close to the birds we could get.
Remember to stay in the designated area and don't cross the low hanging rope separating the colony from the trail.
To learn more about the hike and our experience, read our in-depth guide about Cape Kidnappers.
If you do not want to get to Cape Kidnappers on own, you can always take a guided tour.
Here you can reserve a Cape Kidnappers Gannet, Nature and Sightseeing Tour from Napier.
LAKE WAIKAREMOANA
Large dark blue lake, true New Zealand's forest, waterfalls, rivers, great short trails, and a Great Walk, all that and much more offers the area around Lake Waikaremoana.
We did the 46 kilometers long trek around Lake Waikaremoana which rightfully belongs among Great Walks, and its quiet character offers one of the finest backcountry experiences in New Zealand.
To get to the trailhead, you need to take a water taxi, so fewer hikers attempt to finish this track than it is usual when it comes to New Zealand's finest walks.
The views from the top of the hill overlooking the lake are simply stunning, and the trail will take you through lush forests and around beautiful falls.
It took us three incredible days to finish the trek, and despite the fact, that it can't compete in prestige with other famous hikes such as Routeburn, Milford, or Kepler Great Walks on South Island, we enjoyed every minute on the trail.
Lake Waikaremoana is not only a place visited by avid hikers, but it's also a fantastic spot for everyone who loves pristine nature, fishing, and serene atmosphere.
As you would've probably expected, it's not completely easy to get to the lake, it takes about three hours by car from Napier, and part of the road is gravel, but it is undoubtedly worth it.
WINE TASTING
Napier is one of the finest wine regions in New Zealand famous for its Chardonnay and Syrah.
I must confess, that, unlike Lucie, who likes to have a glass of wine from time to time, I prefer draught beer. Well, that's what we basically do here in the Czech Republic, we drink beer.
But the hard work on a vineyard in New Zealand kind of broadened my horizons and opened my eyes.
If you are looking to get a deeper experience than have a glass of wine paired with your meal, you can choose from one of several wine tasting tours.
Here you can reserve a Napier Wine and Gin Tasting Tour.
BEACHFRONT
Marine Parade is the coastal street in Napier where you will find many hotels and top attractions like the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
It's also a great place to walk, jog or bike with views.
Napier's i-SITE Visitor Information Centre is opposite of the Dome, and the staff will help you to answer all your questions.
It is pleasant to walk around when the weather is nice and sunny, and you can feel the light fresh breeze on your face.
If you can, reserve a room facing the sea for great views.
WHERE TO STAY IN NAPIER
Accommodation in Napier is abundant, however, the prices in high season, as everywhere in New Zealand, are higher, and budget travelers might struggle to find an affordable place to stay.
Most hotels are located near the CBD or on the waterfront. If you ask for a room with a sea-view, don't forget to get up early to watch the sunrise.
We’ve handpicked three best accommodations for all types of travelers.
Budget | Toad Hall Backpackers - A cozy hostel for backpackers who are looking to save some money on accommodation. The hostel has both private and dormitory-style rooms for a reasonable price. Staff is friendly, location is a short walk from CBD, rooms are clean, breakfast is included, so it's basically everything you need in the hostel.
Mid-range | Beachfront Motel - Excellent location close to everything on Marine Parade street, rooms are spacious, clean, and have a kitchen. Great value for money.
Luxury | The Dome - This luxury hotel is located in a Art Deco building, and has one of the best locations in the town. Rooms are stylishly appointed, and it's a walking distance to restaurants and shops.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
HOW TO GET TO NAPIER
Only two roads are leading to and from Napier, one heading north, and the other one heading south.
One of them is State Highway 2 that runs from Auckland to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand which connects the eastern part of the North Island with the rest of the island.
State Highway 5 then turns left into the central part of New Zealand and goes via Taupo to Rotorua.
Our journey to Napier was a little bit more complicated, as we didn't have any strict itinerary to follow at the time, and we were just freely roaming the country, so we arrived in Napier from Taupo.
The road was really nice, and the landscape with rolling hills beautiful. We arrived in Napier just before the sunset and stayed in one of the camps overnight.
For getting around New Zealand, we strongly recommend you to rent a car.
Renting a car allows you to use your time more efficiently and gives you the freedom to visit all the places you want without any hiccups.
We love public transport and use it as much as possible when traveling around Europe or South America, but that's not the case for New Zealand.
Trust us on this.
WHEN TO VISIT NAPIER
Napier lies on New Zealand's east coast in Hawke's Bay on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and its climate is dry, warm and mild with sunny days throughout the year.
The best time to visit Napier is from November to February when the days are warmest.
July is the coldest month of the year, but we can say that Napier is an all-year-round destination.
We spent a few days around November in the area, and we had great weather, it was sunny all the time and hot during the day.
What to Pack for Visiting Napier
Napier lies in rain shadow and gets a lot of sunshine, so a good sunscreen with high SPF is a must.
Protect your skin, the sun in New Zeland can be very harsh. Also, if you spend a day on direct sunshine, cover your head. This is especially true if you decide to spend a day on the beach or walk on the beach to the Gannet colony on Cape Kidnappers. No trees, no shade, and the sun are brutal.
Other must-pack things for visiting Napier are: Daypack | Canon M50 | Swimsuit for Him & for Her | Water Bottle
Safety in Napier
New Zealand is very safe for tourists in general. However, Napier is a little bit more than that
A few years ago Napier won an award as a worldwide leading safe city. How much safer can you be on your travels?
As everywhere else in the world, nothing is perfect, so when leaving a car on a parking lot, don't leave any valuables inside.
When going to the beach, check if it's suitable for swimming.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
