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National Tobacco Company Building
NATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANY BUILDING
- Ahuriri, Napier.

 

Arguably the regions art deco masterpiece, the National Tobacco Company Building is located just down the road from the city centre in Ahuriri.

The building combines art-deco forms with art nouveau, quintessential of 1933.  Grapevines and roses frame the elegant entrance. During business hours you can enter and view the first two rooms.

 

Location: cnr Bridge & Ossian Sts, Ahuriri, Napier.

Price: free
Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri


Web: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4571/national-tobacco-company-building

National Aquarium of New Zealand
​NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF NEW ZEALAND
- Napier

​

The National Aquarium is home to New Zealand's largest display of aquatic life and unique wildlife.  Here you'll find Sharks, Kiwi, Stingrays, Tuatara, Coral, and a large variety of fish species. An educational and fun day for the whole family.



Location: â€‹290 Marine Pde, Napier

Price: $10 per hr- $20 half-day- $30 full day​

Hours: 8am to 5pm



Web: http://www.nationalaquarium.co.nz

photograph courtesy of Hawkes Bay Tourism

Nga Taonga A Maui Gallery Hawkes Bay New Zealand
NGA TAONGA A MAUI GALLERY - Napier

​

​Home to a collection of for-sale Maori items including Maori carvings, traditional cloaks and glass sculptures.

 

High end Traditional & Contemporary Maori Art created by Ngaati Kahungunu, Maori & local artists.

​

​Location: 131 Marine Pde Napier

Price: Free​

Hours: 10am till 3pm​

NAPIER PRISON - Napier



​​​Napier Prison offers self-guided tours, hosted tours and night tours which include an overnight stay in the prison. The tours tell of the history of the prison, the patrons and the hangings etc...  It is said that whiIe staying overnight you can experience the ghosts of the prison, being sceptical we wonder, but the only way to know is to check it out for yourself.



Location: 55 Coote Rd, Napier

Price: $20 Adult

Hours: 9am to 3pm, night tours available.

​

Web: http://www.napierprison.com

Napier Prison Hawkes Bay New Zealand
WAIROA MUSEUM - Wairoa

​

The Wairoa Museum hosts an air-conditioned long-term gallery installation and alternating exhibitions.  The long term collection contains thousands of objects from Taonga Maori, settler items, historical files and memorabilia associated with Wairoa. Worth a look while passing through or on that rainy day.



Location: 142 Marine Pde, Wairoa

Price: admission by donation

Hours: 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, to 1pm Sat

​

Web:​ http://wairoamuseum.org.nz

Wairoa Museum Hawkes Bay New Zealand

photograph courtesy of Wairoa Museum

NZ Wine Centre,  Hawkes Bay New Zealand
THE NEW ZEALAND WINE CENTRE - Napier

 

A wine lovers delight, the New Zealand Wine Centre keeps you entertained with interactive wine adventures as well as tasting the regions quality wines.

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Other sights within the NZ Wine Centre are a wine museum, school of wine and wine shop.
 

Location; AMP Building, 1 Shakespeare Road, Napier. ï»¿

Price: $14.00 to $29.00​



Web: http://www.newzealandwinecentre.co.nz

photograph courtesy of Hawkes Bay Tourism

Otatara Pa Hawkes Bay New Zealand

OTATARA PA - Napier
​

Otatara Pa greets you with wooden palisades, carved pou (memorial posts) and a carved gate. From here its an hour-long loop walk across grassy hills, sighting barely-discernible archaeological remains, whilst taking in the terrific views of Napier, across to Cape Kidnappers and out to sea. 

​

Location: Springfield Rd, Napier, situated close to Taradale, head southwest on Taradale Rd and Gloucester St. Turn right into Springfield Rd just before the river. Look out for the palisades on the hill above the Eastern Institute of Technology.

Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Price: free​

 

Web: http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/hawkes-bay/otatara-pa/

photograph courtesy of Napier City Council

MARINE PARADE - Napier



​Lined with Norfolk Island pines, and dotted with motels and charming timber villas, here you'll find parks, sunken gardens, a minigolf course, a swimming complex and aquarium. The Tom Parker Fountain is situated at the north end of the parade, which is best viewed at night when it is lavishly lit. Next to this is Pania of the Reef (1954).

 

Location: Marine Parade, Napier
Hours: 24 hours

Price: free​



Web: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/24200/marine-parade-gardens-napier

Marine Parade Hawkes Bay New Zealand

photograph courtesy of Max Patmoy

ART DECO ARCHITECTURE 1930's
DRESS-UP - Napier

​Napier celebrates its Art Deco heritage all year, but February is when they put it all on.  

A weekend of 1930s dressing up, wining and dining, vintage cars, house tours, jazz, dancing, film and theatre.  The weekend is around the middle of February every year, you can book tickets through the weebpage below.

​

It’s one of the  best times to visit Hawke’s Bay.



Web: http://www.artdeconapier.com/pages/events

 

Napier Art Deco

photograph courtesy of Chris McLennan

Bike The Vineyards, Hawkes Bay
BIKE THE VINEYARDS

 

​When on a holiday that’s all about indulgence, a little exercise is definitely a good thing.

 

One of the best ways to explore the wineries of Hawke’s Bay is on a mountain bike - the terrain is as flat as a billiard table and the scenery is magnificent.

 

If you aren’t up to pedalling, there are local tour operators to drive you from cellar door to cellar door.

 

photograph courtesy of Chris McLennan

Art Centres, Hawkes Bay New Zealand
ART CENTRES

​Hawkes Bay has a wide variety of art centres from which to view both local and international talent, including world class galleries, art studios and collectives.

 

Some of the art centres to choose from are the Hawkes Bay Muesum &  Art Gallery, the Hastings Community Art Centre, Birdwoods Gallery and the Hastings City Art Gallery.

 

 

Bluff Lookout Hawkes Bay New Zealand
​BLUFF HILL LOOKOUT - Napier

​​

The best place to enjoy views over the Port of Napier, Mahia Peninsula and Cape Kidnappers. Theres a circuit route to the top ( about 102m) through the centennial gardens making it a pleasant wander, with expansive views as the reward.

The lookout has a picnic spot for you to enjoy the sun and view while relaxing.



​Location: Lighthouse Road, Napier

Hours:  5am - 7pm

Price: free

​

Web: http://www.napier.govt.nz/index.php?pid=412

photograph courtesy of Norman MacPhail

​Classed as the Art Deco capital of the southern hemisphere, Napier has the most Art Deco architecture outside of Miami.​



The town was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931 during the height of the Art Deco era, causing a wide variety and concentration of Art Deco buildings.

Every year in February thousands of people converge on Napier for its renowned Art Deco Weekend - a lively celebration of Art Deco culture and design. 

 

Year-round daily Art Deco walking tours are available which show you the unique 1930s architecture and tell Napier’s story, while vintage car tours embark outside the city centre to other famous Art Deco landmarks. 

 

Within the north island's Hawke’s Bay there is a community of internationally and nationally recognised artists displaying their work through home studios and galleries.  

Locally you'll find an art guide which covers 50 galleries and studios where you can meet the artists in their creative environment and discover applications of New Zealand art & design.

 

Hawke’s Bay is well known for its farmers' markets which sell local food and produce. Every Saturday in Napier and every Sunday in Hastings, you'll find shoppers buying fresh produce and delicacies direct from growers and producers.

 

 

 

"The Art Deco capital of the southern hemisphere, Napier has the most Art Deco architecture outside of Miami"
 

Napier, Taradale, Wairoa

Napier Sights

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Chris McLennan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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