napier & hastings

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Nearby, Hastings and Havelock North share the same architectural creativity and are both well worth visiting. Take in the Art Deco and Spanish Mission Buildings, gardens, wineries and village atmosphere both towns offer. Being the chardonnay capital, Hawkes Bay vineyards include names such as Brookfields, Mission, Esk Valley Estate, Vidal of Hawkes Bay, Ngatarawa Wines and Church Road. Many are open for lunch - tours depart daily or you may self-drive. Or, for a more romantic adventure, hire a bicycle and tour the picturesque plains in a relaxed European style!

And, as with every other key destination in this amazing country, you have a long list of thrill-seeking activities to choose from in and around Napier. There is great swimming and surfing on the beach north of the port, jet boating on the Ngaruroro River, white-water rafting, horse-trekking, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, para-sailing, water skiing, tandem skydiving and paragliding, tramping and so on! The Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony provides a wonderful ‘at-one-with-nature’ experience, with a diverse range of ways to get there. One of the most exciting ways of getting to the Cape is by 4-wheel motor bikes, and if you choose to make your own way by foot remember to check the tides as you may end up taking a swim or staying the night!

The inland region provides some of the best tramping on the North Island. The Department of Conservation (DOC) produces a series of pamphlets with information on tracks through the untamed Kaweka and Ruahine ranges. To the north near Wairoa, the Urewera National Park is home to the Waikaremoana Track, (sea of rippling waters), one of New Zealand’s Great Walks around an amazing lake of the same name. Birds, trout, deer and other wildlife are plentiful in the park - take time to observe them by boat or on the walks, which vary from half an hour to several days. The main track is rated easy with five huts conveniently spaced along the route - but at peak times it is wise to carry a tent! Kayaking is also available, even a tramp-paddle option allows a little variety and a different perspective on the Lake and it’s glorious surrounds.

There are plenty of places to stay in Napier, although it may pay to make reservations ahead if your visit takes in a weekend. Youth hostels, backpackers, motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and very good camping grounds abound. Dining out is a popular pastime given the relaxed nature of the city’s population - there is no shortage of trendy café’s and the variety in cuisine will ensure you will find exactly what you fancy after a hard day on your feet!

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