Napier

At 10:47 AM on 3 February 1931, Napier and the wider Hawke's Bay was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The quake and subsequent fire killed 256 people and destroyed much of the central business district. The demolition rubble was dumped along the eastern foreshore and turned into gardens and a recreational reserve.
After the earthquake, the CBD and other areas were rebuilt in the Art Deco styles prevailing at the time. Today, Napier is billed as "the Art Deco capital of the world", with over 100 Art Deco buildings in the CBD alone, most of which have been restored and heritage-listed.
The earthquake raised the land by several metres, draining the Ahuriri Lagoon. The airport, the surrounding farmland, and the modern-day suburbs of Onekawa, Pandora, Pirimai and Tamatea all sit on the reclaimed land. Some streets still have the names they had when they were on the coastline – streets called a "quay" or a "bay" may be inland now.
The suburb of Taradale, a separate town until 1968, has the region's oldest and most famous wineries, which host concerts during summer.

• Napier i-SITE Visitor Centre

  phone: +64 6 834-1911
  address: 100 Marine Parade
  Maps, travel guides and directions and you can book tours and transport.

By car

Napier lies on State Highway 2, which passes through the centre of Napier just outside the downtown area. State Highway 50 crosses the city from the Port to Taradale before continuing south.
From Taupo and most destinations north, take State Highway 5 (Napier-Taupo Road) east from Taupo. The highway terminates onto State Highway 2 at Eskdale, 14 km north of central Napier. Make sure you check you have at least 150 km worth of fuel before leaving Taupo, as there are no fuel stations en route.
Distances and travel times to Napier (times are non-stop in typical traffic, so allow additional time for breaks and delays on longer trips):

• Auckland – 420 km, 5hr
• Hamilton – 295 km, 3hr 30min
• Taupo – 145 km, 1hr 45min
• Hastings – 21 km; 25min
• Palmerston North – 180 km, 2hr 15min
• Wellington – 320 km, 4hr

By bus

National bus operator InterCity provides daily services in and out with connections throughout the North Island. Fares start from $1 and can be purchased online or via numerous local ticketing agents including the i-SITE information network. Services arrive and depart from 12 Carlyle St, beside Clive Sq.
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council runs a public bus service between Hastings and Napier via Taradale every 20 minutes on weekdays, and hourly on Saturdays. Catch the number 12 bus from outside the public library in each city; adult single fares cost $5.40.
===By plane===
Hawke's Bay Airport is located 6 km north-west of the city centre, off State Highway 2. Air New Zealand Link operates daily flights to Hawke's Bay from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Jetstar flies from Auckland, but this will cease after 30 Nov 2019. Air Napier flies from Gisborne. Sounds Air flies from Blenheim, but this will cease after 5 Jan 2020.

• Taxi. Taxis are relatively inexpensive and can take you anywhere, anytime.
• Bus. The public buses are not very frequent. It pays to grab a timetable in advance. Information regarding fares, zones and timetables can be found on the Hawke's Bay Regional Council public transport webpage.

• Art Deco tourTake a guided walking tour ($24-26, 1½-2½ hr) or buy a booklet at the Information Centre and give yourself a self-guided tour. Even a few blocks will take you past many of the most significant buildings that exemplify the style. One-hour tours in vintage cars available for $185 for up to 4 people.

• Faraday Centre

  address: 2a Faraday Street
  Technology museum housed in a former powerhouse. Exhibits range from household appliances through commercial equipment to the massive engine that was used to generate electricity.

• MTG Hawke's Bay

  address: 1 Tennyson St
  Permanent exhibition on the 1931 quake with changing art and social history displays.

• Napier Prison

  phone: +64 6 835-9933
  address: 55 Coote Rd, Bluff Hill
  Take a tour of what was New Zealand's oldest prison. Opened in 1862, it closed to inmates in 1993.

• National Aquarium of New Zealand

  phone: +64 6 834 1404
  address: 546 Marine Parade
  Has a reef tank, a travelator which spirals its way beneath the enormous Oceanarium, creating the impression of a true underwater experience, and a typical New Zealand rocky shore environment. There are sharks, stingray and hundreds of fish species, many of them representative of the catches from along the East Coast. There are eels, sea horse, turtles, octopus, tropical marine fish, kiwi, tuatara, water dragons, frogs, penguins and alligator on display. There is also an exhibition that opened in 2016 about the Hikurangi plate boundary and associated hazards like earthquakes and tsunami.

• Pania of the Reef

  address: Marine Parade
  One of the most photographed landmarks in New Zealand, Pania is a figure of Māori mythology, and a symbol of Napier. She is a short stroll from the city centre.

• Soundshell

  address: 70 Marine Parade
  An Art Deco outdoor stage, built in 1935 with a shell-like roof.

• Waiapu CathedralArt Deco Anglican cathedral consecrated in 1960. The original cathedral was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake with the loss of two lives.

• Art Deco Festival. A five-day festival in February celebrating the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 1930s. Dress up and eat at one of the picnics around the city, watch the soapbox derby, admire the vintage cars or attend some of the other 250 events. Book your accommodation up to a year in advance for the festival.
• Food and wine tours. Meet like-minded people and share an appreciation of Hawke's Bay's wines. Taste great wines and learn of the area's unique growing conditions. Cheese boards are provided on all tours. Take home great tasting wines and memories. Grape Escape. Depart Napier 1PM, return 5PM. Visit 4 or 5 local wineries. Tour includes tasting Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and other wines. Some of New Zealand's finest cheeses matched with wine. Walk amongst the vines and learn about terroir. Winery tour can be arranged if requested when booking. Tours start half an hour earlier for those who request a winery lunch.
• Spend a day at the beach. The golden sanded beaches of Waimarama and Ocean Beach are approximately 30 min south of Napier by car and are local retreats in the summer months. These long sandy beaches cater for surfing, fishing, and long walks to check out the native habitat.

• Cape KidnappersAt the southern tip of Hawke Bay, you will find a colony of gannets. These gannets migrate seasonally and are popular with tourists during the season. You can jump on a trailer towed by tractors to reach the Cape, run by a local business out of the small community of Te Awanga. Bookings and information about these tours are available from the information centre.

The main shopping areas are along Emerson Street, Dickens Street and in the nearby suburb of Taradale. As well as the usual franchise stores seen across most of New Zealand, a handful of independent stores are in the city centre.

• Degas - Womens Clothing & Fashion Boutique

  phone: +64 6 835-7175
  address: 35 Tennyson St

• Hawkes Bay Book And Music Exchange

  phone: +64 6 835-4814
  address: 80 Dalton St

• Napier i-SITE Visitor Centre Souvenir Shop

  phone: +64 6 834-1911
  address: 100 Marine Parade

• Opossum World

  phone: +64 6 835-7697
  address: 157 Marine Parade

• Groove Kitchen Espresso

  phone: +64 6 835-8530
  address: 112 Tennyson St

• Hog's Breath Cafe

  phone: +64 6 835-1018
  address: 49 Marine Parade

• Hot Chick Restaurant

  phone: +64 6 835-9595
  address: 4 Hardinge Rd, Ahuriri

• Indonesia Restaurant

  address: 409 Marine Parade

• Mint Restaurant

  phone: +64 6 835-4050
  address: 189 Marine Parade
  Contemporary cuisine. Fully licensed. Stylish interior, lounge. Reserve your table by phone or the website booking service.

• Raffles Street Cafe

  phone: +64 6 835-8245
  address: 72 Raffles St

• Ujazi Cafe

  phone: +64 6 835-1490
  address: 28 Tennyson St

• The Cabana

  address: 11 Shakespeare Rd
  A legendary live music pub since the 1950s (albeit with a break from 1997 to 2008). The Spanish Mission/Art Deco style building was designed by leading architects Finch and Westorholm and was the first Napier hotel to be rebuilt after the 1931 quake.

Atmospheric West Quay, beside the beautiful Ahuriri marina, has a strip of bars and restaurants, including:

• Shed 2

  phone: +64 6 835-2202
  address: 56 West Quay, Ahuriri
  The first establishment to emerge on West Quay and an Ahuriri icon. Step inside and you step back 125 years, for the converted storage shed goes right back to the days the square-riggers tied up just metres from its front deck.

• Speight's Alehouse

  phone: +64 6 834-1188
  address: 68 West Quay, Ahuriri
  One of 12 specialised Speight's hostelries nationwide and the only bar in Hawke's Bay serving all seven of the Dunedin brewery's beers on tap, from top-seller Speight's Gold through to the crafted pilsner, pale ale, porter, old dark and a seasonal ale.

• Thirsty Whale

  phone: +64 6 835-8815
  address: 62 West Quay, Ahuriri
  A bar with outdoor decking, big screen TVs, private bar, and mezzanine restaurant with sea views.

Accommodation is abundant in Napier and the surrounding area and ranges from luxury to budget; hotels, self-catering apartments, motels and lodges (some with restaurants), homestay; holiday parks and motor camps with self-catering units, budget cabins and campsites. There is also a beachfront youth hostel for backpackers. Families and groups are welcome at most establishments; seasonal and group discounts may apply.
It pays to ring and book in advance for several places due to regional events like Art Deco weekend. Such events are very popular and accommodation can be scarce at these times.

• Napier YHA

  address: 277 Marine Parade
  Hostel in an old wooden building with loads of character.

• McHardy Lodge

  phone: +64 6 835 0605
  address: 11 Bracken St, Hospital Hill
  1890 historic residence.

• Criterion Art Deco Backpackers

  phone: +64 6 835 20 59
  address: 48 Emerson St, Napier
  BBH hostel in a former hotel built in 1932.

• Masonic Hotel

  address: 2 Tennyson Street
  Art deco hotel built in 1932 on the site of a hotel first built in 1861. It was designed by Wellington architect W J Prowse. The hotel has 43 rooms and an apartment.

Esk Valley

Just north of Napier, past the airport and Bay View, is Esk Valley. This area is now mainly orchard, vineyards and a lavender farm. The area is peaceful but only 10 minutes from the bars and restaurants of Napier. It provides a good place to stay for those who want to experience New Zealand country life or stay on a vineyard. There are numerous accommodation options.

• Esk Valley Lodge

  phone: +64 6 836-7904
  address: 342 Hill Rd, Eskdale
  Boutique bed and breakfast accommodation 15 minutes north of Napier in a renovated house of character formed from one of the original homesteads in the valley, with gardens and vineyard.

• The suburb of Taradale is a 10-min drive.
• Hastings city is close by.
• Taupo is a two-hour drive inland.
• Wairoa is a two-hour drive north along Hawke Bay