Ahuriri Napier shines brightly from its seaside location, beckoning visitors to experience its Art Deco charm and beyond.
This compact city thrums with Art Deco experiences, award-winning restaurants and wineries, exceptional speakeasys and wine bars, easy access to Hawke’s Bay’s extensive network of cycle trails and picturesque waterfronts where experiences abound.
Art Deco architecture, Marine Parade, urban dining
Exploring Napier is straightforward, with the compact city well connected and very walk- and cycle-friendly.
With palm-lined streets, world-class Art Deco architecture and the Pacific Ocean on its doorstep, Napier CBD and Marine Parade is one of the most attractive city centres in New Zealand.
Napier (and Hawke's Bay's) iconic Art Deco architecture owes its existence to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and the resulting fires which leveled the city in 1931.
The inner city is a progressive, vibrant shopper's paradise and is easy to get around due to the compact layout. There are endless dining options, a diverse range of art galleries and design stores, and you'll never be too far from a great coffee.
For impeccable advice on making the most of your time in the city, call into the Napier isite Visitor Centre - located right beside the iconic Soundshell on Marine Parade. History lovers (and children) will love the Faraday Museum of Technology, a great way to spend half a day stepping back in time and immersing yourself in the life that once was for our ancestors. The hands on experience is fun for all ages!
This stretch of road sits between the CBD and the Pacific Ocean. Whether you are looking for an easy stroll along the coastline, mini golf, playgrounds, or a skate park, this is heaven for the younger ones.
Wandering around Napier's CBD is incredibly easy and the best way to get your bearings. Whether you soak up the fresh sea air along Marine Parade while watching the action pass you by with skaters, cyclists, dog walkers and fitness bunnies, it's a hive of feel good activities!
As you wander around Napier, you'll spot works of beautiful street art, with credit to the Sea Walls Project, deco brilliant through well preserved architecture and great little spots to rest the feet like Clive Square, home to markets, pop up food stalls and evening musicians.
Every corner you turn, you'll pick up on a vibe that you will wish to emulate.
If you are here for the food, you are in luck! Napier's city centre is quickly becoming the epitome of culinary delights.
Mister D Dining is a well known gem, with delicious meals and their famous loaded donuts, you'll find some of Hawke's Bay's finest produce on show here.
More than just a restaurant, K Kitchen and Bar pride themselves as an immersive culinary destination. Nestled in one of Napier's finest Art Deco buildings - The Masonic Hotel, right on Marine Parade, it is a lovely place to enjoy a meal.
Sai Thai Eatery offers a modern menu with a twist on our Thai favourites. Sitting pretty on Emerson Street, it's in the heart of all the action. Follow your nose, you'll sniff out the delicious aromas from miles away!
At the end of a long day exploring Napier, take a long hot soak in one of Ocean Spa's hot pools while watching the sunset across the Pacific Ocean.
It's blissful and the perfect way to welcome in the evening before heading out for a cocktail and delicious meal.
Ocean Spa offers two outdoor spa pools, a passive pool, lap pool, active pool and toddlers pool, so you are sure to find some peace and quiet even if the kids are coming along for a splash!
Ahuriri is a vibrant seaside port settlement a mere 5 minute drive along the coast from Napier's Marine Parade, where you'll discover an energised community and shopping precinct. Follow the coast further north and you'll discover Westshore, the perfect spot for some fishing and a picnic.
Given the beautiful locations of the Ahuriri and Westshore neighbourhoods, you would be forgiven if you found yourself spending the day sitting on the shoreline soaking up the views. However there is plenty to explore and enjoy, delicious food, fantastic retail and even a bit of history to delve into.
Ahuriri and Westshore are seaside neighbours, only a 5 minute drive from Napier's CBD. If you are feeling active hire some bikes in Napier and ride the path from Marine Parade, past the Port and onto the boardwalk that will take you into the heart of Ahuriri.
As you arrive in Ahuriri not only are you welcomed with stunning views of the ocean, hidden beach coves perfect for a dip, playgrounds that will keep the kids entertained for hours, but also some seriously delicious eateries!
Oh, and did we mention the retail? Ahuriri takes top spot for antique and boutique stores, art galleries and so much more, a day visiting the neighbourhood wont be enough!
A further 5 minutes down the road from Ahuriri is the quiet suburb of Westshore, a haven for fishing, surfing, swimming and picnics!
The area was already a popular swimming resort prior to1931, however the earthquake transformed this stretch of beach from a shingly and dangerous seashore to a sandy and safe swimming beach.
You'll see locals making the most of their backyard (but we aren't jealous) and you can too! At the end of the day, do as the locals do, and grab some fish and chips and watch the sunset.
Just north of Napier, you'll find the relaxed settlement of Bayview, bursting with fresh fruit and vegetable shops, real fruit ice cream, and something for the adrenaline junky.
There's about Bayview that oozes all the great feelings you get from a Hawke's Bay summer, it is probably the fresh produce, just picked, that is on show at Taste of Summer and Berry Tasty, that or the real fruit ice creams!
Nothing feels more like a Hawke's Bay summer than leaving a fresh produce stall with a bag of seasonal fruit and vege, and while it makes for great snacking in between meal times, you also have a myriad of great foodie spots to indulge in.
For a rustic winery experience and a seriously impressive menu to choose from, you can't go past Crab Farm Winery. Sit outside in the courtyard or shaded treehouse on those warmer days, or by the roaring fire inside during the cooler months, and soak in the festive atmosphere.
They also have an Art Shed right next door. It's a beautifully restored rustic space that will provide you with all the inspiration you need.
While the stretch shore of that laces around Bayview drops off dramatically making it unsafe for swimming, that dramatic drop off is exactly what makes it such a popular spot for fishing.
Surfcasters are regularly dotted along the coastline and as the village is small and cosy, you'll find lovely locals who are only to willing to give you some tips or help you in the right directiom.
Napier Hill plays home to both Bluff Hill (north-east end) and Hospital Hill (western end) both offering a variety of beautiful vistas.
A journey up Bluff Hill or Hospital Hill will certainly get you close to smashing your daily 'steps' goal and worth the effort for the views.
Hospital Hill was the site of the former Napier Hospital (it's all in the name), now it is dotted with stunning homes from the 1800's, the Napier Botanical Gardens, and views out to Marine Parade.
With a steep grading, the Bluff Hill walkway is worth the effort. Once you reach the top, take a moment to catch your breath and soak up the scenery looking over Napier's Port out to Ahuriri and northern Hawke's Bay.
The charming suburb of Taradale offers plenty to see and do. If you are after some world class wine tasting, somewhere for the kids to burn off some steam, delicious eateries or a nature trail to soak up the day, this tranquil spot offers it all.
There is plenty to discover in Taradale, just a short drive from the Napier CBD, you'll find an abundance of parks, playgrounds, shops, wineries and trails to enjoy.
To see the true beauty of this suburb, take a stroll along Halliwells walkway, leading you to the summit of Sugar Loaf where you'll find breathtaking vistas to soak up. The walk begins on Church Road and is roughly a 2km walk.
Cycling trails are a hit with the whole family, linking all around the region. You could bike the hills of Taradale and soak up some of the scenery, play a round of golf, visit the nearby Silky Oak Chocolates, or stop in for lunch at Mission Estate or Church Road for internationally-acclaimed wine tastings.
With palm-lined streets, world-class Art Deco architecture and the Pacific Ocean on its doorstep, Napier CBD is one of the most attractive retail and business hubs in New Zealand. The inner city a progressive, vibrant shoppers' paradise and is easy to get around due to the compact layout. If you venture a little further from the CBD, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover what else is on offer!
Perhaps you fancy a cycling tour, wine tasting or some action packed entertainment, you'll find it all and more just a short distance from Napier's CBD. Check out McLean Park for international cricket, super rugby and other great events, or hire some bikes and hit the Hawke's Bay trails for some sight seeing and stunning scenery. Linden Estate, Crab Farm and The Urban Winery are just a few wineries that are close by to the CBD, stop in for some wine tasting and a delicious lunch or platter.
For those seeking some adrenaline or physical activity, head north to Mohaka Rafting for some of the best white water rapids in the country, or if you fancy a hike, you'll find some incredible trails just north of Napier, like the Tangoio Falls walkway and the Waipatiki Reserve.
Meeanee and Awatoto sit side by side, but there is more to these suburbs than farmland and orchards!
Speedway, golf or surfing anyone?
While the suburbs of Meeanee and Awatoto are better known for their desirable land, where orchards produce some of our juiciest fruits, you'll find quite the thumping action here too!
The Meeanee Speedway offers all the adrenaline and the team know how to put on a show of entertainment for everyone to enjoy, it's no wonder it is a weekend favourite for Hawke's Bay locals.
While in Awatoto it would be rude not to have a round of golf right? The Awatoto Public Golf Course has recently reopened after extensive damage during the 2023 cyclone. This pretty little course offers 9 holes, challenging enough to get your fix!
If surfing is more your thing, the Awatoto Rivermouth is a surfers favourite spot due to an exposed beach break that offers fairly consistent surfing all year round.
Napier's world-renowned collection of Art Deco buildings owes its existence to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Hawke's Bay region in 1931, killing 256 and injuring thousands more. The resulting rebuild of the Napier CBD saw a mix of styles, with Art Deco shining through due to its popularity at the time, providing Napier with the opportunity to modernise itself post destruction.
Art Deco StoryAn undoubted jewel in Hawke’s Bay’s crown, Napier’s Marine Parade is a thriving playground for locals and visitors alike. The approximately 3km stretch of iconic seafront connects Napier with the Pacific Ocean, with stunning vistas encompassing Māhia Peninsula in the north to Cape Kidnappers in the south. Over many decades, Marine Parade has developed into a mecca for family-friendly activities and a focal point for many city events and celebrations.
Read MoreThere's loads of fun to be had when you're travelling here with kids.
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