Discover the Charm of Napier This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to visit Napier, a city that effortlessly blends natural beauty with vibrant culture. Nestled in the heart of Hawke’s Bay, Napier offers a mix of activities and attractions that cater to all ages and interests.

For families, Kennedy Park Resort is an ideal base. This resort boasts an onsite restaurant, a heated pool, and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. Its central location makes it easy  to explore the city’s many offerings.

Napier is renowned for its art deco architecture, a legacy of its reconstruction after the 1931 earthquake. Strolling through the city, you’ll be  captivated by the beautifully preserved buildings that transport you back to the 1930s. You’ll also enjoy a promenade down Napier’s iconic  Marine Parade, admiring the beautifully manicured gardens.

For those who love the outdoors, Napier’s extensive network of cycle paths is a must. The new activity package from Tākaro Trails and Ocean  Spa is a highlight. Start your day with a delicious breakfast and mocktail at The Bach Café within Ocean Spa before embarking on a scenic e- bike ride along the Hawke’s Bay Trails. This self-guided tour takes you through stunning coastal and estuary trails, culminating in a visit to a  top local winery for a tasting. After your ride, unwind at Ocean Spa, where you can enjoy the outdoor heated pools, sauna, and ocean views.

Shopping enthusiasts will find plenty of unique boutiques and stores to explore, offering everything from fashion to local crafts. With its blend of history, culture, and outdoor activities, Napier is a fabulous spring destination that promises something for everyone.

Hawke’s Bay Must-do’s

Self-guided tour of the Sea Walls

Artists for Oceans Napier’s Sea Walls are a collection of remarkable paintings splayed across buildings and  splendidly obscure exteriors throughout Napier. In total, there are 49 artworks to admire. The Sea Walls are a reflection of community-based  educational efforts focusing on major environmental issues the oceans are currently facing, while promoting the importance of long- term sustainability of natural resources. You’ll find them in locations throughout Napier’s CBD and the wider suburbs – pick up a map at the local iSite Visitor Centre  (located on Marine Parade, directly beside the Soundshell) so you can plan your adventure. We recommend hiring a bike from Napier City  Bike Hire to experience them all – plus it cuts your travel time down considerably!

Visit the National Aquarium of New Zealand

The perfect activity for families, the National Aquarium of New Zealand is home to 100+ aquatic and land animals from New Zealand and  across the globe. Peer into a range of sanctuaries to spot New Zealand’s native wildlife including the Tuatara and Kiwi, and then glide  through the 1.5 million litre oceanarium via the spectacular tunnel – look up to see stingrays, sharks and more! You can also say hello to our  popular little penguins at their home in Penguin Cove and see which one’s were named ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ for the month. If you want to get  even closer, you can book a ‘Close Encounter Experience’ when it’s their feeding time. Make sure you stop in at the Fishbowl Café for a  delicious treat on your way out.

Art Deco tours

When visiting Napier, the Art Deco influence throughout the city’s architecture is clear. Delve into the fascinating history of Napier’s  pre and  post-earthquake buildings with a 2-hour walking tour. You’ll hear the story from an Art Deco Trust expert as they guide you through  Napier’s CBD, introducing the Art Deco style and the characters that helped rebuild Napier’s ruins to what you see now. For the ultimate Art  Deco experience, book an Art Deco Vintage Car Tour – you’ll be driven around Napier’s suburbs in style, visiting iconic landmarks and  learning about how the wider city was affected by the earthquake.

Urlar – new Wairarapa wine and dine destination

The all-new cellar door at Urlar in Gladstone is the new go-to for Wairarapa wines and seasonal country fare. Opened this spring, the state- of-the-art winery and cellar door is an exciting development for the north Wairarapa wine growing region. Located on Dakins Road just a ten  minute drive from Masterton, the building’s striking design features three dimensional walls of triangular form, clad in dark stained  yellow cedar. Skylights within the full height entry, cellar door, and top floor lounge dining and lounge spaces introduce sunlight deep into  the building.

The cellar door opens to a small lake, and connects with a large, sunny, cantilevered deck with views across the vineyard. The stunning  setting creates for a fantastic visitor experience that fittingly matches the quality of the organic wine Urlar is renowned for. Whether it be out  on the deck at the lake’s edge or inside under the skylights, visitors will not be disappointed. Bookings are recommended. www.urlar.co.nz

Showstopping Tulips

Bold, majestic tulips are the heroes each Spring at the annual Longbush Cottage Tulip Festival. Over the past seven years, Luke Gardner has  planted thousands of tulips throughout Longbush Cottage garden, a Garden of National Significance, 15 mins from Martinborough and  Carterton. Many varieties have also naturalised returning year after year, ensuring the festival is a riot of spring colour. Festival goers stroll  through the different garden rooms, enjoying colour-themed displays and an extensive collection of pots around the garden. The festival is on  5th and 6th October . www.longbushcottage.co.nz

Pūkaha Wairarapa Garden Tour blooming wonderful

This two-day, self-drive tour showcases beautiful and unique Wairarapa gardens each year. The 2024 tour November 9 and 10 will showcase  rural native plantings, flourishing edibles, smart designs for urban spaces, flowers galore, sustainable gardens, subtropical delights plus  mighty remnant regenerating forests. The tour is a major fundraiser for Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, allowing the centre to continue its  vital work of conservation and restoration of our native flora and fauna. www.wairarapagardentour.co.nz.

Wairarapa Bookshop Hop

One of the many great things about Wairarapa is that there are 12 fantastic bookshops all within an easy 30 minute drive of one another, so  it’s entirely possible to hop around all 12 bookshops in a single day! You can do exactly that on te annual Wairarapa BookshopHop. On  Satruday 12th October the best booksellers in Wairarapa come together to give booklovers the ultimate book-lovers day out.It’s also NZ  Bookshop Day. Participants simply collect an official Bookshop Hop map from any participating store, receive a stamp on their map for each  purchase on the day and go in the grand prize draw to win $1000 in bookshop vouchers. www.mrsblackwell.com/bookshop-hop

Yarns in Barns

Yarns in Barns is the Wairarapa’s biennial literary festival which brings some of New Zealand’s best writers, poets and storytellers together  for 10 days of events in October 17–25th. Hosted in an eclectic range of venues from Masterton to Martinborough, including bookstores,  libraries, courthouses and of course, a barn. https://yarnsinbarns.co.nz/ For information go to Destination Wairarapa  www.wairarapanz.com. Need advice? Contact Masterton isite Visitor Centre ph 06 370 0900.