Things To Do In Napier

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1. Pania of the Reef

Pania of the Reef

1 km
from city center
1 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Pania of the Reef on Marine Parade, Napier is a bronze statue of the Māori mythical figure Pania, whose love story continues to charm the locals and tourists here even today. This statue was put up in the year 1954 by the Thirty Thousand Club after Vic Wallis and Horace Cottrell, two of the club’s senior members, heard the story of Pania and came up with the idea to build the statue.

2. Napier Centennial Gardens

Napier Centennial Gardens

0 km
from city center
2 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

To the North end of the Marine Parade in Napier, New Zealand, are the spectacular Centennial Gardens, designed in 1974 to mark the centenary of Napier as a city. It was originally a quarry and was later made into a garden by the inmates of Napier prison, and the council gardeners, with the soil here, moved from another site. The waterfall in the gardens is the main attraction here with a view at night which is beautiful to look at.

3. Napier Municipal Theatre

Napier Municipal Theatre

6 km
from city center
3 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

With a strength of 993 seats, the Napier Municipal Theatre in Napier, New Zealand, is a famous and elegant art-deco theatre that hosts local and international acts on its stage. It is a leading theatre in Hawke’s Bay, a community space known for its events and performances and has an impressive Pan Pac foyer as its key attraction.

4. Napier Aquatic Centre

Napier Aquatic Centre

4 km
from city center
4 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

The Napier Aquatic Centre is well known amongst the region's locals for its comprehensive year-round activities and programs. The facilities offer extensive fitness programs and fun activities for adults and children alike and various other amenities, like barbeques, heated pools, hydro slides, spray parks and a concrete opening for hosting multiple events and functions.

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5. Mission Estate Winery

Mission Estate Winery

7 km
from city center
5 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

The Birthplace of New Zealand’s wineries, the Mission Estate Winery, is a grand wedding, reception and conference space in Napier. With over 160 years of wine excellency as the premier element, the Mission Estate Winery is also frequented due to its beautiful surroundings and calm ambience.

6. Shine Falls

Shine Falls

43 km
from city center
6 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

A spectacle amidst the lowlands of Napier, Shine falls is a majestic waterfall in Hawke’s Bay at 58 metres. It is considered the tallest waterfall in the region, and the hike leading to it attracts tourists as the views along the trail are vibrant and beautiful.

7. Moana Park Winery

Moana Park Winery

10 km
from city center
7 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

The Moana Park Winery is a small, state-owned vineyard that naturally produces internationally renowned and loved wine styles. In addition, the vineyard is known for producing vegan and vegetarian wines free of allergy-inducing additives. Visitors are allowed to bring their picnics to the venue. The Moana Park Winery is also known for hosting many local and private events on prior bookings, such as weddings, dinners, etc.

8. Napier Prison

Napier Prison

0 km
from city center
8 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Situated on Napier’s Bluff Hill, the Napier Prison, formerly a place where convicts were imprisoned, also used to be an orphanage, a psychiatric unit, and finally, is used as a historic facility. The eerie past incidents and the mysterious surroundings will undoubtedly give you the chills. Many stories of the place being haunted have been heard, adding to the eeriness.

9. Waipatiki Beach Holiday Park

Waipatiki Beach Holiday Park

21 km
from city center
9 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

A family beach with golden sand coast, stunning views, and magnificent waves almost all months a year, Waipatiki Beach Holiday Park is a great tourist attraction for anyone visiting the town of Napier. The beach is located 35 km away from the city and 29 km away from the airport. It is an easy drive through the Waipatiki road.

10. Te Mata Peak

Te Mata Peak

21 km
from city center
10 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

A place home to mesmerizing panoramic views, fresh, cool breeze and lush greenery, the dignified Te Mata Peak rises to a whopping four hundred meters above sea level. It is situated to the west of the plains of the beauteous Heretaunga. Te Mata is ideal for fitness enthusiasts since its natural trails are perfect for mountain biking and hiking. Even though it is quite a task to climb up to the top of this peak, the breathtaking view makes it worth the work!

11. Cape Kidnappers

Cape Kidnappers

4 km
from city center
11 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

To the extreme southeast of Hawke’s Bay sits the mesmerizing headland known as Cape Kidnappers. It is seated on the eastern coast of the North Island, at the far end of a peninsula which runs eight kilometres before protruding into the vast Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most tranquil places to visit while paying a trip to Hawke’s Bay, with a sprawling golf course and a serene atmosphere engulfing it.

12. Art Deco Napier

Art Deco Napier

0 km
from city center
12 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

First emerging in France a few years before the First World War, Art Deco is an exquisite style employed in designing buildings, movie theatres, jewellery, cars, and furniture, among other things. In New Zealand, the quaint city of Napier is popularly known as the Art Deco Capital following the massive earthquake in 1931. Napier is home to one of the world's most spectacular Art Deco city centres.

13. Marine Parade

Marine Parade

2 km
from city center
13 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Marine Parade, located in Napier, New Zealand, is an iconic seafront with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean where you can catch sight of tourists and locals taking a stroll. Originally developed as a wall for protection of the city against flood, Marine Parade has now turned into a popular spot for scenic observations along with an array of facilities housed here, like the Pania of the Reef statue, National Aquarium of New Zealand, Sunken Gardens and the MTG Museum Theatre Gallery.

14. Napier Reading Cinemas

Napier Reading Cinemas

0 km
from city center
14 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

The Napier Reading Cinemas has four wall-to-wall cinema screens with the highest quality digital sound. The audio is crystal clear and worth your time and money spent there. You really can feel the difference at Napier Reading Cinema. Immerse yourself in the magic of films! They offer value tickets which are very advantageous to start with.

15. Otarara Pa

Otarara Pa

69 km
from city center
15 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Rich in historical and cultural significance, the breathtaking Otatara Pa, perched on a commanding elevated site to the south of the tranquil Taradale, receives visitors all year round. Offering excellent views of the surrounding areas, including Napier, the glorious Cape Kidnappers, and, on a clear day, even Mount Ruapehu, Otatara Pa is one of the most prized destinations in New Zealand, and rightly so.

16. National Aquarium of New Zealand

National Aquarium of New Zealand

2 km
from city center
16 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Located on Marine Parade, the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier boasts a rich and diverse collection of freshwater, saltwater and land exhibits from around the world. Previously known as the Napier Aquarium, this attraction offers a wide variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic species like seahorses, Penguins, Kiwi, Tuatara, Piranha, Turtles, Eels, Sharks and Reef Fish, among others, to explore and witness in person.

17. Bluff Hills Lookout

Bluff Hills Lookout

0 km
from city center
17 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Bluff Hill Lookout is a historical landmark in Napier. A short drive from the Napier city centre offers a bird’s eye view of the working port in Hawke Bay, Napier Port and the surrounding hills. Napier Port is the second largest active port by volume and hosts several cruise liners each summer. A small bench at the lookout allows you to sit and enjoy the stunning view. The visitors are also entitled to picnic at the watch. The most transparent ocean water and the highest mountain take your breath away.

18. MTG Hawke's Bay

MTG Hawke's Bay

1 km
from city center
18 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

MTG Hawke’s Bay is the cultural hub of the city of Napier in New Zealand and hosts a great collection of the country’s art and objects. These collections are part of the remarkable exhibitions held here and form the matter of the brilliant research facility established here. In addition, the MTG Hawke’s Bay theatre hosts a programme of films and performing arts. The centre boasts three impressive buildings – one of which is an art deco masterpiece, the other a modernist pride and a gallery filled with lights looking out across the beautiful bay.

19. Napier Wine Tours

Napier Wine Tours

1 km
from city center
19 out of 19
Things To Do in Napier

Napier houses one of the oldest wineries in New Zealand, i.e. the Mission Estate. This winery was founded in the years 1858 by French-Catholic Missionaries. You can find vineyards scattered across Taradale’s landscape. Silt and river gravel from the terraces and hills offer fertile soil, allowing the penetration of vineyards further inland into the sheltered and picturesque valley of Dartmoor. Exposure to the sea breeze and shelter from surrounding hills helps vineyards thrive in an ideal combination in Bay View, north of Napier.

FAQs on Napier

How can I commute within Napier?

  • Commuting within Napier is usually confined to walking around the city or using the public transit system. Napier is a very pedestrian-friendly city and walking around the town allows visitors to truly take in the unique cityscape that would be missed out on from inside a vehicle.
  • However, reliable taxis and bus options are available for those that want to make use of it to reach parts of the city outside the city centre.
  • Another viable option would be to rent a car, which would allow visitors to explore the city at their own leisure. There are a number of car rental options visitors can explore and most of them are located very close to the Napier airport. 

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What are the top sightseeing places in Napier?

The top sightseeing places in Napier are Pania of the Reef, Napier Centennial Gardens, Napier Municipal Theatre , Napier Aquatic Centre, Mission Estate Winery, Shine Falls.

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