Consumption and Real Estate
How long should I plan to spend in Napier on a 18 day New Zealand vacation?
Question : How long should I plan to spend in Napier on a 18 day New Zealand vacation?
I want to explore the Art Deco architecture, but what else is there to do there and nearby? I will be visiting both islands this trip.
new zealand vacation
Best answer:
Answer by Dilbert
When I go to a country where I’ve never been before, I like to spend a lot of time at one place. But that makes it impossible to spend much time at other places.
Never take people very seriously when they tell you what to do and see. It’s your vacation, not theirs. It depends on what you like, not what they like.
I always try to maximize my flexibility, and not commit to going anywhere on any particular date. I like to get to know people. Visit them at home, etc. Then decide what to do next.
Give it 2-3 days.
The art deco thing, a city architecture/history tour, will take about a day. There is a special art deco weekend, I can’t remember exactly when, but tours are all year round.
But be sure to do a wine trail around the Hawkes Bay, if you are interested in quality wines. That’ll take all day or at least all afternoon. No doubt you will probably want to follow with a nice meal on the Marine Parade or at Ahuriri where the newer bar/restaurants are.
If you are after more family orientated things, the Napier Aquarium is world-class, as good as the ones in Auckland and Sydney. Marineland is not that good anymore. The gannet colony down by Cape Kidnappers is unique but on a limited time frame I’d give it a miss (beware quite smelly).
A quick trip up to the top of Te Mata Peak for the 360deg view well worth it. Don’t bother with Hastings. A lovely town but with only a few days nothing particularly special about it.
If you are there in the summer you may like to go to the beach, but be aware that Marine Parade is a shingle beach with a dip that is unsafe for swimming. The closest nice swimming beach is Westshore, particularly the south end.
If you want to relax on a nice golden beach, either head north to Waipatiki (not guarded) or south to Ocean Beach in Waimarama – both surf beaches with rips.
If you are there in winter, it gets pretty cold, not quite snowy.
Hawkes Bay region is off the beaten track for the average visitor to NZ, but is well worth visiting in my opinion.