Napier Tourist Attractions

Napier, located in the Hawke's Bay region on New Zealand's North Island, is world-famous for its remarkably preserved Art Deco architecture, coastal waterfront, and surrounding wine country.

City Landmarks & Architecture

Art Deco Trust

Tourist attraction

Art Deco Trust serves as the gateway to Napier's Art Deco Historic Quarter, rebuilt after the devastating 1931 earthquake in the striking architectural style of the era.

• Guided walking tours and vintage car tours available throughout the city center.

• Highlights include iconic structures like the Daily Telegraph Building and the Sound Shell.

• Hosts the annual Art Deco Festival, drawing thousands of visitors in period dress.

Hawke's Bay Museum

Hawke's Bay Museum (MTG Hawke's Bay) combines museum, theatre, and art gallery experiences right in the heart of the city.

• Features a permanent exhibition detailing the history and impact of the 1931 earthquake.

• Displays collection of indigenous Māori taonga (treasured artifacts) and fine art.

• Offers free general entry for all visitors.

Waterfront & Scenic Views

Marine Parade

Marine Parade is Napier's iconic oceanfront promenade, framed by tall Norfolk pines along the Pacific shoreline.

• Features attractions such as the Sunken Gardens, Tom Parker Fountain, and the Pania of the Reef statue.

• Includes walking paths, cycle lanes, playgrounds, and mini-golf.

National Aquarium of New Zealand

National Aquarium of New Zealand sits along Marine Parade and houses a wide array of marine life and native wildlife.

• Includes a 1.5-million-liter oceanarium tank with a travelator tunnel underneath sharks and stingrays.

• Home to native Little Blue Penguins, with daily feeding sessions and behind-the-scenes encounters.

• Showcases native New Zealand species including kiwi birds and tuatara.

Bluff Hill Lookout

Historical landmark

Bluff Hill Lookout offers sweeping, elevated panoramas of the Napier port, Hawke's Bay coastline, and surrounding countryside.

• Located on the historic site of a former WWII artillery battery.

• Accessible via a steep walk or a short drive from the city center.

Wineries & Regional Nature

Mission Estate Winery

Mission Estate Winery is New Zealand's oldest winery, established by French missionaries in 1851.

• Offers cellar door wine tastings featuring local Hawke's Bay varietals.

• On-site fine dining restaurant housed in a restored historic seminary set on manicured lawns.

Church Road Winery

Church Road Winery is another historic estate known for pioneering Bordeaux-style red wines and Chardonnay in Hawke's Bay.

• Offers wine tasting flights, guided cellar tours, and a museum dedicated to winemaking history.

• Set in park-like grounds that frequently host outdoor concerts and events.

Gannet colony

Gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers is one of the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colonies in the world.

• Home to thousands of nesting Australasian gannets perched along dramatic coastal cliffs.

• Accessible via guided overland tractor or 4WD tours departing near Napier.