Places to visit in Napier Hastings
Tourism near Hawkes Bay Airport in New Zealand is booming due to its proximity to some of the country's most beautiful attractions and beaches. The area is renowned for its stunning natural environment, breathtaking views of the nearby mountain ranges, and picturesque vineyards.
Plenty of activities in this region cater to all types of travelers, from adventure seekers looking for a thrill-seeking experience to those seeking relaxation on one of the many gorgeous beaches.
The selection includes unique experiences such as wine tastings, helicopter tours, horseback riding, kayaking trips, and much more. With so many options within easy reach from Hawkes Bay Airport, it's no wonder why tourists flock here year after year.
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Napier: Wine, Gin, & Craft Beer Tour with Included Tastings
Between four and seven wines will be available for tasting at each winery. Hawkes Bay is famous for its white wines, the majority of which is Chardonnay. Not to worry, Sauvignon Blanc fans, Mission Estate offers a wide variety of wine tastings. Some of the most common reds are Shiraz and Bordeaux blends.
Established in 1851, Mission Estate is the oldest of the estate wineries you'll visit. Guests can enjoy the wine and food at the tasting room and restaurant in a Victorian home with picture-perfect views of the surrounding vineyards.
The Urban Winery is next, housed in the stunning Art Nouveau-style National Tobacco building. You don't have to stop here if you want to try three different craft beers. The National Gin Distillery is next door, with five different kinds of gin to try.
After that, drive for about 15 minutes through the Esk Valley's vineyards and orchards until you reach Linden Estate. Only 60,000 bottles of wine are produced yearly at Linden, spread across 13 different grape varieties. We'll serve a complimentary cheese board of New Zealand's finest as guests sample wine and meat from New Zealand.
Napier: Cruise Ship Shore Excursion
Experience the best of Napier on a guided shore excursion and see the Art Deco district and the surrounding farmland, vineyards, and orchards. Relax on a minibus ride as we stop at popular attractions like Old Port, Bluff Hill, the Colonial Mission House, and the Sacred Baley.
Your guided shore excursion will begin after you meet your local guide at the Napier Aquarium on Marine Parade. While on your tour of Napier's Art Deco downtown area, you'll ride in a spacious minibus with expansive windows so you can take it all in from any angle.
Visit the Bluff Hill lookout in Napier first to get a bird's-eye view of the harbor and your ship. Your next stop should be at your guide's home, where you can explore the grounds. Visit his vibrant gardens and take in the Bay views while learning about the 14 square kilometers of land he reclaimed after the earthquake of 1931. Then, board the bus for a ride through Napier's historic Old Port and onto the Mission grounds.
This magnificent Colonial Mission House was constructed in 1905. Amazingly, the traction engine was responsible for transporting it to its elevated location. The tour leaves the Mission and winds through Puketapu (the Sacred Valley), passing farms, vineyards, and sheep and cattle grazing on the green rolling hills.
The next stop is at the Esk Valley War Memorial Church, a beautiful building that could easily be in the heart of Tuscany. Next door to the church is Linden Estate Vineyards. Under the vines, at a particular location just for this tour, you can enjoy wine, cheese, and biscuits.
Afterward, head back to Napier, stopping by a fruit stand en route for some natural ice cream or fresh fruit if you have time. Drop you off at the Napier cruise ship shuttle stop or in the middle of town. Backtrack to Napier for an early-evening drop-off.
Learn about the devastating earthquake that leveled Napier while appreciating the city's stunning Art Deco buildings. A trained guide will lead you on tour and share insights about the past and present.
Learn about the pre-and post-earthquake history of Napier by watching a 20-minute film about the 1931 Hawke's Bay quake.
Napier Prison Self-Guided Audio Tour
Enjoy a thrilling MP3 self-guided audio tour complete with a detailed map of the surrounding area. The undulating hallways of New Zealand's oldest prison, which were spared during the 1931 Napier Earthquake, are the setting for this fascinating and raw historical tour.
The hallways and walls are all warped and crooked. You will be educated on the lives of some truly terrifying inmates, such as drug lords, serial killers, and the infamous "Eye Eater."
And if you think toothpaste has only one use, you should see the writing on the inmates' bed frames and hear about how they put it to use in jail. This tour reveals the lives and deaths of those who resided behind the massive Kauri doors.
Hear stories of villains, victims, and heroes as you explore the old prison grounds and check out the Pound (the area where inmates were kept alone or in padded cells), Mess Hall, Remand Hallway, Cell 6, Key Men and Trustees, Cages, The Dome, Women's Wing, Te Kooti, John Yalash, Ghosts, Garden, Terry Clark, Teresa Cormack, Graveyard, and Hanging Yard, complete with replica kits of the gallows.
The open Shower Block was not for the faint of heart, and you can hear about the few escapes. The prison only closed in 1993, but since then, it has been the setting for numerous TV shows, including the 10-part brat camp "Redemption Hill," as well as "Off the Rails," "Epitaph," and several news and documentary programs.
This is an audio file for a self-guided tour, so keep that in mind. You'll need a real, live tour guide to show you around.
Napier: Art Deco Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
Experience Napier at your own pace with an audio walking tour. Discover the buildings with Maori and Mayan influences while strolling down Marine Parade to the tunes of a specially compiled playlist.
Take a stroll through the charming downtown area of this coastal town and learn about the festivals and events that give Napier its distinct character. In addition to admiring the ocean, visitors to the Masonic Hotel on Marine Parade can also admire the building's art deco styling.
Explore the one-of-a-kind architecture of this town, featuring Maori designs and Mayan-inspired structures. Listen to music specially selected to complement the tour as you view art deco landmarks like the AMP and Daily Telegraph buildings.
Napier: Gourmet Lunch and Wine Tour
At 3,600,000 bottles annually, Mission Estate is a significant player among New Zealand's wineries. Chardonnay is the most commonly offered white wine, while Merlot and associated Bordeaux blends are the most frequently offered reds.
The Mission is a fantastic restaurant with a stellar reputation and an unparalleled setting. Various cold meats, cheese, bread, fruit, and a few hot seafood options will make up your lunch. Try three local craft beers or four wines at the Urban Winery's tasting room.
After that, you'll take a trip to the scenic Esk Valley for your last wine tasting at Linden Estate. As a small winery, Linden Estate produces around sixty thousand bottles annually. The number of wines Linden has open for tasting at once can reach ten. This tour gives visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the region's winemaking history and culture.
At the end of your tour, you will be driven out into the vineyard to a secluded spot where you can relax with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and some delicious New Zealand cheese and biscuits. The tour will now stop to briefly explain how grapes are grown.