Best Things To Do in Napier, New Zealand

Are you looking for what to do in Napier?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Pania Reef: Take a walk down the Marine Parade and have your photo taken with the statue of the young maiden which is the most photographed tourist attraction in New Zealand. The figure comes out of Moari mythology, and although the statue has been vandalised and even stolen, it can still be seen today.
  • National Aquarium of New Zealand: If you ever wondered what it like to live underwater, the Nation Aquarium has a newly built 50m acrylic tunnel to give you an underwater experience without you ever getting wet. You can also view some fantastic exhibits, like exotic Asian Tropical fish and Water Dragons.

THINGS TO DO

Are you looking for some exciting places where you can go at night in Napier, well you could try the following;

  • Cabana Bar: This is a music venue, there are different artists performing every time.
  • Latitude Live: It is also another place, there is a lot to do here, the music is also good. Live entertainment on weekends
  • Century Cinema: This forms part of the Hawks Bay Museum, this is where they host different events. The cinema is known for screening popular international films and music.

Below we have a list of things to do in Napier and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Napier getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Napier with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Napier

Here is the list of things to do in Napier and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Te Mata Peak

    4.8 (604 Votes)
    Te Mata Peak

    Outdoors, View Point, Hiking Trail, Biking Trail

    This unassuming, 400 metre high peak provides many more opportunities than you’d think possible. A lovely drive leads you to the carpark at the bottom, from where you hike up to the top. From there you have breath-taking views of the Hasting countryside; the craggy hills, the ranges, the flatlands and the wide coastline; and it’s worth coming up here just for sunrises, sunsets, and ...Read more
  2. Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve

    Beach, Waterfront, Wildlife Park, Walking Area

    It wasn’t enough that this headland at the end of a peninsula is a beautiful ocean paradise, but it’s also the world’s largest mainland gannet colony. Though you can certainly take a car or another vehicle up to the reserve, it’s an entirely different experience to walk the coast. The best time to catch the birds is during the nesting season, (mid-September to mid-Decemb...Read more
  3. Art Deco Trust

    4.4 (425 Votes)
    Art Deco Trust

    Walking Area, Architecture

    What is Art Deco? It’s a culture of architecture and development born in the 1920’s and revived in the mid 20th century. It represents the dawning of the technological age and the faith that the last century put in technology in solving the world’s problems.. and this includes social technology such as the liberation of woman. All these themes are resplendents in the bulding o...Read more
  4. National Aquarium Of New Zealand

    Aquarium

    This water zoo has been Napier’s top tourist draw for over 30 years, attracting over 250000 annually in it’s initial days, when the population of Napier itself was only 5000. 1500 animals spread across fifty species have been attracting much attention to this oceanarium. A travelator circles underneath this man made water paradise, through sharks, stingrays and crocs. A lot of the d...Read more
  5. Marine Parade

    Walking Area, Neighborhoods

    Whether you’re walking or cycling, Marine Parade is the best place in Napier to spend some casual yet intimate time with your family or loved ones. There’s an extremely well maintained children’s park, so that’s taken care of. Scores of charming little restaurants and cafes are scattered over the place, so you’re never too far away from pleasing your stomach. Art D...Read more
  6. Church Road Winery

    4.5 (439 Votes)
    Church Road Winery

    Museum, Food And Drinks, Winery

    Wine, marriage and meat; that’s an unusual combination to be sure, but this winery, one of Napier’s oldest, manages to pull it off just fine. Definitely check out the winery tours followed up by the Bay Platter, a selection of the finest meat and produce from around Hawkes Bay. Romance wise, the organisers have put in good effort at sprucing up the place with pretty gardens, a porti...Read more
  7. Takaro Trails

    4.6 (460 Votes)
    Takaro Trails

    Outdoors, Trail, Biking Trail, Archaeological Site

    Napier really does have an impressive number of trails and tours for the tourist’s perusal. For bicycling enthusiasts, this particular tour couldn’t get better. At it’s greatest length, the company offers 200km of rolling through the beautiful Napier surrounding through three “Great Rides”: the Hawkes Bay trail, the Nga Harenga and the NZ Cycle trail. The trips wil...Read more
  8. Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours

    4.7 (478 Votes)
    Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours

    Scenic Drive

    For those who haven’t got that much time, this is a quick and convenient way to cover the best Napier has to offer. Your experience depends on the kind of tour you choose. Will you go for the cruise ships, or the Art Deco experience? For those with really little time, there’s the Whirlwind Tour. If you’d rather get away from the city, go for the Hawkes Bay Scenic Tour, a compr...Read more
  9. Mohaka Rafting

    4.9 (509 Votes)
    Mohaka Rafting

    Outdoors, Water Body, River, Adventure

    Sometimes nature gift-wraps her beauties in such away that everyone, regardless of skill or experience, can enjoy it. Crystal and cold waters from the Kaimanawa ranges plunge through stunning alpines, lush beech forests and white waters to create a wonderland of outdoor fun. Various tour groups offer various kinds of tours, usually based on difficulty, that will nevertheless mange to pack in a ...Read more
  10. Hawkes Bay Museum And Art Gallery

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Art Gallery, Theatre

    Having undergone a major restoration project in recent years, this terrific “big little” museum has once again opened its doors to the public. In a remarkable compact area, the intelligently designed centre gives off an impression of magnificence and splendour as it strives to bring together the best of New Zealand’s cultural heritage to one place. One entire section dedicated...Read more
  11. Napier Prison Tours

    Museum

    Who doesn’t love it when their most morbid of fears are tickled and teased? The Napier Prison tour is wonderfully designed to immerse you in the horror stories that brought it into being and gave it its legacy. Shootings, murders, executions are only the tip of the iceberg here. The truly delicious part is the many reports of ghosts and spirits that roam the prison walls and corridors, in...Read more
  12. Bluff Hill Lookout

    Outdoors, Picnic Spot, Games

    If you’re coming, bring your camera. You can come again and again to catch the beauty this lookout offers at different times of the day. The Port of Napier, the peninsula and Cape Kidnapper; they’re all laid out in splendour to your sight. Going up o the lookout can be a lovely stroll and it’s a perfect place for a picnic. Though there’s not much else to do here, it&rsqu...Read more
  13. Otatara Pa

    Village, Historical Site, Architecture , Archaeological Site

    First off, a pa is a historic Maori settlement or village with defensive and fort like features. There are few enough well preserved sites of that kind in New Zealand today. As one of the largest and best-preserved sites, Otatara Pa has immense historical value and is one of New Zealand’s most important archaeological sites. Taking the tour, you’ll see how the site is protected from...Read more
  14. Hawke's Bay Airport

    4.3 (1065 Votes)
    Hawke's Bay Airport Image
    ©
    Hawke's Bay Airport (IATA: NPE, ICAO: NZNR) is an airport located in Napier, New Zealand. It is the main airport serving the Hawke's Bay region. The airport is owned and operated by Hawke's Bay Airport Ltd, a company owned by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.The airport has one runway, which is 2,099 metres (6,886 ft) long and 45 metres (148 ft) wide. It is capable of handling aircraft up to th...Read more
  15. Wok U Want
    Here they serve a variety of dishes, from noodles, vegetables, pork to sauces and chicken. The food is also cheap and affordable.