Introducing Napier
You don’t have to be particularly cultured to enjoy Napier but you might find its passion for architecture and fine wine surprisingly contagious. Before long you’ll be blathering on about the Chicago School, Mayan decorative devices and ‘hints of passionfruit on the palate’ with the best of them.
Advertisement
The Napier of today is the silver lining of the dark cloud that was NZ’s worst natural disaster. Rebuilt after the deadly 1931 earthquake in the popular styles of the time, the city retains a unique concentration of Art-Deco buildings. Architecture obsessives flock here from all over the world and the town milks it for all it’s worth. Don’t expect the Chrysler Building – Napier’s Art Deco is resolutely low-rise – but you will find intact 1930s streetscapes which can provoke a Great Gatsby swagger in the least romantic soul.
For the layperson it’s a charismatic, sunny, composed city with the air of an affluent English seaside resort about it.
Last updated: Sep 23, 2010
Tips & articles
-
World’s best festivals: Art Deco Weekend
2 December 2010
This is an excerpt from Lonely Planet’s A Year of Festivals.Location: Venues around Napier and...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
North Island Travelers
by diriven 05 September 2011
Hey, I've just moved down to New Zealand (Auckland). I got here at the end of July, and I'll be here until mid-December. I have a flat…
-
RE: Searching for possibilities
by diriven 05 September 2011
Hey Anne, Lena and Verena, I'm Dave. I've just come down to Auckland as well. I've been here just over a month now. I'm 21 from Canada.…
-
Re: New Zealand 16 days
by amgs 03 September 2011
Hi kmcat , Thanks for your comments. I've thought about spending the night in Tauranga because it's closer to Roturua.Which cities…
In our shop
Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.
Hotels & Hostels
-
Econo Lodge Westshore Beach
Napier
Book now
-
Book now
-
Aqua Lodge
Napier
Book now
Advertisement












