North Island - Napier

Trip Start Sep 04, 2007
1
37
59
Trip End May 28, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Monday, March 10, 2008

I caught the ferry back across the Cook Strait and returned to Wellington for a couple of days. I met up with a Adam & Gemma from the Stray Bus and we ended up going to see a free circus since it was the fringe festival. The first act were a random dance group (not impressed), but the main act called "Gravity and Other Myths" was really good with lots trapeze, bungy and a spectacular fire finale. The next day I headed up the cable car for panoramic views and a nice walk through the botanic gardens.

I then left the Stray bus behind and headed over to Napier on the east coast. Napier was levelled by a catastrophic earthquake in 1931. It was rebuilt in an Art Deco style, so the city is full of fascinating building. I spent an afternoon walking around the city and then went to enjoy the beach. For the next day I decided to investigate further afield.... Napier is in the middle of the sunny Hawkes bay wine region. I decided to hire a bike (you may have already noticed a theme with bikes & wine!) and headed out to Mission Estate, which is New Zealand's oldest wine maker. It was a lovely vineyard and the kind staff were happy to feed me the whole range of wines. In my opinion they weren't as good as the Marlborough wines, but the ice wine was outstanding.
Slideshow Print this entry Napier hotels