If you’re looking to start off the Roaring (20)20’s in style, what better destination than Napier, New Zealand’s art-deco city?! The stunning architecture meant I wanted to break into a charleston on every street. It’s the perfect pit-stop when exploring the gorgeous region of Hawkes Bay – and don’t miss my handy map!
Originally posted in January 2020, updated February 2022!
Napier Theatre
Napier is a phoenix rising from the ashes of New Zealand’s deadliest natural disaster. A huge and tragic earthquake in 1931 meant that virtually the whole city had to be rebuilt.
The Criterion in Spanish Mission style
The Art-Deco movement was at the height of its popularity during this time and so Napier’s CBD today is a perfect lookbook of different styles. Classic (such as the Theatre), Spanish Mission (as in the Criterion above) and even the incorporation of Maori motifs can all be found today.
You can take guided tours of the city centre – even in a vintage car, should that tickle your fancy. However, as we only had a couple of hours, we opted just to follow our noses around the CBD instead. Hastings Street, Tennyson Street, and Emerson Street all had some beautiful buildings – and you can check out my map at the end of the post for some exact locations.
The Daily Telegraph offices were one of my favourites
Fancy a ride?!
The prettiest bank offices I’ve seen in New Zealand!
If you’re a huge Art-Deco fan, Napier also hosts a festival every February which is super popular with enthusiasts of the architecture, and those who love a good festival! You can brunch, dance, learn all about the history, watch old movies and much more – click here for more info.
Napier is also situated right on the ocean, so you can quickly stroll from the CBD to the water-front for some very fresh air. Due to the sharp drop it’s not recommended to swim here, but just listening to the waves on the pebble beach gave me instant relaxation.
When I came back to Napier in February 2022, my friend Pip, who grew up in Hawkes Bay, tipped me off to this beaut in Ahuriri. Located just a little out of the city centre, the former National Tobacco Company is well worth a detour. Not least, because it’s home to a gin distillery and one of the best tastings I’ve ever been to! These beautiful details didn’t hurt either…
Have you visited Napier, or any other cities with great Art-Deco architecture?
Looking for more to do? Check out my guide to the awesome vineyards of Bridge Pa through the Bridge Pa Wine Festival!
Your handy-dandy map:
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