Napier & Hawke's Bay holidays

Laidback Napier has the air of an English seaside resort. Sitting pretty on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, it’s the kind of place that’s made for strolling. So grab a map from the visitor centre and take a self-guided walk along the city streets, discovering amazing Art Deco architecture at every turn. You’ll also come across a number of impressive murals, as Napier recently took part in a street art project designed to raise awareness of various marine environmental issues.

Of course, being on the coast, one thing you have to do on a Napier holiday is take in the sea views. And the best place to do that is Marine Parade. An iconic, three-kilometre stretch of seafront, it’s got incredible vistas which stretch all the way from the Mahia Peninsula in the north to Cape Kidnappers in the south. It’s also got loads of cafes and restaurants, as well as a wealth of family-friendly activities including a bike track, skate park, mini golf and the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Hawke’s Bay holidays tend to centre on one thing – wine. Thanks to fertile soil and a warm, temperate climate, this is one of New Zealand’s leading grape-growing regions. In particular, it’s famed for its full-bodied red wines – so if you’re keen to enjoy a top-notch glass of cabernet sauvignon, merlot or syrah, this is the place to do so. Although if you prefer white to red, don’t worry – there are also quite a few chardonnay producers around here, too.

Hawke’s Bay is home to over 70 vineyards with more than 30 cellar doors and, while you could join a guided tour or hire a driver to take you round, one of the best ways to explore them is by bike. Around 200 kilometres of flat, easy-riding cycle trails connect the wineries, and you’ll discover numerous other artisan food producers en route.

This sandstone headland – so called by Captain Cook because it’s where local Maori once attempted to abduct a member of his crew – is home to the world’s largest and most accessible mainland gannet colony. These giant ocean birds start nesting in June and lay their eggs from early July through to October, with the chicks hatching six weeks later. Then in March, the gannets begin their migration, and by May they’re all gone.

The journey to Cape Kidnappers takes you along rugged coastline, past interesting cliff formations and beautiful rock pools. And when you reach the colony you’ll see up to 25,000 gawking gannets swooping and diving for fish and feeding their young chicks. So if you’re something of a wildlife fan, a trip here is an absolute must during your holiday to Napier and Hawke’s Bay. And if you want to make the experience extra special, you can always join a three-hour sunrise tour.

Basking in a Mediterranean climate, Hawke’s Bay is one of the warmest and sunniest parts of New Zealand. It typically enjoys long summers and cool winters, and rarely gets either extremely hot or extremely cold. During the summer months of December to February, daytime highs are around 23°C while lows are about 13°C – so this is a perfect time for a Napier and Hawke’s Bay holiday if you want to spend some time at the beach or you’re keen to enjoy other outdoor activities.

In spring and autumn, things are slightly cooler, with highs just below 20°C and lows hovering around 10°C. Of course temperatures continue to dip during winter. Between June and August, daytime temperatures usually peak at 15°C and at night things can get down to 5°C. This time of year sees crisp mornings, with frost on the grass and a dusting of snow on the ranges. And although it’s drier than many other parts of the country, this is still New Zealand, so whatever month you choose for your holiday to Napier and Hawke’s Bay, you should always be prepared for rain.