We signed up for another small group tour of Hawke’s Bay and Napier. Napier was destroyed by a 1931 earthquake. Before the earthquake, Napier had been an island, but after the quake, the land behind the island was uplifted and Napier gained a lot of land (everything to the left of the greed area became land).
First, we toured the Art Deco downtown of Napier, which boasts the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world.
There are antique roadsters on display and in use all around town. Clearly, Napier revels in its Art Deco heritage.
We drove through Art Deco neighborhoods, which the town had the foresight to preserve, and up into the older neighborhoods above town, which were not damaged by the earthquake.
The six sister cottages (once beachfront) were built by a Welsh captain for his six daughters. This statue celebrates the spirit of Napier, rising from the ashes of the earthquake. NZ was also the first country to grant women the right to vote.
Next, we drove out of town to the orchards, vineyards, and pastures that surround Napier. There are 42 wineries in the area around Napier.
We drove up Te Mata Peak for a view of the countryside.
Next. we visited NZ National Aquarium and got to see little penguins (the smallest species of penguins) swimming and being fed.
Feeding time for the penguins.
We also saw a kiwi, no pictures because since they are nocturnal, they are in a darkened display),
I was almost but not quite eaten by a megladon shark.
We saw lots of native fish and feeding time in the walk-through tunnel aquarium.
Next, we walked along the several mile long linear park along the water that was built on land uplifted by the earthquake. There are gardens and skate parks and playgrounds for everyone to enjoy.
When we returned to the ship, we were greeted by more antique cars and locals dressed up in 30’s costumes, which they clearly love to do.
