Introduction
Hawke's Bay pairs Napier's rebuilt Art Deco city centre with one of New Zealand's oldest and most respected wine regions, plus Lake Waikaremoana's remote forest wilderness inland.
Overview
Napier, Hawke's Bay's coastal city, was almost entirely destroyed by a severe 1931 earthquake, and the rebuild that followed happened to coincide with the height of the Art Deco architectural style — the result is one of the most complete and best-preserved collections of Art Deco buildings anywhere in the world, concentrated in a compact, walkable city centre. Inland and to the south, Hawke's Bay's wine region — New Zealand's oldest, with commercial winemaking dating to the 19th century — produces internationally respected Syrah, Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style reds from the Gimblett Gravels and other distinct sub-regions. Further inland again, Lake Waikaremoana sits within the forested Te Urewera region, a remote, densely bush-covered wilderness that holds deep significance to Ngāi Tūhoe and offers a genuine multi-day Great Walk circuit around the lake for travellers willing to make the journey off the main tourist routes.
Discover Hawke's Bay
Napier's Art Deco character exists because of tragedy rather than design intent from the start: a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in February 1931 killed 256 people and levelled most of the city centre, and the rebuild that followed over the next two years happened to coincide precisely with Art Deco's international peak as an architectural style. Local architects rebuilt in the fashionable style of the moment, and because so much of the city was destroyed and reconstructed within such a short window, Napier ended up with an unusually cohesive collection of Art Deco buildings — geometric facades, sunburst motifs and pastel colour schemes — concentrated in one compact, walkable centre rather than scattered piecemeal as in most cities. Guided walking tours and an annual Art Deco Festival celebrate the architecture directly.
Ways to Experience This Destination
One of the world's most complete Art Deco cityscapes, rebuilt after a devastating 1931 earthquake.
New Zealand's oldest wine region — internationally respected Syrah and Bordeaux-style reds from the Gimblett Gravels.
A remote, forested Great Walk circuit within Te Urewera, holding deep significance to Ngāi Tūhoe.
Hawke's Bay Travel Information
- Napier's Art Deco walking tours run daily and are the easiest way to see the architecture with genuine historical context rather than just walking past it.
- Hawke's Bay wine touring works well by bike between closely clustered cellar doors, similar to Marlborough — check current tour or rental options in Napier or Hastings.
- Lake Waikaremoana is genuinely remote, with a long approach road — allow real travel time getting there, not just for the walk itself.
Frequently asked questions
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.