Hawke's Bay - About Hawke's Bay
The coastal city of Napier boasts a magnificent harbour and port. From the lookout at the summit of Napier Hill 360 degree birdseye views of the city, harbour and countryside can be enjoyed.
Hastings is about 15 minutes drive from Napier. It is the region's agricultural capital, running west to east to Te Mata Peak.
Te Mata Peak is an important landmark, rising to 399 metres above sea level. It is one of the first places in New Zealand to see the sun. From the summit it is possible to see large tracts of the province. On clear days Mt Ruapehu is visible. Havelock North is on the Te Mata Peak foothills, and is a charming and rapidly growing village.
Hawke's Bay has an array of activities and attractions to offer visitors to the area. Probably best known for its abundance (over 30) of award winning vineyards and its art deco architecture - Napier having the highest concentration of art deco buildings anywhere in the world.
Sadly, Napier's unique architectural heritage was born out of tragedy. On February 3 1931, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, followed by rapidly spreading fires, destroyed much of Napier. It also raised more than 2000 hectares of land from below sea level.
Four architects in Napier - E A Williams, Finch and Westerholme, J A Loius Hay and Natuusch and Sons - banded together to rebuild the town. Their efforts produced a unique creation: an art deco city. Today Napier boasts one of the world's most significant collections of art deco buildings, and it attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
