Day 50: Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a city on the eastern seaboard of the North Island and is the heart of what is known as the Hawkes Bay region. It's famous for two reasons. First, it is "wool central" for the country - actually for the entire Southern Hemisphere. Second, it is the Art Deco capital of the world. In February 1931, the city was leveled by an earthquake. Not only were hundreds of homes and commercial buildings destroyed, but it reconfigured the town by creating almost 10,000 acres of new land, raised almost 10 feet out of the bay and above ground. The town rebuilt itself with an Art Deco theme - that is present everywhere you look.

The area has a very temperate climate - ranging from a high of 77 in summer to a low of only 59 in winter, with an average of 6 rainy days a month. What's so important about that? It means that it is Wine Country! There are many vineyards in the Hawkes Bay area, and we got to visit one for the day.





Regent threw a massive party at the Mission Estate Winery for all of its Round The World passengers. Mission Estate is the oldest vineyard in the area, founded by French missionaries in 1851. In keeping with the '20s and '30s theme, the party featured classic entertainment of that era, antique cars, plus amazing food and wine. Some highlights were homemade blueberry ice cream, straight-from-the-barrel wine sampling of the potential 2023 reserve wines, and a vineyard tour. 

So, it's not such an educational blog post today, mainly because we're both in a food coma.


Tomorrow, we are doing a self-guided tour of downtown Wellington and maybe some shopping to spend our last remaining NZ Dollars (1.6 to US $). Then, we have two sea days as we travel across the Tasman Sea and arrive in Sydney on Leap Year's Day.

Additional shots are below.

1. It may be the South's wool center, but lumber is everywhere. On its way to China.

2. The two of us with an antique. Or it may be the other way around.

3. Me with "What Ho?" and a great view down the valley.

4. Two of the entertainers.

5. Bagpipes. A perfect fit for the valley.

6. My newest vehicle. Beautiful. 








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