Napier

Napier is a compact coastal city on New Zealand's North Island, rebuilt almost entirely in Art Deco style after a devastating earthquake levelled it in 1931. More than 300 buildings from that era survive, their pastel facades, geometric lines, and zigzag motifs making the city feel like a 1930s film set. The port is a short walk from the main strip, and Marine Parade runs along the waterfront past the Pania of the Reef statue and a row of Norfolk pines. Guided Art Deco walking tours run daily and cover the stories behind the facades. Cape Kidnappers, about 30 minutes south, has the world's largest mainland gannet colony, with thousands of birds nesting on the clifftops. The surrounding Hawke's Bay region is one of New Zealand's top wine areas, particularly for Chardonnay and Syrah. Pick up a flat white and a pastry in the Art Deco precinct, or try fresh crayfish at one of the waterfront restaurants.