NAPIER

TUESDAY, 22nd October.

Today was sightseeing day with not too much driving involved.  We didn't get moving until late morning, driving into town to do the tourist 'thing'.  We parked the car near the information centre, 30 min only and strolled through the sunken gardens next door

admired the six sisters

then ventured into the Information Centre.  

There we met a man from Napier and his lady friend Charlotte, formerly from Belgium, and chatted to them for some time about European travel etc. until we had to leave to move the car in order to avoid a fine.  Once we'd found a 2 hour parking spot, we strolled through the art deco part of town, stopped for a light lunch & coffee in one of the malls and spent a couple of hours enjoying the sight of wonderful old buildings, the highlight being the Napier Municipal Theatre as Jocelyn, the box office lady very kindly allowed us to wander through the theatre and told us of some of its history.  Napier was largely in ruins after a devastating earthquake way back in 1931 and afterward, the town's residents decided it should be rebuilt in the art deco style.  

The Floral Clock

The War Memorial Centre

The Viewing Platform (closed for repairs)

Sound Shell and Colonnade (under repair)

Tom Parker Fountain (under repair)

Spirit of Napier Sculpture

Waitangi Regional Park

a circle which indicates the navigation method of the Polynesians who migrated to New Zealand up to 3,000 years ago using the stars, the moon, the sun and the winds and tides.

A sculpture on the foreshore

A tiring but most enjoyable day....and no roadworks!