Napier

As soon as you set foot in New Zealand on your MSC World Cruise, you will see just how charming and relaxing Napier is, the most populous city in Hawke's Bay.
New Zealanders love it for its climate, very similar to that in the Mediterranean, the low cost of living and its well preserved Art Deco buildings, built after the earthquake of 1931. 


Enjoy walking around the city centre, where the streets are named after great English writers like Shakespeare or Dickens. Napier's main street is Emerson Street, which connects Marine Parade and the city’s beach (not suitable for bathing) to Clive Square. 


About 5 km from the centre, on the north side of Bluff Hill, there is the original Maori village of Ahuriri, where there are now clothes shops, cafes and trendy restaurants. 


From Napier, an MSC day trip will take you to visit the surrounding area, which is famous for its vineyards; there is also the New Zealand Wine Centre in the city if you want to find out more about the history of wine in this country. 


You can independently visit the National Aquarium of New Zealand, where the ocean marine fauna includes species from Africa, Asia and Australia. 


If you are passionate about architecture, a visit to the Art Deco district is a must. Inspired more by Californian than European architecture, the architects who rebuilt Napier after 1931 imitated their colleagues in Santa Barbara by using Mayan, Egyptian and Maori motifs to adorn the facades of buildings. Established forty years ago, the Art Deco Trust protects the buildings by restoring the original decorative elements (don't miss the ASB Bank, the former Hotel Central, the Daily Telegraph building, the Masonic Hotel or the Municipal Theatre). 


For lovers of adventure and outdoor activities, there is an MSC day trip which offers you the possibility to raft down the Mohaka River rapids, just 90 km from Napier.

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