Damson

We are currently visiting Napier and wanted to know if there is anything in particular we should/shouldn't do in this beautiful town. Cheers.

LittleGreyCat

Don't upset the locals?

:-)

BEVS

Obvious one this evening is do not drink the water.

Damson

Thanks guys. Left now; didn't upset anyone and drank the water just fine. Presumably we are now all going to come down with some disease then?!!!

Pom_Chch

Do this!

http://winehawkesbay.co.nz/images/Ha...5-_website.pdf

BEVS

Damson . I was thinking of what we heard on then news is all.

Justcol

take time for one of the cycle trails (bikes can be rented in town)

Visit the old prison at Bluff Hill, its a fun couple of hours

Grab a decent pint at The Rose, Irish pub on Hastings St. The foods quite nice too, and the quiz night a laugh.

Damson

Ah right Bevs, see what you mean. Sounds bloody awful but we escaped that thank god. Poor old folk.

I am however suffering an upper respiratory problem like never before - even borrowing hubby's inhaler and shovelling coldrex, but still barking like a collie. Weird because I never get colds - I'm always the lucky one who avoids it. It started in Thames, kicked off big time in Rotorua, was bad in Napier and now in Wellington and my chest is hurting, presumably where I've been coughing so much for over a week. I thought holidays were supposed to do you good!

Did the prison tour justcol and loved it; really interesting. It was a cold grey day, so just perfect for the desolation of the place to hit home. I would love to have done the cycling but not really felt up to it.

The wine tour would have been good but we thought the kids would get bored - they're more into cider!!!

Did a bit of Te Papa today but will go back for Galipolli as it was getting late. Cable car still broken so will probably walk up botanical gardens to get to the Space Place and may go to Weta Cave.

Snap Shot

The Filter Room was a really good cider pub when we were on holiday in Napier about 3 years ago. I had one of their tasting trays, yummy.

Here's the address: Awatoto Rd, Meeanee, Napier, New Zealand. It's one of the many roads that has vineyards and fruit orchards either side of it.


The Filter Room Ale & Cider House - Napier


Te Mata peak was good to drive up just for the views across the country. Sounds like we missed out on a good attraction by not going to the old prison.

Had a great time though.

The National Aquarium and Kiwi exhibition was interesting.

Damson

That cider house sounds awesome - would definately have gone there!

Didn't make Te Mata - drove to Cape Kidnappers and slogged up Bluff Hill for views. It's a very pretty place.

The aquarium looked good but we had already done Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland so didn't want to overdo it. Heard that one of their (Napier's) squid escaped - how cool is that?!!!

Snap Shot

It probably went down the pub. Maybe it likes cider too.

Kelly Tarleton's in Auckland is excellent.

We drove to Cape Kidnappers for a good view of the sea.

To bad we missed Napier Prison, it looks interesting. Reminds me of Kilmarnham Gaol in Dublin. That is undoubtedly atmospheric !

Charismatic

Wise advice whenever travelling where there is a suitable sav or ale available .

Snap Shot

Free Wellington Cable Car rides for all on Friday. 19th August

It will be a free-for-all Friday as the Wellington Cable Car celebrates reopening after a series of delays.

The first scheduled re-opening date passed more than a fortnight ago, with the date being pushed to Monday, then to Wednesday and now to Friday this week.

As a sweetener for both commuters and tourists, ticket prices will be waived as it celebrates its first day of service since it closed for a multimillion-dollar upgrade in early June.

Damson

It will be so welcome. We slogged up to the observatory to look at the stars all the while knowing that car will be able to speed us up there tomorrow (according to the sign on the station door). Couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the stars tonight as you don't know how clear it will be tomorrow. There were some lovely chaps outside with a telescope set up and training it on planets on request. We saw Saturn and Mars and best of all had an amazing up-close look at the craters of the moon. Blew us away. Got lost on the way back down and had to retrace our steps but it was so worth it. As was weta cave. And a special mention to the Galipolli exhibition at Te Papa. It is the best presented and most moving exhibition I've ever seen, by a mile. The massive models and simulated trench were spine tingling. Great day all round with gorgeous weather too. Shame we've only got one more day here.

BEVS

You never saw the craters of the moon before ? Used to be looking at that all the time as a kid with a 2nd hand pair of bins. That and the planets and the sweep of the Milky Way

So pleased you've caught the bug.