Port guide: Napier, New Zealand
Don't miss
The National Aquarium of New Zealand on the waterfront, a short walk along Marine Parade from the town centre, has a splendid collection of creatures to admire in tanks and from see-through tunnels underwater. You can see tuataras (a species of lizard), little penguins and kiwis too. If you have children, they'll love the hands-on displays and 2.30pm feeding time.
Get active
Napier is compact, but its seashore promenades are a good place for a run. You can keep going for kilometres beyond down if you head south. Ahuriri Estuary Walking Track runs four kilometres in a loop, and you can birdwatch as you go: get there on a short bus ride, or add another few kilometres through town onto your running route.
Best bites
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The degustation menu at three-hatted chef Jeremy Rameka's Pacifica Restaurant is a brilliant showcase of contemporary New Zealand cuisine. For a more informal meal, head to Central Fire Station Bistro for delicious French and Italian-influenced dishes such as sweet corn dumplings, gnocchi with gorgonzola, and beef sirloin in a rich shiitake bordelaise sauce. Wine lovers should get beyond town to investigate the region's Chardonnay, Syrah and Merlot-Cabernet blends at any of 70 cellar doors, including New Zealand's oldest winery Mission Estate, prestigious Te Mata Estate, and scenic Elephant Hill.
Further afield
Napier is centred on fertile farmland, orchards and river valleys and sits in the middle of the Hawke's Bay wine region, with many excursions focused on cellar doors or local chocolate and honey producers. Nearby Cape Kidnappers is renowned both for golf and one of the world's largest gannet colonies, a remarkable sight as the wide-winged birds swoop and screech. From the top of Te Mata, spectacular views unfold over the landscape and Napier's twin town Hastings. If you're interested in Maori history, head to Hakikino Conservation Reserve.
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First class at 350 km/h for just $93? It's a five-star train journey
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