The 9 Best Napier Architecture Tours

1.Guided 10am Morning Art Deco Walk From Napier Art Deco Trust

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 167 reviews · from $20Our pick

Start with a 20-minute film about the 1931 earthquake, then follow an easy, flat walk through central Napier. Guides such as Sarah, Susan, and Simon have been praised for lively local stories, while supplied headsets help you hear clearly. The tour visits around 20 buildings and returns to the meeting point.

“This was an easy enjoyable ramble around a block of the CBD, with a bit of humour, and a lot of cool facts about Napier's Earthquake and Art Deco rebuild history. The guide new the uneven parts of the route and pointed them out. If you are going on a weekend, be aware that one portion is only available to view through glass doors from outside, as the business housing the decor is closed.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Guided 2pm Afternoon Art Deco Walk from Napier Art Deco Trust

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 97 reviews · from $20Top rated

Meet at the Art Deco Centre at 2pm for an introduction and 20-minute film, then walk Napier’s Art Deco Quarter with a local guide. Guides such as Simon, Martin, Christopher, and John explain the 1931 earthquake, design details, and the city’s rebuild. Expect a small group, easy pace, and about 2.5 hours in all.

“We had a wonderful afternoon with John. His enthusiasm and knowledge of Napier and her buildings was contagious. Thoroughly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Shore Excursion: 4 Hour Premium Hawke’s Bay, Napier Art deco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 37 reviews · from $86

This four-hour small-group excursion combines Napier’s Art Deco streets with Bluff Hill, Arataki Honey, Te Mata Peak, the Tukituki River, and Hastings. Guides such as Mark, Sukh, Roy, John, and Kirsti lead the tour, though the exact guide varies. Expect plenty of driving, photo stops, local history, and a maximum group size of 22.

“Sukh gave it her all. She was caring, thorough, and a great guide. We had a great time! We were blessed to have a private tour as we were the only ones signed up this day but it is usually a small group. It gave us a great sense of Napier, Hastings, and the surrounding area in a short 4 hours. Extremely enjoyable!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Napier and Hawkes Bay Scenic and Art Deco Tour by VW Kombi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $142

Join Craig in a restored 1970 VW Kombi for a 3.5 to 4 hour tour from Napier. With space for only six, you will see the coast, Tuki Tuki Valley, Te Mata Peak, local produce stops, Arataki Honey Centre, and Napier’s Art Deco streets. Coffee and ice cream cost extra.

“Driver picks you up in a 1970's Kombi VW bus, in town and drives around to some beautiful spots, including a vineyard, in Napier. This is a must do for any VW Bus enthusiast, but also a great way to get chauffeured around in Napier. Side note, Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Art Deco Bike Ride and Wineries Loop

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 19 reviews · 6 hours · from $68

Set out from Ahuriri on an e-bike with a helmet, panniers, maps, and route notes. Ride into Napier’s Art Deco center, follow the coast toward Cape Kidnappers, continue beside the Tutaekuri River to Church Road and Mission Estate wineries, then return through bird-filled estuary trails. You can choose a 28-kilometer route or extend it to 45 kilometers.

“A nice relaxing way to see the city and learn about the art deco history of the area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Small group – Napier City & Art Deco Tour, 2 hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $80

Explore Napier with local guide John in a comfortable minivan, from Ahuriri and the National Tobacco Company Building to Marewa’s 1930s homes and hilltop views. This roughly two-hour morning tour suits anyone wanting a clear introduction to the city’s Art Deco style, its 1931 earthquake, and the suburbs beyond the center.

“Extensive look at the Art Deco component of Napier and the reasons why it is that way. Beautiful buildings, fascinating history. John, our driver/guide was very knowledgeable. We were the only people on the tour, but he still ran it. Thank you. Other companies might have cancelled.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Napier Shore Excursion: Wine & Art Deco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $102

Start at Napier Port at 7:30 am for a four-hour guided tour of the city’s Art Deco buildings and earthquake story. You’ll visit either Mission Estate or Church Road Winery for a tasting, then finish with three beers or ciders at a local Ale House. Groups are capped at 20 people.

“FABULOUS TOUR ! Our guide was awesome ! Only 4 of us on the tour. Napier is a fabulous town. Our Guide was wonderful and explained everything in the town. We went to a couple of wineries and Beer Tasting at Speights Brewery. Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Napier Cruise Excursion Art Deco Tour and Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $111

Spend 3.5 hours seeing Napier through a local guide’s eyes. Visit the Ātea a Rangi Star Compass, pass Art Deco buildings and street murals, explore Ahuriri fishing village, then taste Hawke’s Bay wine with a New Zealand platter in an iconic Art Deco building. Private minivan transport and return to the port are included.

“Nice sized group to travel with. Guide took us to various parts of Napier so we could see the area from different vantage points / living areas. Shared personal experience of the area and made the trip very enjoyable. Learnt a lot about a great place without feeling rushed or bombarded with inane details, I.e. not script led.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Shore excursion – Napier sight seeing/Art Deco Tour,

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $61

See Napier’s Art Deco center and suburbs, pause at Bluff Hill Lookout, and visit the National Tobacco Company Building with a local guide. Pickup is available from hotels and Napier Port. The tour lasts about two to two and a half hours, travels mainly by minibus, and accepts groups of up to 15.

“Learnt so much on this tour and got to view so many great Art Deco buildings. Impressed that one city can have so many, well kept buildings from the Art Deco Period. This is in no small part down to the Napier Art Deco Trust and there volunteers”

Check availability →Read our full review