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Napier Travel Blogs

Background: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

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By Sushijas
September 18th 2009

Winos in Heaven Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Surprise!
The beautiful gorge and waterfall that we stumbled upon driving to Napier

Yes, we've been bad bloggers, and we admit it. In our defense, we've rarely been home. This, September 18, will be our fifteenth night at home, compared with 16 nights being spent elsewhere. Not that we're complaining. We've been up to some pretty fun stuff. Our first out-of-town weekend trip here was to Hawkes Bay, also known as wine country. We set out late on Friday afternoon, and what a drive it was. Beautiful mountain roads, rolling hills, lush forests...ahh. At one point, we stopped at a scenic overlook just to stretch our legs. Wouldn't you know it, this virtually unmarked [View Full Entry]

By twotravelbugs
April 12th 2009

Buses and Bugs in the Bay Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Te Mata Peak
From the convoy on Sunday

Saturday 11th April 2009 - The 2009 Volkswagen Nationals The sun doesnt hit our van till quite late in the morning, but Rob and Cassie behind the hedge from us get the sun much earlier. So after breakfast, its straight round there for a chat in the sun. Theres a nice tree on the site next to ours shading us from the mornings warmth. The show was held down on the waterfront, at the quieter end of Marine Parade (ie not in the centre of town). It was a great spot right on the water, and a pretty good show too. [View Full Entry]

By donnybreeze
March 15th 2009

Art Deco and Mr Big Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Art Deco, Napier

Day 39 8 March Wellington-Napier The road to Napier on the east coast of North Island still gave us plenty of hills to make the Sunny use second gear occasionally, especially in the first hour out of Wellington. A sunny Sunday morning drive through sheep shearing country. World championships are held around here. Lots of places advertise demonstrations. You can even have a go yourself. I amused myself by trying to spot the ones who had been shorn by a ham-fisted tourist. Maybe they’d have bits of loo paper stuck all over them to staunch the bleeding from the shavi [View Full Entry]

By Skinner
February 23rd 2009

mostly geothermal Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Geothermal
The area between Rotorua and Taupo is the active geothermal area..Not big on this but it was worth the stop.

February 23rd OK, It has been a long day but I feel I should make a stab at an update. From the Mount I continued my journey south. Rotorua, to Taupo with a stop to look at some geothermal sites. Even though these generally are not my cup of tea, flat white, long black or any other options I have to say the park I stopped at south of Rotorua was excellent. To a more important topic, the coffee. Never having been to Europe I don't know what the cafe scene is like, but I have to say I am loving [View Full Entry]

By katie izzy
February 6th 2009

A nice Sauvignon Blanc..... Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

the 3d maze

As promised- havent left it long since last blog! So here we are in Art Deco Napier (lots of deco architecture)- been a flying visit, arrived late afternoon yesterday and leaving in the morning. Did the 3D maze outside Rotorua before we left- a lot of fun but pretty confusing! You basically enter from one side of the front and then have to visit all corners before coming back out the same way you went in. I (izzy) took the longest as the first 3 corners were fine but i just couldnt get the last one- there are bridges and all [View Full Entry]

A diver handfeeding the fish - amusing the kids and us!

By Everette
January 20th 2009

photos of New Zealand Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Sky Tower in Auckland

These are a few photos of New Zealand. [View Full Entry]

By ARE
January 8th 2009

Splash Planet Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Splash Planet
Out of this world

Last night we had a discussion on where we were going to go today, It was a really hot day so dad suggested we go to Splash Planet so Mitchell looked around on the internet and he found Splash Planet. SO we gathered up a few things and we hopped in the car and drove thru Hastings to Splash Planet. Splash planet is really cool first we had to line up at the door and wear an orange bracelet so we could go on all the rides but Holly didn't have to cause she was free. I went down 3 hydro [View Full Entry]

By Sarah B
December 29th 2008

A Hawkes Bay Happy New Year Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Wild Dolphins...
..coming to play when we're out fishing.

Hello everyone- a belated Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you all wherever you may be. Thought I’d quickly upload some piccys of my favourite place on the planet… A lengthy 36 hour journey took me door to door from London to Havelock North- the fastest route round the world you can do. Taxi-train-flight-flight-bus-flight-car. Argh exhausting! Arriving dehydrated, seriously over fed after numerous Air New Zealand offerings, hot and bothered and adorning a magnificent pair of ‘cankles’ (which, for those non-sufferers of in-flight DVT I am referring to the [View Full Entry]

By Hakura
December 17th 2008

The Wairarapa Coast Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Cape Palliser
Ngawi to the west of Cape Palliser

Wednesday 17 December 2008 The Wairapa Coast - Wellington to Napier Captains Log: (for the seafarers amongst you) We motored out of Wellington Harbour on a southerly heading for about an hour then headed east mainly under motor for 4-5 hours until past Cape Palliser. We turned northeast 14 nautical miles south east of Cape Palliser and basically maintained that course for the next 24 hours under motor and/or sail. Just nor-nor-west of Cape Kidnappers we headed northwest towards the lights of Napier, the last 12 hours under motor due to no wind. The entry into Napier was very confusi [View Full Entry]

By CharlieandRich
October 30th 2008

Hot Hot Hot Hawkes Bay (Napier) Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

Art Deco

We hopped in the van the next day, and raced up to Napier, the art deco city. Very pretty, very nice place, we liked Napier. We did a wine tour in the afternoon, but a proper one this time with transport so we could both drink the wines! What a beautiful afternoon - the sun was out, it was really hot and we sat in winery gardens sipping on loads of yummy wines. We found the reds extremely nice indeed, the whites (sav b anyway) we preferred from Marlborough. We met a really nice group of English guys on the tour [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier