Day 27 - Napier NZ

Weather
Sunny and Mid 70's

Map

What we did
After docking in Napier, we took the Viking provided shuttle to downtown. We proceeded to walk around the beautiful pedestrian friendly streets taking in the shops and restaurants. After a stroll along the waterfront it was time to head back to the ship for a quick bite and then it was time to catch our planned excursion. We opted to do the included excursion which was a wine tasting. We arrived at the Hawks Bay club to find a beautiful layout awaiting us. There were 9 different small wineries setup in the club and outside under the tent. There were about 60 different wins to try. They also provided a few platters of food ranging from cheese, bread and sausages to a fruit platter. It was great chatting with the representatives and trying some (not all) of the wines. In the end we purchased 3 different ones to take back on the ship with us. We'll see if they all make it home or not.

Cultural Highlights/Local Flavors
Napier, located in New Zealand's Hawke's Bay region, is world-renowned as the "Art Deco Capital of the Southern Hemisphere" due to its remarkably preserved 1930s architecture, rebuilt following a devastating 1931 earthquake. It is also known for its sunny climate, vibrant wine region, Marine Parade waterfront, and as a major hub for Art Deco fashion and design.