New year in Napier

New year in Napier
Unfortunately I had the pleasure of being on nights on the turn of new year, so the event kind of washed over me without me really noticing it. James however went out to devonport with a friend of ours (also happens to be a Gemma) and a group of her friends to watch the fireworks set off from the top of the sky tower. Beautiful view however very disappointing fireworks apparently!

I got home around 9am on New Years day, had a couple of hours sleep then we headed off on a 41/2 hour drive down to Napier on New Zealand's north Island's sunshine coast. Sure enough when we arrived the sun was shining and it was beautiful weather (all be it a little windy) We set up our brand new tent (bright yellow - christmas present from Mum & Dad to me and James) and went out for a meal on the harbour of Napier.

The next day we set off on a Hawke's bay bicycle winery tour. We hired a bike and acquired a map of Napier and set off for the day.
Despite arriving at our first destination (an ale and cider house) at 10.30am we decided it was a good time to partake in the tasting of their fine produce and settled down to a taster tray of 6 different ales and ciders (some nice, other's not so much!) The tour continued on around Brookfields, Church road a brilliant sign on a church billboard read 'there are some answers that can't be found on google' - made us both smile!) Park estate and the beautiful Mission Estate wineries.

Sunday we went on an art deco tour of the city. The city of Napier was devastated in 1931 by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The city was rebuilt in the art deco style. Using the old faithful lonely planet we went on a walking tour of the city, stopping for a spot of crazy golf on the way round!
That evening we went out for one of the best meals we've had in New Zealand, a 3 course meal at Mission Estate winery, food was excellent and went beautifully with a bottle of their reserve pinot noir from the Central Otago region! Overall not a bad way to spend the bank holiday weekend!