Woke up in Napier this morning when we docked at 7:00 am. Today was an early departure to our next destination so we didn’t have much of anything planned ashore.

At 9:00 am we caught a shuttle which took us from the port to the Visitor Information Center on Marine Parade, a 3km stretch of seafront roadway. We had a beautiful day going so we decided to do a walking tour starting with a 2 km hike further down Marine Parade to the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Along the way we passed by the Soundshell and Sunken Gardens which are examples of Art Deco landscaping. The sunken garden, with its symmetrical patterns and manicured lawns, provides a quiet spot for relaxation. The Soundshell Amphitheatre, adorned with classic Art Deco elements, is a popular venue for concerts and events. A little further down was the Marine Parade Playground on the ocean side which is an expansive playground, with separate areas for big kids and little guys.

The National Aquarium is a public aquarium in Napier, New Zealand. It was started in 1957 and is owned by Napier City Council. In addition to many fish species, exhibits include kiwi, tuatara, turtles, little penguins and some lizards. In 2002 the aquarium underwent a major renovation which included the addition of a 1.5 million liter oceanarium with a 50m acrylic tunnel. You can also get up close and personal with the resident colony of little penguins by taking part in hand-feeding them in their enclosure.

           
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Leaving the Aquarium, we meandered back along Marine Parade in the general direction of our starting point. Along the way, we diverted a couple of blocks inland past Clive Square Gardens which sits at the lower end of Emerson Street which is the main street in Napier. This park was created in 1854 and Napier’s first cricket and football matches were played there. Today, the parks flora and fauna features some interesting and unusual trees and plants. A large pond, topped in floating lilies sits in the center of the square and houses large goldfish. The Blythe Memorial Fountain is a highlight of the park which commemorates the extensive public service of William Robert Blythe, a successful Napier businessman.

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From the Square we continued up Emerson Street towards the central business district. After the severe 1931 earthquake, all but a few of Napier’s buildings were completely destroyed by the earthquake and the fires that followed.

One hundred and eleven new buildings were constructed in the downtown area between 1931 and 1933. Most were rebuilt mainly in Art Deco style and today Napier is known as "The Art Deco capital of the world". This gives Napier the general feel of an artsy town with a number of statues and fountains placed in streets and squares as well. To compliment the 30’s theme, many residents have restored vintage automobiles that are parked strategically along the main street.

           
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The last stop of our self-guided tour was back on Marine Parade. The Statue of Pania (also known as Pania of the Reef) honors the life of Pania, a figure of Māori mythology.

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It was now time to return to the ship as today we were scheduled for an early afternoon departure. We walked the short distance back to the Visitor Information Center and boarded the first shuttle back to the pier. Arriving back, we boarded the ship and went to lunch. After eating we retired to our stateroom veranda where we sat, relaxed, and watched our 2:00 departure.

    
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