Napier And Havalock North

October 10, 2026 9:01pm

Reading Time: 3 minutes

9th Oct 2026

Left Feilding today and headed to the Hawke Bay. The first stop is Napier for two nights.

The Scott Base B & B at Feildings was lovely. Hosted by Brenda, it was a very comfortable stay amongst a lovely part of the world. Very fine breakfast too. I can definitely recommend it.

Auto-generated description: A white house with a wooden deck and stairs overlooking a green lawn and surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

I tried to find the caravan park we stayed at Napier the last time I visited, about 20 years ago. Its location relative to the town centre is completely lost to me, and the two caravan parks I checked did not ring any bells. Maybe it’s no longer there. I guess a lot can change in 20 years.

The drive to Napier was nice enough. Nothing too remarkable to say about it, apart from it being longer than I expected. I stopped at the town of Dannevirke for lunch. It’s a nice enough town, settled by Scandinavians immigrants in 1872. The town definitely leans into this history, as was evident by the ample amount of Norse imagery: signs featuring vikings and longships, for example.

I arrived at Napier in the afternoon and after doing some life admin stuff (laundry) I had a walk around. Apparently the town, which was seriously damaged in the 1930’s by an earthquake, is well known for its Art Deco architecture. In fact, Brenda tells me that they actually have a day where everyone is encouraged to dress in the clothes of the period. From what little I’ve seen, it definitely has those vibes.

Auto-generated description: A quiet street lined with palm trees and shops features a few parked and moving cars under an overcast sky.

Auto-generated description: A street lined with tall pine trees shows parked cars, storefronts, and a sign advertising rooms available at Miss Properties in Napier.

Auto-generated description: A paved walkway lined with lush greenery and trees leads through a park-like setting with a sign indicating the openness of Emerson Street and Clive Square East.

Auto-generated description: A sculptural installation resembling a harp with hanging bells is situated on a grassy area surrounded by palm trees and flower beds in a park.

Auto-generated description: A street along a waterfront lined with tall pine trees, lamp posts, and a yellow archway structure.

Auto-generated description: A covered outdoor stage with a green lawn in front and archways on both sides under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A circular fountain with water jets is surrounded by manicured bushes and grass under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A large outdoor floral clock with Roman numerals is set in a grassy area surrounded by trees and nearby buildings.

10th Oct 2026

Morning started off nice enough. Went to a couple of cafes for coffee in an attempt to find one that had the type of breakfast I was interested in. I was recommended by @JohnPhilpin to take a look at Havalock North, so I decided to spend the morning there. With a urge for another walk, I visited Te Mata Park with the goal of seeing a grove of giant redwoods.

Auto-generated description: A winding dirt path cuts through a grassy hillside with scattered shrubs and wildflowers under a cloudy sky.

Now, I will admit that I was a little unprepared for something like this. While I did bring water, a jacket, hat, and umbrella, I did not bring my walking shoes. And I really wish I did as the track was boggy, treacherously so in places. In an attempt to find these redwoods, I took a few paths that I thought led to them, only to turn back when the track was just too difficult to go on. I may have been a little braver if I didn’t roll my ankle earlier in the week: there was no way I wanted another injury (the ankle is as good as new now).

Auto-generated description: Tall trees surround a natural dirt path scattered with rocks and a small pile of sticks leaning against one tree in a forest setting.

Auto-generated description: A dirt path winds through a lush, green forested area with tall trees and rocky hillsides under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A narrow dirt path winds through a dense forest of tall pine trees and lush green vegetation.

Auto-generated description: A muddy trail winds through a green, tree-lined hillside under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A quail is perched on a thick tree branch with a rocky hillside and green foliage in the background.

Auto-generated description: A winding dirt path cuts through a lush green valley surrounded by tall trees under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A dense forest filled with tall, straight trees and a small, unpaved pathway running through it.

Auto-generated description: Tall trees with dense green foliage are viewed from below against a cloudy sky.

The walk was nice. I had lunch at Havalock North and then decided to check out Perfume Point, which was just north of Napier. I didn’t do much there: simply walked the track a bit, watching people enjoy the beach and playground, the nearby port work the container ship that was birthed there, people sail yachts or skipper motorboats. It was a lovely afternoon, and great weather for it.

Auto-generated description: A street scene shows a row of shops and restaurants with outdoor seating and a distinctive tall tower structure in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — Havalock North.

Auto-generated description: A small, painted pavilion stands on a waterfront promenade where people are enjoying the sunny day near the calm sea. — Perfume Point, and what I think is some sort of beacon. There was a large seven-segment display facing out to sea.

The evening was another short walk around Napier, trying to spot the nesting dotterels (I found a few). This was followed by dinner, and then another round of laundry to tied me over for the rest of the trip (the guest laundry is right across the way from my hotel room, I’m not not going to use it).

Auto-generated description: A small bird stands on a patch of grass, blending in with its earthy surroundings.

Tomorrow I leave Napier and head for Gisborne.