The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Napier

© Hawke's Bay Tourism

Romantic Adventure Activities

Active couples, Napier is a spectacular city to adventure together thanks to its network of bike trails between wineries and its surrounding natural wonders like the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony and the Mohaka River.

See the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

An unmissable adventure is seeing majestic seabirds nesting at the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony. While getting to the plateau gannet colony is free on a day walk at low tide, Gannet Safaris Overland can get you there with ease on either their small-group bus tour or private 4WD tour.

At the gannet colony, watch gannets presenting seaweed to their mates, as well as chicks taking flight for the first time.

Cycle Between Hawke’s Bay Wineries

A way to enjoy exploring Napier just the two of you is on a self-guided bike tour. Napier City Bike Hire & Tours and Tākaro Trails Cycle Tours hire out all the equipment you need for a great day out. You’ll be provided with a map and route instructions to visit Hawke’s Bay’s wineries at your own pace. More on the wineries in the section below!

Raft the Mohaka River Together

Test your teamwork on a rafting adventure with Raft Fish NZ, which offers half-day, full-day and multi-day trips along the Mohaka River. Couples can choose gentle Grade 1 or Grade 2 water for a scenic journey or tackle Grade 3 rapids for a more exhilarating date.

Raft-and-fishing trips are also available for those who want to slow down and try catching rainbow or brown trout along the way.

Watch the Sunrise at Ātea a Rangi

Start the day together at Ātea a Rangi Star Compass, a coastal site celebrating the traditional navigation knowledge used by Māori and other Polynesian voyagers. Its carved pou identify points on the horizon connected with the rising and setting of the sun, moon and stars.

Information panels also explain the cultural history and natural importance of the surrounding area.

For more activities, like romantic hikes, check out the 10 Romantic Activities in Napier for Couples.

© NZPocketGuide.com

Romantic All-weather Activities

Rainy weather need not put a dampener on your romantic getaway. Napier offers plenty of cosy experiences for couples, from underground wine tastings and private winery tours to live performances in a beautifully restored theatre.

Explore the Cellars at Church Road Winery

Spend a rainy afternoon inside the cellars and underground museum at Church Road Winery. The 1.5-hour “Legacy Experience” includes the barrel halls, caves, pre-release samples and an in-depth tasting, while the “TOM Experience” focuses on current and back-vintage wines from the winery’s flagship collection. Both experiences have a minimum booking of two people.

Join a Hawke’s Bay Wine Tour

For more variety in your Napier wine experience, join one of the local wine tours to do tastings at several cellar doors without having to worry about the driving. Do tastings at several cellar doors without having to worry about the driving with tours such as Prinsy’s Tours, Vines and Views Tours or Hawkes Bay Scenic Tour.

They offer intimate small-group tours to set the right tone for a luxurious honeymoon experience. Tours include all of the tastings, as well as full transport with accommodation pick-up.

Catch a Show at Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre

Turn an ordinary evening into a proper date night with a performance at Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre. The complex has the restored historic Opera House at its heart, combining grand heritage architecture with modern theatre and event facilities.

Its changing programme includes theatre productions, concerts, comedy, dance and festival performances, so check what is scheduled during your stay and book popular shows early.

For more all-weather experiences, check out the 10 Things to Do in Napier on a Rainy Day.

© Art Deco Masonic Hotel

Where to Stay: Accommodations in Napier for Couples

Experience privacy and convenience in your own luxury apartment, the holiday vibe in a lavish hotel, or something quaint like a boutique lodge.

Although we outline all your options in the 10 Best Romantic Accommodations in Napier, here are some of our top picks for couples.

Art Deco Masonic Hotel – Heritage Style and Award-Winning Dining in Central Napier

Character meets convenience at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel. Stay super central opposite The Art Deco Centre and i-SITE where this upmarket hotel offers a wide range of rooms to suit different needs, including hotel rooms, suites, studios and apartments.

Each room is elegantly decorated to the theme of Napier’s heritage and style, with common features like French doors leading out onto a balcony, an espresso machine, an ensuite with a bath or rain shower and more.

What’s more, you needn’t wander too far for dinner with the hotel also sharing a building with two award-winning eateries.

Discover what makes Art Deco Masonic Hotel ideal for couples, and book through Booking.com or Expedia!

The County Hotel – Award-Winning Art Deco Elegance in Napier

Winner of the Art Deco Supreme Award, The County Hotel allows guests to fully embrace Napier’s famous architecture. Part of the hotel is in one of the only buildings that survived the 1931 earthquakes which ravaged Napier.

But on a more contemporary note, it holds tastefully-appointed rooms with modern touches like TVs with streaming services, WiFi, iPod docking stations, as well as traditional hotel amenities.

Indulge in rooms with a spa bath, celebrate your special occasion in the “Honeymoon Suite”, or upgrade to one of the spacious historical suites which will send you back in time.

The County Hotel also provides the option for dinner dates at the Wine Street Restaurant serving high tea, breakfast and dinner.

Learn more about what makes The County Hotel perfect for couples and heritage-loving travellers, and reserve your stay through Expedia!

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Romantic Restaurants in Napier

With winery restaurants and fine dining establishments, you don’t need to look too hard to find romantic dining in Napier.

While we list some of our favourite fine dining restaurants in The Luxury Guide to Napier, the other restaurants that are ideal for couples include Central Fire Station Bistro (163 Tennyson Street), set inside one of Napier’s landmark Art Deco buildings and offering seasonal cuisine with French and Italian influences.

Bistronomy & Vinotech (40 Hastings Street) is a sophisticatedly modern restaurant with contemporary cuisine that is so creative that they also have to provide a “comfort menu” with more approachable options.

For waterfront views, The Boardwalk (8 Hardinge Road) overlooks Ahuriri Beach and serves seafood, steaks and other relaxed favourites. Reserve ahead, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.

For more recommendations, see The Foodie Guide to Napier.