← Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon·Day trip

Napier: Art Deco and the Ahuriri Waterfront

A flat, compact day of Art Deco architecture, a museum and lunch on the Ahuriri waterfront, with almost no travel.

DurationDay trip
TransitOn foot from central Napier, with the free post-race shuttle back from Elephant Hill
DepartsNapier i-SITE, Marine Parade

After the Hawke's Bay Marathon: Napier

The Route: Elephant Hill → Napier i-SITE (free shuttle) → Art Deco walk → MTG Hawke's Bay → Ahuriri → Napier Logistics: The free race shuttle returns runners from Elephant Hill to the Napier i-SITE on Marine Parade. Everything below is within a flat walk or a short taxi ride of the i-SITE. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Elephant Hill ──(free post-race shuttle)──> Napier i-SITE ──(flat walk)──> Art Deco quarter ──(about 2 km)──> Ahuriri
                                                                                                              │
Napier i-SITE <──(walk, taxi or rideshare)────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon finishes on a Saturday in May at Elephant Hill, and the free shuttle drops runners on Marine Parade in central Napier. On the Sunday, the easiest day available is a slow walk around a compact city that was rebuilt in the Art Deco style after the 1931 earthquake.

May in Napier: autumn. Days are usually 12 to 17°C, mornings are cool, and showers pass through. The Art Deco Trust runs on its off-peak schedule from 1 April to 30 September, so do not rely on summer opening hours. Check the Art Deco Centre for the current tour times and book ahead, as guided walks can be full.

The Art Deco quarter is a few blocks of level, paved streets, with shopfronts and buildings from the 1930s. A guided walk takes about 90 minutes at a gentle pace, and seats are easy to find. Guided tours also run by vintage car if you prefer to sit, and both need advance booking.

MTG Hawke's Bay is the museum and gallery near the centre, and it works well with tired legs because it is indoors and on level floors. Check opening hours and any charges before you go. Marine Parade itself is a flat promenade of a few kilometres along the seafront, and a short section from the i-SITE towards the Pania of the Reef statue is enough on the morning after a marathon. The National Aquarium of New Zealand is on Marine Parade and is another indoor option.

Ahuriri, the old harbour district north of the centre, has waterfront cafés and restaurants on flat paths, about 2 km from the centre. Take a taxi or rideshare for the way there and walk back if the legs allow.

For lunch, Origami Restaurant and Patisserie, inside the Art Deco Masonic Hotel, is central, and Central Fire Station Bistro in the middle of town suits a longer dinner. Both are worth checking for Sunday opening.

Everything here is close to Marine Parade, so the return is on foot.