A Trip to Australia and New Zealand
Napier
Following Wellington and another night of sailing we next arrived at the seaside town of Napier. Once again we were met by a courtesy shuttle that transported us from the quay to the center of town. Like all of the other places that we visited, very friendly New Zealanders met us, provided maps and information about their town, and directed us to the places that interested us most. For our part, we wanted to visit the New Zealand Aquarium which turned out to be a delightful stroll away down the seafront road which served as Napier's main street. There we saw our first Kiwi bird along with an assortment of marine plants and animals that amazed us with their bright colors and unusual attributes. We also had a delightful conversation with a Star Trek fan named Scotty about all manner of things New Zealand. After leaving the aquarium we headed to the town center and had a magnificent date scone along with the best cup of cappuccino that we had in New Zealand. We then wandered the shops a bit, checked out the museum, and strolled through the city gardens. Napier was initially settled in the first part of the nineteenth century, but was totally destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1931. The buildings were rebuilt in a charming art deco style and the whole town plays to the theme. Vintage automobiles, clothing, and memorabilia of the era are omnipresent. We finished our visit by having a Mac's Gold at the restaurant on the square in the center of town.
