NZ Day 5: Napier for Christmas

Our main event for Christmas Day was driving to the east side of the island to Napier.

Before we left Taupo, though, we swung by Huka Falls. It's a powerful body of water right outside town that powers multiple hydroelectric plants. The water also happens to be extraordinarily blue, so it was both powerful and beautiful.

 

We learned that every minute enough water flows down the falls to fill 5 Olympic swimming pools. And we also learned that the water is too powerful for salmon and eels to go upstream to breed, so that means Lake Taupo is eel free - thank goodness!

Then we got our jolly selves on the way to Napier.

 

The drive to Napier was really beautiful: we climbed up into the mountains for the first bit and then had a long, windy descent down to the sea.

We listened to Christmas music on the drive and shot some GoPro video, so it went by fast. And before we knew it, we'd arrived in Napier!

Napier is a really cool little town. It's called the Art Deco Capital because after the town was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, most of the buildings were rebuilt in the art deco style. So the main part of the town is really cute, with lots of interesting fountains and buildings that make you feel like you've gone back in time.

Looking toward Main Street

Columns overlooking the ocean

The cutest public restroom you've ever seen!

Since it was Christmas and we knew pretty much everything would be closed (which it was except for literally one gelato store!), we'd stocked up on our Christmas food in Taupo. So for our Christmas lunch and dinner, we had a nice cheese, cracker, and wine spread in our room facing the shore. A pretty good second choice if you're not with your family for the day!

Sadly, Opposum World was also closed for the holiday.

We spent the majority of Christmas afternoon laying on the warm pebble beach reading, napping, and listening to the waves. After our constant travel of the past few days, it was a welcome lazy afternoon.

The beach was different from a typical sandy beach, or any other beaches we've seen here for that matter. There was no sand, only big gray pebbles for the entire beach. It was kind of painful to walk on, but sitting down on the warm rocks felt great with the strong breeze!

Toby closed out the day with a Christmas swim! It wasn't very warm in the water or on the beach by that time, so I think he described the dip as "bracing."

Even though we all agreed it didn't feel very Christmas-y, we had a lovely day in Napier! I've decided that I want to go back. =)

 

 

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