Day Ten Sunday 23rd Napier

We awoke to a bright sunny day in Napier, the art-deco city. Ravaged by an earthquake and subsequent fire in 1931 the city was re-built using a stylish, fast and cheap building technique known as art deco. We were very lucky as we had arrived on the last day of the famous Art Deco Festival.

In the morning one group set off to Cape Kidnappers for a close encounter with thousands of nesting Takapu, or Australasian Gannets. The huge colony was full of noise as chicks begged for food and adults greeted their returning partners. Many birds flew right over our heads.

Another group chose to ride the road train for a tour of the city visiting many art deco buildings and the area where an immense lagoon once used to be, now drained because of the earthquake.

The city was incredibly busy with thousands of locals and visitors dressed up in period costumes, and with many vintage cars cruising the streets. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon wandering the city, taking in the sounds and sights of the festival while dodging penny farthing bicycles and steam engines driving down the middle of the road. It was an amazing day.

A late departure was enjoyed by all as we headed north towards the first city to see the light of a new day - Gisbome.