Back to Guides
RouteNapier

Napier Art Deco Heritage Walk

Explore the world's finest collection of 1930s Art Deco architecture, rebuilt after the catastrophic 1931 earthquake that destroyed the original city.

  1. 1

    Art Deco Trust Visitor Centre

    Begin at the Art Deco Trust, which coordinates the famous Art Deco Festival each February and offers guided walking tours of the architectural precinct.

  2. 2

    Emerson Street Pedestrian Mall

    The main shopping street is lined with beautifully restored Art Deco façades — sunburst motifs, geometric reliefs, and zigzag patterns on every block.

  3. 3

    Daily Telegraph Building

    One of Napier's most celebrated buildings, the former newspaper office features a Mayan-inspired façade with stepped gables and ornate terracotta details.

  4. 4

    Masonic Hotel

    The grand Masonic Hotel on the corner of Marine Parade has been a centrepiece of Napier life since 1932, its streamlined Moderne façade still immaculate.

  5. 5

    Municipal Theatre

    The Municipal Theatre is a masterpiece of Spanish Mission style — not strictly Art Deco but part of the remarkable 1930s rebuilding of the entire city centre.

  6. 6

    Marine Parade Soundshell

    The curved Art Deco soundshell on Marine Parade faces the sea — a landmark of the promenade where outdoor concerts have been held since the 1930s.

#art#history