Napier City Shops, New Zealand 2010

December 30, 2010 - Napier City Shops and boardwalk....

Sandy and Nilda enjoying the leisure stroll along Queen Street shops, lined with cafes, bistros, and one of a kind shops, Napier offers every visitor their own attractions, their people...

 Outside Cafe and Bistros dot the main streets of Napier making this resort town quaint and  very inviting, the people greet you on the streets with warm hellos (G'daay) while boasting the local crafts and curio items...

 One of the few Steakhouses open this time of year in Napier, Charlie's offers gaming dishes that to a novice traveler is something exotice such as the  Venison steaks, Lamb steaks & other not so familiar dishes..

Napier Beach, New Zealand - Hawkes Bay - Beach Town Resort

December 30, 2010 - Napier Beach, at Hawkes Bay in New Zealand...Summer during the Holidays which was very unusual to us...

Napier beach is lined by gravel like beach sides, the water temperatures were warm and almost inviting to go swimming during New Year...

Napier beach Marina, found at Hawkes Bay, this sleepy resort town is such a delight to visit during the holidays, simply no crowd to contend with...

 Napier's beach front homes along the Marine Parade Avenue, across from the National Aquarium which unfortunately has been closed down and somewhat neglected old building..

 Marine Parade Amphitheater is right on the beach, houses music and show conerts, well celebrated is the New Year's fireworks display where thousand of locals and tourist alike flock to this area and revel the coming of the new year...

 I am walking along the Marine Parade Amphitheater as we explored the beachside attractions the city has to offer..

 Marine Parade Avenue beach walkways offer a visiting traveler the true nature and the laid back spirit of Napier's beach side attractions...

The Marine Parade PAR Mini Golf - a very popular destination for visiting travelers lots of family activity and very affordable.

 

Sandy as we parked along the PAR Mini Golf on Marine Parade Avenue, the red jeep in the background is my sister's transport, cute and petrol (gas) saver.

 Napier's Visitor Center right on Marine Parade offers shopping, tour destinations, sights and brochures for the visitors.

 Napier's Sunken Garden, is a tranquil haven for those who just want to absorb the city's freshness and laid back 'NO hurried' lifestyle... Just a few miles(kilometers)  from their Botanical Garden, offers local plant varieties and English Garden setting...

 Sandy deLeon and Nilda deLeon enjoying the beauty of the sunken park.... how coulod you not? It is right along the beach, just drop your shirt and go swimming..

 I was a little overdressed for the locals this time of year, most visitors are in their short & sandals, since I really did not know what to expect, I thought I was dressed casual enough...

Sandy admiring the pebble beach of Napier, we don't come across this kind of beach in California... this tells me that the island is still very young, the water was very inviting and we had to fight the urge to go swimming... since after all, it was freezing in California...

 Art Deco Visitor's Center building is lined with Maori Totem Poles on the water fountain in-front of the building..