Verified
Must do when in Napier
We did the 90min Vintage Car Tour in Connie the Convertible with our driver Dave and it was well worth the money. It is a private tour and you can ask as many or as few questions as you want. We were able to stop at a few places and get out and wander the venues while Dave talked to us about the area. It would have been great if there was a gin tasting as part of the tour when you are at the National Tobacco Company but otherwise it was great. Well worth doing.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
2026.04.06
Thank you for joining Dave on a vintage car tour. We are happy to incorporate a stop at the National Tobacco building for a photo Op and can make that the last stop on the tour for guests who may wish to stay on for a Gin Tasting. As the National Distillery is located close to the West Quay dining area, guests could make the short walk to this dining precinct to complete their Ahuriri experience. Best wishes - Fiona
Verified
Great insight to Napiers art deco past
Worthwhile to learn in a concentrated period about the towns and its buildings. Comms needs work as technology affected the flow of the tour. Overall however worthwhile.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
2026.03.29
Thank you for your feedback and we would love to hear what aspect of the headsets and transmitters you encountered difficulty with. This will assist us to check whether it is the guide microphone or an individual headset we may need to look at. Many thanks - Fiona Simon
The 20 minutes video tells the story of Napier. I would recommend this if you are into history.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thank you for joining us for a viewing of our movie - The Day that Changed the Bay. If you are pushed for time or unable to join us for a walking tour, a viewing of the movie will give you a great overview of the rebuild of Napier in the Art Deco style. We do try to show the movie on the half hour in the busy season unless the theatre is in use for a walking tour. The per person cost to view the movie is $5.00. Best wishes - Fiona Simon
Lovely new building and the tour driver Paul was very cheerful and informative.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
So glad you enjoyed your tour with Paul and your time in Napier. Best wishes - Fiona
Verified
Highly recommend!!
John, our guide was so enthusiastic, his genuine love of art deco made this walking tour the highlight of our visit. It was the perfect way to introduce us to the beautiful architecture of Napier. Highly recommend !!
Reply from Art Deco Trust
2026.03.26
John's enthusiasm is matched by his passion, and we are glad a little bit of that rubbed off on you. Best wishes - Fiona
Informative tour by passionate volunteer. Well worth doing if in Napier.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thanks for the great comment Warwick. Glad you enjoyed your time with our volunteer guide. Best wishes - Fiona
I did the art devo walking tour. Very knowledgeable guide.. with personal family history. Great experience
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thanks for joining our walking tour Kerri and glad you enjoyed some of the personal stories our volunteer guides love to share with our groups. Best wishes - Fiona.
Verified
Lovely Napier's Art Deco History & Buildings
Great day to learn about Napier's art deco start following a catastrophic event. Eleanor was a knowledgeable guide and took us through the downtown area pointing out art deco buildings, explaining Napier's commitment to keeping these historical treasures and provided some local recommendations. Only suggestions would be to have a bit more of a description of the art deco period and how it came to be.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
2026.03.18
Thank you for the feedback and we'll take your suggestion to our Winter Workshops. Best wishes - Fiona
Verified
Art Deco tour was fantastic, don’t miss it
Excellent movie to introduce you to the Napier on 1931 before and after the earthquake. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the local history and answered our questions, gave an interesting and fact-filled stories about each site we stopped at. The pace was perfect for all of us in the group. You should not miss doing this when you are in Napier.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
2026.03.17
Thank you for your feedback and for joining our walking tour on a lovely sunny day. Best wishes - Fiona
A great way to see Napier. Paul, our driver, lovely sense of humour, informative and a great ambassador for Napier. Thank you very much for a wonderful day.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Great photo out the front of the National Tobacco Building and glad you enjoyed your vintage car tour with Paul. Best wishes - Fiona
Brilliant. Did 4.30pm 2 hour Art Deco Soc guided tour.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thank you for joining our 4.30pm tour. It is a tour time we offer from time to time over the summer period. Glad you enjoyed your time with our guide. Best wishes - Fiona
A wonderful band of people keeping the Art Deco legacy of Napier going for the future. The centre has good information and nic-naks for sale. 3rd weekend in February each year there is an Art Deco festival that draws thousands.
The best thing to do is to book a spot on the walking tour. Very informative, beginning with a personal and video presentation about Napier's history centring on the 1931 earthquake and the fire that followed. The town was flattened. In three years it was rebuilt in the style of the day - Art Deco. Many buildings survived and the Trust do a great job adding on planning and maintenance.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thanks for your great comments Duncan and glad you enjoyed your time with us. Best wishes - Fiona
We booked the Art Deco tour for 4th of January and Janet was our guide.
We were a small group and Janet gave us a very impressive presentation on the history of Napier, conveying the characteristics of the Art Deco buildings very well and in an understandable way, with a lot of heart and passion.
The film gave us even more lasting impressions of Napier.
Many thanks again to Janet for a wonderful afternoon.
Reply from Art Deco Trust
Thank you for your kind comments and I will certainly forward these to Janet. She has recently joined our team and has been an enthusiastic volunteer and an asset to the Art Deco Trust. Best wishes - Fiona
