The Drive to Napier and Day in Napier

We had another beautiful day for this drive.  We drove through areas of significant thermal activity.  We drove into a couple of different spots to see it up close.  The other parts of the drive were through a very  scenic including snowcapped mountains in the distance.

We are at another great  B and B, high on a bluff, overlooking Hawkes Bay.  Napier is an international harbour  and the Hawkes Bay area is one of the primary New Zealand Wine Regions.  Napier is the Art Deco capital of NZ as a result of a devastating earthquake and fires in 1931.

We spent part of today driving around the area and it is very lovely.  We went up to the Te Mata Peak lookout.  The road was very narrow and dropped off on both sides.  Lois was not impressed.  When we got to the top I got out and took some pictures but she stayed in the car.  When we got down we stopped in a small town so Lois could do some shopping and unsettle her nerves!

Hawkes Bay from Te Mata Peak

Tonight we are going to a winery for dinner and our hostess offered to drive us and we can get a taxi back.  We decided to take her up on the offer in case I decided to have a glass of wine!  She really is a wonderful hostess.  She even did some laundry for us when we asked where we could fine a Laundromat.