Napier

[BPCruiser]

Looking for suggestions for our Port day in Napier next February. Would like to find a tour that included a variety ( wine tastings, see the gannets, other popular Napier highlights). Will be in Port from 9A -6P.

 

Is Napier a Port to possibly sightsee independently or is a private guided tour for 6-8 preferable to see the major tourist sights?

 

Any specific Tour Operators past travelers have reliably used would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[Fletch1]

We have hired a car in the past and done our own tour out of Napier. If you are confident in driving on the wrong side of the road, hire a car from the day. The hire car company (Pegasus Car Hire) pick you up from the Information Centre in town (where the ship shuttles drop you off) and drop you back there later in the day.

 

You can do what ever pleases you and an easy way to see lots of things.

[BPCruiser]

Thanks for your recommendations. My DH has never driven on opposite side of road so.... Not sure if that would work although probably ideal. How are the drivers and roads there, easy to drive even if not experienced?

 

Is there a recommended driving itinerary that you would suggest that could get us to the popular sites and maybe a wine tasting or 2?

 

QUOTE=Fletch1;42946769]We have hired a car in the past and done our own tour out of Napier. If you are confident in driving on the wrong side of the road, hire a car from the day. The hire car company (Pegasus Car Hire) pick you up from the Information Centre in town (where the ship shuttles drop you off) and drop you back there later in the day.

 

You can do what ever pleases you and an easy way to see lots of things.

[J-D]

...My DH has never driven on opposite side of road so.... Not sure if that would work although probably ideal. How are the drivers and roads there, easy to drive even if not experienced?...

 

If you want to get experience driving on the left, a relatively small place like Napier is probably a good place to start. Just be sure to book a car with automatic transmission -- even if you are used to driving a manual in North America, it is a real challenge to cope with a (left-side) manual shifter at the same time as learning to drive in mirror-image fashion.

 

I expect that everyone is different, but for me, it took a half day to be reasonably comfortable driving on the left when I first did so (in N.Z.) long ago. The next time it took an hour. The third and subsequent times it has taken 5 minutes or less, except when driving at night. It is more challenging to drive at night on the opposite side of the road given the reduced number of visual cues as to where you should be heading.

 

John

[Jasp 0401]

Looking for suggestions for our Port day in Napier next February. Would like to find a tour that included a variety ( wine tastings, see the gannets, other popular Napier highlights). Will be in Port from 9A -6P.

 

Is Napier a Port to possibly sightsee independently or is a private guided tour for 6-8 preferable to see the major tourist sights?

 

Any specific Tour Operators past travelers have reliably used would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks!

We used Princey tours in Napier and they were wonderful. We did a private tour with Hamish and he designed a tour for us to see as mush as we could in 5 hours. We never felt rushed and he was very informative about the local area. Would highly recommend doing one of there tours or you can book a private tour and he will design a tour to suit your interest.

http://www.visithastings.co.nz/local-activities/prinsys-rural-experience-and-wine-tours/

Edited June 15, 2014 by Jasp 0401