A day in Napier

Napier, New Zealand

In Napier, New Zealand

March 25th, 2026

We walked to town, set on heading to the Bluff Hill Lookout. 

We walked along the beach a little. The Sunken Gardens are right next to the beach.

Here’s an oddly leaning tree, on the beach.

SUNKEN GARDENS

On the way, we walked along the beach and saw the Sunken Gardens. Being late in the season, some of the beds were empty.

Video: The Sunken Gardens in Napier NZ

https://youtube.com/shorts/FClRjDjx9R4?feature=share

CENTENNIAL GARDENS

Then we stopped at the Nui Mai Tuhinapo, which is the Centennial Gardens.

Centennial Gardens: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/832HEK-m1qw?feature=share

BLUFF HILL LOOKOUT

Bluff Hill Lookout

The walk up to Bluff Hill Lookout was pretty steep and longer than I thought it would be. We had quite a view of the ocean, and also Napier Port which was busy with activity.

Video: Bluff Hill Lookout, Napier NZ

https://youtube.com/shorts/Kjd7EZ5jn3I?feature=share

WALK TO STURM’S GULLY

Walking down to Sturm’s Gully

We walked down the other side to Karetoki Whare; Sturm’s Gully.

An oddly leaning tree in someone’s driveway:

An oddly leaning tree.

Then we walked the long way back to town and got dinner at Cafe Anatolia Napier. 

Garlic Cheese Bread

Arthur's Pass & Castle Hill

This was going to be one post, but I've cut it in half because it was getting long and there were so many good photos (thanks to Khevron, the photographer, and occasionally myself).

The first post: Searching for Greenstone & Gollum's Hotel

Link:  

https://mooseadventures-downunder.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-gollum-hotel-or-why-does-that.html

 

February 8th

ARTHUR’S PASS

In Maori, Arthur’s pass is known as: Ka tiriti o te Moana. (which means “steep peak of glistening white”)

We walked around in Arthur’s Pass Village, which had a lot of signposts telling about how the town was settled and various buildings in it.

The Chalet 

ARTHUR'S PASS

 

Old Bridges 

 

 Tunnels 

 

 

Beautiful Scenery 

 

Waterfall 

 

Main Road 1645 1634

 

Locomotive Turntable

OTIRA RAIL TUNNEL

The Otira Rail Tunnel is 8.5 km long and was the longest tunnel in the British Empire when it opened in 1923. This tunnel is in Arthur's Pass on the South Island and it took 15 years to build. 1642 1643 

Rail bridge  

 

 

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

 

 

CASTLE HILL

Coming up on Castle Hill 

 

Castle Hill is a place with otherworldly rocky outcrops made from eroded limestone foundations. In Maori, it is called Kura tawhiti, which means “treasure from a distant land”.

The wind was terrible there—so bad that both Khevron and I left our hats in the van and wore our sweaters and windbreakers.

We walked the trail, and Lareena got some 360 video and some 360 photos. Khevron did a timelapse with his phone but it was pretty twisty-turny.  

Castle Hill 

 

Video Link:

https://youtu.be/3uPA-nhTg_g

Lareena walking through the rocks of Castle Hill. 

Here we are, snug in our window jackets to ward off the fierce wind. And note, we are not wearing our hats because it would blow them all away. 

 

Apparently, it is not the location used for the Narnia/Wardrobe final battle, but it looks just like it and is not far from the actual filming location which is on private land (at Flock Hill).

Earlier in this trip we visited Elephant Rocks, which was the Narnia location for Aslan’s Camp, and perhaps some of the battle scenes.

On the way home:

A new way to dry your socks! 

 

 

Mysterious low hanging mist on the road.

 

Porter’s Pass in New Zealand

https://youtu.be/a4NGCSmYdLM

 

A marvelous and well-earned Greek meal at Costas Tavernas in Christchurch. 

 

Arrived in Christchurch where we had 3 days in an Airbnb in town.