DINING AND LODGING
Pacifica Kaimoana, 209 Marine Parade, (64-6) 833 6335, specializes in seafood, such as scallops, mussels, John Dory and whole flounder grilled with fresh herbs, in peaceful surroundings. Open for dinner only; closed Monday. Dinner for two with wine, US$75.
Of the numerous outdoor cafes downtown, Cafe Aroma, 20 Dalton St., (64-6) 835 3922, is one of the best. Closed Wednesday.
Another option is eating at one of the vineyards in the Hawkes Bay wine region. Terroir at Craggy Range Vineyard in Havelock North, about 15 miles from Napier at 253 Waimarama Road, (64-6) 873 0143, fax
(64-6) 873 7141, www.craggyrange.com, specializes in wood-fired oven and rotisserie cooking. Dinner for two with wine, about US$120. Open for lunch and dinner daily except Sunday night through April; closed Sunday night and Monday through October.
Marine Parade, the street that runs along Napier's beachfront, has a number of fine Victorian homes, rare survivors of the quake, that now operate as B&B's. The Sea Breeze, 281 Marine Parade, (64-6) 835 8067, www.aaguides.co.nz, is a sweet family-run operation that offers three colorful rooms -- a single is US$50; doubles are US$60 (shared bath) and US$70, with breakfast -- with eclectic d'or on the upper floor (the family lives on the ground floor). Guests have a private entrance, a small kitchen and a sunroom.
In the central downtown area, the County Hotel, 12 Browning St, (64-6) 835 7800, www.countyhotel.co.nz, occupies a building constructed in 1909. It survived the quake and was refurbished as an upscale boutique hotel in 1995.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Napier's high season is the New Zealand summer, December through February.
T Link Travel Service Ltd in Taipei (02) 2562 9335: From Taipei to Hong Kong to Auckland is NT$31,500, with Cathay Pacific.
Lahoo Ticketing and Tour on (02) 2531 25778, offers the cheapest ticket, on Malyasian Airlines, transit in Kuala Lumpur, NT$27,500. That's for 30 days.
Interlink Travel on (02) 2578 0611. Fly from Taipei via Hong Kong to Auckland, with Cathay Pacific, is NT$28,500 plus tax. (See classifieds on page 18).
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