Finding the best tours in Napier starts with deciding how you want to see the city and the wider Hawke’s Bay: on foot through the Art Deco streets, in a vintage car, or on a small-group winery tour with accommodation pickup. Tours in Napier cover guided Art Deco walks, half-day and full-day wine tours, scenic countryside drives to Te Mata Peak and dedicated shore excursions for cruise passengers arriving at Napier Port. Operators such as Bay Tours and Charters in Onekawa and Grape Escape handle the driving, the bookings and the commentary so you can enjoy the day.
1Bay Tours and Charters
Bay Tours and Charters is a Napier coach, limousine and tour company operating from Turner Place in Onekawa since 1982. It runs guided sightseeing and Hawke’s Bay wine tours, private charters and group tours built around cruise ship schedules, with vehicles ranging from luxury sedans to full-size coaches. It suits groups, cruise visitors and anyone wanting a private or bespoke itinerary rather than a fixed scheduled tour.
Services
- Napier cruise ship tours meeting guests at the port (minimum 8 people)
- Napier Highlights Tour covering Marine Parade, the West Quay sea murals and Ahuriri
- Hawke’s Bay wine tours with accommodation pickup in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North
- Country, Coast and City Tour including artisan food producers
- Private tours, limousine hire and coach charters
Highlights
- Operating in Hawke’s Bay since 1982
- Qualmark Gold Award recipient
- Fleet from luxury sedans and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters to 53-seat coaches
- 100% New Zealand owned and operated
Location & Contact
Name: Bay Tours and Charters
Address: 26 Turner Place, Onekawa, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 845 2736
Website: baytours.co.nz
2Grape Escape
Grape Escape is a Napier-based wine tour company started in Hawke’s Bay in 2002 by owner and host Greg, whose interest in wine began with Oddbins Wine Merchants in the United Kingdom. It runs scheduled shared wine tours capped at 12 guests alongside private Signature, Luxury and bespoke Mercedes tours. It suits couples, small groups and cruise passengers who want a relaxed, hosted day among the region’s wineries.
Services
- Half-day scheduled wine tour with four wineries, tastings and a cheese platter
- Wine and dine tour with a winery lunch
- Private Signature and Luxury wine tours with premium tastings
- Cruise excursions and large group or corporate tours
Highlights
- Established in Hawke’s Bay in 2002
- Owner-hosted tours
- Maximum 12 guests on scheduled tours
- Accommodation pickup and drop-off in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North
- Bespoke tours in a Mercedes vehicle tailored to your pace and tastes
Location & Contact
Name: Grape Escape
Address: Napier
Phone: 021 227 7211
Website: grapeescape.net.nz
3Prinsy’s Tours
Prinsy’s Tours is a Hawke’s Bay wine and sightseeing tour company with more than 20 years of guiding visitors around Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. Its range runs from a small-group afternoon wine tour with Napier hotel pickup to private tailored tours, icon wine tastings and a walk-and-winery day. It suits wine enthusiasts, cruise ship visitors and travellers wanting a full day that covers both the Art Deco city and the countryside.
Services
- Small-group wine tour visiting 3 to 4 wineries with tastings and a cheeseboard
- Exclusive private wine tours with optional restaurant lunch
- Icons Wine Tours featuring premium Hawke’s Bay vintages
- Walk and Winery Tour with a guided scenic walk and winery lunch
- Hawkes Bay in a Day tour and guided transfers between Taupō and Hawke’s Bay
Highlights
- Over 20 years showing guests around Hawke’s Bay
- Member of Hawke’s Bay Tourism
- Napier hotel pickup and drop-off included on the small-group tour
Location & Contact
Name: Prinsy’s Tours
Address: Napier
Phone: 027 224 0696
Website: prinsystours.co.nz
4Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours
Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours is a locally owned small-group tour operator with its registered address in Akina, Hastings, running wine, sightseeing and shore excursion tours with a strong focus on Napier. Its sightseeing routes take in Art Deco Napier, the harbour and seafront, coastal lookouts and historic landmarks, while its wine tours visit Gimblett Gravels estates and boutique producers. It suits cruise passengers on a port-day schedule and visitors after a relaxed combined city and wine outing.
Services
- Classic half-day and premium full-day wine tours
- Wine, cider and gin combination tour
- Napier city and wine tour
- Napier and Hawke’s Bay sightseeing tours with coastal lookouts
- Napier shore excursions and private group tours
Highlights
- Locally owned and operated
- Small-group focus, with larger groups by arrangement
- Itineraries timed to cruise ship port schedules
- Pickup from Napier accommodation
Location & Contact
Name: Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours
Address: 1006 Outram Road, Akina, Hastings 4122
Phone: 022 087 3281
Website: hbscenictours.co.nz
5Art Deco Trust
The Art Deco Trust is the heritage organisation behind Napier’s guided Art Deco walks and vintage car tours, operating from the Art Deco Centre in the former Women’s Rest on Memorial Square. As a charitable trust it also runs the Art Deco Festival and a heritage fund, so it differs from the commercial operators: tours are scheduled walks at set times or vintage car bookings rather than full-day regional trips. It suits anyone wanting the architecture and history of the 1931 earthquake rebuild explained by local guides.
Services
- Guided Art Deco walking tours at 10am, 2pm and 4.30pm
- Self-guided Art Deco walk download
- Vintage car tours of the Art Deco CBD, from one to one and a half hours
- Vintage car winery tours and private charters
- Cruise passenger Art Deco experiences
Highlights
- Organiser of the annual Art Deco Festival
- Walks begin with a short film on Napier’s Art Deco history
- Guides use radio headsets on walking tours
- Own fleet of vintage cars for tours and weddings
Location & Contact
Name: Art Deco Trust
Address: (former) Women’s Rest, Memorial Square, 5 Clive Square East, Napier
Phone: 06 835 0022
Website: artdeconapier.com
Tours in Napier at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Bay Tours and Charters | Operating in Hawke's Bay since 1982 |
| Grape Escape | Established in Hawke's Bay in 2002 |
| Prinsy's Tours | Over 20 years showing guests around Hawke's Bay |
| Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours | Locally owned and operated |
| Art Deco Trust | Organiser of the annual Art Deco Festival |
How to Choose the Right Tours in Napier
- Tour style: decide between a guided walk, a vintage car ride, a small-group wine tour or a private itinerary, as each suits a different pace and budget.
- Group size: scheduled shared tours often cap numbers for a personal feel, while charter operators can move large groups and corporate parties.
- Pickup and logistics: check whether accommodation pickup is included and which towns it covers, such as Napier, Hastings and Havelock North.
- Cruise timing: if you are arriving by ship, choose a shore excursion built around port schedules so you are back on board in time.
- What is included: compare tastings, lunches, cheese platters and admission fees, as inclusions vary between tours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Napier Tours
What kinds of tours are available in Napier?
Napier tours range from guided Art Deco walking tours and vintage car rides through the city centre to half-day and full-day Hawke’s Bay wine tours, scenic countryside drives and private charters. Many operators also run dedicated cruise ship shore excursions.
How long does an Art Deco tour of Napier take?
Guided Art Deco walks typically run between one and a half and two and a half hours including a short introductory film, while vintage car tours of the city usually take one to one and a half hours.
Do wine tours in Hawke’s Bay include pickup from Napier?
Most wine tour operators in the region include pickup and drop-off from Napier accommodation, and many also collect from Hastings and Havelock North. Confirm the pickup area when booking, especially if you are staying outside the main towns.
Can cruise ship passengers book a tour in Napier?
Yes. Several operators offer shore excursions timed to ship schedules, and some meet guests at the port. Booking ahead is wise on busy cruise days, as small-group tours fill quickly. The Napier i-SITE also provides information for cruise visitors on the Napier cruise visitor page.
How do I find a tour near my accommodation in Napier?
Walking tours start in the city centre around Memorial Square and Clive Square, within easy reach of most central Napier and Marine Parade accommodation. Coach and wine tour operators are based in suburbs such as Onekawa and collect guests from hotels across Napier, and often from Hastings and Havelock North as well.
How do I know a tour operator meets quality standards?
Look for Qualmark accreditation, New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance scheme, which assesses operators on safety, service and sustainability. You can check an operator’s status through Qualmark.
How much does a Napier tour cost?
Prices vary with the tour type and group size. Guided walking tours are generally the most affordable option, small-group wine tours cost more because they include transport and tastings, and private or vintage car tours are usually priced per vehicle or per hour.
Where can I find more ideas for things to do in Hawke’s Bay?
The regional tourism organisation, Hawke’s Bay Tourism, lists attractions, events and itineraries across Napier, Hastings and the wider region, which can help you plan a tour around other activities.
How We Chose the Best Tours in Napier
Every business in this guide was found by searching for tours in Napier, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Napier, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.