Also Clive Square
It was worth the scary drive up the steep narrow road to get to the lookout. Fabulous views over Hawkes Bay, and the port of Napier, for those who are interested in industrial ports!
Hawkes Bay.
The Napier Port is directly below the lookout, which I thought kind of spoiled the view as you needed to look across the bay and not down. I tried not to get too much of the port in my photos! But then I heard a different opinion from someone who found watching the activity at the port really interesting and thought it added to the experience of visiting the lookout. So it seems the lookout has something for nature lovers and urban industrial lovers!
Clive Square
Came across this pretty little park, have now done some research into its story. It was originally mapped out in 1854 and the idea behind it was that it would be the equivalent of an English country green. Napier's first cricket and football matches were played on the green. Later it was enclosed with a white picket fence. (So, so English country garden!!)
After the 1931 destroyed the commercial centre of the town, the square became known as 'Tin Town' as galvanised iron temporary buildings were placed there, they were the banks and stores that had been destroyed during the earthquake and were needed to keep the town economy going. Tin Town lasted for the 2 years of the rebuilding process and then the square was again restored and upgraded.
The Square's fountain. It's Edwardian and placed in the square in 1904, in memory of E.R. Blythe a major promoter of the square.
I continue to rave about Napier as it was definitely my favourite town in New Zealand. Even this fountain represents what I loved about the town, it's beautifully restored, it's an ornate artefact of a bygone era, but maintained and cared for. There's such a dedication to preserve history in the town, I didn't seen any faded or peeling paint, no historic building on the verge of collapse. Instead I saw old buildings being cared for and put to use, it's not a theme park Art Deco museum but a living town.
One last old building next to Clive Square.
Trinity Methodist Church, the only city centre church in Napier to predate the 1931 earthquake. It was built in 1876 and a lovely example of a wooden church.
It was worth the scary drive up the steep narrow road to get to the lookout. Fabulous views over Hawkes Bay, and the port of Napier, for those who are interested in industrial ports!
Clive Square
Came across this pretty little park, have now done some research into its story. It was originally mapped out in 1854 and the idea behind it was that it would be the equivalent of an English country green. Napier's first cricket and football matches were played on the green. Later it was enclosed with a white picket fence. (So, so English country garden!!)
After the 1931 destroyed the commercial centre of the town, the square became known as 'Tin Town' as galvanised iron temporary buildings were placed there, they were the banks and stores that had been destroyed during the earthquake and were needed to keep the town economy going. Tin Town lasted for the 2 years of the rebuilding process and then the square was again restored and upgraded.
I continue to rave about Napier as it was definitely my favourite town in New Zealand. Even this fountain represents what I loved about the town, it's beautifully restored, it's an ornate artefact of a bygone era, but maintained and cared for. There's such a dedication to preserve history in the town, I didn't seen any faded or peeling paint, no historic building on the verge of collapse. Instead I saw old buildings being cared for and put to use, it's not a theme park Art Deco museum but a living town.
One last old building next to Clive Square.
Trinity Methodist Church, the only city centre church in Napier to predate the 1931 earthquake. It was built in 1876 and a lovely example of a wooden church.
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