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Viewpoint · Napier (Ahuriri), Hawke's Bay
Bluff Hill Lookout (Mataruahou)
Hill in the northern part of Napier with a lookout over the port, Hawke Bay and, on clear days, Cape Kidnappers in the distance, in a neighbourhood of 19th-century wooden houses.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Bluff Hill Lookout (Mataruahou)
Bluff Hill (Mataruahou in Māori) is the hill that borders central Napier to the north. Before the 1931 earthquake it was almost an island surrounded by the sea and a lagoon; the quake raised the lagoon bed, which became the plain where neighbourhoods and the airport now sit.
At the top of the hill, a lookout surrounded by gardens sits well above Napier’s port. From there you can see the cargo ships and stacks of logs at the port, the curve of Hawke Bay and, on clear days, Cape Kidnappers at the southern end of the bay.
The streets on the slope form a residential area with wooden houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some of the few that survived the quake, plus stairways that descend to the centre and paths through gardens.
The lookout is public and has no entry fee. Benches and tables make it a pleasant place to stay at dusk.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 20 to 30 minutes by car; roughly 1 hour walking up from the centre.
Best time
Late afternoon, with light across the bay, or early morning when the port is active.
How to get there
By car, about 10 minutes from central Napier along the hill roads, with parking at the lookout. On foot, via the stairways and streets rising from the centre, in about 30 minutes.
Tip
Walk up by one of the stairways from the centre and descend via the residential streets to see the old houses.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bluff Hill Lookout (Mataruahou)
What can you see from the Bluff Hill lookout?
Napier’s port, Hawke Bay and, on clear days, Cape Kidnappers to the south.
Can you walk up Bluff Hill?
Yes, via stairways and streets rising from central Napier, in about 30 minutes.
Was Bluff Hill an island?
Practically: before the 1931 earthquake, the hill was surrounded by the sea and a lagoon, which the quake turned into dry land.