Veronica Sun Bay and Gazing Bowl

The central feature on the seafront of Napier is the Soundshell (1935) with its outer Collonades with its three arches (The New Napier Arch and arches in memory of Robert C Wright and Harold Latham) and the seaward Veronica Collonade or Sun Bay (1934). The original Sun Bay was demolished in 1990 and a replica built in 1991 as a Rotary project. During the Art Deco Weekend (held every February at the time of the 1931 Earthquake) the Veronica Bell hangs in the centre of the Sun Bay and is guarded by the Sea Scouts. I'll tell you more about the Veronica Bell in another posting.
In front of the Veronica Sun Bay there was re-erected on 17 March 1993 a gazing bowl which had earlier (I hate to say it) been vandalised. The first bowl was glass (circa 1935) and the second chromed copper. The present one is polished stainless steel bolted to the ground. It was made in New Plymouth (NZ) and donated by Corinne and Russel Spiller.

Spirit of Napier

Most days at one time or another whether I am cycling along the Marine Parade foot/cycle path or driving along Marine Parade I see the Spirit of Napier.

This monument, which is said to represent the rise of Napier from the ashes after the earthquake, was erected in 1971 on the Gilray Reserve at the South end of the Parade. It was sculpted by Frank Szirmay and funded by a bequest by Dr Thomas Gilray.

The Gilray Reserve was developed in honour of the said Doctor who died in 1971 after having begun practice in Napier in 1911 and been Superintendent of the Napier Hospital in 1921-22.

Millennium Arch - Ecliptic

Almost all my cycle rides include at least part of the cycle/footpath built by the Rotary Club of Napier along Marine Parade. There are so many beautiful manmade things which I see every day in addition to the fantastic works of nature that I thought I would start sharing them with you.

At midnight on 31st December 1999 a crowd estimated to be 30,000 and the biggest crowd ever to assemble on the Marine Parade watched $25,000 (about £10,000) of fireworks herald in the New Millennium.

The Millennium Arch (Ecliptic - by David Trubridge) situated on Marine Parade situated just to the North of the Dolphin Pool was erected to commemorate the first sunrise of the New Millennium. To find the point where the sun rose that morning follow a line from the rock in front of it through the centre of the arch to the horizon.

The cliffs in the far distance are at Cape Kidnappers.