Napier Prison

Napier Prison is a historic site located on Napier Hill in Napier, New Zealand.

Built in 1862, it is the country's oldest prison complex and was used until the early 1990s, being officially decommissioned in 1993. The prison was constructed on Napier Hill and was also used as an orphanage and a psychiatric unit. During the 19th century, four hangings were conducted at the prison. The prison has a dark history, and its walls have housed dangerous and violent criminals for over 150 years. The best-known former prisoner is Roland Edwards, a mass murderer whose spirit is said to haunt the area. He died on July 15, and paranormal activity is reputedly more prevalent around the anniversary of his death.

Napier Prison is a popular tourist attraction and a unique opportunity to connect with an important part of New Zealand's history. The prison offers different tours, including the Historical Tour, which focuses on the historical day-to-day workings of New Zealand's oldest prison, and the Ghost Tour, which narrates gory stories about the people who were once incarcerated here and the strange things people experience to this day. Prolific New Zealand-based paranormal research team Haunted Auckland have made a few visits to the prison, conducting detailed overnight investigations, in the hopes of documenting evidence to back up some of the reports. In 2011, a team from the television series Ghost Hunters International spent four days filming at the prison. Visitors can take an audio tour of Napier Prison to learn about its dark history, get scared at the DeadHill Interactive Scare Tour, or try to figure their way out of an escape room.

Napier Prison is located on Napier's Bluff Hill at 55 Coote Rd overlooking the Pacific Ocean and beautiful Centennial Gardens. The prison is just a few minutes walk to the town centre and Marine Parade and has been listed as one of the 6 most haunted places in New Zealand. The prison has also been used as an insane asylum and orphanage, and has been home to many creepy happenings. Our resident ghost cat Basil may even make an appearance! Since closing its doors to prisoners, Napier Prison has welcomed television and film crews, paranormal societies, psychics, wedding parties, fashion shows, and more. Criminals from all over New Zealand, including a mass murderer, a drug baron, and members of different gangs, were housed in this prison.