15 Things to Do in Napier & Hawke’s Bay with Kids

1. Walk From One Family-Friendly Attraction to the Other on Marine Parade

Yes, just walking along the waterfront of Napier is a fun and free family activity to enjoy! Marine Parade stretches roughly 3 km (2 mi) along the waterfront, connecting several family-friendly attractions in one easy walk.

The May and Peter Harris Playground is packed with climbing equipment, slides and spaces for different age groups, while the Sunken Gardens has shallow water features that kids like to paddle in. The walkway is easy to approach with a stroller.

The Napier Junior Bike Track is worth stopping at if you’re travelling with bikes or scooters; it’s fully fenced with working traffic lights, road signs and a roundabout for teaching basic road safety. The track mainly caters to children under ten, with a separate matted area for toddlers under three.

See more activities like this in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Napier.

Location: Marine Parade, Napier city centre.

© Kirsten Simcox - Hawke’s Bay Tourism

2. Meet and Feed the Animals at the Farm Parks

Animal lovers are spoiled at Hawke’s Bay Farmyard Zoo in Haumoana, which offers kids the opportunity to feed the animals, as well as take pony rides and lamb feeding experiences.

There’s also the “Farmyard Express” train for touring the farm, and you can hire a four-wheel Surrey bike for exploring together. When the little ones still have energy to burn, there’s a play area with a pirate ship.

Families can make a day of it with the picnic area or grab lunch at one of the outdoor tables. The zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily, weather permitting (it’s worth confirming conditions before making the drive).

Location: 32 East Road, Haumoana, approximately 17 km (11 mi) from Napier city centre.

© NZPocketGuide.com

3. Witness the Wonders of Nature at the Cape Kidnappers’ Gannet Colonies

Moving onto Napier’s natural inhabitants, seeing the majestic gannets of Cape Kidnappers is a memorable experience for the whole family.

Don’t worry about hiking the long beachside trail at low tide; instead join Gannet Safaris Overland for a unique tour in a rugged vehicle across the clifftops to see thousands of Australasian gannets nesting, preening and soaring above the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui.

The three-hour guided journey covers 36 km (22 mi) through farmland, gullies and coastal landscapes, with no walking required.

Tours run from August to April at 9 am and 1:30 pm, and your knowledgeable guide will explain the birds’ behaviour alongside the area’s geology, farming history and Māori stories (keeping younger travellers engaged throughout the trip).

Location: 396 Clifton Road, approximately 22 km (14 mi) from Napier city centre.

© Gannet Safaris Overland - Hawke's Bay

4. Spend a Summer’s Day at Splash Planet

If you’re visiting Napier and the Hawke’s Bay region in summer, don’t miss the outdoor waterpark Splash Planet! Based in the neighbouring town of Hastings, Splash Planet is New Zealand’s largest water theme park, with an array of fun waterslides and water playgrounds for toddlers and big kids.

Beyond the pools, you’ll find hilarious bumper boats, go-karts, mini golf, a train ride and other attractions suited to different age groups. Younger children have gentler play areas away from the larger slides.

The full summer park typically operates from mid-November to early March. Outside summer, “Splash Planet Play Park” opens on selected weekends, offering dry rides, playgrounds and mini golf without the water attractions.

Location: 1001 Grove Road, Parkvale, approximately 21 km (13 mi) from Napier.

© Kirsten Simcox - Hawke's Bay

5. Experiment at the Faraday Museum of Technology

If you find yourself in Napier on a rainy day or just have curious kids, check out the Faraday Museum of Technology. Unlike typical museums where exhibits sit behind glass, this hands-on attraction encourages children to turn handles, press buttons, operate machinery and discover how electricity and transport technologies actually work.

Kids can explore vintage equipment, try old-fashioned arcade games, ride a quadricycle and watch scientific demonstrations. The museum works particularly well for primary-school-aged children (though younger visitors still enjoy the interactive displays).

Adults may recognise household appliances and vehicles from earlier generations as they wander through.

See more activities like this in the 10 Things to Do in Napier on a Rainy Day.

Location: 2b Faraday Street, Napier city centre.

© NZPocketGuide.com

6. See the Honeybees in Action at the Arataki Honey Visitor Centre

For a child-friendly food experience, head to Havelock North and you’ll find the Arataki Honey Visitor Centre. The centre is home to one of New Zealand’s top honey brands where your family can learn about the honeybee, their role in the food chain and how they make honey.

Take a free, self-guided tour that covers honeybee behaviour, pollination and the journey from hive to jar. Watch the bees at work through the observation hives without anyone getting stung.

The free honey-tasting station is usually the highlight, with several varieties demonstrating how flavour changes depending on the flowers visited by the bees.

There’s also a shop selling honey, beeswax products and other locally made treats.

For more experiences nearby, check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Havelock North.

Location: 66 Arataki Road, Havelock North, approximately 22 km (14 mi) from Napier city centre.

© Arataki Honey - Hawke's Bay

7. Swim, Play and Build Sandcastles at Ahuriri Beach

What is a New Zealand family getaway without some beach time? One of Napier’s best beaches for families is Ahuriri Beach, where you’ll find a small sandy beach beside the waterfront neighbourhood that’s perfect for safe swimming and building sandcastles.

The boardwalk runs along the beach in two directions: towards the scenic Perfume Point in one direction and Spriggs Park Playground in the other.

Kids love exploring the rockpools beside the playground at low tide, while cafés and takeaway options are within walking distance for a quick bite. It’s an easy beach day without much fuss.

For more beaches to discover as a family, take a look at 10 Beautiful Beaches in Hawke’s Bay.

Location: Car park where Nelson Quay and Hardinge Road meet, approximately 3 km (2 mi) from Napier city centre.

© Kirsten Simcox - Hawke’s Bay Tourism

8. Soak in the Hot Pools or Burn Off Some Steam at Ocean Spa

What kid doesn’t like the pool? In Napier, you have the soothing hot pool waters of Ocean Spa, an outdoor heated pool complex overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The facility includes a toddler pool, a therapeutic pool with fountains and jets, and outdoor spa pools, giving you options whether the kids want to play or the adults fancy slowing down. Lifeguards are on duty and changing rooms are modern.

Between swims, grab food or drinks at the on-site The Bach Café.

Location: 42 Marine Parade, Napier city centre.

© Pexels

9. Visit the Māori Historical Site of Ōtātara Pā

Ōtātara Pā is one of the best examples of remaining pā sites (Māori fortified villages) in New Zealand and never fails at getting the imaginations of the little ones running.

Walk through one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest and oldest settlements, where the 1.6 km (1 mi) track passes through a carved waharoa, climbs past palisades, carved posts, terraces, former house sites and food-storage pits.

The track takes around 45 minutes one way and finishes at Churchill Drive; families returning to the Springfield Road car park should allow up to 1 hr 30 mins (or turn back earlier with younger children).

Location: Taradale. Follow Gloucester Road south onto Springfield Junction where Ōtātara Pā is signposted, approximately 10.4 km (6.5 mi) from Napier.

© Noel O'Riley on Wikipedia

10. Treat the Kids (and Yourself) to Temptations at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market

The neighbouring town of Hastings proudly hosts New Zealand’s longest-running farmers market at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market. Browse stalls stocked with seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh meat, bread, eggs, preserves and ready-to-eat treats from local growers and producers.

The kids can chat with the stallholders and learn where the region’s food comes from while you pick up breakfast or a snack.

There’s live music to enjoy and plenty of outdoor space for the family to relax on the grass. Catch the market every Sunday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Location: Kenilworth Road, Waipatu, Hastings, approximately 18 km (11 mi) from Napier.

© NZPocketGuide.com

11. Look for Wildlife on the Ahuriri Estuary Walk

In true New Zealand style, there are plenty of family-friendly walks around Napier to keep everyone active while enjoying the stunning scenery. One of the closest to the city itself is the Ahuriri Estuary Walk, a 2.8 km (1.7 mi) one-way route following well-formed tracks and boardwalks across the wetlands.

The estuary is home to more than 70 resident and migratory waterbird species, plus fish, aquatic plants and other creatures living in the mudflats. The walk takes around one hour each way and is graded easy to intermediate, making it manageable for most ages.

Bring binoculars if you have them and pause at the boardwalk viewpoints to look for birds feeding or resting around the water. There are also some interesting pou (carved Māori poles) to see along the way.

Location: Humber Street, off Pandora Road, Napier.

© Hawkes Bay

12. Solve Puzzles at Enigma Escape Rooms

Fast becoming the most popular way to spend a bit of extra time or a rainy day in any city, escape rooms are also present in Napier. Enigma Escape Rooms offers indoor and outdoor puzzle adventures designed for families with children.

The one-hour “Wizard Express Indoor Escape Room” welcomes players aged seven and above, with space for up to six family members aboard a magical train-themed adventure. Find clues, crack codes and solve puzzles to make it out within the hour!

Families with children aged eight and above can also try the “Magic Portal Outdoor Adventure”. This 1 hr 30 mins to 2-hour game sends you through Napier CBD using augmented reality, magical equipment and a series of digital and physical puzzles.

Location: 14 Herschell Street, Napier city centre.

© NZPocketGuide.com

13. Meet Marine Animals at the National Aquarium of New Zealand

The National Aquarium of New Zealand is one of Napier’s top family-friendly attractions, especially when the weather turns. Walk beneath stingrays and large fish in the oceanarium tunnel, then explore exhibits featuring little penguins, kiwi, tuatara, turtles, seahorses and colourful reef fish.

Plan your visit around the daily keeper talks and feeding sessions, which help children learn more about the animals and their care. General admission allows families to explore at their own pace, while selected close encounters may require advance booking.

Location: 546 Marine Parade, Napier South, Napier.

© Molly Rose Nilsson - Hawke’s Bay Tourism

14. Discover Art and Local Stories at Kahukura Hawke’s Bay Museum

Introduce the kids to regional art, Māori taonga, local history and the story of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake at Kahukura Hawke’s Bay Museum.

The changing exhibitions mean there’s usually something different to see on a return visit. The museum also hosts workshops, performances, films and family activities throughout the year, so check the events calendar before your visit.

Entry to the exhibitions is free, making this an easy option when you need an affordable indoor activity or a break from the sun.

The museum is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily.

Location: 1 Tennyson Street, Napier city centre.

© MTG - Hawke’s Bay Tourism

15. Challenge the Family to a Round of Mini Golf

See who’s got the steadiest putt at Par2 MiniGolf, a family-friendly attraction right beside Napier’s waterfront. The two 18-hole courses feature obstacles that work for children, parents and grandparents alike, turning a casual game into some friendly family competition.

The beachfront location makes it easy to combine mini golf with the playgrounds, gardens, aquarium and other attractions along Marine Parade. The course opens daily, 9:30 am – 4:15 pm.

Location: 100 Marine Parade, Napier city centre.

© Napier City Council - Hawke’s Bay Tourism