Enjoy Napier on a Budget
You don’t have to break the bank to have an awesome time in the city of Napier. Napier is a city home to and surrounded by free natural attractions, walks, museums and things to do that cost under NZ$25.
If you’re travelling on a budget or trying to save money in Napier while working in the area, then this list of free and cheap things to do in Napier is for you!
Explore Māori cultural sites, visit the city museum, climb to viewpoints and more in Napier city and close-by so you won’t even need to spend too much of fuel or transport to enjoy these Napier activities.
While you’re at it, save money on accommodation by staying on of these 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Napier and 10 Best Backpacker Hostels in Napier and Hastings.
Table of Contents
1. Take a Walk Along Marine Parade – FREE
This is a great place to start if you’re new to the city. A walkway along Marine Parade offers awesome beach views and plenty of water features and statues to keep things interesting.
The wide seaside promenade stretches for several kilometres and is lined with gardens, public art and family-friendly attractions. Along the way you’ll pass the famous Pania of the Reef statue, the Sound Shell, Tom Parker Fountain and the Sunken Gardens.
The flat pathway is ideal for walking, jogging or cycling, with numerous benches scattered along the route. Early mornings are especially scenic if you fancy watching the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean.
It’s a free activity easily accessible from the city centre.
Location: Marine Parade.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Visit Otatara Pa – FREE
Home to Māori carvings and the remains of one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest fortified settlements, Otatara Pa Historic Reserve is a fascinating window into New Zealand’s pre-European past.
Dating back to the 1500s, this hilltop pā once overlooked the Ahuriri Lagoon and served as a significant defensive stronghold.
A 45-minute walk around the reserve takes you past reconstructed terraces, defensive earthworks and interpretation panels explaining how Māori communities lived, farmed and defended the site.
The summit rewards visitors with sweeping views across Napier, the coast and the Heretaunga Plains (on clear days, you can see all the way inland to Mt Ruapehu). Otatara Pa is free to visit.
Location: 10.4 km (6.5 mi) from Napier. Otatara Pa is in Taradale. Follow Gloucester Road south onto Springfield Junction where Otarata Pa is signposted.
© Barb Nicolle on Wikipedia3. Pop in MTG Hawke’s Bay – FREE
MTG Hawke’s Bay is the official museum for the Hawke’s Bay region, sitting right in the heart of Napier’s Art Deco precinct. It’s a great place to dive into the region’s European and Māori heritage, with permanent exhibitions covering the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake and Napier’s remarkable Art Deco rebuild.
The centre also houses regularly changing art galleries showcasing local, national and international artists, plus a theatre.
Interactive exhibits and multimedia displays keep things engaging for all ages.
Best of all, general admission to the galleries and museum is free.
Location: 1 Tennyson Street, Napier
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Get Awesome Views from Te Mata Peak – FREE
If you don’t mind using a little bit of fuel to get there, Te Mata Peak is another fantastic free attraction near Napier.
Rising 399 m (1,309 ft) above sea level, the summit offers wide-reaching views across the Heretaunga Plains, the Pacific Ocean and the distant mountain ranges (on a clear day, anyway).
You can drive straight to the top or tackle one of the walking and mountain biking trails that wind through native bush and open grasslands. The peak is especially popular at sunrise and sunset when the light hits just right, making it a favourite with photographers.
For more walks in the area, see 10 Wonderful Walks in Hawke’s Bay.
Location: 27 km (17 mi) from Napier. Te Mata Peak, Tuki Tuki.
© Hawke’s Bay Tourism5. Check Out the Napier Urban Farmers Market – FREE
This activity is only as cheap as how much you end up spending. However, you can enjoy the Napier Urban Farmers’ Market as a free and cheap experience in Napier with plenty of free tastings and regular live music adding to the lively atmosphere.
Held every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, the market showcases colourful displays of seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread, locally roasted coffee, honey, preserves, flowers and handcrafted products.
Browsing is half the fun, and you’ll have the chance to chat directly with local growers and producers about Hawke’s Bay’s renowned food scene. It’s an ideal spot to pick up picnic supplies or simply soak up the community spirit.
Alternatively, there is the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market in Hastings every Sunday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Location: Clive Square.
© NZPocketGuide.com6. Take a Self-guided Art Deco Tour – CHEAP
If you haven’t heard already, Napier is sort of into art deco! One of the best ways to explore the city’s remarkable 1930s architecture is on a self-guided walking tour.
Following the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake, Napier was rebuilt in the fashionable Art Deco style, creating one of the world’s finest collections of this era’s buildings.
Pick up a walking map from the i-SITE Visitor Centre (around NZ$7.50) or download one before you head out. As you wander at your own pace, you’ll discover beautifully preserved façades, intricate geometric details and famous landmarks like the Daily Telegraph Building, T&G Building and ASB Bank.
Alternatively, there are plenty of interpretation panels around the city that you can check out while walking around.
Location: Napier City Centre.
© NZPocketGuide.com7. Climb Bluff Hill – FREE
Bluff Hill is Napier’s best vantage point, offering sweeping views over the city, Hawke Bay, Cape Kidnappers and the Port of Napier. You can either drive to the summit or tackle one of several walking tracks winding through native bush to the lookout.
The viewing platforms are great for watching container ships, cruise vessels and fishing boats arrive and depart. Interpretive panels explain the history of the port and surrounding landscape.
Early mornings are popular for sunrise, while evenings often reward visitors with spectacular colours over the bay. The lookout is about seven minutes’ drive or 35 minutes’ walk from the city centre.
Location: End of Lighthouse Road, Bluff Hill, Napier.
© NZPocketGuide.com8. Do the Cape Kidnappers Walk – FREE
You can always rely on a hike in New Zealand to be a fun free thing to do! If you don’t mind driving a little out of town, Cape Kidnappers is a fantastic day walk (5-6 hours return) from the small village of Clifton.
See the awe-inspiring layers of rock and fossils towering on the cliffs leading up to Cape Kidnappers, ending with an awesome view of coastal points and the world’s largest mainland gannet colony upon reaching Cape Kidnappers.
This walk only available at low tide so time your walk well! Plus, the cliffs are subject to landslips and rockfall, so it’s best to keep on moving.
Get more ideas like this at Top 10 Natural Attractions in Hawke’s Bay.
Location: 23 km (14 mi) from Napier. Take State Highway 2 then turn onto Mill Road just after Clive. Continue toward Clifton.
© NZPocketGuide.com9. Learn About Celestial Navigation at Ātea a Rangi – FREE
Visit the Ātea a Rangi Star Compass at Waitangi Regional Park to learn how traditional Polynesian navigators used the sun, stars and horizon to travel across the Pacific.
The carved pou represent points where celestial bodies rise and set, helping navigators memorise directions without modern instruments.
The coastal setting also makes this a rewarding place for a short walk, with sunrise offering particularly impressive views.
The star compass is free to explore independently and connects with walking and cycling routes around the estuary.
Location: Waitangi Regional Park, State Highway 51, Awatoto, Napier.
© Andrew Caldwell - Hawke’s Bay Tourism10. Grab Some Cheap Eats (and Drinks) – CHEAP
Hawke’s Bay produces some of New Zealand’s top food and drink in their vineyards and fruit orchards. Unsurprisingly, Napier city is the perfect place to try this local produce in the bars and eateries.
The city centre is home to cafés, bakeries and casual spots serving everything from gourmet pies and fish and chips to Asian street food and hearty brunches.
Keep an eye out for lunch specials, happy hour deals and daily meal promotions at local pubs.
Check out some cheap eats listed in The Guide to Napier on a Budget.
Location: Napier City.
© NZPocketGuide.comMore About Napier
That’s it for our guide to free and cheap things to do in Napier; for more information about this Art Deco city and the greater Hawke’s Bay region, check out the following articles:
- 15 Super Fun Things to Do in Napier
- Top 10 Natural Attractions in Hawke’s Bay
- 10 Beautiful Beaches in Hawke’s Bay
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Napier.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2025])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2025])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2025])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2025])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2025])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2025])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2025])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
