Free Things to Do With Kids in Napier

Marine Parade is the heart of family Napier — a long seafront promenade backed by Norfolk pines, with several free playgrounds strung along it. The Napier Skate Park and the big destination playground keep older kids busy, while the sunken gardens and fountains make a lovely, free stroll. The beach itself is pebbly and the surf can be strong, so it's more for paddling and stone-skimming than swimming.

Napier's Art Deco architecture is world-famous, and the self-guided walking route through the city centre is completely free — grab a map from the i-SITE or follow the plaques. Kids enjoy spotting the colourful facades, the National Tobacco Company building's exterior (one of the most photographed) and the geometric details. It's an easy, flat wander you can break up with a cheap milkshake.

Bluff Hill Lookout is free and gives you a sweeping view over the port and Hawke Bay — a great spot to watch ships come and go. The walks around Napier Hill wind past historic homes and gardens, and the scenic drive out towards Cape Kidnappers is free (the gannet colony tours themselves are ticketed, but the coastal scenery is a treat in itself).

The National Aquarium of New Zealand on Marine Parade is a small-entry highlight, with sharks, a kiwi enclosure and a penguin feed — the perfect wet-weather backup. The Ocean Spa hot saltwater pools right by the beach are a cheap treat after a windy day. The MTG (Museum Theatre Gallery) has free general entry and is a good rainy-day stop, and the library runs free holiday programmes.

Between the free seafront, the Art Deco walk and the hilltop views, Napier is an easy and characterful city to enjoy with kids on a budget. Here's how a free day adds up for a family of four.