Activity Category: Outside

BayStation, Tauranga

Blokart Sailing and Drift Karts are both available here and a lot of fun for the whole family. To ride solo you need to be 8 years old+ (and for Drift Karts you also need to be a minimum of 140cm in height). But Blokart Sailing offers shadow side cars…

Memorial Park, Tauranga

Something for everyone at this park – 2 playgrounds (including slides coming out of a rocket ship!), mini putt (see under ‘contacts’ for more details), outdoor pools in the summer months and a miniature train. There are also BBQs, lots of grass for running around on and big old trees providing…

Somerfield’s Berry fruit farm, Tauranga

If your kids love summer berries perhaps they’d enjoy picking their own to take home? Somerfield’s Berry fruit farm PYO is a very popular place during the summer season and they often have to close the PYO section as the fruit runs out. As well as PYO strawberries, you can…

Waikareao Estuary Loop Ride, Tauranga

This 9km boardwalk track loops around the Waikareao Estuary in Tauranga and makes for a lovely walk or even better bike ride. The surface is a mix of boardwalk and gravel so better for bikes than scooters and fine for sturdy buggies. It’s completely flat! It’s worth keeping in mind…

Kairakau beach, Central Hawkes Bay

Kairakau is a beach settlement made up of baches, a tennis court and a holiday camp. There are no shops although an ice cream van visits during the summer. Take your provisions with you as the closest shops are at least 30 minutes away. Like most Hawke’s Bay beaches, the…

Morere Hot Springs, Wairoa District

These hot pools are surrounded by scenic reserve with several bush walks available to do, varying from 20 minutes to 2 hours. It’s probably a good idea to walk before you soak in the pools. The bush setting makes this a truly wonderful place for soaking in the hot and cold pools.…

Rock Pooling at Snapper Rock, Mahia

At low tide there are lots of rock pools teeming with life at the Northern end of Mahia – an area known locally as Snapper Rock. General tips for rock pooling: Check the tide times and aim to go within 2 hours each side of low tide. You can do…

Fishing from West Quay Wharf, Napier

Kids On Board no thumbnail

There are plenty of small sprats to keep young fisher boys and girls happy off the wharf at West Quay, Ahuriri. Take your own tackle (a patient child should even get bites with a hand line) and a bucket if your child wants to admire their catch before throwing it…

Beach, Swimming and playground at Hardinge Road, Napier

The closest safe swimming to Napier is at Hardinge Road where there’s a small sandy beach and kid friendly swimming. There’s a playground at Spriggs Park with equipment for younger and older kids, grassy areas for picnics and a concrete path going all the way along from the port to…

Hawke’s Bay Farmyard Zoo, Haumoana

This farmyard zoo is home to pigs, sheep and calves as well as the more exotic ostriches, alpacas, turtles and peacocks. Kids can interact with the animals and feed them (animal food $1). Springtime is especially popular with baby animals being fed by volunteers. Train rides and pony rides (additional charges,…