Hawkes Bay Zoos & Aquariums

Hawke's Bay zoos and aquariums centre on Napier's waterfront, where a large aquarium sits on Marine Parade with native wildlife, a walk-through tunnel and keeper talks through the day. Tickets come as all-day admission or admission with a guided tour, and a visit slots in easily beside Napier's Art Deco centre and the rest of the things to do in Hawke's Bay.

What to see at Napier's aquarium

The National Aquarium of New Zealand is built around a 1.5-million-litre oceanarium with a walk-through tunnel, where giant kingfish and stingrays glide overhead. Daily stingray and kingfish feedings bring the tank to life, and keeper talks run through the day. The native animals are the other draw: kiwi, a tuatara named Alfie who is over 40 years old, and a rescue haven for little penguins.

Little penguin keeper talks are held at 9.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm, and the stingray feeding and talk runs at 10am and 2pm. Planning the visit around the talk you want to catch is the simplest way to structure the day.

Aquarium ticket types

General admission to the National Aquarium of New Zealand covers the whole day, including the penguin talks and the stingray feeding, with adult and child tickets. It suits visitors who would rather wander at their own pace between the tunnel, the penguins and the native wildlife.

For more of the story, an aquarium guided tour with all-day admission adds a 1-hour tour at 10.30am, with a 15-minute early arrival asked for. The guide leads into the nocturnal house, where day becomes night and the kiwi are active, with a real kiwi egg on show, then on to the tuatara and the rescued little penguins. Every keeper talk and feeding session is included.

Planning a wildlife day in Napier

The aquarium is at 546 Marine Parade in Napier South, on the waterfront, and the venue is wheelchair friendly. The aquarium pairs naturally with a seafront walk and a morning among Napier's Art Deco buildings.

For wildlife outdoors, Hawke's Bay tours head to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers, where the birds can be seen from September to early May. Families deciding how to fill a day can look at things to do with kids in Hawke's Bay, and zoos and aquariums are found across Australia and New Zealand too.

Frequently asked questions

What can you see at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier?

The National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier has a walk-through oceanarium tunnel with kingfish and stingrays, kiwi, a tuatara named Alfie, and a rescue haven for little penguins. Keeper talks and feedings run through the day.

When are the little penguin talks at the National Aquarium of New Zealand?

Little penguin keeper talks at the National Aquarium of New Zealand are held at 9.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. The stingray feeding and talk runs at 10am and 2pm.

What does the aquarium guided tour include?

The National Aquarium of New Zealand guided tour is a 1-hour tour at 10.30am that visits the nocturnal kiwi house, a kiwi egg display, the tuatara and the rescued little penguins. All-day admission and all keeper talks and feedings are included.

Where is the National Aquarium of New Zealand?

The National Aquarium of New Zealand is at 546 Marine Parade, Napier South, on Napier's waterfront in Hawke's Bay.

Is the National Aquarium of New Zealand wheelchair friendly?

Yes. The National Aquarium of New Zealand is listed as wheelchair friendly on its general admission and guided tour tickets.

Can you see kiwi in Hawke's Bay?

Yes. The National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier keeps kiwi, and the guided tour goes into the nocturnal house where day becomes night so the kiwi are active.

Hawke's Bay zoos and aquariums give Napier a wildlife stop right on the waterfront, and the guided tour suits anyone who wants the stories behind the animals.