For all the Family

• Get as close to the ocean as you can without getting your feet wet at the National Aquarium of New Zealand. Travel beneath the enormous oceanarium or take a behind the scenes tour to discover the abundant marine life living at the aquarium.

• Explore that fascinating world of the humble honeybee in a modern and interactive environment at the Arataki Honey Visitor Centre.

• Travel by vintage tractor and trailer on a unique and fun eco-experience tour with local experience guides to visit the largest, most accessible, mainland gannet colony in the world.

• Enjoy an interactive show at historic Clifton Bay Woolshed and learn how everything works on the farm before enjoying something to eat the Clifton Bay Café.

• Explore the wild side of wine country at Mountain Valley Adventure Lodge, offering adventure activities for kids of all ages from white water rafting and kayaking through to horse trekking.

• Finish your day with a relaxing soak in the hot pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Ocean Spa complex.

   

Stop at…

Laserforce step into the future with live action fun and excitement for all ages.

Par 2 Golf for a round of mini-golf on the two courses located right on the beach front.

Get lost in A Maze 'n' Fun and then have fun finding your way back out again (open 26 December to end of April each year).

Help hand feed the animals at the safe, clean environmnet of the Hawke's Bay Farmyard Zoo.

Play in Hawke's Bays largest indoor adventure playground at Jungle Junction.

Visit one of the world's largest '00' gauge model railways and Napier's beloved 60 year old Lilliput Railway at Trainworld & Lilliput.

Stop for a famous Rush Munro's ice cream at Lick This on Marine Parade or at Rush Munro's Ice Cream Garden in Hastings.

Treat yourself at Birdwoods Gallery & Sweet Shop and fill a tin, jar or your tummy.

Take a leisurely drive along State Highway 2 following the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail signs through Tararua enjoying the impact of early Danish and Norwegian settlers to small country towns such as Dannevirke.  

Stop at…

• Spend time at Pukaha Mt Bruce, a wildlife sanctuary that specialises in breeding rare species.  Pukaha Mount Bruce has an informative visitor centre, guided ranger experiences and a Kiwi nocturnal house.  Surrounded by ancient forest trees and free flying native birds, you get a sense of how New Zealand used to be.

Further south is the Wairarapa region.  Drive an easy circuit through pastoral landscapes to outlying vineyard clusters and charming small villages.

• Visit Stonehenge Aotearoa, near Carterton, an adaptation of the mysterious 4,000 year-old monument on England’s Salisbury Plains, has been especially designed for the Southern Hemisphere.   Learn how people of all ancient cultures – used the sun, moon and stars to devise calendars, work out the seasons for planting, hunting and other activities, and navigate across oceans.

Allow ninety minutes for the brief drive to New Zealand’s compact capital city known for its vibrant arts and cultural scene and rich heritage. 

Spend time exploring Wellington waterfront. Many activities are based around the waterfront from harbour cruises, strolling from Queens Wharf to Oriental Bay, and swimming at the golden sand beach to rollerblading and rock-climbing for the more adventurous. Many prefer to grab a coffee or gelato and sit back and enjoy beautiful views of the Wellington Harbour and cityscape.

• Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films showcased Wellington’s stunning natural scenery on the world stage. Explore the film locations from “The Lord of the Rings” on half or full day tours (suggestions right).

• At the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa discover five floors of treasured exhibits and interactive displays. It’s an entertaining way to find out about New Zealand, arguably one of the best interactive museums in the world.

• Visit the Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience, a world first conservation attraction and home to some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered wildlife.  It’s a great spot for a picnic lunch or take a Sanctuary by Night escorted tour at dusk and try to spot Kiwi.

• Catch the historic cable car from Lambton Quay to the Wellington Botanic Garden for great views and photos over the city.  Check out the Tourism Award winning Cable Car Museum at the top.

• Drive an hour out of Wellington along the Kapiti Coast to visit Kapiti Island Alive; a unique opportunity in New Zealand to view endangered and rare birds in a completely natural setting. You’ll need to stay overnight if you want to try kiwi spotting – but staying on the island with a Maori family is something you’ll never forget!

• Take a Seal Coast Safari across the rugged and remote south coast of Wellington.   On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the South Island. The South Coast is even more inspiring on a blustery day! 

• Check out Wellington Zoo.  Try kiwi spotting in the nocturnal house or experience a personal encounter with one of the animals such as the red pandas, tigers, lions, giraffes and cheetahs.

• Wellington puts its hills to great use with fantastic mountain biking. There’s great tracks on Mount Victoria, Battle Hill Farm Forest near Porirua, out to the Pencarrow Lighthouse from Eastbourne or a dedicated mountain bike park at Makara.

• Take a guided walk of Wellington, a fantastic way to learn about the city's key sights, culture history and what’s happening today.