The 36 best parks and gardens in Napier

Small but well kept park within walking distance of the cruise port. Nice variety of plants in a nice setting with a walking path that is hilly. Nice benches and picnic tables scattered throughout to enjoy lunch or a quiet break. There are well maintained restrooms at the main entrance along with a small avariary that has a number of budgies and cockatiels. Well worth the visit.

Nice gardens to stroll around. Bit smaller and steeper hills than expected but enjoyable nonetheless. The Tui's were cool to listen to for an Aussie who hadn't heard them before

Very pretty, wish I had more time! Lots of Kererū and a little bird enclosure 😁

beautiful park with lots to see, picnic tables everywhere and nice paved paths as well. Great place to go!

Quiet place to reflect. Hilly and slippery when wet. Wear walking or hiking shoes.

Beautiful gardens and great walking tracks. Birds are beautiful too. Very well kept. Child friendly. Good for picnics and nature walks. Also a great place for family photo shoots with many ideal places that are very artistic. Beautiful tall trees and great flowers and other plants.

Small but very peaceful and cozy local botanical gardens, ideal to chill down and get some rest surrounded by beautiful nature. It’s very hilly so if you are up for some challenge you can do some hikes up and down the maze of the trails and admire some beautiful trees, nature and if you are lucky you will find the waterfall which is a highlight. There are some picnic places around perfect for a weekend family time out.

Pretty cool historic building, it's a little overgrown on the outside which gives it an aesthetic that I like. Sadly there's no tours at the moment, I would have preferred that. Some information outside the building of the history of it would be cool while the tours are closed.

I went on a self guide tour for $30. The place is worth visiting. It's more details if you follow the audio device while wandering through cells. But if you have limited time, you can choose some ghost stories to listen later. I have a goosebumps looking into a solitary confinement. Even staff gave a spooky vibe (>_<" sorry). Overall I'm impressed but i wish you could improve on the costume. They're too old and dirty. I think visitors would want to wear them for fun. It'd be nice if you can improve this! Thanks.

Went, and it's pretty good. Lots of stuff was fenced off, which was lame and some stuff was set up as a haunted house or escape rooms. The tour would be better with more access, and if they could facilitate everything they are trying to do better

Saw this on the TV (Heritage Rescue) and looked an interesting place to visit while on holiday. We hired two different audio guides and shared. I did get a little monotonous, so stick with just the one 'tour'. Lots of history and the escape room looked like it could be fun (maybe next time). A few of the old signs (we saw on the TV show) had been put back up and as these were designed for kids not sure if that was a good or bad thing (not sure I'd take a young child to it as could be quite scary ). However the history was amazing and I think if it (or you just did that) stuck to that and the ghost / spooky side it would be a much better place. It certainly did have a edge to the feel and think a night tour which just adults would be 'interesting'

I enjoyed the historical authenticity of the prison but the way that the tours are structured needs improvement - as far as I can tell, the audio recordings date back to 2008. Another board sits on the garage outside with reviews dating back to 2011. Large areas of the prison are closed off as well making some parts of the tour inaccessible. The escape rooms seem like they'll breathe some life into the prison which will help with restoring the rest of the place, but for now it all feels a bit disjointed and in need of innovation.

If you like history with a side of spookiness Napier prison is a place to visit. Being the oldest prison in NZ they offer good old historical tour as well as the spooky ghost tour. You'll be given a headset for the tour, and since everyone is listening through their own headset you can choose the tour for yourself even if you are going there as a group. Perfect for those doesn't feel too comfortable with ghost stories or history lesson whichever it might be. They even offer escape room experience, if you want the extra challenge. The staff there are quite friendly and knowledgeable, if you have a chat with them they might have their own ghost stories to share. Recommended.

Interesting museum, however way too expensive. They increased prices by 50% and charge now $30 per adult. Not worth the price, several sections are closed because of damage and several rooms are closed because of their Escape Room. We paid $75 for 2 adults and a child to listen to some texts in an audio guide.

Awesome kids bike track to teach them road rules etc from young age, having the road marking and traffic lights etc is great. Can find it along the art deco walkway and next to silver bullet

Lots of fun for little kids learning to ride. Good to get them to play attention to road markings (and traffic lights). Can get a bit intimidating for the young kids when there are more confident riders speeding around, but there's also a fenced off area for under 3s to play in, which has soft matting.

Great for kids to know what to do when it comes to crossing the road and when to stop 🛑 go and give way

Great fun for the kids, good way to learn about traffic rules

Such a great idea from the council to teach the kids road rules and how to be safe on bikes etc. Great for them to have roundabouts, traffic lights, road markings to learn in a safe environment before heading out onto the road. Definitely recommend if you are planning on having your child bike to school.

Obviously this is feedback from my 2.5 year old son. He definitely loved it. Good shade sails to keep you cool in summer and either coffee from the cart beside the track or a Danish ice cream the other side.

I didn't go on it since I was too old but it looked really interesting from the outside. There were 2 laned streets with pedestrian crossing and stop lights, almost like a miniature city where kids can learn how to bike on the roads. There were a few shaded seating areas presumably for parents while the kids can enjoy biking around their own area. There is also a coffee and ice cream stand nearby, as well as the playground.

No problem with the two bedroom unit we had and great for one night stay but found the unit cold and heater not efficient enough to warm the unit and no electric blankets so slept in cold beds. not so good for a 72yr.person. Probably be great for summer conditions but not late winter early spring.

We love Kennedy park Resort, always clean and tidy rooms. Great location - close to shops and tourist attractions (such as the aquarium) No late night noise or disruptive people. I stay here for a couple nights every couple of weeks and its always been amazing.

Stayed here before on our Targa Rallies but with the shared bathroom accommodation,this time around we had a Queen room plus a bunk room with 4 bunks fully equipped kitchen and bathroom was lovely also had a patio with outdoor seating for 6 and close to all the amenities on offer at Kennedy Park..very clean... A great stay... Thank you Kennedy Park Staff..for the wonderful restful stay..

Stayed in my housebus so unsure what the rooms look like but going by the rest of the place Id say they would be quite good. Only complaint is no bench seat in the shower stalls. Having a bench seat in the shower stall would have made things a bit easyier with my disability. Other than that, great place, easy to find and friendly staff 👍

Great park in the July holidays but disappointed that the pool was not available to be used - usually a major attraction - in September holidays. No mention at check in that it couldn’t be used and no updated communication at the pool. Cupboards required wiping out before putting food in and awful something on door in bedroom. Aside from those things the actual room was awesome. Have emailed asking question and sharing feedback. Asked for a reply and have not heard back. We loved our stay in the July holidays but disappointed this time around. Hopefully things will be better if we go again.

My kids absolutely loved it. Lots of free play, warm pool, jumpoleen, playground and lots of space to ride bikes. Room was very clean and spacious. We will stay again next time we are in Hawkes bay.

The greatest place to go when you have Kids! In the cooler months the pool is tempered however when you start moving around it is quite warm when you stop moving you do get quite cold. So much to do there for the kids and very safe will highly recommend this place to stay when you’re over.

Stayed for 2 weeks and a lovely site. Kitchens, bathrooms were always clean and grounds were nice. Site was a bit tight to reverse into with big caravan but was fine once in! Cafe was lovely and reception area staff were always polite and helpful. I’d like to suggest a few more 5km signs as people seemed to ignore that, including staff driving the cars around. Same with the one way system. Please can you make a small fenced area for dogs to have a bit of a run around too. Great site, will definitely come back. Thank you.

Top 10 for a reason! Excellent holiday park. We were staying in a self contained campervan but having use of the showers and toilets and communal kitchen and laundry was excellent. Really peaceful location. Only 15 minutes drive into napier and 5 minutes from airport and beach. Good WiFi on site too.

Napier is a beautiful Top 10 right on the beach! Not a lot of powered sites, so make sure to book early. Just here for 1 night in our campervan and lovely to have the full kitchen, laundry, bathroom and shower facilities. There are only 2 stoves and 1 gas grill, so can see in the busier times you may have to wait. We had no issues. So nice to have toasters, toaster oven, utensils and pots and pans. (No hair dryer for those who need it). Laundry is $4 a wash and dryer is $2/15 mins. Mine was done in 45min so $6. Everything is so clean and tidy and well kept. It was very quiet and the sound of the waves and the birds was very peaceful and relaxing. The only drawback for us was the unisex showers and bathroom all in one. Taking a shower while a guy is using the toilet was not a pleasant experience. They do have family and women and men only showers/bathrooms a couple mins away which is nice. The location is only 10 mins from town which is a plus as well as the Bluff Hilll lookout has a great view of the town and water.

Brilliant location. Not too far north of Napier City, hard pad Caravan spots and some of the motel like cabins back on to the beach with beautiful eastern sea views. Watching the sun rise is a great start to the day. The onsite café is very reasonably priced with a nice selection of food. Coffee is great too.

I stayed in an ensuite cabin - two bunk beds, one bottom bunk was a double. Linen supplied, though I had to put on the top sheet myself. It was clean, with good lighting and a good sized table. Not a lot of bench space, and just a microwave for cooking (fine for me). The bathroom was fairly cramped, but the shower was okay -except for the shower curtain. Overall I enjoyed my stay.

I’ve stayed at Napier Beach many times over the years, including the entire Covid lockdown, and have always spoken highly of the park. To give some background, this was even the campsite I chose when I escaped an extremely abusive relationship to heal and rebuild myself — and it helped me do just that. I even gave them positive publicity in the past through interviews with NZ Herald, Stuff, and MoreFM about my full-time nomadic lifestyle. Sadly, my most recent experience left me so traumatised that I felt I had no choice but to leave the campsite immediately, and a week later I suffered a severe anxiety attack that required medical attention. I want to be clear: I’m not writing this to name and shame, damage anyone’s reputation, or harm their business. I’m sharing it to stand up for myself, to process what happened, and to remind myself that I do have a voice. The issue began when a school group was blasting extremely loud music on a large outdoor speaker. It was so loud that even from 400m away my caravan windows were vibrating. I posted a short video to my personal Facebook (seen by fewer than 1,000 friends, not my business account with 15k followers) to share my experience. It wasn’t aimed at the park, wasn’t a complaint, and I deleted it soon after when I realised it was being interpreted in a way I had not intended. Days later I received a phone call from the park manager. The tone was rude, interrogative, and unprofessional. Because I suffer from ADHD and anxiety, I went to reception to check if I had misread the treatment over call as this can happen in any situation. I had not — the same dismissive treatment continued, even after I disclosed how shaken I was and even showed how my hands were shaking. I made it clear that my concern was not the music itself, but the way I was being treated. This received no recognition or even a change in the way I was spoken to, so I turned around and walked out of reception. I later received a call from the owner, who said he stood by his manager and repeatedly focused on the Facebook video over and over again. Despite me explaining that the real issue was the way I was spoken to and treated, not once was this acknowledged. The same happened in the emails that followed: my concern was ignored, while the focus remained on the video I had already apologised for and removed. I left the park first thing the next morning, even though I had paid for a four-week stay and was only in my second week. No refund was offered, no apology given, and no acknowledgement even of my treatment or email. For me, this was never about the noise. It was about respect. Guests deserve to be listened to and treated professionally when they raise concerns. Unfortunately, my experience showed the opposite. Ironically: 1️⃣ This was the very campsite that helped heal me years ago to the point where I can finally stand up for myself and for what is right. 2️⃣ Their concern was that my short video might damage their business and reputation, yet in the way they treated me, they’ve done far more damage themselves.

Stayed in Napier great places to park offering huge showers, very clean park very friendly staff.well equiped kitchen. We only stayed overnight but would recommend staying there. Traveling in camper.

It was okay. Good basic fun.. nothing too fancy or challenging about the courses and they could do with an upgrade. Felt it was a bit overpriced because of this. Great location and potential!

Well maintained and the lady at the counter was friendly. Not very challenging, but fun was had by the whole family. would return again for some fun and pass time. Lovely scenery and surroundings and a short walk to the Aquarium. (We arrived on a cruise, shuttle to the iSite which is next to Par2 MiniGolf, played a game then went for a walk to the Aquarium)

We had a great time here. The easier course was perfect for our young kids and looked deceptively simple. A very entertaining round of mini golf.

With two different courses to choose from, Par2 Minigolf in Napier provides lots of entertainment. Conveniently located on Marine parade, it makes the most of it's natural surroundings and is a great place to be on a sunny say. The courses are well set out and maintained. It is not too expensive for a family outing, and it keeps everyone happily occupied for a reasonable amount of time, so it is worth it.

A good wee course right on the waterfront with two separate rounds of 18 holes. The second round is half price so we played both of the courses and spent a couple hours enjoying the sunshine. Overall, good quality, well maintained and a decent price.

Cool mini golf area down by the beach in Napier. There are two courses to choose from but you have to pay for two rounds to play both courses. 1 round is roughly $11 for an adult. Second round is half price on the same day so worth it to play two rounds. Great fun for the whole family.

Nice tidy and fun mini golf place with some nice views of the ocean.

We had previously visited Napier during late autumn and found the Marina Parade area somewhat underwhelming. However, our recent visit in late September was considerably more impressive, no doubt due to the many spring flowers that had bloomed, bringing the promenade to life during this time of year. The Marina Parade Garden, the Sound Shell flower beds and Sunken Garden were all lively with numerous flower beds in full bloom. Adding the rich array of colour makes the Marina Parade a lovely area to walk around and spend time, a tremendous difference from the what you can experience during the autumn and winter times of the year. Our impression of the Marina Parade area changed quite a bit after visiting Napier in the spring. We now consider this a major draw for Napier during this time of year. Note, many of the other parks and gardens around the city are also in full bloom during early spring. Keep your camera batteries charged if visiting this time of year as there are quite a few pictures you will want to take.

One of our favourite places to go in Napier! My 3 year old loves walking by the beach, even more playing with the different playgrounds on site and of course the ice cream near by!

If you like a pebble beach this is the place for you. If you hate sand this is the beach for you. Great kids playing area and walking path.

All time favorite... Any weather or any season, the beauty of Marine parade is spectacular. Worth waking up early and watch the sunrise. I have seen one of the craziest sunrises at this place.

Went for a walk along Marine Parade around 2pm and after happy hour around 7.30 another walk as the sun was going down.

Great afternoon sitting on the beach pondering on what the world has next in store for us. Weather was a balmy 25 degrees with a bright blue sky, the ocean was lake like with tiny waves lapping at our feet.

Always lovely. No thanks to the council though.

Loved this place. Beautiful trees in the park. If you climb further you are in native bush. There is even a track with young Kauris. Fabulous view from the top.

Good place to do daily walk and exercise. Beautiful view on top.

This is genuinely such a nice walk. They are adding limestone so it’s an easy safe walk not muddy any more it’s a bit of mish up the hill but it’s only small a small hill and the trees and birds are delightful. I recommend this walk to anyone children adults and (fitter) elderly.

Perfect place for a quiet walk or a fast-paced one. It's great for kids to blow off some steam. Absolutely beautiful views once you get to the top.

*beautiful and popular spot for walking *Perfect place to visit ,especially in Autumn to see the lovely colours *Will get an amazing view of Taradale on the top of the hill *Dogs must be on a leash *seats and tables are present within the park *parking space available

Dolbel Reserve in Napier is an absolute gem! From its lush greenery to its serene ambiance, this hidden paradise offers a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you're seeking a peaceful stroll, a picnic with loved ones, or simply a moment of solitude amidst nature's beauty, Dolbel Reserve delivers. The well-maintained pathways, picturesque ponds, and vibrant flora make it a photographer's dream and a haven for nature enthusiasts. With its convenient location and ample amenities, including seating areas and restroom facilities, it's no wonder Dolbel Reserve is a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike. Whether you're a nature lover, a photographer, or simply in need of some tranquility, Dolbel Reserve promises an unforgettable experience.

Steep - amazing tracks!! A great climb for me and a couple of Bassetts!! Beautiful walk - fast pace set. Stunning.

we visited in the end of october 2025 and there was just one part with flowers 🥲 still 4☆ cause I don't wanna lower the score for this (even without flowers) really nice designed area and I hope it's just temporary and new ones will be planted soon :)

Lovely well maintaned gardens. Nice walk through

Very pretty formal gardens situated on Marine Parade in Napier. Lots of attractive flower beds and water features. Always a pleasant stroll through the gardens. Tidy and well maintained.

Nice tranquil garden area secluded below the road and beach walkway. There are plenty of large round garden beds planted in a variety of flowers, succulents and other plants. There is an interesting sculpture in the central pond and a nice little waterwheel off to one corner. A lovely quiet spot to sit and escape the bustle of the city.

Nice garden area to relax and or read a book. You'll find it along the art deco walkway.

Beautiful place to come and relax. Quiet and peaceful

Lovely garden even late spring

It is a very nice park and also very good to have the Disc Golf as well.

Huge trees, several small lakes, a large variety of birds, good paths and scenic pedestrian bridges. Also large open space and provisions for disc golf if you have a disc.

Nice park with large open grass fields and a couple of large duck ponds. Shared walking and cycling track around the outside and plenty of parking off Kennedy Road. There is a skatepark, playground and public toilet in the South end by the Auckland Road carpark. There is even a miniature railway in the Southwest corner by the Scout Den. Popular spot to go for a walk or run.

Amazing park in Napier - beautiful - walkways, grass, playground and loos. Amazing end spot for a BBQ to thanks all the bikers for the Birthright Hawke’s Bay Toy Run

What an amazing park! Each time I go there there are more things added! I reckon this playground is the best in NZ!

Great venue. Awesome walking & biking tracks. Fabulous playground for the kids - and pretty good toilets, bonus. It just needs more seating, especially around the playground.

Best park because there is something for the entire family including the dogs. Walking path for the adults to get some exercise in or brisk walk and sit by the pond observing the ducks, once on the other side of the path dogs are free to play. There is age appropriate sections of the park from smaller children to older. Skate park for, half basketball court as well as a splash pad. Decent toilet facilities, free bbq and hut with ample seating. There’s a chlorinated water filter towards the scouts hall. Generous parking to.

Bangers and Mash could have been better. Precooked bangers not really the way to go. Good size though. Onions in brown onion gravy would have been nice. Otherwise a neat place

Stopped here looking for a feed on way back to Gisborne. Hosts were friendly and welcoming, location was out of the way but cute, ordered our food and was totally stoked with our meals. Will definitely return here and let our friends and family know about this nice Lil quaint spot. Highly recommended 👌

Came across this pub and motorhome park ,great atmosphere ,food and amenities .Very friendly owners and staff .Australian travellers Bryan and Theresa just felt like home.

Mdonate some money for his family..great staff..place ❤️ y brother sadly had a major bike accident..and has a serious brain injury and is pretty broken..these guys let us stop in on our bike run we were running to

A well run very tidy camp. Good facilities, clean and well maintained

Hope it is useful for others who is checking the reviews before booking a campsite: most disgusting kettle (inside and outside) I even seen in a campsites - and there is only this one. Microwave doesn’t have its own inside plate. Outside of the microwave, you can see different old stains. Kitchen itself is very limited in every way - space, equipment, maintenance… No stuff onsite to ask where is your site is. You have to figure out by yourself. The site spot is very small, barely hold our 3-person small tent and our car. We spent like 15 minutes to juggle our small car and small tent on the spot. Moreover, you will be charged as handsomely as other very-good-conditions campsites. We were charged $75 for 2 adults, 1 child for one night powered site. Honestly speaking, as a camping-lover who almost lived in all the $$ & $$$ sites in north island, this one is the worst.

Clean, quiet and a great place to relax

A Sacred Space!!! I was fortunate enough to get 30 min. break and was looking for quiet place. Google suggested Waitangi Regional Park. Beautiful carvings. Just sit alone spend some time with self. 🌠

Great area to break a trip at. Plenty of car parks, good public toilets. Neat views and good walking path. Rubbish bins. Good information panels about the area. No playground for kids.

If you can ignore the sound of the passing traffic, this is a very tranquil spot. The carvings are beautiful. It's worth stopping for a while to read the information boards and take in the scenery. Cyclone Gabrielle 2023. The Star Compass itself, has survived the terrible flood damage that surrounds it.

Great place to visit in the early morning and evening for a quiet moment.

Great place to walk on a bright autumn-summer day. The park is a sacred park and has great Maori wood carvings.

Good walk when nice weather and can be very windy. Went there fishing and it seems to be very popular spot. Please don't swim in the river even it looks quite, but you can be surprise with very strong current.

Awesome park Stunning area

Thx you guys my son had a great time. What an awesome Friendly place!.lots of local guys who were awesome and so accommodating.will be back whenever we can from Aus.

Best place to take kids and teenagers in Hawkes Bay. Our boys love the place! Awesome set up for scootering, skating, roller blading etc. Fun events too. But the absolute best thing about Bay skate are the the people who work here. Caleb, Sophie, Phil, Sara, Ash etc They provide such a fun experience for the kiddos and are super helpful and very patient with parents too. They are kind, knowledgeable and really really make the place stand out! Thank you Bay Skate Napier

Great spot for the kids to do tricks and jumps on scooters, skateboards or rollerskates. Shelter fr adults to get outta sun. Good for all skater levels

Amazing for kids of all ages. Immaculate facilities, attentive staff and the manager is so friendly and helpful. The kids loved it so much that we returned the following day while on holiday.

Really nicely set uo skate park. Lots of places to sit. Super friendly staff. You are able to hire what you need. Parking is a bit hard but that's normal for that area of Napier. There is a cool playground next door too.

Need to work on your public relations. unfortunately son was badly injured just after turning up, best they could offer was a cold pack . couldn't get to use the place without him paying again, no skin off their nose but it was to him, literally. Not how I'd run the place, but best of luck. Place looks cool

Exceptionally clean, excellent layout of bowls, 1/2 pipes, stairs and ramps and flows really well-known very smooth concrete surface. Plenty of grandstand seating & shade covered fixed picnic style tables. You can hire scooters, skateboards etc and get free safety equipment (wrist guards, knee & elbow pads) and free helmet with any equipment hire Great safe venue for children/teens.

Cute waterfall not far from the city centre, situated in a small garden. There is a carpark that is closed on weekends, but street parking is easy to find. The garden has a few benches to sit on, but no tables. Worth a visit if you're in town, but not worth travelling far for.

Very easy and accessible walk to get to, lovely waterfall and view. Great wee quick walk to get to and not too far from the CBD.

The gardens were absolutely beautiful, and we were lucky enough to meet the lovely man who maintained them. He was so kind to take the time to answer all my questions about mass planting, what some of the plants were, what works, and what doesn't. He was extremely knowledgeable and took great pride in his work.

It's a very short walking distance to the waterfall with an amazing garden landscaping.Add on with so many colourful flower, benches to sit and rest.There is even have a door frame with plant growing on it .not so crowded good place to have a date with your love plus no ticket require and parking are quite easy as well.

Nice place for a quick visit and take a few pictures.

Nice spot to spend 20min with the kids as they run around and explore

Amazing garden and waterfall, when flowers are in full bloom, it is beautiful place

I loved this lookout, it was easy to get to and you can drive right to the top. The views are fabulous

Didn't have the views I was looking for (over Napier). Tricky uphill Road to get there too. OK for views of the docks and Ahuriri.

My favourite place to bring our visitors.

There's a great view of Napier Port from here which can be great fun for kids to watch the comings and goings of the Port. Besides that, there isn't much. There's a toilet, a picnic table, a small garden, stairs, and a few other hiding places that can add to the fun kids would have for a few extra minutes before they want to go.

Nice evening view from the hill over looking Napier Port and out to sea. Easy drive up from the central CBD to the top of the hill. Clean toilets, and a reasonable sized picnic area. We were able to check out the live livestock ship which was in port at the time we visited. Kids loved it.

Must do for locals and visitors. Great way to see a working port in operation. Popular with people popping up to have lunch or dinner.

Nice view, though you can only see north /northwest . Overlooks the port as well

Home of Napiers greatest football club. Port Hill United

As I do the maintenance on this park, I'm a bit bias about this park. It's a hidden gem of a park, to which I hold in high regard. It's great to see it being used alot more now days with many codes using its open spaces & high standard of keeping on this ground. By staff & sports people alike.

I gave 2 stars because the toilets were available. . Suited best for 2-3-4-5 year olds. . Swings a small slide and see saws. . Is this what parks are now? Kinda sad. .

It's a nice wide open area for kicking or throwing balls. There's a small playground for the kids.

A good place where there's lots of different activities happen

Watched my son play cricket there this morning. Lovely park with playback, pity the toilets weren't open though.

Loved playing cricket here, if you want fun with the family definitely go here.

My wife and her mother loved it. The views were spectacular.

Lovely scenic walk through a historic Maori Pa site. Great views of Taradale, the Tutaekuri River and the surrounding area and lots of interpretation panels with good information on history and other interesting stuff.

Nice historic DOC walk, very informative sign boards along the route. Reasonably easy for an up hill walk, great view from the top of the loop. Track well formed from the left hand side to the top, after which the track was very over grown. Otatara Pa was the largest pa site in the country, dating from 1500's.

This is a nice walk with a spiritual connection to the people before us. There is plenty of singage covering the history of the area, better singage for the loop track would make the track more clear. I found it hard to distinguish where to go when I reached the top. It's a beautiful landscape that is worth checking out.

Great walk, the maps are a little confusing but the track is a loop walk that takes around an hour. Lovely views!

amazing view from the top. imagine the warriors of the day having a very strategic view of the land

It's a nice little walk. I went in the late afternoon and walked into the sun on the way up. There are good views from the lookout on the recreated pa at the top of the quarry. Can see Napier hill, Taradale, and cape kidnappers from the top. There is more walking tracks above the pa, but it was getting late and the signs say the gate closes at 6pm. Will have to come back and do more of the tracks.

So many different varieties, really cool layout.

Such a lovely garden to spend time with family and friends

The Napier rose gardens are in magnificent bloom right now. However mornings are when the sprinklers are running, so not possible to get up close to many of the rose bushes. The herb/fragrant garden is thoughtfully set up with hand rails for the visually impaired to lean towards the plants & touch them.

Beautiful place to do a. Easter hunt

Really nice seeing the different roses and some had beautiful scents. Would be easier for those kn wheelchairs or on mobility scooters if there were concrete paths. The big bonus was seeing the hundreds of monarch caterpillars.

The gardens are gorgeous. A fragrant garden for the visually impaired and a lovely rose garden with quaint fountain that the birds bath in. The garden lady that works there is a delight, she willingly shares her expertise.

Stayed in a holiday unit, clean and tidy, comfortable beds and bathroom was nice, my only issue is the walls are paper thin so you can hear the conversation of the people next door quite loudly. Other than that, a good stay.

A pleasant place for a walk with a good limestone track, it can be a little smelly in places though, whether that’s because of pollution or just stagnant water I don’t know. You’ll see lots of black swans, a few ducks and if you’re lucky royal spoonbills. The airport is right next to the reserve so you might encounter the odd plane or two, it is a small town airport not very busy.

A beautiful walk often with few other walkers

Great place to walk or cycle, at different times of day and seasons.

This reserve has an easy walking/cycling track around part of it. So you can get away from the traffic and enjoy the peace while observing the birds in their habitat. Nice for a picnic too. Worth a look

Family and friends bike around this area regularly. It is beautiful. Well compacted, wide limestone sand pathways in excellent condition. As far as wildlife goes it is a great variety of birds that you are seeing. Some come from the other side of the globe to nest in this area. There are bird watchng huts dotted along the pathways so you can observe without disturbng the birds includng pictures and interesting information on the birds you may see. This area is not suitable to take your dogs for a walk as you are going through or alongside privately owned farmland. NO dogs allowed. Great for walks and biking. Not too many gates which is a big plus for bikers. Enjoy at your own pace.

Very peaceful just minutes away from the city

I didn't see very much wildlife. And there were multiple dead geese... Pretty enough place besides that though. Massive park, but not for dogs.

Great bike trail & Also BMX/MTB jump track over the stop bank beside Pettigrew Green Arena. Subway at PG Arena too.

Great bike ride. Easy grade. Good food at “The Puketapu”.

A really nice short bike ride, but might be a long walk to do the whole thing. My dog loves this walk and we did it frequently. Takes about an hour to bike but allow a bit longer if you're unfit or have a slow/small/unfit dog

Awesome track for families this one, in and out of the forest. Sixteen km there and back and it's a well maintained track. The Puketapu Pub is a great place for some lunch.

awsome to walk with family or walk your dog.. maybe a bike ride is your thing or a run.. you be the judge and take a look for yourself.. Beautiful scenery to boot.. cant get betterthan that..🐕🚵‍♂️

Great food ..Best Burgers..Great staff

Wonderful easy ride, great scenery and pleasant surroundings.

Location wise is very good and if you come with your family to enjoy your weekend at a quiet place nearby is highly recommended.

Very nice walk to do. I suffer from asthma so once walking up the hill it is hard to catch my breath. However the view is worth nearly dying for heh

Beautiful reserve with great easy-medium difficulty walkways. Views are stunning, with 360 degree views from the top. You can choose to walk from the bottom, walking from church road up turonui drive, or Cumberland rise. Also you can drive up turonui drive or Cumberland rise, park, and just walk up the hill itself. Child friendly. Not suitable for those with wheelchairs or crutches.

Really good walk, very peaceful and relaxing up at the top, and the view is amazing.

A great place for a short, strenuous ankle, with a view.

Great walk up a nice hill for an even better view

Beautiful nature and plant's and walks highly recommended

Can't wait till they finish the retaining wall and start the new playground for summer.

- Very mediocre park, not always well maintained

Is amazing we love it

Trails are excellent but be weary of others using the tracks and shared paths. Unfortunately not everyone knows about keeping left and big families taking up the entire pathway and not aware of other users.

13km from clive to Napier is a beautiful bike ride!

It was a amazing and lovely experience and highly recommend to everyone

100% distanced from car traffic, including bridges! Fantastic!

Easy but amazing

Nice, little garden right in the centre of the city just few steps away from the marine promenade. It takes less than 5 to walk around it, but you can sit, relax and admire wonderful waterfall and just take a break.

Lovely water falls and easy to walk and explore

Super easy walk, love the waterfall and greenery around.

Lovely garden & waterfall. Unfortunately we were just the wrong time of year to see it in its full glory.

Centenial Gardens are a hidden gem not far from Marine Parade in Napier. The peaceful and visually appealing location is a joy to explore. From a spectacular waterfall to a racing watercourse and finally a lovely pool. All the family enjoyed the visit and I imagine it would be even more spectacular in spring. Will definitely go back to see.

We found the lovely Centennial Garden on Coote Rd. during our trip to Napier and very enjoyed our time viewing the spring flowers which were in full bloom at the time. The spring blooms made this a lovely place to visit. There are also a couple of photogenic artificial pools as well as the natural waterfall and pool in the back of the garden. We liked the small bridge over the pool in back. This also made for some nice pictures. Overall, we were quite impressed with the Centennial Garden in Napier and found it a very good place to find during the spring when the flowers are in bloom. For those making their way up to the Bluff Hill Lookout, this is a easy stop to make along the way, You can conveniently visit the Centennial Garden in 10 minutes or a half hour if you enjoy what you find at the garden.

A nice little garden. Unfortunately, got there during some maintenance and replanting. It's not very big but a very looked after place. Beautiful waterfall. A peaceful place to hide or walk to during a lunch break as close to the city.

Yes it's a park, but it is mostly a hike for the townspeople to get to their home. It is not worth it hiking the path because it is steep and there is no good view up there.

A good park over all with trails ranging from easy to black Diamond. but the park could do with some upgrades and modifications. Plus many tracks are closed at the moment. Well worth a visit and I ride there often. A pass is required to enter the forest. See the Hawkes Bay Mountain Bike Club for details and were to by annual and casual passes.

The new park (post cyclone Gabrielle) opens April 6th 2024 and is accessed via Waipunga road, off SH5 Esk Valley. Turn into Waipunga road, cross the bridge then turn right into the first forestry road, and follow this to the carpark. No tracks remain in the Mill Block off SH2.

Amazing trails, surprisingly technical at times. Must try but be warned.

Great rides here many tracks. Mixed levels for beginners to advanced.

Great Park, $10 for a 3 week pass, good value for money here. Tracks at start easy but head out back for the advanced tracks for some brake wearing fun! Cannonball lecter has some awesome drops and the grand traverse to exit. Will be back

Fun trails, great signage.

Great place to take the children. Got there didn't realise you needed a permit to ride there. Fortunately the kind gentleman looking after it let us try it out before we committed to a permit. Really appreciated it and well worth the small fee for a permit.

Excellent seaside park wit lots of safe gear for children and parents/carers to play on. Good view across the bay if you want to sit and relax for a moment.

Spriggs Park playground is a large playground which has much to offer children and families of all ages. The park is divided into two areas , one for younger and the other for older children. The equipment is modern, challenging and fun for the relevant ages. Located at Spriggs Park on Hardinge Road the playground is flanked by a multitude of activities and cafes. The beach is a stone-throw away and a great place to take children for a swim, paddle or play in the sand. Picnic tables and a shade area are near by and the Rotary Pathway runs along beside the playground, so bring your scooters and bikes for a ride after a play at the park.

Good place for sea air and watch the ships arriving to the port.

This place is great on a sunny day when there's barely any wind. Otherwise I don't go. Lots of contraptions for kids to choose. Picnic area with tables for your enjoyment. Lovely place for families. Toilet is just next to the park and is regularly serviced. A couple of eateries and ice cream are close by. Beach is a plus,again,on a sunny day.🙂☀️

Such a beautiful beach ⛱️ and area. Stunning views

Beautiful beach and venue for family outing and picnic

A great place to take the family out. We took our dogs on a nice walk there as well as a play in the sea. The playground there is really nice for younger children to play on. There are also picnic tables and a covered area to get out of the sun. The changing rooms and toilet block help to make it a convenient place to spend the day with the family.

Long dusty gravel road to get here and it’s basically abandoned. Looks like it hasn’t been maintained in a while. Cafe is permanently closed. $15 seems very steep for what this is. It’s just an honesty box- nobody was there.

A true hidden gem! We spent a few wonderful hours wandering the gardens and having a picnic by a beautiful small lake. As Brits, we found it very reminiscent of a stately home garden, as I think the original creators intended. There were also some lovely native bush areas, and we saw and heard heaps of native birds. Somehow, we were the only people there, but we had a lovely chat with the custodian of the property who was very welcoming. Practical points: - The garden is down a roughly 5km unmade road, but it was in good condition so a 4 wheel drive is not needed. - You can pay the entrance fee by cash or bank transfer only. - The cafe does not appear to be up and running, so bring drinks and a picnic to enjoy on the grounds! - There is a loop track around the whole property that takes around 45 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace.

What a nice garden, so peaceful. Good place to have a walk and picnic. Two hours totally. Btw, Sr don't have enough cash for the box, will pay more 10 dollars next time : )

We wanted to visit the 15th of September the Gardens and the Café. The shield "opened every day" did not make sense if the park & the Café is closed. After driving the whole way down the gate to the park was closed and in the Cafe was nobody. What ever the reason was, please change your entrance shield, so everybody knows you are opened or closed.

This destination is about 6 kms off the Napier-Taupo highway on a largely unsealed, pot-holed rural road. Sadly, it’s no longer worth the effort of getting there. We went some 20 years ago when its passionate owner was in residence. It’s now really tired and in need of a lot of TLC. There was a cafe but that is closed, as other reviewers note. The honesty box payment information requests a $15 per person charge.

Visited in Oct 2019. Delightful woodland gardens with spring flowers. Azaleas and rhododendrons starting to bloom. Well worth the drive from Napier of about 50 minutes. Take your own food as cafe closed currently. We took almost 4hrs to enjoy tho could be done quicker. Lovely for picnic and leisurely relaxation walking along reasonable pathways. If wet take suitable footwear. Can be cool.

Hidden gardens, with plenty of see, take a picnic and take your time to enjoy the beauty this family have produced. Toilets are available. The cafe is closed due to no staff. The car park has beautiful views at the top. Backpacker accommodation available. See website. Entry $10/per person took me 3 hours plus with a picnic. Worth it for a day trip