Who doesn’t have a tight budget these days, am I right?!
Here’s a list of all the fun free (or affordable) activities to do with kids around Taranaki:
FREE ACTIVITIES
Fun play
- See monkeys, otters, birds, meerkats, farm animals and more at Brooklands Zoo
- Feed the ducks, play in the playground, wander around the many trails, or explore the Fernery at Pukekura Park
- Get up close to this epic relic of the SS Gairloch Shipwreck
- Wizz down the hillside slides and feel like you’re about to end up in the ocean at Kawaroa Park and Playground
- Make a day of it at Victoria Park Playground and Stratford Children’s Bike Park
- Hire some bikes and venture out to Bell Block Bike Park
The great outdoors
- There’s so much to see and do along the 13km promenade that is the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway
- Head up Taranaki Maunga, Dawson Falls Visitor Centre side, to discover Wilkies Pools and the Goblin Forest
- Scale to the very top of Paritutu Rock for amazing bird’s-eye-views of Taranaki
- Pack a picnic for Lucy’s Gully and head off down one of the many trails
- Discover the beauty of the coastal hilltop Ōpunake Loop Trail
- Take the bike out for one of the bike trails, or simply head up to the lookout over Lake Mangamahoe for beautiful views of Taranaki Maunga
- Go during low tide to explore the Three Sisters Rocks at Tongapōrutu
- Explore our endless black-sand beaches (Urenui, Fitzroy, East End, Ngāmotu, Back Beach, Ōakura, Ahu Ahu, Ōpunake, Kaupokonui, Wai-iti, Pātea)
Arts & Culture
- With 5 permanent exhibits and plenty of interactive, hands-on experiences, families will love Puke Ariki
- Find out more about the history of Taranaki at Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki (koha is welcomed though)
- The kids treehouse trail, rainforest tracks, stunning alpine gardens, and much more are all free to discover at Pukeiti Garden
- With river access (ideal for a summer dip), BBQs, a tree swing, ample gardens and twisty pathways, Tūpare is a firm family favourite for locals
- An awesome kids playground and beautifully curated gardens makes Hollard Garden a must-see
- Give the kids an insight into the art world at Stratford’s Percy Thomson Gallery (koha is welcomed though)
AFFORDABLE ACTIVITIES (under $50 for the family)
- A hidden gem that includes more than 40 animal statues on a safari trail, and quaint and intriguing fairy gardens, the kids will love Te Popo Gardens – $5 per person
- Get wet and wild at Todd Energy Aquatic Centre - $4 Parent/Caregiver, $5 School and High School aged children, preschoolers free
- Challenge the family to a race to the top at Hāwera Water Tower – $6 Family pass, pay at the adjacent i-SITE
- Find out about toys of yesteryear at Fun Ho! Toy Museum – $7 Adults, $3.50 Children
- If your kids are into tractors, then Maketawa John Deere Museum is the perfect place to visit – by appointment $10 Adults, free for children
- Dip in to Hāwera Aquatic Centre for splash around - $12.80 Family pass (two adults and two children)
- Iconic and always fascinating, there is ample to see and do at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre – $15 Adults, free for children under 16
- The intricate scale and life-size models will blow you away at Tawhiti Museum - $15 Adults, $5 Children aged 5-15, under 5 free
- Akin to a theme-park ride, go underground at the Traders & Whalers boat ride - $15 Adults, $5 Children aged 5-15, under 5 free
- Highly interactive and bound to entertain for hours, check out the Taranaki Aviation Transport and Technology Museum (TATAM) – $16 Family pass (two adults and two children under 15)
- Feed the animals at Stoney Oaks Wildlife Park – $20 Adults, $5 Children under 12
- Take a walk through history at Taranaki Pioneer Village – $30 Family pass (two adults and two children)
- Replicating the racetrack of Bathurst, challenge the family to mini-golf at Hideaway Mini Putt - $50 Family pass (two adults and two children)