Located in Napier, the National Aquarium of New Zealand is one of the premier Hawke's Bay Tourist Attractions .
The Aquarium houses New Zealand's largest display of aquatic life and unique New Zealand wildlife, including sharks, stingrays, living coral, kiwi, tuatara and a huge range of fish species. A fun and educational place to visit for all the family.
The National Aquarium of New Zealand, uniquely situated on Napier’s foreshore, stretches like a huge stingray on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It is designed to be a centre of education, entertainment and cultural experience.
The proximity to the ocean allows fresh seawater to be pumped directly to tanks and enclosures. Apart from its diverse exhibits, this magnificent, modern attraction incorporates some of the latest technological life support and operational systems.
An underwater travelator takes you beneath the massive oceanarium as hundreds of fish swim and feed above and around you.
Almost within touching distance are kiwi foraging on the forest floor of their enclosure and tuatara, the unique New Zealand lizard considered a living dinosaur found only in islands off the New Zealand mainland. Specially mounted cameras track these fascinating creatures into their burrows if they retreat from public view.
- SWIM WITH THE SHARKS
At the National Aquarium of New Zealand you can now take advantage of the ‘once in a lifetime’ experience that will live with you forever.
You can swim with the sharks right here in Napier, and it is the only place in New Zealand where you can do that. You don’t have to be a qualified diver to swim with the sharks, and the activity is fully supervised at all times.
Take the plunge with the Sharks and Stingrays!
If you are a certified diver, come and take the plunge in our beautiful oceanarium. Eyeballing a seven gill shark, having a stingray flap over your shoulder or getting up close and personal to feed a kahawhai or snapper are all part of the programme.
- DARING DIVER DAN and the feeding frenzy!
At 10am everyday at the National Aquarium of New Zealand you can observe fun and frolics in the Pania Reef tank when ‘Daring Dan’ the diver takes to the depths in a ‘feeding frenzy’ with his fishy friends.
He will ask you questions by way of signs, maybe he will dance, do acrobatics, ride a bike underwater, lie down and blow bubbles or just generally ‘muck about’!
He really enjoys himself, as do all the children watching – the fishy residents don’t seem to mind his antics either.
- KIDS ACTIVITIES AT THE AQUARIUM
Have a Hawkes Bay sleepover at the National Aquarium!
This is a great kids group activity or makes a perfect add-on to a school trip. The children are treated to a range of activities, including a scavenger hunt which involves reading educational signs around the Aquarium to help them complete the game.
What a great place to have a children’s Birthday Party!
The National Aquarium will take care of all the hard work, while you and the kids just relax and enjoy the fun and games. Our fully decorated birthday room includes tables, chairs, plates, cups and serviettes, as well as balloons, birthday party hats and cups to take home.
Make the most of the school holidays!
The National Aquarium of New Zealand runs an ever-changing range of informative and interesting school holiday programmes. Kids will have a great time and a learning experience all rolled into one.
- AQUARIUM GIFT SHOP
For special gifts and unique souvenirs, please visit our Aquarium Shop located near front reception. Unique selection of marine and ocean gifts for the kids, books, t-shirts and clothing.
The Gift Shop is open seven days from 9am to 5pm
- BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS
Come behind the scenes at the National Aquarium of New Zealand on a tour. Daily at 9.00 am and 1.00pm - Bookings Essential!
Tours can be tailored to suit any particular area of interest and include handling of some animals (when safety and health regulations allow), preparing food, feeding different creatures and learning about some of the sophisticated equipment that controls the multi-million dollar complex.
This includes an inspection of the life support systems for aquatic life. Many of these are the first of their type to be used in New Zealand and are highly specialised, keeping the water filtered and clear of any harmful bacteria.
Personal guides take people around all the normal viewing areas open to the public, describing each species of fish during feeding time and describing other exhibits.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION TODAY!
Please mention you found us on the GoSeeNewZealand.co.nz website when you contact us!
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