Huka Prawn Park
Huka Prawn Park
4
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
About
New Zealand’s only prawn park offers a fun filled day of entertainment for the family. Pack a picnic and towel and spend the day creating exciting memories to last forever. From the minute, you arrive at our entrance you will be amazed at such a place existing in the world. Start by joining our behind the scenes guided tour through the nursery and hatchery, hear about our 30-year history, meet our prawns up close and personal and while you’re there you have to feel the strange sensation of hand feeding the baby prawns. Race up and down our massive new boating lake on stand-up paddleboards, water trikes, and pedal boats. Watch the excitement on your child’s face as you head down our adventure trail trying out all the interactive activities. Feed the trout, battle the family on our water cannons, only the brave tackle the water gauntlets, ending at the kids playground and geothermal footbaths. * Prawn fishing currently unavailable - please see website for full details
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.0
1,300 reviews
Excellent
507
Very good
417
Average
222
Poor
84
Terrible
70
John Z
8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
The said upon entry the prawns were not biting for some reasons. But we have not even seen one prawn in the pond. I think there are no prawns at all in those pond. Why would they? When they are selling them at the restaurant for over one hundred dollars a kg. The service in the restaurant was terrible. We went in before 12:30 when the restaurant was not busy. It was a real challenge to get someone to take our order. The waitresses’ eyes were harder to catch than their prawns. We finally got our food before 1:30. The food were overly priced and very average. Suggest ppl to pack lunch or buy a pie from town. The only good thing was feeding the baby prawns in the hatchery. But even that they hurried you along trying to finish the tour on time. They said they limit the tour to 20 ppl. But our tour had over 30. So my kids had no bench to stand on. And missed out. Also because they told us the tour was limited in numbers we waited 20 minutes early to make sure we have our spot. How stupid we felt. Felt ripped off. It would of been a good day if we can catch a prawn or two.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thank you for your feedback we use all reviews for development of Huka Prawn Park. I have passed your frustrations onto the Operations Manager to discuss with their teams. Between Christmas an mid January our Restaurant seats 250 people and quite often is full to capacity. Thank you for coming :-)
Written 22 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
emileee83
Lower Brailes, UK810 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
For many years I have seen photos posted by my relatives so it was definitely on my list of places to eat out.
I opted for a kilogram of prawns whilst everyone else opted for the curry and more prawns. They were beyond enormous and delicious. I was not disappointed
Lovely setting over looking the river. Great outdoor seating area.
My only real criticism is we were brought the bill without asking or being offered deserts. Otherwise this would have been a 5. It felt like we were being asked to hurry up and move on. Probably not the case but a shame when we had spent an awful lot of money on our lunch.
I opted for a kilogram of prawns whilst everyone else opted for the curry and more prawns. They were beyond enormous and delicious. I was not disappointed
Lovely setting over looking the river. Great outdoor seating area.
My only real criticism is we were brought the bill without asking or being offered deserts. Otherwise this would have been a 5. It felt like we were being asked to hurry up and move on. Probably not the case but a shame when we had spent an awful lot of money on our lunch.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your honest awesome and constructive review :-) I'm glad you had enjoyed your lunch. Apologies you felt like you were being hurried out. Definitely not how we want our guests to feel or how our staff are trained. Thank you for letting us know.
Written 28 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen B
6 contributions
Mar 2021
Went for lunch, the food was disgusting, specifically the squid which was laden in oil. The shrimp cocktail was a plate that had lettuce dumped on with a slice of tomato. The shrimps had been cut into small pieces and placed on side of plate with some sauce drizzled over, no flavour no taste for $16.50 was a rip off. The chips were soggy $11 a bowl. Never again. The kids didn’t even want to eat the nuggets, which is a favourite at other places. Granted they credited the squid. We left and went to plateau, where we had amazing food for the same price. No winder the locals don’t go there.
Written 3 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disappointing to hear about your experience with us. I will pass your comments onto our kitchen manager and make sure quality control standards are being upheld.
Written 27 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hardys607
Feilding, New Zealand104 contributions
Apr 2021
We had a friends reunion and decided to go for lunch at the Huka Prawn restaurant. Two of us ordered the Prawn chowder and the other two the 6 prawns with salad. I love chowder but the prawn chowder was not cream based, it was like a puréed mix of tomato and curry with a prawn from the park on top, The prawns in the soup approx 6 were hard chewy and I don’t believe came from the park. Three times I mentioned I did not like it, and neither did our friend that had it. No reaction, just told this is their most popular meal. Total cost for us as a couple $47 for this chowder and the 6 prawns in batter. I definitely will not return, totalled ripped off, where we live the cost of the 6 prawns in light batter with dipping sauce is $14 unlike this at $22.50. The chowder at $24.50 very dear. The toilets are dated and need a spruce up.
Written 11 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So very sorry you did not enjoy your lunch with us. The chowder is different to your traditional chowder. I will pass on your feedback to the kitchen.
Written 27 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rei88
Auckland, New Zealand73 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
A bit dissapointed as there is NO more prawns to see or fish ! It’s a prawn park but there is no no prawn to see at all .... except if you do the little tour which was a bit dissapointed. The whole point of this park is the prawn but there is none.... food is average and overpriced. You will just be waking around the park with some water plays and do the standing paddle or others water activities.
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wellingt0nkirby
Wellington, New Zealand346 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Came here on holiday weekend on recommendation of others. The set up Is very clever and accessible/interesting even in midwinter. Obviously the middle of summer would be at its peak given the water based activities but don’t be put off if visiting Taupō in winter. Lots to do and see. The paddle boats/swan/duck and playground were highlights for our pre schoolers. Although we intended to do the tour and feed prawns we spent more than 1.5hours in the park. Lunch at restaurant was nice but not the highlight.
Written 26 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Poppy
Hamilton, New Zealand18 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
We went for lunch at the hula prawn park. The food was amazing and kept me wanting more but the prawns were expensive (I do understand why though) and they charged around 1.2% on credit card tax. I personally don’t think a company earning as much as them need to charge that.
Written 18 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leifur S
2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
We had a late lunch at Huka Prawn Park restaurant. We ordered 1kg of prawns, 2 large garlic pita breads, a salat to share and drinks.
The food came quickly.
The prawns are cooked and served as a whole prawn, so once you have taken the head, the "arms/claws" and the shell then there is not much left. So after spending over 150 nzd on this lunch meal we are still hungry and wondering where to go now to finish our lunch.
This place is beautiful and could deliver much more, but it doesn't.
The staff was fine and all fine, but it is simply not worth the experience.
The food came quickly.
The prawns are cooked and served as a whole prawn, so once you have taken the head, the "arms/claws" and the shell then there is not much left. So after spending over 150 nzd on this lunch meal we are still hungry and wondering where to go now to finish our lunch.
This place is beautiful and could deliver much more, but it doesn't.
The staff was fine and all fine, but it is simply not worth the experience.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tie
Whanganui, New Zealand4 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
The prawn are not in the park ponds anymore it is sad to see a park that has become something old and in poor condition definitly not the same park i knew 10 years ago. You pay $22 a head to just feed rainbow trout and ride a self row boat. There are some small activities throughout but some are broken.
Written 22 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excursion22546769456
4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
I needed a pic with Shawn the prawn to add to my photos of Big Things of NZ tour. Got personalised service. Help with taking the photos. The staff were friendly and entered into the the fun of what I was doing. It was a rainy day, but still a great experience.
Had some of the best coffee in my life. I don’t know how the barista pulled that flavour out of a brand of coffee bean I buy! The prawns for brunch were tasty and fresh of course! Recommend this whole park.
Had some of the best coffee in my life. I don’t know how the barista pulled that flavour out of a brand of coffee bean I buy! The prawns for brunch were tasty and fresh of course! Recommend this whole park.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there customer lockers at the park?
Written 13 January 2019
Sorry i am not sure, didnt need to use any. but you can contact the park to double check :)
Written 17 January 2019
Is it easy to get the prawns and are visitors charged for the prawn they caught? Thanks
Written 2 May 2018
Hi Helena, It's like any fishing there's a knack to it - some people catch a couple and others catch plenty. What you catch is yours to keep - no extra charge. Hope to see you soon.
Written 3 May 2018
Are all of the additional activities included in the admission price... pedal boats, water bikes, etc.?
Written 11 August 2017
je souhaiterez l’adresse du parc
Written 10 September 2016
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