Finding the best daycares in Napier starts with knowing what suits your child, from a baby needing a calm nursery to a four-year-old getting ready for school. Daycare in Napier covers everything from small home-like centres in Bay View and Taradale to a trilingual Montessori preschool in Napier South, with most offering full-day care, a Te Whāriki programme and 20 Hours ECE for three to five year olds. Strawberry Garden Childcare and Happy Days are good places to start if you want a small, nature-focused centre.
1Strawberry Garden Childcare
Strawberry Garden Childcare is a privately owned early learning centre at Bay View, a few minutes from Westshore and around 10 minutes from Napier city and Taradale. Set on a leafy property with gardens and native birds, it puts relationships, nature and play at the centre of its programme. It suits families wanting a small, unhurried centre for babies through to preschoolers.
Services
- Pēpē Room nursery for babies from 4 months
- Koru Room for children from around 2 years
- Full-day childcare, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm
- Planned settling-in visits with whānau before starting
- Daily records of sleep, meals, bottles and nappy changes for infants
Highlights
- Opened in May 2017
- Pēpē Room caps at 12 of the youngest tamariki, with its own outdoor play area
- Nature-based setting full of trees, gardens and birdlife
- Sibling preference for available spaces and a 10% sibling discount
Location & Contact
Name: Strawberry Garden Childcare
Address: 1 Onehunga Road, Bay View, Napier 4014
Phone: 027 547 7073
Website: strawberrygardenchildcare.co.nz
2Happy Days Childcare + Education
Happy Days is a small early childhood centre on White Street in Taradale, close to the shopping area and overlooked by Pukekura (Sugar Loaf). Its philosophy rests on play, learn and love, with child-led, play-based learning and intentional teaching guided by Te Whāriki. The centre is licensed for 32 tamariki aged 0 to 6 and suits families who want a home-away-from-home feel in central Taradale.
Services
- Ngā Pēpi Room for children aged 0 to 2
- Puāwai Room for children aged 2 to 6
- Full-time and part-time care, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm
- 20 Hours ECE for children aged 3 to 5
- Learning stories and updates through the Xplor app and individual Profile Books
Highlights
- Aims for 1:3 teacher ratios in the under-2 room and 1:6 in the over-2 room at busy times
- Edible garden and nature play woven into daily routines
- Regular excursions to the Taradale library, park and shopping hub
- Open-door policy for parents and whānau
- Published its 2025 ERO evaluation report on its own website
Location & Contact
Name: Happy Days Childcare + Education
Address: 18 White Street, Taradale, Napier
Phone: 06 845 0505
Website: happydaystaradale.co.nz
3Montessori 3-6
Montessori 3-6 is a trilingual Montessori preschool on the corner of Georges Drive and Chambers Street in Napier South, teaching in English, te reo Māori and Spanish. Children work through uninterrupted three-hour Montessori work cycles with full indoor and outdoor flow, alongside the principles of Te Whāriki. It suits families after a Montessori approach and a structured path into primary school.
Services
- Montessori preschool programme for children from around 2½ to 6
- Prep for School programme, 30 hours per week
- Morning and afternoon session options for younger children
- Free first 20 hours for 3, 4 and 5 year olds
Highlights
- Daily karakia and waiata in English, te reo Māori and Spanish
- Roll kept small, limited to 30 children
- Three team members trained in both primary and early childhood teaching
- Children can stay until the day before their 6th birthday
- Weekend Discovery Journeys four times a year so working parents can see their child’s progress
Location & Contact
Name: Montessori 3-6
Address: Cnr Georges Drive & Chambers Street, Napier South, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 833 6970
Website: montessori3-6.com
4Little Magpies Childcare Centre
Little Magpies is a Napier childcare centre on Leyland Street in Onekawa, offering full-time and part-time care alongside a separate home-based childcare service. Respect, resilience and relationships are its learning priorities, with a primary caregiving approach for under-2s. It suits working families looking for affordable childcare with flexible hours.
Services
- Three learning areas: Geckos (babies), Kiwis (toddlers) and Magpies (preschoolers)
- Full-time and part-time childcare, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.15pm
- Home-based childcare run from the same office
- Free 20 ECE hours for 3 and 4 year olds
Highlights
- Nappies provided free of charge
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided free on Mondays and Tuesdays during term
- A head teacher in each of the three learning areas
- WINZ childcare subsidies accepted for eligible families
Location & Contact
Name: Little Magpies Childcare Centre
Address: 24 Leyland Street, Onekawa, Napier
Phone: 06 843 1031
Website: littlemagpies.co.nz
5Little Wonders Greenmeadows
Little Wonders Greenmeadows is a Guppy Road daycare run by Evolve Education Group, caring for infants, toddlers and young children together in a single mixed-age space. It uses a tuakana-teina approach, where older and younger children learn alongside each other, with a mara kai garden and natural play areas. It suits Greenmeadows and Taradale families who like a homely, whānau-focused centre.
Services
- Mixed-age care and education for children aged 0 to 6
- Morning, afternoon, 6-hour and full-day sessions
- 20 Hours ECE for children aged 3 to 5
- School transition support
- Learning updates through Storypark
Highlights
- Mara kai garden, animals and nature-rich outdoor play spaces
- Close to Otatara Pā and the Tūtaekurī Awa for community visits
- Fee schedule published on its own website
Location & Contact
Name: Little Wonders Greenmeadows
Address: 39 Guppy Road, Greenmeadows, Napier 4112
Phone: 06 845 3839
Website: evolveeducation.co.nz/childcare-centres/little-wonders/locations/greenmeadows
Daycares in Napier at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Strawberry Garden Childcare | Opened in May 2017 |
| Happy Days Childcare + Education | Aims for 1:3 teacher ratios in the under-2 room and 1:6 in the over-2... |
| Montessori 3-6 | Daily karakia and waiata in English, te reo Māori and Spanish |
| Little Magpies Childcare Centre | Nappies provided free of charge |
| Little Wonders Greenmeadows | Mara kai garden, animals and nature-rich outdoor play spaces |
How to Choose the Right Daycare in Napier
- Age groups and rooms: check whether the centre has a separate nursery for babies and toddlers, or a single mixed-age space, and which you prefer for your child.
- Teaching approach: Napier centres range from play-based and nature-focused programmes to Montessori, so visit and see how the day actually runs.
- Hours and flexibility: compare opening hours, minimum booking requirements and how easily you can change days as work patterns shift.
- Costs and inclusions: ask what the hourly rate covers, whether meals and nappies are provided, and how 20 Hours ECE is applied.
- Location: a centre near home or work in Taradale, Onekawa, Napier South or Bay View makes drop-off and pick-up far easier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Napier Daycares
How much does daycare cost in Napier?
Fees vary by centre and by the hours booked. Napier centres typically charge an hourly rate for under-3s, often with a discounted weekly rate for full-time care, and some include meals or nappies in the price. Always ask for the current fee schedule when you visit.
What is 20 Hours ECE and who can get it?
20 Hours ECE is Government funding for children aged 3 to 5, covering up to 6 hours a day and 20 hours a week at a participating early learning service. You allocate the hours to your chosen centre on its enrolment form. The Ministry of Education sets out how the funding works.
How can I check the quality of a childcare centre?
Every licensed early learning service in New Zealand is reviewed by the Education Review Office, and the reports are public. You can search any Napier centre by name on the Education Review Office website before booking a visit.
At what age can my baby start daycare?
Many Napier daycares take babies from a few months old into a dedicated nursery room, while Montessori preschools usually start children from around 2½, once they are ready. Check each centre’s youngest enrolment age when you enquire.
How do I find a daycare near me in Napier?
Start with the suburb you live or work in. Centres operate in Taradale, Greenmeadows, Onekawa and Napier South, with others out at Bay View near the airport. Many parents choose a centre on the route to work rather than the one closest to home.
What should I ask on a centre visit?
Ask about teacher to child ratios, how children are settled in, what a typical day looks like, how you will receive updates, and what your child needs to bring. Seeing how teachers interact with the children tells you a great deal.
Is there usually a waitlist for childcare in Napier?
Popular centres, especially for under-2 places, often have waitlists. Contacting centres several months before you need care gives you the best chance of getting the days you want.
How We Chose the Best Daycares in Napier
Every business in this guide was found by searching for daycares in Napier, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Napier, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.