How to Find Frank Kitts Park in Wellington

Frank Kitts Park is where Wellington’s waterfront energy meets an excuse to eat a truly excellent pie. If you are searching for how to find Frank Kitts Park, head for the central waterfront, close to the city’s busiest harbour side spaces and an easy wander from the CBD. From 15 to 17 January 2027, it will be home to NZ Pie Fest: three days of signature pies, cold drinks, live entertainment and the public vote that decides the People’s Pie.

This is not a festival hidden at the edge of town. Frank Kitts Park sits right on Wellington Harbour, in the heart of a waterfront precinct made for summer plans. Arrive with time to take in the view, meet your crew and decide which pie deserves your first token.

Where to find Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront

Frank Kitts Park is on Wellington’s central waterfront, beside the promenade that runs around the harbour. It is near Queens Wharf and the City to Sea Bridge, making it a useful destination whether you are coming from central city shops, the train station area or other waterfront spots.

The easiest visual cue is the harbour. Once you are on the waterfront promenade, follow the edge of the water towards the open park space and events area. Wellington is a compact city centre, so the final part of the trip is generally best done on foot. Give yourself a few extra minutes on a busy summer afternoon, especially if you are meeting friends who are arriving from different parts of town.

If you are using a map app, search for Frank Kitts Park rather than the festival name. That will take you to the park itself, then festival signage and staff will help guide you towards the entry area during event hours.

Getting there without making a meal of it

Your best route depends on where your day starts. Wellington locals may walk in from work, home or a nearby catch up. Visitors can make the waterfront part of a wider day in the city, with the park an easy meeting point before the festival begins.

Walking from the central city

Walking is often the simplest option. The park is a short waterfront stroll from many central city locations, and the route gives you exactly what a Wellington summer event should: fresh harbour air, views across the water and plenty of places to grab a photo before your first pie.

Wear shoes you are happy to stand and wander in. NZ Pie Fest is built for tasting your way around, comparing the signature pies that the bakeries taking part have put forward, then returning to your favourites before voting. A comfortable walk in and out makes the day easier.

Arriving by public transport

If you are travelling into the city by bus or train, continue towards the waterfront and follow signs or your map app to Frank Kitts Park. Public transport can be a smart call when you are planning to enjoy the licensed bar, travelling with friends or simply keen to skip the hassle of bringing a vehicle into the central city.

Check your preferred service before leaving, particularly on a weekend or public holiday period. Build in a little breathing room rather than timing your arrival to the minute. The best festival days start relaxed, not with a sprint along the promenade while your mates wonder where you are.

Coming by car

Driving can suit visitors carrying family gear or coming from outside Wellington, but central city parking availability can vary. If you choose to drive, allow plenty of time to park and walk the remaining distance to the waterfront. Do not rely on getting the closest possible space on a summer festival day.

A good approach is to decide beforehand who is driving, where you will meet and how you are getting home. That leaves the important decisions for inside the gates: classic comfort pie first, or something that makes you rethink what a bakery can do.

Plan your NZ Pie Fest arrival

NZ Pie Fest runs from 10am to 10:30pm daily from 15 to 17 January 2027. Those long hours mean you can choose the sort of visit that suits your group. Come earlier for a daytime waterfront outing with the family, meet friends after work, or settle in as the afternoon rolls into the evening.

Every entry ticket includes festival access, a courtesy drink and voting rights in the People’s Pie competition. Your vote matters. This is not a token gesture at the end of the day. The public decides which bakery takes the crown, so every signature pie you try is part of the story.

Entry is $19.90 a day until 10 November 2026, then $25. Entry is $27 at the gate on the day. A three day pass is $59.70 and available online only. Children under 5 enter free on their own free ticket.

Once inside, signature pie tokens cost $7.50 each and are managed digitally through the festival’s QR system. One token is redeemed for one bakery’s signature pie. It keeps the experience straightforward: get your entry sorted, buy the tokens you want, scan and eat. No guessing what is included, no muddled queue maths, just a clear route to more pie.

A simple meeting plan for groups

Frank Kitts Park is central, but large enough that groups can still miss each other if everyone arrives at random times. Set a meeting time and choose an obvious point near the park before you leave. Share the plan in your group chat, especially if someone is bringing children or travelling in from out of town.

It also helps to agree on your first move. You might enter together, get settled with the courtesy drink, then split up to chase different signature pies before comparing notes. Or you might keep it democratic from the start and work through every choice as a group. There is no wrong strategy, although serious pie opinions are very likely.

If you are attending with little ones, an earlier visit may suit your rhythm best. If your group wants to make an evening of it, arrive with enough time to eat, enjoy the entertainment and cast your vote without rushing. The festival is designed as a full summer occasion, not a quick stop between other plans.

What to bring for a waterfront festival

Wellington weather can change its mind, even in January. Check the forecast on the day and bring what makes sense for time outdoors, whether that is sun protection, a light extra layer or rain cover. Keep your mobile charged too, as your QR ticket and digital tokens are part of the festival experience.

Travel light where you can. A small bag for essentials leaves you freer to move between bakery stalls, find your friends and hold a pie with the respect it deserves. Bring your appetite, of course, but pace yourself. Each bakery has chosen one signature pie it is prepared to put its name behind, and comparison is half the fun.

For the latest practical details on access, tickets, weather arrangements and festival terms, check the published information before you travel. It is the easiest way to arrive confident and focus on the good stuff once you reach the waterfront.

Find Frank Kitts Park, then back your pie

Frank Kitts Park is more than a pin on the map for one January weekend. It is where Wellington gathers by the harbour to give a national food icon its proper moment. Find the waterfront, follow the buzz and come ready to taste your way around. By the time you cast your People’s Pie vote, you may have made a new bakery favourite and helped decide who earns the bragging rights.