Find magic in the city
Embark on a magical quest through the city on a special programme, Magic World of Scotty Sky Tower, designed by Sky City and Wētā Workshop Unleashed. The wand-erful quest kicks off at the Sky Tower with a Map of Magic and carries on at Wētā Workshop Unleashed – think maze adventures, ping-pong games, plasma globes and mystery boxes. Once finished, enjoy a free magic show in SkyCity Theatre and trade in your entry form for a Magic Merit badge. Make it a full day with SkyCity’s $12 all-day parking special.
When: 7-23 April
Get creative at Auckland Art Gallery
Enjoy daily activities inspired by the exhibition Light from Tate: 1700s to Now. Craft a glowing creature or create a stop-motion short film – these are just some of the paid workshops available. Alongside the paid programme, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki will host free whānau drop-in activities every day from 11am-3pm. Add a sea creature to the Tate-inspired lighthouse, snuggle into a reading corner with a picture book or explore the gallery with a fun activity sheet. The gallery’s dedicated ArtLab will also be open for kids to create shadow puppets and coloured art.
When: 11-21 April
Step back into time at New Zealand Maritime Museum
Take a roving tour of the museum with historic figure Ethel Richardson. The twice-daily tours, Survivors of the South, take around 30 minutes and explore the Richardson sisters’ shenanigans aboard Hinemoa in 1890. Discover castaway depots complete with ghostly warnings. This immersive activity is only $5 per child – bookings are essential.
When: 11-21 April, weekdays at 11.30am and 1pm
Create wild memories at Auckland Zoo
Did you know Auckland Zoo is celebrating its 100-year anniversary? This school holiday, head to the zoo for some wild memories – there’s plenty for the whole whānau to enjoy. Take the entire family to the 100 Years: Celebrating a century of wild life at Auckland Zoo exhibition to learn about Auckland Zoo’s past, present and future – featuring photos, videos and fun interactive activities for all ages. Don’t forget to snap a pic and share on Instagram or Facebook with photo-frames in the exhibition and around the zoo – you can go into draw to win a 100-year Annual Pass Membership*. You can also stroll around the zoo with friends and see who can finish their downloadable animal bingo card first.
Enjoy a live performance around Auckland
Some of the most iconic venues around Auckland have a stunning selection of shows to keep you and the tamariki entertained over the school holidays. Check out the surreal and heart-warming The Worm (5-22 April), celebrate anime and mange culture at the Overload Festival (15-16 April) or join the grandparents for a feet-tapping good time at Auckland Live Morning Melodies: Society Jazzmen (17 April). For bigger kids, bond over a mesmerising performance by the Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine (12-14 April).
Go behind the scenes with the All Blacks
Join the All Blacks Experience over the school holidays for skills sessions, special tours and discounts. Take a tour with World Cup winner and Black Ferns Sevens star Ruby Tui to learn what it takes to become a top-notch player. All Black Nathan Harris will be hosting skills sessions for kids (ages 7 to 14) who have basic rugby skills. Go behind the scenes with Nathan and learn what it took to make the line-up of the world’s most successful team.
Over the two-week period, Kids Go Free Fridays (14 and 21 April) will be available and there is 20% off Family Passes available until 23 April.
Get creative at Butterfly Creek
Kick off the holidays with an EGGs-traordinary Easter experience (7-11 April) at Butterfly Creek with a golden egg hunt, eggs-cellent prizes and Easter-themed activities.
From 12 April, take the tamariki to Butterfly Creek to explore all things butterfly. There will be free butterfly face-painting sessions every Friday, butterfly-themed arts and crafts (Mon-Thurs, 10am – 2pm), and an enchanting fairy entertainer on weekends (10 am - 12.30pm).
Fun-filled farming activities with MOTAT
Encourage the kids to learn about farming, technology, and Māori farming techniques. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) will be hosting a fascinating educational programme called ‘Farming Takes Flight’. Kids and their whānau will learn how New Zealand has adapted its transportation and technology to cultivate the land and help us become one of the biggest farming nations in the world. Get a free activity book and follow the trail to complete challenges like Map Mazes and the Don't Forget Your Roots quiz, then collect stamps to become a Future Farmer.
Don’t miss MOTAT’s Live Day on 16 April (10am – 4pm) where guests can put their best gumboot forward in the hay barrel obstacle course, watch a live horseshoe-making demonstration by MOTAT’s blacksmith and visit the special items from the MOTAT collection on display.
When: 7-23 April.