School holiday time is here, and there are lots of ways to keep the kids entertained in Auckland, even if the winter weather isn’t on your side.
Auckland Council has you covered with these great ideas to keep your tamariki active and having fun throughout the July school holidays – and you might find the grown-ups enjoy it too!
Check out our top tips on what’s happening in Tāmaki Makaurau, and the special events and activities on offer.
Auckland School Holiday programme
If you can’t take time off this July school holidays, then sign your kids up for Kids Crew, Auckland Council’s school holiday programme for 5 – 13-year-olds, so you can relax knowing your tamariki are safe, happy and having a blast!
Our school holiday programmes are full of active adventures and include team sports, games, cooking, and arts and crafts.
On the programme, tamariki will also go on trips around Auckland to places like Rainbow's End, Butterfly Creek, mini-golf and much more!
Bookings essential, head to aucklandleisure.co.nz for locations and booking details.
Step through time at Auckland Museum
Strap in for a time-endous night of family fun with Night at Auckland Museum: Time Warp!
Bring your torch and join the mysterious Dr. When and his intrepid assistant, Dodo, on an incredible time-travelling adventure through the darkened Museum.
From the swinging ‘60s to 8th century China, this evening event takes you on a whirlwind journey through history, brought to life with interactive theatre, games, and hands-on activities.
Be quick! This time-travelling event is sure to sell out, head to aucklandmuseum.com to join the adventure.
Carnivores at Auckland Zoo
If your kids love animals, take them to visit some of the biggest, the hairiest and the scariest carnivores around at Auckland Zoo!
Explore the zoo grounds where you can observe these incredible predators up-close to learn more about their behaviours, diets, and how they fare in the wild.
With special tamariki times on offer, as well as zookeeper talks focusing on carnivores, there’s plenty to do these July school holidays at Auckland Zoo.
Head to aucklandzoo.co.nz for more information.
See Ramah the tiger at Auckland Zoo.
Celebrate the stars at Auckland Libraries
July school holidays are Matariki themed at Auckland Council Libraries, where tamariki and rangatahi can explore the themes of the nine stars of Matariki through reading lists and fun activities.
Head along to your local library to explore a fascinating range of books and lots of interesting activities to encourage tamariki to enjoy reading. There’s a range of craft activities, star gazing and much more to keep the young ones entertained while learning about our national celebration of Matariki.
Get all the details for what’s happening at your local library.
Whānau Hauora / Wellness Challenge at a Tūpuna Maunga
Just because its winter doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors. Why not challenge the whānau to a hauora challenge at one of the Tūpuna Maunga across Tāmaki Makaurau?
Try a homegrown Amazing Race challenge, choosing landmarks around the maunga and finishing at the tihi (summit). Or keep it simple by walking or running the stairs at Maungauika / North Head from Cheltenham Beach, Devonport.
For something more challenging, try the stair climbs at Ōwairaka / Mt Albert for a cardio burst. Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain also has an awesome boardwalk where you can stop halfway if you want to take it a bit easier. Once you reach the tihi, spot the other Tūpuna Maunga and take in the views. Mauri ora!
Discover Aotearoa’s seabirds at the New Zealand Maritime Museum
Head along to the New Zealand Maritime Museum for a day of creativity and discovery at their latest exhibition, Sentinel, exploring the fascinating world of seabirds!
Aotearoa is the seabird capital of the world, home to about 90 species of the world’s seabirds. Sentinel showcases the world of these magnificent creatures through science, photography, interactive video, sculpture and sound.
This July school holidays, bring the whole whānau along to learn about these magnificent birds, and explore the exhibition with your very own seabird fact book and craft a seabird mask to take home.
Explore the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
Get outdoors and enjoy fun activities at Auckland’s parks and gardens
Try a range of creative nature-themed activities at Auckland Botanic Gardens with a series of fun children’s workshops. Tamariki can have a go at weaving, tapestry, pottery, paper flowers and more. Each session is free and kids will get to take home their finished artwork to enjoy. Find out more and book in online at aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/whats-on/
Check out a range of activities at parks across Auckland with ranger-led walks, junior ranger explorer walks, community cookout events and more. Three of our parks also offer a Wild Things school holiday programme where tamariki will learn about nature, crafting and camp cooking.
Get more information for what’s happening at our parks here.
If you’re heading out west for a walk make sure to visit the Arataki Visitors Centre and check out the range of Matariki activations and games. Tamariki can write a note to a lost loved one on the Pohutukawa star remembrance tree, watch The Sandman’s Matariki story on screen, and see if you can spot the native geckos in their enclosure.
There’s plenty to do this July school holidays, go to ourauckland.govt.nz/events to find the perfect activity to keep your family busy.
Enjoy the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
