Auckland Family Holiday Activities

Parks, Museums, Beaches, Islands....................a child's paradise!

They are easily pleased, and will delight in simple pleasures.....creating, new experiences........and any form of physical activity.

Auckland Fun for Children

KELLY TARLTON'S ANTARCTIC ENCOUNTER and UNDERWATER WORLD when first built was unique. You walk through a tunnel of water. They have since built more aquariums in other countries. There is not only a wonderful display of fish, but the penguins are definitely the most popular creature in the aquarium! The South Antartica display showing the adventures of Shackleton getting to the South Pole are also fascinating.

You can take a small train with a running commentary in the language of your choice through this display.

AUCKLAND SKY TOWER – this may not be for small children but there is no doubt big children love this. Taking the lift to the display floor, you can watch the city through the glass floors, and of course the 360 degree views are just amazing. If you have a meal in the revolving restaurant the price to go up is included. Dinner at sunset is nice, with your restaurant slowly revolving as you eat. For those big kids with plenty of pocket money saved....... there is the opportunity to do a Sky Walk around the perimeter of the tower, or Sky Jump!

AUCKLAND ZOO - Check for special Auckland family holiday activities at this wonderful zoo. They often have special school holiday programmes, concerts and other exciting interactive fun for kids.These days many of the animals are in large open areas similar to their natural habitat. Set in beautiful grounds there is a farm area for children to get close to the animals. Look for feeding times, and the elephant display. You can check the times just inside the gate.

RAINBOW'S END - Your Auckland Family holiday activities should include a visit to a Fun Park.While this park is certainly not on the scale of Disneyland or some of the International parks, there is plenty to keep the whole family thrilled and entertained for a day. Located in South Auckland it has all the usual fun park features including a log flume, rollercoaster, bumper boats, dodgems, castle land for young children, Pirate ship, Gold Rush, and much more.

STARDOME OBSERVATORY is in One Tree Hill Domain and an inexpensive Auckland family holiday activity at only $10 for adults and $8 for children.- Somehow the fascination of the stars and beyond never wanes. Our Southern Hemisphere stars are very different to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

And our skies clear enough to often see them! If you are in your own vehicle you could start with a trip to the top of One Tree Hill for a view. There is a range of interesting Auckland family holiday activities to choose from so you can select something suited to the age of your children.

• Grand Tour of the Solar System – A Tour through the Solar System
• Zula Patrol – for pre schoolers
• Astronaut – an animated test astronaut
• Magic Sky....another for pre schoolers
• Celestial Navigation and ever changing displays and shows.

Butterfly Farm – is a tropical butterfly house with 800 exotic butterflies from all over the world. There are also many exotic birds and reptiles and fish in aquariums. They have recently acquired two crocodiles from Australia. This would be a good thing to do en route to the airport if you have time to spare, as it is located very nearby.

Hire Roller Blades - at Fergs Kayak Shop and enjoy roller blading around the waterfront.

Try Kayaking – For older kids! You can hire kayaks also at Fergs and explore the local area by kayak.

SnowPlanet - On East Coast Road at Silverdale (North of Auckland)this indoor ski slope is heaps of fun for children. A great bad weather activity.

GloPutt Mini Golf - For something different you can play mini golf with glow in the dark balls...this 14 hole course is at 28 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna....just off the motorway.What a great birthday party idea...Sounds like a lot of fun!

Visit an Auckland Museum

There are displays of boats from around the Pacific dating back to early times. Theatres, galleries and interactive displays are all informative and interesting.

Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology – another interactive museum that children will love. It has been built and maintained by mainly volunteers. With historic New Zealand houses, transport and vehicles and a range of interactive science displays. You could catch the free tram to the zoo if you had time............or just for the experience!

Whittakers Music Museum at Oneroa,Waiheke Island is a great experience for the whole family. Many of the instruments are very rare and the display and commentary with each instrument being demonstrated is really interesting.

Auckland Art Gallery – is on Wellesley Street on the edge of Albert Park in Auckland city.

Islands in the Hauraki Gulf

RANGITOTO ISLAND - Take the boat trip to Auckland’s iconic island. Depending on the age of your children, you can either walk the track to the top or take the little train.

KAWAU ISLAND – take a boat to the original homestead of New Zealand’s first Governor General - Sir George Grey – it is open to the public. You can explore old copper mine ruins,enjoy the wild life imported by Sir George Grey including wallabies...... and the many walks.

TIRITIRI MATANGI – a bird sanctuary - is a wonderful day trip with plenty of tuis and bellbirds, takahe and other rare New Zealand birds. The walk around the island is beautiful with native bush.

Free Auckland Family Holiday Activities for Children

MURIWAI GANNET COLONY – This is best in the summer months when the gannets have flown in and nest on the cliffs at Muriwai Beach. Thousands of them are seen at close quarters, with their cute fluffy chicks.

See beaches and parks below.

Popular Auckland Beaches

Walk Milford Beach to Takapuna Beach – or the reverse. This is a lovely walk for children. You pass over wooden ramps, can sit in a huge stone chair below a castle, play on the beach, explore the rock pools, scramble over the rocky area near Takapuna. Much is wide paved walkway......it is not a difficult walk. There is plenty of variety for children to enjoy.

Eastern Beaches - Mission Bay with it’s fountain and children’s play area along the waterfront is easily reached by bus from the city. Any of the lovely bays along the waterfront are good for swimming.

North Shore Beaches – there is a string of lovely beaches from Takapuna to Long Bay or back to Devonport.

• Takapuna good swimming, restaurant
• Browns Bay has a wonderful play area for children, restaurants and large grassed area
• Long Bay – see Parks.

• Bethells Beach has sand dunes to slide down.
• Karekare where the film “The Piano” was shot is great to walk.
• Piha is famous for it’s spectacular scenery and wild surf.
• Muriwai - see Gannet Colony mentioned above.

Auckland Swimming Pools

• Parnell Bathes - are salt water and popular with families. Very near the city they are easily accessed by bus or you may be in accommodation within walking distance.
• Newmarket Pools have a good children’s Pool and Olympic sized main pool. Easy to get to by bus or train. Walking distance from the Auckland Museum.
• Waiwera Hot Pools - are an hours drive north of Auckland. With slides and different pools, they are great family entertainment.
• Helensville - about 45 minutes from the city has a choice of two hotpools

Suggested Auckland Parks

• Cornwall Park – Near One Tree Hill and the Observatory in Greenlane. Yhis park is always lovely, but especially nice in spring with the new born lambs.
• Western Springs is between the Zoo and Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology
• Auckland Domain below Auckland War Memorial Museum
• Albert Park is right in the city
• Bastion Point – is located above the waterfront and Kelly Tarlton’s with great views across the Harbour.
• Long Bay Regional Park is at the top of the North Shore’s East Coast Bays and a Marine Reserve. Here, there is expansive parkland, beach and walks along the cliffs.

MORE AUCKLAND LINKS

Sign up for the RSS feed too, so you are updated when new pages are published.