Indoor Activities
The best places to go on a rainy wet day with the kids in Auckland, New Zealand to keep your family entertained.
Featured Indoor Activities
Auckland Museum FREE for Aucklanders
The Auckland Domain, Parnell
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm
www.aucklandmuseum.com
The Museum’s three floors tell the story of New Zealand. There is a Weird and Wonderful Discovery Centre that is great for the kids. Family events are regularly held on weekends and during the school holidays. All galleries are accessible by pushchairs and there is a parenting room for feeding young babies. Usually there are free school holiday activities for children at the museum too.
Cost: FREE for Aucklanders; Donation for NZ residents; Overseas visitors: Kids $10; Adults $25; Families $60.
Auckland Art Gallery FREE for Aucklanders
Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets, Auckland
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 5pm (except for Christmas Day)
www.aucklandartgallery.com
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the home of the visual arts in New Zealand. Explore their collection of more than 15,000 artworks. There is a Creative Learning Centre for the kids. Usually the gallery has free activities in the school holidays for children too.. There is a cafe on site, cloakroom, drinking fountains and change tables.
Cost: FREE (Charges may apply to special exhibitions)
Snowplanet
91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland
Open week days from 10am and weekends from 9am
www.snowplanet.co.nz
Snowplanet is Auckland’s only indoor ski slope. Grab your beanies and warm jackets for a fantastic day out, only 30 minutes north of the city. At Snowplanet there is something for everyone; a chilly snow dome to ski, snowboard or snow tube and a warm relaxing restaurant for a bite to eat and coffee with panoramic views to watch all the action.
Call 09 427 0044 | 0800 SNOWPLANET
Escape Masters
Level 11, 300 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
escapemasters.co.nz
This internationally popular phenomenon promises a vivid experience where you can become the main character of a captivating mystery. An adventure, where you and your friends are locked in a themed room with the common goal to break out within an hour. To escape, you will need to find clues and solve unique puzzles. A choice of 6 experiences and identical rooms to race in Auckland CBD. There is an emergency exit in each room, so it’s perfectly safe and no one will jump out to give you a fright.
Try the brand new rooms! Can you escape? Select one of the themed rooms, choose your own difficulty level and bring a team of 2-8 people per room. The real-life escape game where every second counts.
Bounce and Beyond
10A Kerwyn Avenue, East Tamaki
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm
www.bounceandbeyond.co.nz
The whole family will have a blast playing at Bounce & Beyond’s indoor playground. There are inflatable slides, obstacle course, bounce houses, interactive games, toddler activities and more. Bring a book, bring your friends, and enjoy a coffee while your little one runs wild in the 1800 square metre inflatable playground.
Rainbow’s End Kidz Kingdom
2 Clist Crescent, Manukau, Auckland map
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday, Sunday and Public holidays 10am to 5pm
https://rainbowsend.co.nz/rides/categories/kidz-kingdom
Kidz Kingdom is fully covered so it’s the perfect place for kids to play rain or shine! Kids can experience their first roller coaster on the Choco Express, pedal through the sky on the Magic Bikes or ride a horse on the Carousel!
Kidz Kingdom is especially for children 8 years and under, perfect for a day of fun and is also very popular for kids birthday parties. Small Talk Café is in Kidz Kingdom as well for parents to grab a coffee and catch up while watching the children play.
VR Voom
391-393 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland map
Open daily expect public holidays
https://www.vrvoom.co.nz/
VR Voom provide the latest VR high quality games paired with custom made 4D motion platforms to create an immersive experience. Anyone from school aged children to adults can enjoy gaming at VR Voom. Choose from No Man’s Land 96, Matrix, Time Machine, Speeder and Sword Master games.
Don’t worry if you or your kids haven’t tried VR gaming before either as the VR Voom team will teach you how to play.
Escape Hunt
495 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland map
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
https://escapehunt.com/nz/auckland
Escape Hunt is all about quick-thinking and teamwork to solve tricky puzzles and crack codes in a race against the clock. It’s exciting, challenging, educational and fantastic fun for families and friends in groups of 2-6 players.
Escape Hunt has 5 interactive escape rooms, with 3 fully immersive themes and a comfortable lounge for refreshments. Suitable for the whole family, with no adult themes, gore or scares! You can book duplicate rooms and race head-to-head for the ultimate challenge.
New Zealand Maritime Museum FREE for Aucklanders
Cnr Quay and Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
Opening hours: Daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas Day)
www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
The Maritime Museum is a place of stories, ambition, courage and exploration. Through seven different galleries, find out how the first Polynesian people made the epic migration to Aotearoa, the early European exploration and settlement of New Zealand, right through to our modern-day yachting success.
Cost: FREE for Auckanders
Pah Homestead, TSB Wallace Arts Centre FREE
72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and Sundays: 10:00am to 5:00pm
tsbbankwallaceartscentre.org.nz
The Arts Centre hosts a changing programme of exhibitions. There is a cafe onsite where you can have coffee on a covered veranda overlooking the sculpture garden.
Cost: Entry is by donation
Stardome Observatory and Planetarium
670 Manukau Road, One Tree Hill Domain, Royal Oak,Auckland
www.stardome.org.nz
Observatory Planetarium with planetarium shows, telescope viewing and gallery & exhibits.
Stardome’s gallery & exhibits are open every day and night, except Monday night. Planetarium shows play weekday evenings and weekend afternoons and evenings.
Cost: Space Gallery & Exhibits – $2 per child and $1 per adult
Planetarium Shows – Kids aged 3 to 15 years $10 to $12; Adults $12 to $15; Senior citizens $10 to $12; Family pass $40 (2 adults & 3 children)
Auckland Indoor Activities
FLIPPIN’ FUN
Trampoline Park
19 Fernhill Drive, Westgate map
Open 7 days per week from 10am
www.flippinfun.co.nz
FLIPPIN’ FUN is true fun for the whole family, where the rules of gravity don’t apply! It’s a spring-loaded, urban playground offering a great time to be had by all. Whether you’re a seasoned adrenaline junkie, or a family with toddlers and young children, everyone will enjoy themselves at FLIPPIN’ FUN. Contact FLIPPIN’ FUN to book Flip classes, parties or your group event.
MOTAT
805 Great North Road & Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland
Open 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week (excluding Christmas Day)
https://www.motat.org.nz/
MOTAT is Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology. Although MOTAT is spread across 40 acres, if you bring your umbrella or rain coat to get the kids between the different buidlings there is plenty of fun things to entertain you inside out of the rain for the day.
Kelly Tarltons
23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, Auckland
www.kellytarltons.co.nz
Kelly Tarlton’s showcases over 30 live animal exhibits in spectacular habitat displays, including the world’s largest Antarctic penguin colony exhibit and amazing underwater viewing tunnels.
Their Animal Adventures offer unique and thrilling ‘up close’ underwater encounters with huge sharks, including the Shark Dive Xtreme and Shark Cage experience. You can also head out onto the ice to get up close to our amazing penguins with Penguin Discovery.
Sky Tower
Corner Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland CBD
www.skycityauckland.co.nz
Sky Tower is the tallest man made structure in New Zealand at 328 metres tall.
Live Show
Go to see a live theatre play or show with your family.
Indoor Swimming Pools
Take the kids to one of Auckland’s indoor swimming pools. The Council run pools are FREE for children and teens aged 16 and under too.
Auckland Libraries
Your local Auckland Library
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz
Visit your local library and let the kids choose their books to take out. There are often fun activities and events happening at the libraries for kids. Find out what’s on at your local library here.
Movies
Your local Auckland cinema
Go to the cinema and watch a movie with the kids.
ClimbZone, Extreme Edge and Adventureland
40c Morrin Road, Panmure
www.extremeedge.co.nz
60 top-ropes, accessing a huge range of climbing walls, with another massive overhanging wall reserved for lead climbing. There are more than 200 routes to climb at any one time from absolute beginner to expert.
Extreme Edge
5 Waikaukau Road, Glen Eden
www.extremeedge.co.nz
More than 200 climbing routes ranging in height from 10 to 12 metres.
Glowput Minigolf
28 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna
https://www.gloputt.co.nz/
Glow in the dark 16 hole mini golf course with buildings, foliage and pathways illuminated with glowing technicolour. The course is completely indoors, so you can always have fun inspite of the weater.
Metrolanes Ten Pin Bowling
Level 3 Metro Centre, 291 Queen Street, Auckland
www.metrolanes.co.nz
Featuring twelve full size Ten Pin Bowling lanes uniquely split into three different areas and two dedicated Route 66 spaces for children of all ages.
My Science Playroom
406 Great North Road, Henderson
www.scienceplayroom.co.nz
55 hands on displays where families with children can explore novelty and curious events. Science Playroom encourages creativity and innovation with maths, engineering and arts resources. There is something sensory for babies, cause and effect resources for toddlers and interesting explorations for those up to about 8 years of age.
Paradice Ice Skating
150 Lansford Crescent, Avondale AND
490 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs, Manukau, Auckland
https://www.paradice.co.nz/
Ice Skating fun for the whole family. Paradice is open during the school holidays.
Clip ‘N Climb
Capital Cinema Building, 610 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland
www.clipnclimb-auckland.co.nz
34 fun, yet challenging climbs, that will test everyone. Plus there are 2 additional features, the Leap of Faith and Vertical Drop Slide.
Whoa! Studios
8-14 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson, Auckland
https://whoastudios.co.nz/
Whoa! Studios – home of Custard’s World, children’s entertainment, live shows, playground, The Grounds Eatery and film studios.
