25 BEST things to do in the 2024 April School Holidays in Auckland for Kids
- By: Auckland for Kids
- Published
School holiday provide the chance to create memories together as a family, so have some fun in Auckland these April school holidays 2024. From magical theatre shows, art and culture in the city, outdoor adventures to fun indoor activities here are the top picks for your family’s enjoyment!
1. Embark on an Auckland Playground Adventure
Take your little ones on a playground crawl, exploring both familiar favourite neighbourhood spots and exciting new playgrounds like Western Springs Park, Grey Lynn Park, Hayman Park Playground in Manukau and Devonport Playground. It’s a fantastic way to spend a day outdoors without breaking the bank!
2. Head into the city to visit the giant Arborialis Luminarium in Aotea Square
Step into a fantastical labyrinth of light and colour for that the whole family can enjoy – yes event the adults! ARBORIALIS Luminarium is fun to explore, relax and enjoy the colourful twists and turns of each tunnel. It’s also a great place to get take some fun photos with your kids on your phone! You can turn up on the day but we recommend booking tickets ahead of time to get the entry slot you would like.
3. Celebrate Auckland's Unique Enviroment
Check out one of EcoFest’s 2024 events which is packed with interactive workshops, experiences and activities for the kids to enjoy in the school holidays. Most of them are FREE too! Choose from events like the EcoFest Whānau Fun Day in the Auckland Botanic Gardens, Ostend Garden Working Bee, DIY Kids Bug Hotels, Discover Pupukemoana, New Lynn Hub Trip to Arataki, Bug Hunt at Matuku Link, Nature Journalling and more fun events.
For something different check out one of Nuture Farm’s Kids Farm Experience Days where you can even drive your own digger!
4. See one of the Family Friendly Live Theatre Shows in Auckland
Treat your family to live theatre performances live theatre performances these school holidays. We can’t wait to see these three nautical themed shows: The Great Piratical Rumbustification by Margaret Mahy adapted for the stage by Tim Bray Theatre Co at the Pumphouse theatre in Takapuna or Stellar Ella and the Space Pirates at TAPAC theatre in Pt Chev or The Star of the Sea at the Maritime Museum.
5. Camp Out in Your Backyard
Create an outdoor family adventure right in your backyard by camping under the stars. It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy the outdoors while feeling like you are away on a holiday, yet still being close to all the comforts of home.
6. Join FREE Holiday Activities at the Library
Auckland libraries is running lots of FREE activities for kids during the school holidays, ranging from reading adventures to hands-on workshops. Don’t forget to stock up on books for some cosy reading time at home! Find out what school holiday events are on at your local Auckland Library. There are lots to choose from like the Kids Making with Kids! Climate Action Stickers at Mt Albert Library!
7. Catch a Family Movie at the Cinema
Enjoy a family movie outing with the kids these holidays. The kid-friendly movies we want to see are Kung Fu Panda 4, The Mountain, The Jungle Bunch Tour, Ghost Busters: Frozen Empire, The Tiger’s Apprentice and the New Zealand film The Mountain. And if haven’t already seen them, then Wonka and Migration are still playing at the cinema too. Watch the trailers here to see which movies your children agree they would all like to see!
8. Enjoy a Bike Tour of Your Local Auckland Neighbourhood
Explore your local neighbourhood or venture further afield on a family bike tour, discovering new sights, different bike and pump tracks and enjoy the outdoors together.
9. Immerse Yourself in Auckland's History
Dive into the rich history of Auckland at Tāmaki Herenga Waka Stories of Auckland. galleries. Let your kids engage with interactive exhibits while learning about the city’s past, present, and future. Entry is FREE of Aucklanders too (with proof of address), making it a great budget day out for your family!
If you are visiting on the weekend you can check out the FREE Weird & Wonderful Weekend activities that are on for the kids! Auckland Museum is open late on Tuesdays until 8:30pm for Twilight Tuesdays during the school holidays which is a relaxed environment to wander through the museum with your tweens and teenagers. It’s amazing how different the museum looks and feels in the evenings.
10. Go on a Family Night Time Adventure
Head out in the evening to something different with the kids when there is no school the next day. You could go to the Twilight Rides at Rainbow’s End in Manukau, Fridays in the Neighbourhood in Avondale, or a School Holiday Family Quiz at The Zookeeper’s Son, a Planetarium Show at Stardome, skiing or snowboarding at Snowplanet or Twilight Tuesday‘s at Auckland Museum (you can see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition FREE on Twilight Tuesdays too!)
Night time adventures are great, especially if you are working during the day as you can still head out and have some family fun in the evenings in Auckland!
11. Hold a garage sale
Host a garage sale with your family these Autumn school holidays. Get the kids to sort out their toys, games and clothes that they no longer want or fit because they have grown out of it. Once they understand that they can get some money for new toys or something else they are saving up for they usually don’t mind selling old ones that they no longer play with. You can put out some baskets and mark each basket by price such as $5, $2, $1 or 50 cents rather than pricing everything separately. You can also teach the kids about giving back by donating a portion of the proceeds they raised to a charity of their choice.
Or if you don’t want to have a garage sale, the kids could get a stall at Howick Kids Market.
12. Explore the Magical World of Live Music with the Kids
Check out Tunes 4 Tamariki: Toi Time with the Auckland Philharmonia at the Bruce Mason Centre on Saturday 13 April. Later in the holidays head into Auckland City for some live Music Events with the kids, you can check out Sounds Fun for Kids: Michal Bush & Claudia Robin Gunn at The Tuning Fork on Sun 28 April.
13. Build a Blanket Fort for Indoor Fun
Transform your dining table into a cosy blanket fort for hours of imaginative play and family bonding on rainy school holidays days.
14. Attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Parade with your family
It’s ANZAC Day during the school holidays on Thursday 24 April 2024. Honour the heroes of New Zealand’s past by attending the Dawn Parade at Auckland Museum with your family and paying tribute to their sacrifices. The Museum will open directly following the Dawn Service. FREE ANZAC Day activities at the museum include making pinwheel poppies, message for the peace tree, guided tours of the WWI and WWII exhibitions Entry to the Museum is FREE to everyone on Anzac Day.
TAlternatively visit the Field of Remembrance of white crosses from Mon 15 to Mon 29 April which is planted before the Museum to honour fallen New Zealand soldiers from all wars and conflicts.
The Navy Museum in Devonport on ANZAC Day will also be open during the day and you can hear the RNZN Pipes and Drums Band performing outside the museum at 12:30pm.
15. Get crafty
Craft and art fans, don’t worry there is lots to do in the April School Holidays. Visit the FREE school holiday Makerspace in Te Komititanga in Queen Street. Pop into the Auckland Gallery which is FREE for Aucklanders and let the kids get crafty at the Creative Learning Centre’s installation. Join in the Weave the World Around Us at The Arts House Trust. Head down to the Maritime Museum to Make your own friendship bracelet. Head into Auckland’s Museum’s Weird and Wonderful FREE Weekends. Create your own characters at Weta Workshop Unleashed! in SkyCity. Or drop into Uxbridges FREE Art Cupboard sessions in Howick.
16. Organise a Playdate at Home
Invite your children’s friends over for a playdate these school holidays. Kids can have a fun relaxed play together without the busyness of a regular school week of activities. Plus if you need to work for part of the holidays you can take turns with another family to each have a playdate so you get a free day to go to work.
17. Visit Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple
Immerse yourselves in another culture by visiting the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in East Auckland, offering a peaceful retreat within the bustling city.
18. Learn about Science
There are plenty of fun ways for the kids to learn about Science these school holidays. Visit Stardome for a planetarium show, MOTAT for their April School Holiday Experience, or head into Auckland Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, the Tamariki Imagination event in Cornwall Park and don’t miss all the EcoFest events which have a science theme like the Citizen Science Bird Survey.
19. Give the kids a "Yes" Day
Let your kids take charge for a day of unlimited fun, where their imagination sets the agenda and you can’t say no to their requests within agreed-upon boundaries of the location and budget to spend. Who knows what they might choose to do whether it’s rafting at Vector Wero, getting an ice cream, going for a bush walk, or cooking at home.
20. Host a Family Board Game Day
Gather the family for a day of friendly competition with board games, providing hours of entertainment without leaving the comfort of home. Plus you won’t need to spend anything!
21. Enjoy a Family Picnic in one of Auckland's Parks
Pack a picnic and head to one of Auckland’s picturesque gardens and parks for a relaxing day surrounded by nature’s beauty. Bring a ball and you can play some games with the kids too!
And if you time it right there are some fun FREE events happening in parks for the kids and teens such as HungerBall in Myers Park, Pop Up Play in Myers Park and Dancing in Parks in Potters Park too!
22. Dine Out at one of Auckland's Family-Friendly Restaurants.
Treat yourselves to a meal at one of Auckland’s Family-Friendly Eateries or explore the culinary delights of the Auckland’s Night Markets for a more relaxed dining experience. The Night markets are on in Kelston, Mt Wellington, Botany Town Centre, Henderson, Papatoetoe, Pakuranga, Silo Park and Silverdale.
23. Meet your favourite animals
Visit one of your your favourite zoos or animal farms in Auckland. Choose from Cornwall Parks farm animals, Ambury Park farm animals, Auckland Zoo, Butterfly Creek, Donkeys at Highfield Garden Reserve, or the sealife at Kelly Tarltons.
24. Surprise the Kids with a Spontaneous Day Out
Check out our picks of events on today in Auckland and together choose something new to go to see! Or you could even let luck decide putting a blind fold on and getting kids to point at your laptop screen to see which event they touch with their finger!
25. Get the kids in the garden
Get the kids to help out in the garden or even help them to start their own green space. Now is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs so you have flowers ready to bloom in spring. If you are new to gardening, find out what plants grow well in Autumn. If you haven’t got a garden, then your children can still enjoy gardening in containers instead. It’s a wonderful way to teach them about nature and responsibility.
