The best places to visit Santa this Christmas in Auckland in 2025
- By: Auckland for Kids
- Updated:
Here is our pick of the best places to take the kids to see Santa and have a family photo this Christmas in Auckland, New Zealand.
1. Visit Santa's Study at Auckland Museum
Visit Santa’s Study at Auckland Museum this Christmas season. Santa has stepped away from his busy North Pole workshop for a short time and set up a quieter base in the Museum so he can keep working through toy orders reindeer planning and his nice and naughty lists. Families can visit him every weekend from 22 November to 21 December 2025.
Visitors are welcome to take their own photos as Santa is travelling light this year. Bring your phone or camera and his chief elf can help capture the moment.
Each child can receive an optional wrapped sweet treat along with a Santa nice list certificate and activity sheet.
Bookings are recommended to avoid missing out. Only $10 for a family of up to five people.
2. Snowplanet's Santa Experience & Winter Wonderland Fun
Visit Santa at Snowplanet from 22 November 2025 to 24 December 2025 in the snow. This festive season, Santa will be in the cozy indoor Gingerbread Village within 7 Summits Restaurant. Meet Santa on his balcony overlooking a backdrop of glittering lights and snow-capped trees.
If you’d like to extend the magic, you can add on a trip to Santa’s Winter Wonderland on the snow. The Christmas-themed snowy village sparkles with fairy lights and Christmas lasers, with festive games and fun for the whole family. Try out the snowman snowball throw, the reindeer toss or pose for a fun photo in the LED snowman board. Explore the mini playhouse, snowy slides and puzzles, or take a ride down the tobogganing track. For extra thrills, race down the two ice-walled tubing tracks.
Santa Family Fun Visit includes:
Visiting Santa, each family receives one photo to take home, one digital photo, and one Christmas Tree Bauble, plus each child received a lollipop.
Price: $46.00 per family. Book online
Winter Wonderland Upgrade Package includes:
One hour of festive snow fun in the Christmas-themed snowy village.
– Test your aim with the snowman snowball throw or reindeer toss
– Snap a memory with the glowing LED snowman photo board
– Explore and play in the mini playhouse, snowy slides, and puzzles
– Glide through the ice archway on the toboggan track
– Race for thrills down two custom-built, ice-walled tubing tracks.
When you visit Santa’s Winter Wonderland remember to wear lots of warm clothes, a beanie and gloves as it’s a chilly -5 °. Also, the snow tends to make your shoes wet, so waterproof shoes or snow boots are recommended.
Price: Children (7 and under) $17.00; Adults $33.00.
The Winter Wonderland Upgrade Package cannot be booked online. Please email info@snowplanet.co.nz or call us them on09 427 0044 to add this to your Santa Visit.
3. Santa's Magical Wonderland at Sky Tower
Santa’s Magical Wonderland is at Level 7 of Sky Tower this Christmas from 15 November 2025 to 24 December 2025.
Children can enjoy Santa’s sleight, the magic forest lights, interactive screens and displays before they visit Santa.
The booked experience is $35.00 for one child (0 to 14 years) and two adults and includes a visit to the Magical Forest, a collectable Christmas tree bauble gift, one printed and one digital photo and a visit to see Santa. You can add on an additional child for $25.00 or an additional adult for $15.00.
If you’ve signed up to meet the man in red at SkyCity’s Santa’s Magical Wonderland, add on discounted Sky Tower tickets and elevate your festive experience 220m above street level. Discounted Sky Tower admission is $35.00 per adult and $15.00 per child aged 3 to 14 years, children under 3 go FREE.
4. Enchanted Christmas in Newmarket
Auckland’s new Enchanted Christmas experience is made for families and will have kids wide eyed from the moment you arrive. Your kids can wander with you through an enchanted forest filled with more than two hundred themed trees, sparkling lights and magical displays that feel straight out of a storybook.
The adventure starts as you approach the lit building, stroll through the cosy European inspired market and step into a forest unlike anything families have seen in New Zealand before.
Families can write their letters or emails to Santa and paint their own decorations instore as a special keepsake to take home. There are plenty of Instagram friendly spots throughout the experience, perfect for capturing the magic with the kids.
You can choose to visit Santa or the Grinch at Santa’s Enchanted Forest, and there are dedicated pet days and times for families who want to include their furry friends. Please note that stairs are required to access the Enchanted Forest.
Open from Sat 25 October to Wednesday 24 December 2025: 9am to 5pm daily. Admission for one adult and one child is $40.00 and an additional adult is $25.00. Every child receives an Enchanted Christmas Souvenir Christmas Bauble and a professionally printed photo with a soft copies emailed to you.
5. Visit Santa at Christmas Lights at MOTAT
MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology in Western Springs is celebrating the spirit of giving with its special Christmas Lights at MOTAT this Festive Season for 12 Spectacular nights from 8pm to 11pm on the following nights: Friday 5 to Monday 8 December; Friday 12 to Monday 15 December; and Friday 19 to Monday 22 December 2025.
The Museum grounds will be transformed with Christmas Lights. The kids can meet Hana Kōkō Santa and his elves in his workshop and share in the magic of Christmas. There’ll be plenty of things to see and do with live entertainment, tram rides lit by fairy lights, carol singers and more!
If you or your loved ones need respite from the noise, sights, smells and stimulation MOTAT will have a low-sensory space set up in Willow Cottage every night.
Entry is $5.00 for children, $10.00 for adults. Kids under 5 years old are FREE but must have a ticket. Christmas Lights is a popular event, there are no door sales and you must book your tickets online.
6. Santa in Residence at Uxbridge
Bring the kids for some FREE festive fun at while Santa is Residence at Uxbridge from Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 December 2025. Meet Santa and his helper, share wish lists, snap a festive pic and every child gets to take a small gift home.
Spots are limited at this FREE event, so each family gets quality Santa time. Choose your hour and drop in anytime during that slot. Book online.
7. Christmas Sailing with Mrs Claus
Meet Santa’s wife Mrs Claus on a Christmas sailing on the Ted Ashby that departs from the Maritime Museum in Auckland City Centre on one of six sailings on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025. Passengers will get a chance to talk to Mrs Claus as she sings and entertains with her special Christmas cheer. Children will also receive a special treat and a day full of festive memories. Find out how to book here.
Tickets for Auckland Residents are $20.00 for children (3 to 14 years), FREE for babies and toddlers (0 to 2 years old) $36.00 for adults, $30.00 for students and seniors.
8. See Santa at Good Planet
Capture your Family Santa Photo in front of Good Planet’s gigantic Christmas Tree. The common area at Good Planet is pet friendly so you can bring your family pet for a photo too!
As well as getting your photo with Santa, you can check out their PYO berries experience, take a train ride around the berry farm and see the new cut baby alpacas.
Santa will be at Good Planet every Saturday in December from Sat 6 Dec to Sat 20 December 2025. Find out what Santa’s visiting times are at Good Planet before you go.
9. See Santa at the Twilight Christmas at Howick Historical Village
Twilight Christmas – Sat 6 Dec 2025: 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Wander through the festively decorated cottages and grounds staged with trees, garlands, and stockings hung by the fire at Howick Historical Village. Meet Santa in the grand Puhi Nui homestead.
Watch live performances from carol singers throughout the evening or join in the Christmas carol sing-a-longs! Browse the mini-market filled with handcrafted pieces and see the Village lit up with twinkling Christmas lights!
Limited door sales are available, bookings are highly recommended.
10. Your local shopping centre
We know sometimes you just want somewhere close to home to visit Santa, so here are the other local shopping centres in Auckland you can find Santa this Christmas. If you want to take the kids to a local Santa parade have a look at Auckland for Kids December 2025 events calendar.
Central Auckland
Head to Santa’s Studio at One Queen Courtyard, Commercial Bay to visit Santa and the Christmas fairy for a photo from 1 to 24 December: 10am to 5pm daily. The modern studio is designed by Wonder and has playful snowballs, sculptural snowmen and a lush leather Christmas tree and Santa will be wearing a fashion-forward custom designed suit. Admission is $30 per session and includes a professionally printed portrait in a custom frame and a $30 Commercial Bay gift voucher to enjoy on shopping or dining during December and January.
Santa photography is at Westfield Newmarket Plus there will be Pet Photography, Baby’s First Christmas and Sensitive Santa Photography sessions too!
Santa is at Sylvia Park. This year, visitors to Santa will receive a unique children’s book “Where’s Holly’s Hat“. Pet photos and Senstive Santa Photo sessions are available on select dates.
East Auckland
Santa Photos at Botany Town Centre at Candyland in The Conservatory (between H&M and Hallensteins).
North Auckland
Visit Santa at Santa’s Wonderland at Milford Shopping Centre on 22 and 23 November 2025, then daily from 29 November to 24 December 2025. So you can get your photos right up to Christmas!
Santa photography at Westfield Albany This year, Westfield Albany have a range of photography sessions to suit everyone, with your choice of: Family and friends session, Sensitive Santa session or Pet Photography sessions.
Northwest Auckland
Santa Photos at NorthWest shopping Centre from Saturday 15 November 2025 to 24 December 2025. The Santa Parade will be at NorthWest on Saturday 15th November 2025.
South Auckland
See Santa at Westfield Manukau City for a pet photo session with your family pet on 19 and 26 November 2025. and 3, 6, 10,13 and 17 December 2025. Or you can book a regular photo family session from 15 November to 24 December 2025.
West Auckland
Santa is at Lynnmall from Friday 5 December to Wednesday 24 December 2025 for Xmas photos!
Santa is at WestCity Waitakere from 15 November to 24 December 2025
* Please check with your local shopping centre Santa’s hours before heading out as he may not be at the shopping centres every day in December, plus you will need to book in advance at some places to visit Santa.
If you have a favourite Santa that we have left off the list, drop us an email to let us know.
Laurelle Santana says
Hi there, I am interested to know if there is a possibility of booking a virtual Santa visit to my company Christmas party the afternoon around 4:30pm Dec 11, Vancouver, Canada, Pacific time.
If I was Santa this year spending the time in New Zealand during the COVID19 pandemic would be a brilliant idea. Having Santa attend our zoom party from the beach in New Zealand would be amazing. Let me know if that is something you would be interested in being able to do for my company.
Regards,
Laurelle Santana
Auckland for Kids says
Hi Laurelle,
Auckland for Kids does not host any virtual Santa visits sorry.
Wishing you a Merry Xmas in Canada!
Carol
AUCKLAND FOR KIDS
Sara says
Additional North Auckland options
Silverdale Mall
Saturday 5th December until Christmas Eve
10:00am – 4:00pm Daily
Situated outside Farmers
Bookings not required
Coast (Whangaparaoa)
10am-4pm right up until Christmas Eve
Bookings not required
Sarah Downs says
We Love Aotearoa Whānau Fun Day (Dec 19):
Don’t miss We Love Aotearoa’s Whānau Fun Day to get your photo taken with Santa, for free! The free, festive event taking place at ASB Showgrounds next Saturday, includes a live set from Stan Walker, pop-up performances, photos with Santa, festive Christmas activities, drift cars, VR experience, games, and more. 10am-3pm.