The best places to visit Santa this Christmas in Auckland in 2023

By: Auckland for Kids
Updated: Friday 17 November 2023

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. Snowplanet

Visit Santa at Snowplanet from 25 November 2023 to 24 December 2023 in the snow. Remember to dress up warm as you will be in the snow dome, and it is a chilly -5 degrees to make Santa feel at home. We like visiting Santa in the Winter Wonderland at Snowplanet, as not only do the kids get to meet Santa, but they get to have fun playing in the snow. Plus we didn’t seem to get as many questions asking “Is Santa really real?” when we visited him here.

Santa’s Family Fun Visit includes:
Visiting Santa in his Winter Wonderland Cabin in the snowdome, one printed group photo per family and 1 lollipop for each child.
Costs are $15 for a 1 person family, $28 for a 2 person family, $39 for a 3 person family, $48 for a 4 person family and extra persons are $12, Children under 2 are FREE with a paying adult.

Santa’s Snow Fun add-on includes:
You can add on 30 minutes exploring Santa’s Winter Wonderland to your Santa Visit which includes tobogganing and snow tubing for an extra $29 per person, $19 for under 5s and FREE for under 2s with a full paying adult. There is a dedicated tobogganing track with an ice archway and two custom-built, ice-walled tubing tracks to shoot down, and you can have up to 5 rides.

Online bookings are essential as the number of Santa sessions are limited to 4 or 5 families every 15 minutes, so the wait in the snow is not too long for families with young children.

2. 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 nightsfrom Wednesday to Saturday nights from Wednesday 6 December 2023 to Sunday 23 December 2023.

The Museum grounds will be transformed with Christmas Lights. The kids can meet Santa and his elves 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!

MOTAT will also have a low-sensory cottage to provide a comfortable environment for families who want a safe and quieter space during this event.

Entry is $2.00 for children, kids under 5 years old are FREE and $5.00 for adults.

3. 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. You will get a chance to talk to Mrs Claus as she sings and entertains with her special Christmas cheer. Children will also receive a goody bag, museum scavenger hunt, and a commemorative ticket that acts as a frame for a polaroid taken by Mrs Claus’s helper elf on board. Find out how to book here.

4. Santa's Enchanted Forest at Smith & Caugheys

Santa’s Enchanted Forest Experiences are at Smith & Caughey’s in Queen Street from 11 November 2023 to 24 December 2023. Smith & Caughey’s is one of our favourite places to visit Santa. Children can enjoy the enchanted forest lights and displays before they visit Santa. Plus you can enjoy their Christmas window displays before or after your visit.

The booked experience at $25 in November and $29 in November per child includes a visit to the Enchanted Forest, a collectable Christmas tree bauble, a visit to see Santa, downloadable photos and a keepsake photo. Note, the non-booked experiences are no longer available.

4. Santa's Grotto at Rainbow's End

At Kidz Kingdom in Rainbow’s End on weekends and holidays at Rainbow’s End from 28 November 2020 to 23 December 2020, the kids will be greeted by Santa’s Elves before visiting Santa’s Grotto, plus afterwards they can play in the snow on his sleigh. Note if you visit on weekdays you can visit the Elves in Santa’s magical grotto but Santa will be busy preparing for his rounds.

Entry to Santa’s Grotto includes your entrance to the Kidz Kingdom for $39.99 for kids aged 2 to 8 or $49.99 to $54.99 for a Child Superpass for kids aged 2 to 13 years old. Parents accompanying children need a part entry ticket which is from $10 to $19 depending on when you visit and if you want a Superpass to go on the rides is $54.99 to $64.99. A photographer is on site so you can purchase a Santa photo memento of your visit with the kids starting at $10 per photo.

5. See Santa at the Twilight Christmas evening at Howick Historical Village

Join the Villagers as Howick Historical Village celebrates Christmas on Saturday 2 December from 5pm to 9:30pm.

Wander through the festively decorated cottages and grounds staged with trees, garlands, and stockings hung by the fire with care! Meet Santa in the grand Puhi Nui homestead.

Plus you can grab a bite to eat at a variety of food trucks and enjoy live carol singing performances! Limited door sales are available, bookings are highly recommended.

6. 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 2023 events calendar.

Central Auckland

Santa photography is at Westfield Newmarket from Tuesday 14 November 2023 to Sunday 24 December 2023. Plus there will be Pet Photography, Baby’s First Christmas and Sensitive Santa Photography sessions too!

Santa is at Sylvia Park from Saturday 18 November 2023 to Christmas Eve on Sunday 24 December 2023 outside Lush & Glassons. 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 from Saturday 18 November 2023 until Sunday 24 December 2023 at Candyland in The Conservatory (between H&M and Hallensteins). Skip the que and book online.

North Auckland

Visit Santa at Santa’s Wonderland at Milford Shopping Centre daily from 25 November to 24 December 2023 from 11am to 4pm each day.

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 session.

Northwest Auckland

Santa Photos at NorthWest shopping Centre from Saturday 18 November 2023 to Thursday 24 December 2023* and a Sensory session with reduced lights on Monday 4 December 2023 and a Pet Photos in the sleigh on Saturday 25 November, 2 December, 9 December and 16 December from 8:00am to 9:30am. The Santa Parade will be at NorthWest on Saturday 18th November.

South Auckland

See Santa at Westfield Manukau City arrive on Sat 11 November 2023 or book in for a photo session later in November or December 2023.

West Auckland

Santa at WestCity Waitakere from Saturday 18 November until Thursday 24 December 2023*

Santa at Lynnmall from Saturday 2 December 2023 to Sunday 24 December 2023.* This year Lynnmall will not be offering pet photos with Santa.

* 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, let us know in the comments below.

6. The Santa Claus Show '23

Tim Bray Theatre Company’s loveable Christmas show The Santa Claus Show ’23 is the perfect event for kids who want to see Santa, but don’t want a one-on-one chat with him. Kids are welcome to dress up in the spirit of Christmas and join the Costume Parade prior to the show too!

Join Kelly and Alan on an epic adventure dashing through the snow to the North Pole, with singing and laughing all the way. Find out the true meaning of Christmas, with special guest appearances from Santa’s chief elf and Mr Claus himself.

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