Queens Birthday Weekend What's on Guide:
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June 2020
Our pick of the best things to do this long weekend for families, kids and teenagers in Auckland, New Zealand
- By: Auckland for Kids
- Published:
Auckland Zoo reopens
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Queens Birthday Monday 1 June 2020 with 3 arrival time slots each day:
9:30am to 11am; 11am to 12:30pm and 12:30pm to 3:45pm.
You must arrive during this time slot but can stay at the zoo until closing time of 5pm.
Visit Auckland Zoo it’s first weekend it is open at Alert Level 2. You will need to book your ticket before you visit.
MOTAT reopens with half price admission during Level 2
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Queens Birthday Monday 1 June 2020: 10am to 4pm daily
MOTAT reopened to the public this week with half price admission during Level 2. Their spacious fun sites are an advantage for maintaining safe distancing, but some smaller spaces have had to be closed during Level 2 to ensure safety. This includes model railway and trams. There is still plenty of reason though to get the kids out of the house and make a visit, including two new exhibitions Science Photographer of the Year and Parapara Ingenious Innovation in Aotearoa.
At Level 2 a one-day Family Pass is only $22.50 for 2 adults and up to 4 children. Plus kids under 5 and NZ SuperGold Card holders are FREE.
Auckland Museum reopens
Wildlife Photographer of the Year FREE exhibition at Auckland Museum
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June 2020: 10am to 5pm daily
Visit Auckland Museum and see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition direct from the London Natural History Museum. Entry to Auckland Museum and this exhibition is FREE to all visitors during Level 2. You will need to register your visit with the NextUp app, which creates a virtual queue and will send you a text when its your turn to enter the Museum. Weird & Wonderful, Volcanoes and The Kai room will be closed. However, the museum cafe and store will be open.
Lighting up the Museum for Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa - Samoan Language Week
Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May 2020 evenings
Talofa Lava! For Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa, or Samoan Language Week, Auckland Museum will light up the Museum in red, white and blue, the colours of the Samoan Flag in the evenings.
Visit SkyTower
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Queen’s Birthday Monday 1 June 2020: 9am to 9pm daily
Visit Auckland’s beloved icon Sky Tower in the weekend, which is safely welcoming back visitors in Alert Level 2. Plus help support a NZ local business.
Visit an Auckland playground
All long weekend
While we can go further than our local neighbourhood, why not take the kids to check out some of Auckland’s playgrounds.
Matakana Farmers Market
Saturday 30 May 2020: 8am to 1pm
Take a drive up to Matakana with the family and visit the farmers market next to the river.
Visit your local library
Take the kids to get some new books out from the library. Please check Auckland Libraries website to find out which 32 libraries of the 55 libraries have reopened and to find out what their opening hours are for Saturday and Sunday.
Note, all libraries except for Botany Library will be closed on Queens Birthday, Monday 1 June.
Escape HQ is reopen
Queens Birthday Weekend
Take the family to see if you can escape in time by working together as a team. Plus help support a local NZ local business.
Visit Parakai Springs
Saturday 30 May 2020: 10am to 8pm
Sunday 31 May 2020: 10am to 7pm
Queens Birthday Monday 1 June 2020: 10am to 7pm
Take the kids to enjoy the indoor and outdoor naturally heated hot pools. Kids over 8 years old can enjoy the hydro water slides too. Plus help support a local NZ local business.
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery
Theo School and NZ Art FREE Exhibition
Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May 2020: 10am to 4:30pm
Visit the Te Uru gallery and see the Theo Schoon and NZ Art exhibition.
Visit Snowplanet
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 2020: Sessions start at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm each day.
Hit the slopes to go skiing or snowboarding indoors with the family at Snowplanet this weekend. Plus help support a local NZ local business.
The Impossible Garden by Emma Bass
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June 2020: 10:30am to 4pm daily
See Emma Bass floral photography at historic Alberton as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography 2020.
Visit Rainbow's End
Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 2020: 10am to 5pm
Visit Rainbow’s End on Queen’s Birthday Weekend for fun on the rides. Please note that Kidz Kingdom is closed at Level 2 but the rides in the main park are open.
Parnell Farmers Market
Saturday 30 May 2020: 8:30am to 12pm
Check out the Parnell Farmer’s market and then go for a stroll afterwards with the kids in the Auckland Domain.
Butterfly Creek is open
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May and Queens Birthday Monday 1 June 2020: 9:30am to 5pm
Butterfly Creek is reopen during Alert Level 2 to visit, and has 5% off all day passes when booking online. Plus help support a local NZ local business.
Rocket Ropes is open
Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May 2020: 10am to 4pm (with the last climb starting at 2pm.)
Rockets Ropes is reopen during Alert Level 2, and has 20% off any adult or child climb until the end of May. Just use the promo code OPEN20 when you book online.
The Maritime Museum is open
Saturday 30 May, Sunday 31 May 2020 and Monday 1 June 2020: 10am to 4pm (with the last entry at 3pm)
Visit the Maritime Museum this Queens Birthday weekend. All of the galleries will be open, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, not all experiences such as heritage sailings will be available. You can watch the midday cannon fire at 12 noon. Visitors will be required to register before entry.
WEEKEND ONLINE EVENTS
Hansel & Gretel RNZB Live in your living room encoure performance
Saturday 30 May 2020: 1:30pm
Sunday 31 May 2020: 10:30am
FREE to stream at home the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s performance of Hansel & Gretel.
Macbeth | Shakespear's Globe
FREE to stream production of Macbeth by Shakespear’s Globe London. Recommended for kids and teens aged 11 years plus.
The Winter's Tale | Shakespear's Globe
FREE to stream production of The Winter’s Tale by Shakespear’s Globe in London.
