October School Holidays and the arrival of spring is the perfect time to venture into Auckland Zoo, immerse yourself in nature and spend quality time with your whanau!

These holidays, through Wildlife Wonders, the Zoo is proud to be supporting Mental Health Awareness Week, and its wonderful theme ‘Explore your way to wellbeing’ – Whāia te ara hauora, Whitiora.

On arrival, collect your Wildlife Wonders activity sheet to start exploring the Zoo and the ‘five ways of wellbeing’ stops. At each stop you can get active, learn, connect, or give (to yourself and others!) and also learn about how animals keep themselves well.

After your outdoor exploration, venture inside to The Domes. Here you can dance to your heart’s (and lungs!) content at the silent disco, build giant foam homes, enjoy cool craft activities, contribute to the community artwork wall and support a conservation project, or just chill out!

Make your mark on the world’s highest colouring wall!  In the October school holidays Sky Tower unveils its giant 6.5-metre-long colouring wall, 186 metres above the ground!

Complete with dinosaurs, animals, magical fairies, sports themes and even space aliens, this exciting new event is fun for the whole family.

Where else can you colour on the walls?
#colourinthesky

For more information and a special offer see: https://skycityauckland.co.nz/offers/school-holidays/colour-in-the-sky-ak/

Please be advised that the Sky Tower may be closed from time to time due to adverse weather conditions.

Join in the “Hello Japan Kids Japanese Festival 2019” during the school holidays  to explore Japanese culture!

Enjoy free Japanese animation movies and fun free activities for kids and families.

ACTIVITIES:

The schedule of activities for each day of the Festival are:
10:00am to 2pm Bilingual Manga Reading Room
11:30am to 1:30pm Origami Workshop in the Helen Clark Room
12pm to 1pm Yo-Yo Balloon Game in Freyberg Square
12pm to 1pm Japanese Calligrapher in the Helen Clark Room
12:10pm Taiko Drum Performance and Trail in Freyberg Square
12:30pm Mini Japanese Lesson in the Pioneer Women’s Hall

FILMS:

No booking is required for the films. All films will be shown in English. The film schedule is as follows:

Films on 3 October 2019
10:30am My Neighbour Totoro (1988 Studio Ghibli, 86 mins, rating G)
1:00pm Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017 M.F.P, 102min long, rating PG)

Films on 4 October 2019
10:30am Mirai (2018 Studio Chizu,  100min long, rating PG)
1:00pm Spirited Away (2001 Studio Ghibli,  125min  long, rating PG)

Presented by Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland Council and Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland.

As Aladdin vies for the heart of the beautiful princess Jasmine, he must contend with the dastardly Abanazar and convince the sultan he is worthy of his daughter’s hand in marriage. Perhaps the help of magic lamp will help him fulfill his dreams…

‘Aladdin’ is the pantomime reconstruction of the classic story and includes a variety of traditional pantomime tropes: highly energetic comedic routines, larger than life characters, and of course – a little bit of magic! There really is something for the whole family.

The junior members of the Hawkins Youth Theatre Company bring this classic tale to life these school holidays!

Search the Navy Museum for objects, solve riddles and complete activities in a  trusty travel booklet. Use your newfound knowledge to create your very own travel plan of where you will want to visit and who you’ll meet on your journey. Then craft a paper fold-able camera to capture all your memories.

Suitable for children aged 3 years plus.

Parental supervision required.

Set in the heart of the City of Sails, New Zealand’s biggest on-water boat show showcases more than 200 domestic and international marine businesses, including dozens of vessel manufacturers and boat brokers.

Perfectly timed to lead into the summer boating season, Auckland On Water Boat Show is the only boating expo in New Zealand where visitors can experience such a wide range of vessels on and off the water as well as a host of accessories, from outboard motors, to fishing gurus, to sailing gear to watersports toys.

The show has become known across Australasia for its huge selection of boats and encompasses everything from large luxury motorboats to New Zealand-built trailer boats and sailing yachts.

Dedicated to exposing discrimination in the art world, in politics and in the film and music industries, the Guerrilla Girls is an anonymous collective of feminist activist artists. Formed as a collective more than 30 years ago, the Guerrilla Girls’ gorilla-mask costumes, bold visual language and frank, humorous messages have rendered them iconic in the history of art and as part of wider social movements. Guerrilla Girls: Reinventing the ‘F’ Word – Feminism! follows the collective’s artistic practice from 1984 until 2016 and explores how they employ bold, fun and provocative poster art to criticise ongoing biases in art and society.

The exhibition is recommended for teenagers aged 13 years plus as there is some mature subject matter relating to oversexualisation of Hollywood and reproductive rights. 

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm until Tuesday 15 October 2019.

Image credits: Guerrilla Girls © George Lange 1990

It’s screamingly good fun for all ages these Spooky School Holidays at Rainbow’s End!

Spooky Fun for the Little Ones in Kidz Kingdom:

A tiny bit spooky and a whole lot of fun, Kidz Kingdom has plenty of spooky treats to keep the little ones laughing in-between rides.

Join Witchy-Poo the not so scary witch for story time. Or maybe your little one is a boss with The Floss, and would love to get their  groove on to some monster tunes at our Monster Mash Disco.  Afterwards they can visit the spooky friends on Candy Cane Lane and tell them their best joke, show them their best scary face, or give them your best witchy cackle in exchange for treats!

For older children Manic Manor: The Witches Lair Edition is back:

The Pop-up haunted walk through attraction, Manic Manor has been taken over by witches.  Manic Manor daytime walk through is a spookily fun thrill great for pre-teens and teens,  or if you’ve got teens who love an adrenaline hit, upgrade their day pass to include a Dark Rides Evening Event where Manic Manor turns into a  truly hair raising Halloween experience.

Come along to discover how to make rope from cabbage tree and harakeke leaves and create your own miniature raft made from natural plant materials at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

When you’re done, pick up an Epic Voyages adventure hunt sheet and explore the Gardens.

Suitable for ages 5+. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times as assistance may be needed.

Drop in any time between 10am to 12pm.

Carried Away: Bags Unpacked showcases over 150 individual bags from Auckland Museum’s collection, many on display for the first time.

Every bag has a history, a story to tell – from haute couture fashion to cultural traditions. Bags can convey social standing, practical needs or be a statement of art.

From curious creations such as an albatross foot purse and bear gut bag with fur trim, to taonga imbued with Māori and Pacific cultural values such as kete and bilum, the exhibition explores the stories associated with their creation and the people who used them.

Carried Away: Bags Unpacked exhibition is on until 1 December 2019 in the Special Exhibition Hall.

Come and solve the MOTAT Mystery these school holidays.

The mysterious and valuable Golden MacGuffin has gone missing and MOTAT needs your help!  Your young detective will step into the shoes of a forensic investigator, and see if they can solve the MOTAT Mystery by investigating the crime scene and gathering clues to catch the culprit – and earn their MOTAT Detective Badge!

Recommended for ages 6 to 12 years.

MOTAT will also have all of its regular things to see and do as well: exhibitions, heritage tram rides, model railways and more.

Explore Pacific and European Voyaging traditions and get to know the different whakaterenga (navigation) tools that helped voyagers travel te moana (the ocean).

Make a Toroa (albatross) puppet and star chart to take home. Head off with a map on a gallery trail .

Cost: $5 per child – no booking required.

These activities are only on weekdays in the October school holidays.

See the PJ Masks® 25 minute stage show in the school holidays.

Plus there will be Meet and Greet opportunities before each show.

10:00 – 10:30am: Meet & Greet
11:00 – 11:25am: Stage Show
12:00 – 12:30pm: Meet & Greet
1:00 – 1:25pm: Stage Show

No booking required. This event is on a first in first served basis.

Based on the series of children’s picture books about “The Little Yellow Digger” by Betty and Alan Gilderdale and adapted for the stage by Tim Bray. When the little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the job…plus other fun adventures of this tenacious machine.

Stories featured in the show are “The Little Yellow Digger saves the Whale”, “The Little Yellow Digger at the Zoo”, “The Little Yellow Digger”, “The Little Yellow Digger and the Bones”, and “The Little Yellow Digger goes to School”.

Costume Parade: Encourage your children to dress up as their favourite character from The  Little Yellow Digger for the onstage Costume Parade just prior to the start of the  holiday shows.

Recommended for children aged 3 to 10 years old.

These school holidays the kids can take flight with Bomb, Red, Chuck and friends from Angry Birds and join ‘Bird Island Academy!’ at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Meet and Greet Bomb or Red from 12pm to 3pm each day.
Activity Map and Trail  Begin your Bird Island Academy challenge with an activity map, then venture past the sea creatures while learning about the ocean that surrounds us. At the end of the journey, the kids will get their bespoke Angry Birds 2 certificate stamped to certify them as an official graduate of the Bird Island Academy!

Open daily from 9.30am-5pm (last entry at 4pm).

Disney’s Dream Big, Princess Photo Exhibition is a curated collection of inspirational photography of real-life women and girls across the world dreaming big!

The free  exhibition reflects the importance of choosing your own path and showcases spectacular imagery from a range of international photographers, featuring the individual dreams and stories of young girls across the globe.

Come join Northern School of Performing Arts in the Swamp these October school holidays!

Based on the Oscar-winning smash-hit film, Shrek. Everyone’s favourite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacular turning the world of fairy tales upside down in an all singing, all dancing, must see musical comedy. Join Shrek, the unlikely hero and Donkey, as they set off on their quest to rescue Princess Fiona from her tower, guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon. Add the fabulous Lord Farquuad into the mix, a gang of fairy tale misfits, and a Gingerbread Man with attitude, and you have an irresistible mix of adventure, laughter and romance – guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages! See bookings page for all performance dates and times.

Meet and Greets with cast after all 2pm matinee performances.

Based on the series of children’s picture books about “The Little Yellow Digger” by Betty and Alan Gilderdale and adapted for the stage by Tim Bray. When the little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the job…plus other fun adventures of this tenacious machine.

Stories featured in the show are “The Little Yellow Digger saves the Whale”, “The Little Yellow Digger at the Zoo”, “The Little Yellow Digger”, “The Little Yellow Digger and the Bones”, and “The Little Yellow Digger goes to School”.

Costume Parade: Encourage your children to dress up as their favourite character from The  Little Yellow Digger for the onstage Costume Parade just prior to the start of the  holiday shows.

Recommended for children aged 3 to 10 years old.

Ahoy ye families!

Grab a torch and join Auckland Museum’s adventurers and suffer a sailor’s life on-board, as you navigate the southern oceans with Cook and company.

It’s going to be all hands on deck as you learn how to behave in His Majesty’s Royal Navy – avoid the dreaded cat o’ nine tails and sample some delightful 18th century naval food. Mmmm, pease porridge, anyone?

Discover stories and traditions of tangata whenua as encountered by that first bewildered bunch of seafarers. And how do you communicate if you don’t speak the same language? Try to dodge muddles and mix-ups once we reach the Pacific.

Have you got what it takes? Batten down the hatches and join in the fun in this overboard quest.

Night at the Museum includes access to the new exhibition Voyage to Aotearoa: Tupaia and the Endeavour.

Come join Northern School of Performing Arts in the Swamp these October school holidays!

Based on the Oscar-winning smash-hit film, Shrek. Everyone’s favourite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacular turning the world of fairy tales upside down in an all singing, all dancing, must see musical comedy. Join Shrek, the unlikely hero and Donkey, as they set off on their quest to rescue Princess Fiona from her tower, guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon. Add the fabulous Lord Farquuad into the mix, a gang of fairy tale misfits, and a Gingerbread Man with attitude, and you have an irresistible mix of adventure, laughter and romance – guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages! See bookings page for all performance dates and times.

Meet and Greets with cast after all 2pm matinee performances.