The Best Family Activities in Auckland and Wellington!
We understand that trying to find an activity that the whole family loves can be tricky! Especially when all your little ones have their own ideas of what would make for the best day! We’ve put together ten family activities, (five in Auckland and five in Wellington) that are great for summer weekends or rainy days when you just need to get everyone out of the house! The only question is, which do you start with first?
Auckland
Treasure Island
Of course, topping our list of best family friendly activities in Auckland this summer has to be our own, Treasure Island. Just five minutes from Auckland Airport, Treasure Island is Australasia's largest adventure golf course with two 18-hole golf courses! These aren’t your average golf courses, being adventure golf, you’ll be putting through caves, over waterfalls and on haunted pirate ships!
Being outside we are best to visit during dry days, but we’re open 364 days a year so if you little ones need to burn off some steam on a cloudy day you know we’ll be open! And we’ve got family passes to help make your day more affordable, two adults and two children or one adult and three children can play for $50, plus if you want to stay for another round, it’s half price!
Rainbow’s End
Family of adrenaline junkies? Rainbow’s End is New Zealand’s top theme park and is a great family day out come rain or shine, thanks to their undercover/inside Kidz Kingdom - a mini amusement park for kids eight and under and Rainbow Playlab the new entertainment centre with VR experiences, escape rooms and arcades. In the main park you’ll find bumper boat rides, log flumes, roller coasters and, you know we love all things pirates, so we’ll be checking out Pacifica, their new pirate ship swing! To celebrate this new arrival, they’ve got 50 Days of Summer Daily Deals for you!
Butterfly Creek
Our next-door neighbours! Butterfly Creek is home to all sorts of animals! From porcupines and meerkats to kiwis and the resident saltwater crocs Scar and Goldie! Everyday you can check out the nine free animal encounters, including encountering tarantulas and eels, and if you’re real animal lovers you can go behind the scenes and hang out with the otters, tamarin monkeys and meerkats in the private animal encounters! If your little one wants to be the next Attenborough, check out their Junior Keeper programmes where kids can be zookeepers for the day. Butterfly Creek is open every day in the school holidays and Wednesday to Sunday during termtime.
Odysseum Auckland
Looking for a family activity in Auckland’s CBD? Let us introduce you to Odysseum, challenge your mind, unleash your senses and explore the extraordinary with their mind-bending sensory mazes and experiences. Be spooked in the Doom Room (one for the older children) or get a hit of nostalgia in the retro arcade!
Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s
Home to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest penguin colony, a turtle rescue centre, shark tunnel, replica of Scott’s hut and an indoor playground, Auckland aquarium, Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s is one of the most fun things you can do in Auckland as a family - or we reckon so anyway! And since it’s inside it doesn’t matter if the rain decides it’s going to make an appearance! Want to add another unforgettable experience to your day? How about chilling with the penguins or if you’re super brave swimming with the sharks?
Wellington
Pirate’s Cove
No Wellington summer is complete without a round of adventure golf at Pirate’s Cove in Porirua! When it comes to family friendly activities our adventure golf course should be at the top of your list. No experience is needed to take on our pirate- themed golf course and it’s great fun for all the family whether you’re two or 82. There’s no need to book, unless you want to bring the whole family or you want to host a party and have private use of the BBQ facilities! Get outside, get competitive and round off the day with an ice-cream!
Wētā Workshop
Want to learn more about iconic films like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar? Then head to Wētā Workshop. Home to a team of creative artisans who have helped bring these films to life, the guided tour through the workshop will teach you all about making movie effects, costumes, makeup and miniatures!
Wellington Botanic Garden
Take a ride in the cable car from the streets of Wellington city centre up to the top of the botanic gardens and take in the amazing view. Stroll through the gardens, feed the ducks, smell the roses, learn about the natural world in The Discovery Garden and look out for the sculptures that are dotted around (three of which are available to buy!). Discover more about the night sky at Space Place, take a guided tour to search for glow worms or just let the little ones run around the playground! There’s plenty to do at the Botanical Gardens and lots of places to grab a drink or stop for something to eat too!
Scorching Bay Beach
Sheltered from the northerly wind, this sandy inner-harbour bathing beach is a popular Wellington spot in the summer to swim, sunbathe and watch the ships as they enter and leave the harbour. Facilities wise you’ve got everything you need for a family day out: plenty of parking, changing facilities including an outdoor shower, a grassy area for picnics, playground and a cafe!
Wainuiomata Summer Swimming Pool
Situated amongst rose gardens, shrub beds and native bush, Wainuiomata Summer Swimming Pool is the place to head to as a family on a hot summer’s day! You’ll find four heated outdoor pools, a spa for the adults to relax and Splash Zone which features the Aquarun, aqua toys and Hydroslide - an 80m open air waterslide that will whizz you through the bush!
