The July school holidays are here! If they have crept up on you and you are looking for some fun and entertaining ideas to pop on the checklist to keep the kids busy, look no further. We will be dropping FREE events and our top 5 picks below for Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington.

Plus, we know that the school holidays are not cheap for all parents. To make this easier on the pocket, get 30% off parking from 6 July – 21 July enabling you to Do More with the kids & stay sane these school Holidays!

Week 1: 8^th July – 14^th July 2024

AUCKLAND

A way to entertain kids of all ages for FREE in Auckland
Take the kids to celebrate Matariki by participating in Northcote’s free event – Finding the Stars. They will love getting amongst the ‘UV Blacklight’ treasure hunt where they will have the chance to grab a map along with a special UV torch and hunt down the secret word that’s hidden in the starry night to be in to win something special! FYI last one is tonight!

Best Carparks: 50 Northcote Road

Take the kids to the Auckland Museum where the team are hosting their Weird & Wonderful Weekends! The kids will have the opportunity to get in amongst crafts, storytelling and songs all while you can grab a coffee at the cafe while they stay busy creating till their hearts are content!

Best carparks: Parnell Road (Lower), Parnell Road (Upper), 80 Broadway


Story time at Maritime Museum - one for little ones every Friday at 10:30 the Maritime Museum hosts story time perfect for little ones up to the age of 6. The stories are all based around the sea with interactive songs and dance. We’d recommend arriving early and getting a coffee and treat from the café, with free fluffies for little ones with any coffee purchased. You could then walk up to Movenpick for an extra treat. 

Best carparks: Princes Wharf, Viaduct Carpark 

Other FREE Auckland events:
What: Heard Park After Dark
Where: Heard Park
Best carparks: 8 Heather Street, 290 Parnell Road, St Georges Bay Road  

What: Sentinel – Seabirds of Aotearoa Exhibition
Where: NZ Maritime Museum
Best carparks: Princes Wharf, Viaduct Carpark

Auckland cost-friendly events:
Calling all LEGO fan families! Auckland Museum is bringing a LEGO experience like no other with Australian LEGO masters – Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler having created an exhibition called. Relics: A New World Rises – Experience Lego Like Never Before. Suitable for all ages, this will be a winner for everyone in the family!

Best carparks: Parnell Road (Lower), Parnell Road (Upper), 80 Broadway

Aotea Square Ice Rink: Get your skates on everyone! Aotea Square is bringing back the ice-skating rink that everyone has said is their favourite past time during the Winter school holidays! Friday nights the kids can enjoy some iconic beats from the DJ, or if they bring their student I.D they can get a sweet discount upon entry! Let the kids burn some energy while you watch from the sides or send the older ones on their own with friends for the day so you can enjoy a quiet household. Either way this is an event that needs to be on your list!

Best carparks: 89 Greys Ave, St Matthews, 450 Queen Street

Weta Workshop: Create your own Family Crest - For older kids, head to Sky City where they can create their own family crest at the Weta Workshop! Kids can craft and colour their creations & come up with their family motto with the help of the expert crew! There’s also lots of restaurants and cafes in and around Sky City, our favourite is Federal Street Deli.  

Best carpark: Finance Centre, Elliott Street 

Other paid Auckland events:
Five Go on an Adventure
Where: The Pumphouse Theatre
Best carparks: Takapuna Police, Como Street Carpark, The Hurstmere Road Carpark

Feather Bookmark Make Days at the Maritime Museum
Best carparks: Princes Wharf, Viaduct Carpark. 

July School Holidays – Brilliant Seabirds
Best carparks: Princes Wharf, Viaduct Carpark. 

Nature by Night Tours
Where: Sylvan Park
Best carparks: The Milford Shopping Centre Carpark

Night at Auckland Museum
Where: Auckland Museum
Best carparks: Parnell Road (Lower), Parnell Road (Upper), 80 Broadway

 

WELLINGTON 

A way to entertain kids of all ages for FREE in Wellington
If you’ve got little ones, head to Topsy Turvey Play Space for Under 5s on in central Wellington at Capital E at 4 Queens Wharf/. Designed for 0 –5 years olds Topy Turvey is a play event for little ones to explore their senses with their hands, feet, eyes and ears! The space is open from 9.30am - 3.30pm.

Best carparks: Queens Wharf, VSPC, HSBC Tower

Get out and about cycling – the school holidays are a great time to explore with bikes and don’t just think local, if you have a bike rack it’s a great opportunity to load the bikes and explore a new area or park. We’d recommend cycling along Oriental Bay in Wellington.

Best carparks: Chaffers Street, Lower Tory Street, 25a Taranaki Street

Other FREE Wellington events:
Visit Tots to Teens for more school holiday ideas. ok at this website for ideas:

Wellington cost-friendly events:
Get your skates on everyone! The Wellington Ice Rink is back for Winter and perfect the school holidays. Wednesday nights are student nights and the kids can enjoy some iconic beats from the DJ, or if they bring their student I.D they can get a sweet discount upon entry! Let the kids burn some energy while you watch from the sides or send the older ones on their own with friends for the day so you can enjoy a quiet household. Either way this is an event that needs to be on your list!

Best carparks: Queens Wharf, VSPC, HSBC Tower

For older kids, take them to Squishable Science: Science Holiday Science Workshop at Space Place. The event is on the 9th, 10, 16th and 17th July. Kids can get hands on with gooey fun and squaihy discoveries all while leaning about science! The event finishes with a planetarium show at the dome theatre.

Best carparks: Skyline, Plimmer Tower, 35 Boulecott Street

For a rainy-day activity and great for older kids why not play an escape game! There are several in the CBD areas of Auckland and Wellington which offer a great few hours of entertainment racing to escape and solve the clues as fast as possible!  Best of all we have parking available close by, for dashing in and out of rain showers. 

Best carparks: Upper Willis, Leftbank, 138 Ghuznee Street

CHRISTCHURCH

A way to entertain kids of all ages for FREE in Christchurch
For a fun day activity, take the kids to Chch Botanic Gardens, where you can walk around the gardens, take a picnic and take a football! There is also a free event on over the holidays Gnome Quest. Here you need to find the 12 gnomes who have been on holiday and are hiding in the Botanical Gardens. Even better there is a prize pack up for grabs if you can find them all.  The event is on daily until the 21^st July.

Best carparks: Tu Waka Waipapa, 56 Worcester Boulevard, 63 Worcester Boulevard

For a central city activity, head to the Costume Competition at Telling Tales. The event is held on Wednesday the 10th July from 10am – 11am at Five Lanes at the BNZ Centre. This is a great wet weather option being indoors and open to kids up the age of 12 years old. Kids are encouraged to turn up in their best costumes with extra points given for book themed costumes, they’ll be storytelling, fun activities, and spot prizes.

Best carparks: 126 – 130 Hereford Street, The Terrace carpark, The Crossings – 71 Lichfield Street.

For creative kids go to a FREE: DIY Scrunchie Workshop. Here kids can show off their creative side as they make scrunchies to take home or share with friends. Please note the event is for over 9-year-olds only and a caregiver must be present.  The event is being held at on the 4^th floor at the Production Studio, Auahatanga, 60 Cathedral Square.

Best carparks: The Beckenham Baptist Church

Christchurch cost-friendly events:
Who doesn’t love Shrek and Puss in Boots. On at Colombo Lodge, you can take the kids to a live theatre show of everyone's favourite  and funny story tale. The event is on from the 6^th July – 21^st July at 11am – 12pm.

Best carparks: The Beckenham Baptist Church


Dance and roller skate the morning away! The kids will burn off lots of energy (we hope) and have fun dancing at a School Holidays Roller Disco at Riverside Market.  The event is on Saturday 8th July and Saturday 15th July from 9.30 - 11.30am. This is a fun event for all ages and it doesn't matter if you’re a beginner or roller skate pro and don’t worry the fee includes skates and that all important safety gear or you can take your own.

Best carparks: The Terrace car park, 150 Tuam Street,  118 Tuam Street


For a School Holiday favourite head to The Art Gallery Te Puna, for one of their many school holiday workshops, we recommend the Holiday Workshop: Printmaking. This event is on the 10^th – 12th July at 10.30am - 12.30pm and will let kids explore the creative world of print with a Marilyn Webb Inspired Print Making Workshop.  The event is best for kids from age 8 to 12 years old.  

Best carparks: 63 Worchester Boulevard, 56 Worchester Boulevard, The Cranmer Carpark

- Week two coming soon!

If you are heading out and about over the school holidays don’t forget our friends at ParkMate have a fabulous casual parking offer to enjoy 30% off during the school holidays between 11am – midnight, Monday-Sunday. Just enter the promo code SCHOOL into your ParkMate app.  

T&c’S apply - School Holidays (parkmate.co.nz)