The TOP things to do with kids in Auckland

There's over 60 fun, family activities in Auckland

Viaduct family

Here are the BEST things to do with kids in Auckland!

Auckland is one of the most attractive cities in the world ~ with countless beaches, fun harbour and city centre, islands to explore and LOTS of things to do with the kids.  You and your whanau will never be bored with our selection of the best family things to do in Auckland!

Visit Parnell Baths

At 60 meters our salt water lane pool is the largest of its kind in New Zealand making it perfect for competitive and leisure swimmers alike.  The fun continues for those who just want to splash and relax with an adult and family spa pool, interactive aqua playground, toddlers pool and heated lido pool! 

Parnell Baths

Explore Butterfly Creek

A fantastic day out year round, Butterfly Creek is home to NZ’s only giant saltwater crocodiles, Scar and Goldie, plus the Tropical Butterfly House which features over 750 free-flying exotic butterflies, as well as tropical fish, bird and lizards. Be amazed at our brand new exhibit - Dinosaur Kingdom, featuring over 40 dinosaurs, some lifesize that roar and move!

Butterfly Creek dinosaur kingdom


Bespoke Adventure with Social Nature Movement

With a huge range of land and water-based Auckland activities ~ from kids' paddleboard lessons to tramping, climbing, caving or nature tours, our adventures include everything you ever thought possible! We offer one-day discoveries or extended expeditions and we help people of all ages and fitness levels, so you can discover more in the ultimate playground; Mother Nature.

Social Nature Movement


Snowplanet

Snowplanet features real powder snow, three lifts, a terrain park, a magical Winter Wonderland and a separate beginner’s area. Enjoy the panoramic views into the snow dome from Snowplanet’s family friendly 7Summits Restaurant & Bar. Private and group lessons are available for skiing and snowboarding.  All this, just minutes drive from central Auckland!  Have a winter fix anytime of year at Snowplanet!

Snowplanet


Thrillzone Escape Adventure

Get to know the Auckland city centre while playing their Escape Adventure!

A super-fun way to explore where you immerse yourself into a challenging next-level combination of the scavenger hunt, escape room, and augmented reality (AR) around beautiful Auckland CBD!

This outdoor game makes you play incorporated puzzles and code-cracking elements while experiencing exciting AR features and geolocation technology, without the confines of a physical room.

 

 

Escape HQ

If you like puzzles, you will LOVE the adventurous escape rooms at Escape HQ!  Choose from Jail Break, Mountain Blizzard or Udder Graziness ~ or jump onto their Outdoor Escape Adventure!
These are all so much fun and a great thing for everyone in the family to join in on.


Day trip to Waiheke Island

 

It's only a 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland CBD to the sunny, beachy vibe of Waiheke Island.
You can take the car on a Sealink car ferry, that provides transport to both Waiheke and Great Barrier Island.
Or just grab the ferry ~ there are buses and taxis and on-island car or moped hire.  It's only about 1.5km walk from the ferry to the main settlement of Oneroa.  From there you can also hire ebikes for the family ~ a super fun way to get around and explore!

The family can jump on the local EcoZip line, jump on a boat and dive or snorkel, hang by the beach, browse seaside shops and cafes and of course check out the famous Waiheke vineyards.

 Waiheke Island

 

Adrenalin Forest

 

Test your mental and physical abilities at Adrenalin Forest Auckland. The aerial obstacle course includes 100 features with 6 levels of difficulty to work through.  With a number of ways to tackle each obstacle your brain will also be put to the test as you swing, climb and jump your way through the course with a maximum of three hours to complete it. 

The course is a great group activity making it ideal for kids parties as well as a family day out.  Minimum height 140cm.

Adrenalin Forest

 

 

Climb up Sky Tower

 

Okay, you can take a lift up this 328m distinctive hero of Auckland's sky line.  And the views around the city and bays, and even the volcanoes out at sea, from the revolving restaurant at the top are amazing!  There are school holiday activities availabe so ask what's on when you visit.

 

Map of New Zealand
  • Central Otago
  • Auckland
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Coromandel
  • Gisborne
  • Fiordland
  • Marlborough Sounds
  • Manawatu
  • Northland
  • North Canterbury
  • Queenstown
  • South Canterbury
  • Taranaki
  • Southland
  • Taupo
  • Wanaka
  • Waikato
  • Wellington
  • West Coast
  • Whangarei
  • Bay of Islands
  • Tauranga
  • Gisborne
  • Hamilton
  • Napier
  • Kapiti
  • Palmerston North
  • Whanganui
  • New Plymouth
  • Arrowtown
  • Te Anau
  • Akaroa
  • Ashburton
  • Hanmer
  • Kaikoura
  • Methven
  • Mt Cook
  • Oamaru
  • Tekapo
  • Timaru
  • Abel Tasman
  • Motueka
  • Nelson Lakes
  • Blenheim
  • Picton
  • Catlins
  • Gore
  • Stewart Island
  • Central Plateau
  • Invercargill
  • Cromwell
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Westport
  • Glenorchy

Our favourite destinations…

Auckland

New Zealand’s economic heart and biggest city is also an exciting family visitor destination, situated on a sunny harbour with city beaches just minutes away from the CBD. Orientate yourself by heading down to Viaduct Harbour, wandering the waterfront, checking out the super yachts or enjoying the waterfront restaurants. Nearby is the must-visit Sky Tower along with excellent and kid-friendly museums and tons of exciting activities!

Wellington

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital. Here you will find New Zealand's parliament buildings, including the 'Executive Wing', more well-known as 'The Beehive' due to its distinctive shape. Another icon to look out for is the Wellington Tram, which was the main means of public transport between 1878 and 1964.

Christchurch

With a population of around 400,000 Christchurch, in Canterbury, is the South Island ’s largest city, yet much of it has the feel of a small town. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as the Garden City but with the expansive Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens, Port Hills, River Avon and numerous beaches the city certainly has an open, relaxed feel that’s hard to beat.

Queenstown

With its well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s activity adventure capital you’ll never run out of activities and things to do in Queenstown, but you may run out of time! With breathtaking scenery, activities and festivals, cafes and restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, shopping and wineries, this lakeside alpine resort rates as one of the world’s top vacation destinations for all ages and seasons.

Rotorua

Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua, one of sixteen lakes in the area formed by hundreds of thousands of years of eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is renowned for its geothermal activity and top of any activity list is to see the bubbling mud pools that are around the region for yourself. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers a first hand insight into the devastation caused by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera and is a great place to discover steaming volcanic craters and bubbling, spitting  pools of mud!

Nelson and Golden Bay

The Nelson and Golden Bay regions, at the top of the South Island, boast enviable sunshine hours, glorious sandy beaches, safe swimming spots, lots of wildlife to look out for, and Abel Tasman National Park - an absolute must to explore, on foot, by kayak, your own craft or watertaxi.  Nelson is home to a vibrant arts and crafts community with a fabulous Saturday market, and is close to award-winning wineries and family-friendly bike tracks to take you around the coast.

Hawkes Bay

Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and is now known as NZ's Art Deco City.  The Art Deco influence has created a unique city – nowhere else can you see such a varied concentration of art deco style. With over 2,200 sunshine hours a year, Napier is a year-round holiday destination with countless activities to entertain the kids – there's days of entertainment on Marine Parade alone, plus numerous other family-friendly trips and activities.  Add to that the beaches, walks and flat cycle paths, outdoor cafes and entertainment, and you have a perfect holiday destination!

Northland

Beautiful, unspoiled beaches, fishing, historic gum fields, kauri forests – the Far North has it all. With subtropical temperatures, it's often known as ‘the Winterless north', with warm, humid summers and mild winters.
Gateway to the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a pretty, lively beachside town and a perfect base for your family holiday. It’s your start point for Bay of Island adventures including day cruises, sailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and reef or wreck diving.