It’s time to plan your family holiday fun
Whether you are out and about exploring the motu, or planning a staycation, we have you covered!
Check out our great range of July holiday activities and destinations – there’s something for every family.
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Wrap Up For Winter School Holiday Fun
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Richie & Gemma McCaw’s Top Tips For Family Travel
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Protected: Explore The World Without Leaving New Zealand
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Mini Itinerary: 4 Days On South Island’s West Coast
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Protected: Made To Share Nature Experiences In Aotearoa
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What’s on screens these holidays
What’s on the small home screen, and the big movie screen?
Whether you are heading out to the local movie theatre, or relaxing at home, there are some great new movies out.
Before you go, be sure to check any Covid restrictions that may be in place at your destination of choice.
In a cinema near you from 30 June 2022
In cinemas’ now
Revoiced in Te Reo Māori in a cinema near you from 23 June 2022
Streaming now on Apple +
School holiday activities
There’s so much fun to be had these holidays – check out what’s on offer around the motu.
See company websites for T&Cs
Urupare/React – hands-on fun discovering how energy works
Location: Corner Great North Road & Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland
When: 9 to 24 July 2022
What: MOTAT’s hōtoke/winter school holiday experience offers hands-on fun that celebrates actions, reactions and how energy is transferred. Stack, whack, build and collide your way through a variety of exciting activities while discovering concepts such as gravity, momentum and energy. There’s something for all ages so bring the whole whānau.
Your Destination for Fun Activities in Auckland!
Location: 488 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland
When: 10am – 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday and 10am – 8pm Thursday to Saturday
What: Take a journey to the edge of reality with our multiplayer Virtual Reality gaming experiences or one of our unique escape games. Whether you’re escaping rainy days or looking for adventure activities you’ve never tried before, Thrillzone is the place to be!
Splash some colour around at Wellington’s Capital E
Location: 488 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland
When: 10am – 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday and 10am – 8pm Thursday to Saturday
What: Get your tamariki crafty in Capital E’s $15pp July School Holiday workshops.
- 13 July – Pom Pom Workshop: learn to make fluffy pom pom accessories
- 20 July – Tie Dye Workshop: create different tie dying techniques and colourful swirls on clothing
The best snow days are at Snowplanet!
Location: Snowplanet, 91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland
When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 12pm to 9pm, Wednesday – 12pm to 4pm, Friday – 10am to midnight, Saturday and Sunday – 10am to 10pm
Cost: From $19pp
What: Play, slide, tube and have fun in a Winter Wonderland.
Take time out at Snowplanet’s Winter Wonderland – a safe, family-friendly alpine village with snow-capped trees and fun activities. Set apart from skiers and snowboarders, there are two snow tubing tracks, a tobogganing area and plenty of play space for the family to enjoy a unique experience in the snow!
The temperature inside the snow dome is on average, around -5ºC. Make sure you bring suitable warm clothing including boots and gloves are required. Limited stock is available for hire.
Showbiz Christchurch’s 3 Day Musical Theatre Workshops
Location: St Asaph Street, Christchurch
When: 11 to 13 July and 14 to 16 July 2022
What: Have three fun-filled days getting to know Showbiz and getting more comfortable and confident as a musical theatre performer. Topics covered include dance, singing, acting and how to audition. Suitable for Primary and Intermediate school children aged 8-13 years. Please note that we will be holding a separate Workshop for high school students from July 18-20 with lower group numbers.
Rainbow’s End Winter Lights – special family friendly twilight sessions
Location: 2 Clist Crescent, Manukau, Auckland
When: 4.30pm to 8.30pm every night of the school holidays
Cost: $44.99 Adult, $39.99 Child or stay on as a FREE Spectator after your daytime session.
What: Rainbow’s End Winter Lights feature your favourite rides plus Kidz Kingdom Castle, Gold Rush Town and the newly refurbished Log Flume Enchanted Forest sparkling with fairy lights! Family friendly Twilight Sessions start on 10 July and run every night of the school holidays from 4.30pm until 8.30pm.
Last year sold out, so book early!
Alice in Wonderland meets winter right in the heart of Auckland City!
Location: Aotea Square, Central Auckland
When: From 24 June to 31 July 2022
Cost: Enjoy artworks & performances for free, The Snugs and Aotea Square Ice Rink are paid activities.
What: Aotea Square is transforming into a winter wonderland! The Aotea Square Ice Rink & Ice Slide returns, but with a twist – an amazing lighting installation. The Snugs, the most Instagram-able dining experience in town, have a special school holidays menu, plus there will be awesome artworks including a larger-than-life neon mushroom forest, interactive performances & more.
Goode Brothers Pizza Making Classes
Location: Goode Brothers Botany, NorthWest or New Lynn, Auckland
When: 11 am weekdays during school holidays
Cost: Only $15 per child
What: Let your little ones create magic in the kitchen at our daily pizza making classes – the perfect activity for siblings, play dates or just so you can get some peace and quiet (and something tasty for yourself…)
Each class is hands on, full of fun and the best part, they get to munch down their creations fresh out the oven – bellissimo!
Your Destination for Fun Activities in Queenstown!
Location: 53 Shotover Street, Central Queenstown
When: 10am to 9pm daily
What: Take a journey to the edge of reality with our multiplayer Virtual Reality gaming experiences or try one of our adrenaline-fuelled attractions. Whether you’re escaping rainy days or looking for adventure activities you’ve never tried before, Thrillzone is the place to be!
Learn what makes the windiest, driest and most significant mass of ice in the world so extraordinary
Location: 38 Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport
When: Open daily 9am – 4.30pm
What: Discover the International Antarctic Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
We love the Antarctic, so we want to share its wonder and need for preservation. Our centre is an interactive experience where you can ride an amphibious snow vehicle, be immersed in another world by our 4D Theatre, brave -18°C windchill in our Storm Dome, Go off-road in a Hagglund, watch rescued Kororā play & feed and befriend a husky. Our hope is you leave inspired by our passionate advocates.
See it. Love it. Save it.
Auckland Family Quiz Nights!
Location: a local near you
When: July school holidays
What: Get ready for a bit of competitive family fun across Auckland these school holidays.
We’ve compiled a bunch of kid-friendly questions that the whole family can enjoy – it’s a win-win with you getting to visit your favourite local and the kids getting in some general knowledge fun, dinner and some great prizes up for grabs. A different quiz is run each week of the school holidays at multiple Auckland local bars.
Explore the Sculptureum wonders half price!
Location: 40 Omaha Flats Rd, Matakana, Auckland
Cost: Online prices just $85/family (2 adults and up to 3 children)
What: Enjoy half-price family passes during the July school holidays. and escape to a world of creative wonder and discover over 650 art works from local and international artists. 1.4km of accessible paths and an award winning restaurant plus casual food at Freddie’s Outdoor Kitchen. Visit the bunnies and turtles at Rabbiton and discover a variety of birds as you explore.
Feel the thrill at Auckland Adventure Park
Location: 2104 East Coast Road, Silverdale, Auckland
Cost: Use the code ‘kidspot’ and save 10% on tickets and day passes
What: Auckland Adventure Park has something for everyone these school holidays! Race on the Downhill Luge, fly along the Dual Zipline, experience the 4D cinema or soar on the Shooting Star vertical bungy. There is a Kids Play Zone – a fully covered adventure playground with amusement rides and more! Then chill out in Area 51 Cafe for some tasty bites and good coffee.
Use the code ‘kidspot’ to get 10% off on tickets and day passes. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer valid till 25th July 2022
Queenstown’s must-do winter adventure
Location: in the forest on Queenstown’s iconic Bob’s Peak (Gondola Hill)
Cost: Moa 4-line family deal – 2A/2C for $449, 2A/3C for $499 – SAVE $95!
What: Save up to $95 when you book Ziptrek Ecotours’ Moa Zipline Tour Family Deal!
Take flight over Queenstown on a top-rated ziplining adventure – journey through the forest on four incredible ziplines with stunning views across Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables mountain range. Suitable for all ages 6+ and all confidence levels and abilities.
Queenstown hotel treats kids as VIK’s – Very Important Kids
Location: 28 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, Queenstown
Cost: Kids programme is at no additional cost to your room reservation
What: At Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park, kids have been upgraded to Very Important Kids (V.I.K.) thanks to the hotel’s exclusive free kids programme, designed to make young guests feel special and entertained while saving parents money with great discounts at five family-friendly partner attractions in the local area.
Badjelly the Witch – Live Onstage!
Location: The PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna, 9-23 July or Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, 26-30 July.
Cost: Tickets start from $19.45 each
What: A Kiwi favourite, oozing with comedy! We’ve all grown up with the story of Tim and Rose’s madcap adventure through the great black forest and into Badjelly’s castle, and this July the next generation can experience the electric, cult classic stage show Badjelly The Witch live.
Family Getaway | Jet Park Hotel Rotorua
Location: 237 Fenton Street, Rotorua
Cost: From $149
What: Looking to get away? Take advantage of our family getaway package where kids stay free with paying adults. A continental breakfast is included, along with a drink voucher for the parents and play free at Motion Entertainment.
Winter fun
Crafts, baking, colouring and more…
Make the most of the indoor weather to enjoy some fun activities.
Support local
Spend these school holidays supporting Kiwi companies
Local businesses need our support now more than ever, so these school holidays we’re encouraging our families and each other to get out and back Kiwi’s. See some of our favourite family activities and school holiday programmes below + search for options in your area in our wider directory.
