Family Fun Activities

Auckland Museums

Auckland museums are great places for family fun activities.

Aiming to engage their visitors in exhibited displays that tell their story creatively. Background knowledge on displays surmounts the readable version and finds support by film and or audio material.

Sometimes pre-outlined self guided tours can be obtained on information desks at the museum. These are always fun and children get involved in a playful way.

For younger museum visitors are either specific exploration areas and/or activity days. The latter ones take place on the weekend on one or both days. This can be in the form of drop in and out an activity with gold coin attribution or pre-book able for a set time frame. The children exploration area in comparison allows them to experiment, touch, and try. During school holidays each Auckland museum organises a special holiday program.

Mariam and Karim still enjoy every single visit to any of the Auckland museums. When the children are happy and engaged usually outings become family fun activities.

Motat -- Museum of Transport and Technology

www.motat.org.nz

Great North Road, Western Springs
Every day 10am - 5pm except 25 th December

The Museum of Transport and Technology offers plenty family fun activities.

Karim and Mariam enjoy diving into the Challenge Zone. Experimenting and discovering how science works in every day life is fantastic.

Highlights are a time travel into early Auckland, the Pumphouse Beam Engine, the transport pavilion, the aviation pavilion with loads on Richard Pearse, the planes he invented, and New Zealand pioneer aviatrix Jean Batten .

Both like very much the temporary exhibitions during the holidays. Themes are changing so it’s always new and make it a worthwhile destination during school holidays.

Click the Auckland Museum to play an online puzzle.

Auckland Museum

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=6

Every day 10am - 5pm, except 25 th December Anzac Day morning - 6:45am
Auckland Domain

As a war memorial the Auckland Museum overlooks the Auckland domain and opens views over the Waitemata Harbour. This is worth a visit by itself especially on a clear day.

Children particularly enjoy the Stevenson Discovery Centre where they observe and explore hands on about evolution and life on earth. Microscopes a close look on a selection of shell animals and insects. Smaller animals, reptiles, and insects can be observed live.

On Saturday’s and Sunday’s are morning and afternoon sessions filled with creative fun activities for children. In a come along and take part manner. Their website offers too, printing out self guided trails on different topics.

The children were evenly intrigued by the extensive exhibits on Maori heritage, Pacific Lifeways on the first floor and of the whole second floor with displays on volcanoes, oceans, coast, and the origins of the country. They loved how they could further explore exhibits by using available film material or the touch screens.

Voyager – The National Maritime Museum

www.maritimemuseum.co.nz

Corner Quay and Hobson Street
Every day 9am - 5pm, except 25 th December

New Zealand as a country could develop tanks to courageous seafarers testing their limits.

Voyager honours navigators like Kupe, the Polynesian people, Abel Tasman, James Cook, and other great pioneers of the sea. Displays take visitors to the beginning of pacific migration to Aotearoa, let them re-live the new beginnings of settlement and get a glimpse of the strong bonds New Zealand has to the sea.

On some days even a sailing trip on one of the heritage vessels is scheduled.

Auckland Art Gallery – Kids Club

http://www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz/activities/childrenfamilies/default.asp

On Sunday’s art for children aged 5 to 10 years takes place in the Kids Club. Each week has a new theme. Two pre-book able sessions start at 11am and 2pm in the Auckland Art Gallery. The holidays are highlighted with an art activity schedule.

For family visits outside Sunday workshops, depending on present exhibition, a free family guide with creative activities for children is available at the desk.

Follow to the West Auckland art galleries!

Howick Historical Village

www.fencible.org.nz

corner of Bell Road and Lady Marie Drive
Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga, Auckland
Daily 10am - 4pm except 25 December, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day

The village is a living history museum comprising 30 buildings on 7 acres of land accessorised with furniture, textiles, and art to show case life in 1840 to 1880 in Auckland.

http://www.fencible.org.nz/living_museum_whats_on_live_days.html

On the third Sunday each month but December the Howick Historical Village comes alive. It is particular exciting for children to watch about 30 villagers, in historical costumes, go about their daily duties. Each life day stands under a different topic that promises a day filled with family fun activities. Children are also invited to take part in crafts and long forgotten activities.

More fun activities for kids move the centre of attention to animals in the zoo, or marine life where you have the impression to be right part of it, :) without getting wet or gazing the stars.

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