29 awesome things to do in Auckland with kids

From museums and galleries to nature walks and adventure parks, discover the best things to do in Auckland with kids.

The first port of call for many Australians visiting New Zealand, Auckland is the country’s most populous and multicultural city, offering an enticing mix of urban and outdoor adventures. Whether your family fancies music, arts, culture, delicious food, stunning vineyards or simply embracing nature, there’s an abundance things to do in Auckland with kids of every age.

Also known by its Māori name, Tāmaki Makaurau, the city is spread over volcanic hills and around twin harbours, with stunning black and white sand beaches, sprawling parklands, bushwalking, rafting, mountain bike trails and an abundance of adventure activities.

Free things to do in Auckland with kids

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki 

CBD

Auckland Art Gallery is super family-friendly. They have Gallery Games to get kids engaging with art through writing, drawing,  discovering and exploring via a scavenger hunt. The Creative Learning Centre has a range of interactive exhibitions for kids. Admission and Gallery Games are free and available every day between 10am–4pm.

Bike riding

In Auckland, it’s as simple as renting a dockless electric JUMP bike through the Uber app. Popular bike routes are along Tamaka Drive and to the top of North Head in Devonport. Try the beginner-friendly Waterview Path which winds alongside Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) past playgrounds, skate parks and a waterfall.

Stroll along the North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter

Walk beside the water along the North Wharf, buy an ice cream and watch street performers. The sunny, waterfront location is the perfect place for lunch or dinner with its eclectic mix of cafes and restaurants. Grab a coffee and delicious meal at Wynyard Pavillion, or enjoy a cold treat from Gelatiamo. North Park has an impressive kids menu filled with American-style eats like pepperoni pizza, hot dogs and nachos. There’s even colouring-in sheets to keep little ones occupied.

Visit a park

Relaxing in the city’s lush parks is one of the best things to do in Auckland with kids. Ambury Regional Park is right on the Manukau Harbour near Auckland Airport. Kids will love that the park has farm animals wandering around. You can see native shorebirds and find basalt lava flows. The Loss Gardens Walk, Family Farm Walk and Foreshore Walk are flat and good for families.

Western Springs Lakeside Park is in the same park area and Auckland Zoo and is a great spot for a family picnic. The park has a great playground with big slides and lots of swings.

Snakes and Ladders Park in Farm Cove is a real-life board game. Kids navigate through the park climbing up ladders and going down slides. The playground can be found along the five-kilometre loop track that runs around the edge of the Tamaki River.

Silo Park is in Auckland’s central city. The playground of Silo Park is perfect for children of all ages to get their feet wet in the splash pool, underneath the Wind Tree art installation. Plus, the park has a giant climbing wall and food vendors.

Get a Panoramic view of Auckland city skyline from Mt. Eden

Sitting at 196 metres above sea level, Mt. Eden is Auckland’s highest volcanic cone. Here, you can take in panoramic views of Auckland and the sky tower. It takes around 20 minutes to walk to the sacred crater, so take a blanket and snacks for a sunset picnic. Potters Park at the base of the mountain has a splash pad for the kids to play in during the summer months.

Paid things to do in Auckland with kids

Auckland Museum

A great place to visit for an introduction to New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture and to learn about the history of the country, the Auckland Museum is a must-visit. There’s a whole floor devoted to Maori and Pacific culture where you can see a whare (carved meeting house), a giant waka (a canoe carved from a single tree) and lots of other beautiful Maori carvings and artworks. Entry is $28 for adults and $14 for children or free for Auckland residents.

Kiwi Valley Farm Park and Maze

Henderson Valley

Head 22 minutes west of Auckland CBD and you’ll find yourself in a rural fun park. At Kiwi Valley Farm Park and Maze you can meet the nursery animals, go on a farm walk and hand-feed cattle. The kids will love the pony and tractor rides and explore a maze with hidden caves. Adult tickets are $18 and children are $15. You can also purchase a five-person family pass for $70, or a four-person family pass for $55.

Howick Historial Village

Pakuranga

Step back in time at the Howick Historical Village, just 30 minutes from the Auckland CBD. The picturesque colonial village has been restored and maintained as it would have been in the 1800s. Enjoy everything from metalworking and school classroom renactments to flower picking, and don’t miss the daily chicken feeding. On the weekends, take part in children’s crafts or make a rag rug, and attend a butter making workshop on Sundays.

There’s never a dull moment as Howick Historical Village also hosts monthly workshops and school holiday programs. Every third Sunday of the month is a live day with costumed staff, a working forge, cooking over open fires, craft demonstrations and Victorian games. The village has a number of picnic areas, as well as an onsite cafe. Entry is $8 for children aged five to 15, and $16 for adults aged 15 and up. Family passes are $40.

Odyssey Sensory Maze

CBD

Odyssey Sensory Maze is a maze that takes you through a series of rooms inside the Sky World Entertainment Centre. Each room contains different sensory effects, with fun illusions, scents and sounds. Adult tickets start at $24 and children are $18 with family passes available for $74.

Auckland Sky Tower

CBD

The 328 metre tall Sky Tower has three viewing platforms for panoramic views across Auckland. Feeling daring? Those aged 10 and older can tackle the SkyWalk,  walking around the outside ring of the tower – with a harness, of course! If you’d rather take in the sights from the safety of inside, try the SkySlide, an exhilarating virtual experience. Entry is free for children aged five and younger, $13 for kids aged six to 14 years and $25 for adults.

Whoa! Studios

West Auckland

Whoa! Studios put on fun, live family performances and a visit to their theatre is one of the best things to do in Auckland with kids. Catch theatre shows like ‘The Cheshire Cat’s Smile’, a musical with puppetry and 3D projections. Afterwards, kids can burn some energy in the innovative playground, complete with pirate ship, a rocket and an obstacle course. Tickets for the show and park entry are around $25, or purchase entry to the park for $7.50 0n weekends and $5 on weekdays.

VR Voom

Newmarket

VR Voom is 400-square-metre virtual reality gaming arcade. There is a huge variety of VR games and escape rooms that are great for kids of all ages, including teenagers. Test your teamwork as you try to escape New Zealand’s first virtual reality escape room.

Vector Wero Whitewater Park

This incredible man-made water park is great for thrill-seeking families. The Tamaki River course is perfect for beginners, while the River Rush is for advanced families. The’s even a man-made 4.5 metre waterfall drop for the daredevils. Vector Wero Whitewater Park offers rafting, kayaking or SUPing.

JUMP Trampoline Park

Avondale, Takanini, North Shore

Bounce around on JUMP Trampoline Park’s trampoline mats, foam pit and basketball hoop. Family passes are $65 when purchased online.

Game Over Auckland

Albany

Game Over Auckland is a great way to get an adventure fix on a rainy day. The entertainment venue has indoor go karts, laser tag, mini-golf and arcade games for an action packed day inside. All-experience passes cost $59 for kids aged seven to 12, and $69 for ages 13 and up.

Rocket Ropes

Auckland Airport

Challenge the kids to complete Rocket Ropes’ high ropes courses. There are two courses with 60 activities. The Croc Tower is one of Auckland’s best high ropes climbing experiences with three thrilling levels at 1.5m, 3m and 6m.  This challenging course boasts seven flying foxes, swinging platforms, a spider’s web, slip knots and the flea jump. For kids aged between two and six there is the ground level Rocketeer Course where they’ll feel just like the big kids using carabiners. Children aged seven to 17 can use the courses for $32, and an adult pass costs $39.

My Wonderland Indoor Playground

Albany

An indoor wonderland of slides with a climbing mazes and bubble pit suitable for babies, toddlers and kids up to 11 years old. Entry is $5-$20.90 depending on age. Be sure to bring socks as shoes aren’t allowed on the equipment.

Inflatable World

Glenfield

Inflatable World is the biggest indoor inflatable playground in NZ and another great activity for when the weather just won’t cooperate. Think of a huge jumping castle and then times it by 10; there’s slides, gladiator challenges, climbing walls and more to leave you bouncing for joy.

Auckland ferry to Waiheke Island

Visiting Waiheke Island is one of the best things to do in Auckland with kids. You can catch a ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal in the CBD. Little ones will love feeling the salt spray on the 40-minute ride. Once on the island, there are a number of timetabled buses that follow routes along the island’s main roads to key stops.

Waiheke Island has many scenic walking trails suitable for children of all ages. Explore the the Oneroa art trail, or visit the Stony Batter Historic Reserve with its fascinating tunnel complex. The Whakanewha Regional Park is a great picnic spot, with coastal forests, cascading streams and a crescent-shaped beach. Or, spend a day soaking up the sun in the sheltered waters and pristine, white sands of Cactus Bay, accessible only by boat. If you visit on a Saturday, be sure to check out the Ostend Markets for great food, coffee and island-made treasures.

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Theme parks in Auckland

Rainbow’s End Theme Park & Kidz Kingdom

Manukau

Rainbow’s End is New Zealand’s largest theme park. The park has all the exhilarating rides you’d expect plus Kidz Kingdom, an area with 11 rides for kids under eight.  With bumper boats, wild coasters and an immersive theatre experience, this theme park is one of the most adrenaline-pumping things to do in Auckland with kids. They also have a time traveller themed escape room and a range of onsite cafes.

Spookers Haunted Attraction Theme Park

Kingseat

Scare kids over the age of eight at this theme park set in a former psychiatric hospital. You’ll be disturbed as you move through the house and come across actors covered in gore, playing evil clowns or zombie brides. The haunted house can be very gory so only take the kids if you are absolutely certain this is something that they would enjoy. Tickets are $25 for adults and children.

Waterworld Waterpark

Mission Bay

Located on the water in Mission Bay, Waterworld Waterpark is the closest you’ll get to competing on ‘Wipeout’. Kids older than five can take on the massive inflatable obstacle course for a super fun day in the sun. Life jackets are supplied and most staff are trained as lifeguards, however all visitors must be able to swim.

Crystal Mountain

West Auckland

Crystal Mountain has plenty of attractions to entertain the family for a whole day. Kids will love the exotic Animal Park and farmyard, riding the Crystal Mountain Express train, feeding animals, pony rides and horse riding classes. Dinosaur lovers can meet their favourite Jurassic creatures in Dinosaur Gully.

The Crystal Mine Museum has NZ’s largest collection of crystals and some are even available for purchase. Then they have a rollercoaster, indoor playground, giant slide, doughnut slides and more. Crystal Mountain is set on 40 acres, just 20 minutes west of Auckland CBD. Prices range from $15 to $35 depending on which activities your family wants to do.

Auckland Adventure Park

Sillwater

Visit the Auckland Adventure Park for fun activities like vertical bungee, zipline, luge, tubing and a kids play area for smaller children. There is also a 4D cinema experience, and an onsite cafe. Tickets range from $25 to $65, depending on which rides you want to try.

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Animal experiences in Auckland

Auckland Zoo

CBD

Visit Auckland Zoo to see 135 species and over 1,400 animals. Walk down the Africa Safari track to see giraffes, cheetahs, lions and more. In the Te Wao Nui area, you can see a kiwi or kea bird and explore the six regions of Aotearoa. Then catch a keeper talk to learn more about the animals. There are always babies being born, so you could see a turtle hatching or zebra foal depending on when you visit. The zoo is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Entry is $24 for adults and $13 for children.

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Orakei

Explore a unique underwater world at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium beside Mission Bay. Get hands on in the Tidal Touch Pools and walk beneath dangerous creatures in the Shark Tunnel. Kids will delight in spotting everything from dainty seahorses to short-tailed stingrays, the largest stingray in the world. Meet playful penguins and let the little ones run wild at the Shipwreck Shores indoor playground.

The Aquarium’s new Sea Cave Adventure is a world-class immersive experience designed to inspire guests to appreciate and explore the wildlife of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, New Zealand’s first and largest marine park. A hands-on journey includes encounters with octopus, eel, starfish and crab species. It also has a range of interactive digital games, an augmented reality photo opportunity, a crawl-through and slide, and a reinvigorated rockpool experience.

Butterfly Creek

Auckland Airport

Butterfly Creek has a lot going on. It is home to a butterfly house, animals, playground and train. There are exhibitions like Dinosaur Kingdom and Mythic Creatures where you can see mermaids, unicorns, dragons and prehistoric creatures. The animal park has a kiwi, farm animals, crocodiles, aquarium, otters, monkeys, lizards, bugs and a bird aviary. It will take around two or three hours to see all the exhibits, so be sure to leave plenty of time to explore. Entry is $28 for adults and $15 for children over three.

Clevedon Animal Farm

Clevedon Valley, Papakura

At Clevedon Animal Farm kids can hand feed goats and chickens, groom donkeys and go on pony rides. Lynn Collecutt started the farm in 2001 in the idyllic Clevedon Valley, just south of Auckland. The main event is the farm tour, which costs $20 for adults and $25 for children, while a family pass is $85. Bookings are essential, so give them a call to avoid disappointment.

Whitford Bird Garden

Whitford, south-east Auckland

Not home to just exotic birds, families will also find fascinating plants, reptiles and fish at Whitford Bird Garden. This stunning aviary and garden is the work of internationally-acclaimed artist and conservationist, Blake Twigden. You can view a gallery of his art on site and the $20 entry fee also includes a personalised tour of the garden. The Whitford Bird Garden is open via appointment only. 

This article on the best things to do in Auckland with kids is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive.

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