Indoor Activities
The best places to go on a wet rainy day with the kids in Auckland, New Zealand to keep your family entertained.
FEATURED INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Kidz Kingdom and Rainbow Playlab at Rainbow’s End
2 Clist Crescent, Manukau, South Auckland
rainbowsend.co.nz
Kidz Kingdom at Rainbow’s End has lots of rides especially for kids 8 and under and is fully covered. Your kids will never forget their first roller coaster or conquering their fears on a new ride. Rainbow’s End is the perfect place for those special family moments of magic!
If you love technology check out Rainbow Playlab, the state-of-the-art entertainment centre with Virtual Reality, Virtual Sword Fighting, E-Sports and Escape Room! Entry is free to the Playlab and charges apply for each game.
Snowplanet
91 Small Road, Silverdale, North Shore, Auckland
snowplanet.co.nz
Snowplanet is Auckland’s only indoor ski slope. Grab your beanies and warm jackets for a fantastic day out, only 30 minutes north of the city. At Snowplanet there is something for everyone; a chilly snow dome to ski, snowboard, or go tubing and tobogganing in the magical Winter Wonderland. When you’ve come in off the snow relax in the warm 7Summits Restaurant for a bite to eat and coffee with panoramic views of the slope to watch all the action.
Call 09 427 0044 | 0800 SNOWPLANET
Auckland Museum FREE for Aucklanders
The Auckland Domain, Parnell, Central Auckland
www.aucklandmuseum.com
The Museum’s three floors tell the story of New Zealand. There is a Weird and Wonderful Discovery Centre that is great for the kids. Family events are regularly held on weekends and during the school holidays. All galleries are accessible by pushchairs and there is a parenting room for feeding young babies. Usually there are free school holiday activities for children at the museum too.
Cost: FREE for Aucklanders and Donation for NZ residents.
Escape Masters
Level 11, 300 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
escapemasters.co.nz
This internationally popular phenomenon promises a vivid experience where you can become the main character of a captivating mystery. An adventure, where you and your friends are locked in a themed room with the common goal to break out within an hour. To escape, you will need to find clues and solve unique puzzles. A choice of 6 experiences and identical rooms to race in Auckland CBD. There is an emergency exit in each room, so it’s perfectly safe and no one will jump out to give you a fright.
Try the brand new rooms! Can you escape? Select one of the themed rooms, choose your own difficulty level and bring a team of 2-8 people per room. The real-life escape game where every second counts.
VR Voom
393 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Central Auckland
www.vrvoom.co.nz/vr-experience
VR Voom provide the latest high quality Virtual Reality content and equipment to create an immersive experience for anyone from school aged children to adults. Choose from over 50 different options from 4D cinema to individual and multiplayer games, free-roaming experiences and even an ‘Escape Room in VR’. Don’t worry if you or your kids haven’t tried VR before either as the VR Voom team will help show you the way.
Auckland Art Gallery FREE for Aucklanders
Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets, Auckland CBD
www.aucklandartgallery.com
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the home of the visual arts in New Zealand. Explore their collection of more than 15,000 artworks. There is a Creative Learning Centre for the kids. Usually the gallery has free activities in the school holidays for children too.. There is a cafe on site, cloakroom, drinking fountains and change tables.
Cost: FREE (Charges may apply to special exhibitions)
All Blacks Experience
Level 4, 88 Federal Street, Sky City Precinct, Auckland CBD
www.experienceallblacks.com
Come behind the scenes of one of the world’s most successful teams and see if you have what it takes to pull on the Black jersey at the All Blacks Experience. Hear real stories from players past and present, insights and tips from the coaches, and feel what it’s like to be in the changing rooms before the game, walk through the tunnel and experience the mighty Haka on the field!
With five interactive zones that let you get hands on, put your physical and mental skills to the test. The guided tour takes around 30 mins and then you’re free to stay and test your skills in the Step Up skill zone.
Indoor Swimming Pools
Take the kids to one of Auckland’s indoor swimming pools. The Council run pools are FREE for children and teens aged 16 and under too.
Thrillzone
Auckland locations: Takapuna and Auckland CBD
thrillzone.co.nz
Thrillzone is a one-stop venue for awesome, adrenaline-fuelled activities for the whole family. Try out two of the best multiplayer VR experiences the world has to offer! Hologate VR, and Omni VR experience full-body immersion.
More into racing? Put your driving skills to test as you race side by side on the Race Car Simulator. Or why not ignite your puzzle-solving skills, in a next-level adaptation of the Escape Room, using Augmented Reality. Definitely something for everyone!
Pah Homestead, The Arts House Trust FREE
72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Central Auckland
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and Sundays: 10:00am to 5:00pm
www.artshousetrust.co.nz
The Arts House Trust Centre located in the Pah Homestead hosts a changing programme of exhibitions. There is a cafe onsite where you can have coffee on a covered veranda overlooking the sculpture garden.
Cost: Entry is by donation
MOTAT- Museum of Transport and Technology
805 Great North Road & Meola Road, Western Springs, Auckland
www.motat.nz
MOTAT is Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology. Although MOTAT is spread across 40 acres, if you bring your umbrella or rain coat to get the kids between the different buidlings there is plenty of fun things to entertain you inside out of the rain for the day.
Bowling
Your local ten pin bowling venue
Enjoy a game of bowling together as a family.
New Zealand Maritime Museum FREE for Aucklanders
Cnr Quay and Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland CBD
Opening hours: Daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas Day)
www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
The Maritime Museum is a place of stories, ambition, courage and exploration. Through seven different galleries, find out how the first Polynesian people made the epic migration to Aotearoa, the early European exploration and settlement of New Zealand, right through to our modern-day yachting success.
Cost: FREE for Auckanders
Movies
Your local Auckland cinema
Go to the cinema and watch a movie with the kids.
Stardome Observatory and Planetarium
670 Manukau Road, One Tree Hill Domain, Royal Oak, Central Auckland
www.stardome.org.nz
Observatory Planetarium with planetarium shows, telescope viewing and gallery & exhibits.
Stardome’s gallery & exhibits are open every day and night, except Monday night. Planetarium shows play weekday evenings and weekend afternoons and evenings.
AUCKLAND INDOOR ACTIVITIES
The VR Club
37 Fred Thomas Drive, Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna, Northshore, Auckland
vrclub.co.nz
Enjoy a state-of-the-art virtual reality experience with immersive social multiplayer gaming experiences for all ages. The VR Club works with developers, both worldwide and in New Zealand to bring you their games in the way they are meant to be experienced. VR sessions are by appointment only, book here.
Sky Tower
Corner Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland CBD
skycityauckland.co.nz
Sky Tower is the tallest man made structure in New Zealand at 328 metres tall.
Auckland Libraries
Your local Auckland Library
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz
Visit your local library and let the kids choose their books to take out. There are often fun activities and events happening at the libraries for kids. Find out what’s on at your local library here.
Boulder Co.
33-47 Northside Drive, Westgate
Boulder Co.
Bouldering is a sport for the young and young at heart alike. With two distinct areas in their facility, one is designed to be child-friendly at a lower height, for younger or less confident climbers.
Xtreme Entertainment
Two Auckland locations:
500a Ti Rakau Drive, Botany and
10 Target Road, Wairau, North Shore
Xtreme Entertainment Wairau
Tenpin blowing, Kidzone, Laser Frenzy, Laser Tag, Timezone and Pinball fun.
Live Shows
See live theatre and performances with your family.
Extreme Edge
40c Morrin Road, Panmure
Extreme Edge Rock Climbing Panmure
60 top-ropes, accessing a huge range of climbing walls, with another massive overhanging wall reserved for lead climbing. There are more than 200 routes to climb at any one time from absolute beginner to expert.
Clip ‘N Climb
610 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Central Auckland
ClipnClim Dom Rd
34 fun, yet challenging climbs, that will test everyone of all ages. Plus there are 2 additional features, the Leap of Faith and Vertical Drop Slide.
Popking Kids Indoor Playground
2B Wagener Place, St Lukes, Auckland
Popking Kids Indoor Playground
Fun indoor playground for younger kids and cafe for parents and children to enjoy in the St Lukes Shopping area.
Odyssey Sensory Maze
Lower Basement, Metro Centre, 291 Queen Street, Auckland CBD.
Journey through a maze of a multitude of rooms with a variety of different sensory effects.
Chipmunks New Lynn
Margan Ave, New Lynn, West Auckland
Chipmunk New Lynn
Indoor play centre for young kids with a cafe.
Sonsk8 Indoor Skatepark
Omaru Lane, Glen Innes, Auckland
www.sonsk8.co.nz
Sonsk8 is the perfect place to skate, ride, shoot some basketball or play football on their indoor court. All wheels welcome, bring your skateboard, scooter, rollerblades or bmx bikes and shred. Rain or shine, get in and get active!
Magic Loft Playground & Cafe
50 Anzac Road, Browns Bay, North Shore, Auckland
Magic Loft Playground & Cafe
Indoor playground filled with creativity, adventure and thrills designed for kids for a fun day out. There is play equipment and zones suitable for children from 0 to 12 years old.
Inflatable World
Three Auckland locations:
50 Anzac Road, Browns Bay;
911 Dominion Road, Mt Roskill;
577 Great South Road, Manukau
Inflatable World NZ
Giant indoor inflatable playgrounds for kids to have fun.
Glowput Minigolf
28 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna, North Shore, Auckland
Gloputt Mini Golf
Glow in the dark 16 hole mini golf course with buildings, foliage and pathways illuminated with glowing technicolour. The course is completely indoors, so you can always have fun inspite of the weater.
Metrolanes Ten Pin Bowling
Level 3 Metro Centre, 291 Queen Street, Central Auckland
Metrolanes Bowling Complex
Featuring twelve full size Ten Pin Bowling lanes uniquely split into three different areas and two dedicated Route 66 spaces for children of all ages.
My Wonderland
3/63 Corinthian Drive, Albany, North Shore, Auckland
My Wonderland Playground
Fun indoor playground for kids aged 0 to 12 years old.