School Holiday Fun

  1. Visitors
  2. Things to do
  3. Family Fun
  4. School Holidays
Discover something new and explore the hidden gems of the Waikato with your family this Autumn!

School Holiday Events

26 Sep - 11 Oct: Kids Go Free These School Holidays | Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
Kids (up to 16 years) go free into the Southern Enclosure during the school holidays with a paying adult. Explore te ngahere (the forest) with your visitor guide map, activity sheets for the kids, and keep an eye out for all the interesting information boards and interactive activities along the way including wētā hotels. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: Family Package | Bowl and Social
Spend some family time on the lanes with a Bowl & Social family package for a family of 4. The Family Package includes one game of bowling each, two 12 inch gourmet pizzas and a large bowl of fries to share for $125. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: Exscite | Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery
Keep the kids engaged over this school holidays with a range of exciting and fun activities for all ages. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: GLOtron! | Centre Place, Hamilton
GLOtron! is a magical maze of glow-in-the-dark storyscapes, which create an utterly original world for all ages to explore. It invites families to wander through its mysterious interactive stories and discover multi-sensory Glow-tastic creatures and characters. More information

28 Sep - 9 Oct: September School Holiday Programme | Waikato Society of Arts, Hamilton
Get creative these school holidays with the WSA Art School Holiday Programme. Designed for ages 5–12, the programme runs weekday mornings from 9am–12pm, with small-group workshops led by experienced art tutors and different hands-on creative activities to try. More information

28 Sep–9 Oct: Jungle Explorer LEGO Build Experience | Chartwell Shopping Centre, Hamilton
Get hands-on with LEGO and build moving jungle creatures with Bricks 4 Kidz. Kids can choose from a lion, monkey, chameleon, snake or spider during a 45-minute building session. The activity is free, with bookings recommended to secure your preferred time. More information

28 Sep–9 Oct: October School Holiday Programme | Matamata-Piako District Libraries. Make, mend and create at Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha libraries these school holidays. The free programme includes hands-on activities such as VR experiences, Meccano workshops, junk-bot building, paper darts, wand making and creative craft sessions. Registration is required for activities. More information

10 October: The Wiggles Live in Concert | Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
The Wiggles are bringing their live show to Hamilton for two performances during the final weekend of the school holidays. Sing and dance along with The Wiggles and familiar favourites including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword. More information

20% off Jet boat rides on selected dates | Camjet Cambridge.
Camjet is offering 20% off Jet boat rides on selected departures this  School Holidays. Bring the kids along and have a good time on the Waikato river and view and learn about the Karapiro hydro power station with Camjet. Use promo code: LABOUR20 to get your discount. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: $12.50 Movie ticket | Lido Cinema, Hamilton
Make movie time easy these school holidays with family films at Lido Cinema for just $12.50. It’s the perfect low-cost outing—grab some popcorn, settle in, and enjoy a big screen experience the whole family will love. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: Free School Holiday Events | Waikato District Library
Lots of fun to be had at your local library these school holidays. More information

26 Sep - 11 Oct: Free School Holiday Events at Hamilton City Libraries
There's lots of fun to be had at your local library this school holiday. More information

30 Sep–3 Oct: The Wallypug of Why | The Meteor, Hamilton
Join Girlie and Junior on a wonderfully silly adventure into the mysterious Land of Why. Full of word play, puppets, visual jokes and magic, The Wallypug of Why is a playful theatre experience designed to entertain children and grown-ups alike. More information

25 Sep–4 Oct: The SpongeBob Musical | Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton
Dive into Bikini Bottom for a colourful, high-energy stage adventure featuring SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy and friends. Packed with music, humour and familiar characters, this Broadway musical makes for a fun family outing during the first week of the school holidays. More information

25 Sep–4 Oct: City of Wonder | Hamilton City Centre
See central Hamilton from a different perspective during City of Wonder, a 10-day celebration of art and design. Explore installations, outdoor exhibitions and creative experiences throughout the city centre, with family-friendly highlights and interactive artworks appearing in streets and public spaces. More information

28 Sep–9 Oct: School Holiday Sewing Workshops | Sip and Sew, Hamilton
Young makers can learn practical sewing skills during dedicated school holiday workshops for kids aged 8–12 and teens aged 13–16. Morning and afternoon sessions run across both weeks of the holidays. More information

27 Sep–11 Oct: School Holiday Family Escape Deal | Confinement Escape Rooms, Hamilton
Put the family’s problem-solving skills to the test with a school holiday escape room challenge. Confinement is offering a limited-time family deal for four people, with indoor escape rooms and outdoor puzzle adventures to choose from. More information

2–4 October: School Holiday Movies | The Regent Theatre, Te Awamutu
Enjoy a movie outing at The Regent Theatre during the school holidays, with selected films available for $13 per ticket. From 2–4 October, the cinema is also screening all five Hunger Games films for $10 per film. Check the current programme for family-friendly sessions and classifications before booking. More information

Top Activities

top pick Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery
Free
Hamilton

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Haere mai! Welcome to Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. Perched above the mighty Waikato River, this world-class museum and art gallery is the artistic and cultural heart of the Waikato. Visit us to experience visual stories and guided activities that bring our art, history, culture and science to life through an inspirational programme that aims to challenge and inspire you.
top pick Hamilton Gardens
from
$20
Hamilton

Hamilton Gardens

From ancient Egypt to a 21-century Concept Garden. Admission to the enclosed gardens requires a paid entry fee for visitors who live outside of Hamilton, with children under 16 years of age free. Unlike any botanical garden, our unique attraction is rated among the top 3 things to do in New Zealand and is in the top 1% of attractions globally on Tripadvisor. Discover the magic of Hamilton Gardens with one of our tours. Whether you're a first-time explorer or a returning visitor, this immersive journey unveils fascinating tales, discovering the cultural significance woven into every petal and pathway.  Or opt for an Audio Guide to enjoy a narrated journey through the ages and across the continents, exploring at your own pace. 
top pick SkyCity Hamilton
Free
Hamilton

SkyCity Hamilton

SkyCity Hamilton is situated inside the former Chief Post Office, in a building designed to maximise a superb riverside location on the banks of the Waikato River. With a range of dining and entertainment outlets, including EATBurger - voted the Waikato's best burger and The Local Taphouse - the first Good George bar in the CBD, there is something for everyone at SkyCity Hamilton! Enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the Main Gaming Floor with over 300 gaming machines and 23 table games (R20 to enter the casino) or strike up a little competition on level two with Hamilton's only bowling alley, Bowl and Social, a world-class venue offering non-stop fun and state of the art technology!
Smash Room - Hamilton
from
$50
Hamilton

Full Experience

Kick things off in our glass room, where you’ll smash bottles using a baseball bat, crowbar, or hammer, soaking in the sound and explosiveness of shattering glass. From there, you’ll pick out your smash items before heading into the heavy hitting room for 20 minutes of all-out destruction using sledgehammers and crowbars. This is a fully supervised, high-energy session, with all safety gear provided - all you need to do is swing. What’s included: 20 smash credits, glass smashing with multiple tools, 20 minutes in the heavy hitting room, full safety briefing and supervision.
Elliot Baptist
from
$15
Huntly

The Glen Afton Line

A volunteer heritage railway group providing the public with steam &/or diesel train rides on 5km of the old Rotowaro to Glen Afton branch line 12km drive west of Huntly. Open days operate on the first Sunday of every month. For other dates or to charter a train for your group contact the Secretary by email. The Open Day ticket covers rides on the main train between 10.00am and 3.00pm. Rides on an old bush "jigger" are usually available at a small extra cost. Souvenirs, a sausage sizzle, other food items and drinks are normally available on Open Days. We have EFTPOS. As well as train rides, the railway has a significant collection of heritage industrial railway items on display, much of which came from the coal & timber industries.
Lance Mccaughan
from
$70
Hamilton

Ride Your Trike Hamilton

A variety of trikes available for rental, including the VeloPlus wheelchair bike. This is designed for transporting people who can remain seated in their own wheelchair with the wheelchair wheeled on to the platform and fastened securely with restraints without the user transferring from their wheelchair. The tilted ramp enables a safe and smooth transition for the wheelchair onto the bike platform.
Rotor Work
from
$600
Hamilton

Hamilton Helicopter Experiences

The Waikato offers a mixture of picturesque coastlines and stunning farmlands. Experience the magnificent feeling of flying over some of New Zealand’s best scenery, whether it’s the breathtaking coastlines, including the surf famous black sandy beaches of Raglan, the untouched beauty of the rugged west coast, or flying above the Waikato river trails. Take a ride with our experienced helicopter pilot, Sam. He has close to 2,500 hours of flying of highly skilful agricultural and commercial operations. The HQ Rotor Work base in Kihikihi currently operates an AS350, a stable, high performance helicopter with comfortable seating for 5 passengers ideal for this type of work.
Meghan Maloney
from
$499
Cambridge

New Zealand Photography Tours with Meghan Maloney

I help people experience the real New Zealand, not the one you find just by visiting the usual tourist spots. My vast travel experience means I know the best photography locations and I'm passionate about showing off our beautiful country, helping my guests to capture their own amazing images of our beautiful country while learning new photography skills along the way. My guided photography tours are available throughout New Zealand and can be personalised to your itinerary and the locations you wish to visit. Or you can choose to attend one of my scheduled weekend group workshops where you'll enjoy meeting other photographers and improving your photography craft at some of New Zealand's most unique and photogenic locations.
Riverside Adventures
from
$399
Cambridge

The Ultimate Triple Treat

Your journey begins with a scenic riverside walk, offering breathtaking views over Lake Arapuni. Then, effortlessly cruise along the Waikato River Trail on a state-of-the-art e-bike, soaking in the stunning landscapes before a leisurely lunch at the charming Rhubarb Café or a secluded picnic spot. As the day winds down, immerse yourself in the twilight magic of our Glowworm Kayak Tour. Drift through the serene Pokaiwhenua Canyon, surrounded by shimmering glowworms and the soft sounds of nature - a truly mesmerising experience. Tailored for those who seek premium, private, and unforgettable adventures, this exclusive, all-in-one experience is the perfect way to discover the best of the Waikato in absolute comfort and style.
Lilliputt Fun Zone
from
$5
Hamilton

Fun Zone Arcade

Check out the newest arcade in town. Test your skill playing the very latest games and compete against your mates. Play to earn tickets that can be exchanged for awesome prizes.