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
$27.5
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!
Sands Carving Studio
from
$250
Hamilton

Carve Your Own Porohita

Carve your own traditional Māori pendant - the porohita: a disc. This workshop is designed for entry-level carvers with next to no carving experience, and will take up to 4 - 6 hours. In this workshop, we will cover the cultural history of the form, the tools and skills necessary for stone-carving and will guide participants through the process of creating a pounamu porohita. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a fully completed and bound porohita to take home.
Shirley Warring
from
$15
Hamilton

Hadleigh Boutique Lodge - Garden Visit

Set on five acres, Hadleigh is accessed down a rural lane, the setting belies its proximity to the city’s renowned Hamilton Gardens and busy night life. We were particularly drawn to the areas natural beauty, as was Peter Jackson when he chose to film his magical Hobbits near here. However, it was the mighty Waikato River, woodland walks and verdant fields that drew us in. This new ‘Hadleigh’ is really quite superb, there are 2.5 acres of stunning gardens which featured in the prestigious House & Garden publication, a garden we are proud to share. The Arron Haddocks designed Lodge on the grounds offers refined accommodation for garden lovers and those who seek tranquillity from busy lives.
Sands Carving Studio
from
$200
Hamilton

Carve Your Own Niho (Simple)

This workshop is designed for entry-level carvers with zero carving experience, and will take up to 2 - 3 hours. In this workshop, we will cover the basic skills necessary for stone-carving and will guide participants through the process of creating a basic traditional Māori pendant - the niho: a tooth. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a fully completed and bound greenstone niho to take home.
PlayCreative
from
$19
Cambridge

The PlayLab at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome

Discover PlayLab, an exciting, interactive sports and activity experience located inside the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge, Waikato. Featuring 10 technology-driven, gamified activities, PlayLab combines movement, sport and fun in a unique indoor environment. Test your reactions, coordination, speed and agility through engaging challenges designed for all abilities. Perfect for families, friends, school groups and team outings, PlayLab welcomes everyone from age 5 upwards, including people with disabilities. No sporting experience is needed – just a willingness to get involved and have fun. Whether you're visiting the Waikato, looking for a rainy-day adventure or seeking something different to do together.
Sands Carving Studio
from
$600
Hamilton

Carve Your Own Manaia

Carve your own traditional Māori pendant - the manaia: a guardian. This workshop is designed with entry-level carvers in mind, but some carving experience is highly recommended, and will take a minimum of 7 - 8 hours. In this workshop, we will cover the cultural history of the form, the tools and skills necessary for stone-carving and will guide participants through the process of creating a pounamu manaia. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a fully completed and bound manaia to take home.
My NZ
from
$900
Matamata

Private Hobbiton & Waitomo Day Tour with Japanese-Speaking Guide

Discover New Zealand the local way with a Japanese-speaking driver and guide on this exclusive private day tour. Explore the lush green hills, 44 Hobbit holes, and the Green Dragon Inn at the world-famous Hobbiton Movie Set (approx. 2.5 hours). Then, journey underground to witness millions of glowing glowworms lighting up a magical subterranean river by boat at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves (approx. 1 hour). Includes comfortable private transport and flexible departures from Auckland or Thames.
Hobbiton Movie Set
from
$387.5
Matamata

Rotorua to Auckland via Hobbiton Movie Set One-Way Private Tour

Enjoy some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery and combine a luxury transfer from Rotorua to Auckland with a visit to the world-famous Hobbiton Movie Set along the way to Auckland. After pick-up in Rotorua, we drive across the Mamaku Plateau to the Hobbiton Movie Set near the rural town of Matamata, made famous as the original setting of Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. On the 2.5 hour tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, get astonishing insights into how these movies were made and which parts of the movies were filmed here. Not only movie fans will enjoy this unique experience with inside views of the Hobbit village including Hobbit Holes, Bag End and The Green Dragon Inn.