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 Spring! It's just magic!
School Holiday Events
Best family-friendly activities in the Waikato
Make the most of family outings and holidays with the abundance of family-friendly activities in the Waikato, whether it’s urban adventures, the great outdoors with wildlife and nature to explore.
Best eateries for families in the Waikato
With play areas, colouring books, and other fun activities available, you’re sure to find a place that suits your family.
Free Attractions in the Waikato
The diverse Waikato region provides an abundance of free activities and attractions so you can experience the wonders and hidden gems of the region on any budget.
Find things to do in the Waikato
Waikato region has a range of activities and attractions to suit all ages and tastes - from surfing world-class breaks and crawling through caves to wine tasting and heritage trails.
Top playgrounds in the Waikato
The Waikato region is home to many great playgrounds

Accommodation

From Out Of Town? From inner city hotels and motels to lodges and holiday parks, the region boasts a range of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes.
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Hamilton Airport

From Out Of Town? With direct flights daily from Wellington, Christchurch and more, it's easy for the extended family to fly to the Waikato for a visit.
Hamilton Airport

Hertz Hamilton

From Out Of Town? Conveniently located at Hamilton Airport, you can hop off the plane and grab a rental car from Hertz.
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Waikato Hot Deals

Grab a deal or discount on everything from activities & entertainment to accommodation and dining in the Waikato region.
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School Holiday Events

12 April - 21 July: Six Extinctions - Waikato Museum. Get face to face with some of history’s largest and deadliest predators in Six Extinctions. More information

13-28 April: Exscite - Interactive centre for discovery at Waikato Museum, Hamilton. It's a hands-on space where tamariki can play and learn through tactile and immersive surroundings. More information

13 - 28 April: Kids go Free Special - Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. Kids go FREE into Te Tūī a Tāne, southern enclosure from Saturday, 13th of April - Sunday, 28th of April. Enter the colouring competition for a chance to win one of three awesome prize packs. Additionally, bring in your colouring competition entry and receive a 20% discount on a Tautari Wetland Guided tour. More information

15-26 April: Bricks 4 Kidz school holiday programme - Waikato Museum. Experience LEGO® like never before at Waikato Museum! This epic holiday programme is perfect for children aged 5 to 12 years old. More information

15 - 28 April: School Holiday Special Pancake Making Station - Maakona, ibis Hamilton Tainui. Enjoy a fun, interactive pancake-making station in the buffet, complete with toppings galore. More information

15 - 26 April: School Holiday Special - Hampton Downs Go-Karts. Enjoy one session for $45pp or two sessions for $79pp every Monday - Thursday! Redeem codes, Holiday45 or GK2FOR79. Book online

15 - 28 April: School Holiday Special - Restaurant on Alma, Novotel Hamilton Tainui. Enjoy 2x family pizzas, fries for the table, sundaes for children and drinks for 4 for only $65. Offer based on 2 adults & 2 children (under 16 years). More information

15 - 26 April: Magical Creatures School Holiday Programme - Cambridge Library. Join us weekday mornings during the April school holidays from 10.30 – 11.30am in the Cambridge children’s library. More information

15 - 26 April: School Holiday Mini Golf at Chartwell - Chartwell Shopping Centre. Bring the family along for some good ol' fashioned fun at our Glow-in-the Dark mini golf course. More information

15 - 26 April: Palette Pursuit - Kids Scavenger Hunt - Confinement Escape Rooms. Bring the family together and head over to Confinement Escape Rooms for our exciting new outdoor game, Palette Pursuit. More information

15 - 26 April: April School Holidays at Waikato District Libraries. Waikato District Libraries have all your April School Holiday entertainment sorted with free events at the libraries. More information

16 - 18 April: Sculpture and 3D Character Design Holiday Programme - Waikato Society of Arts. Want to gain a valuable new skill? Come along and learn how to sculpt with polymer clay! More information

16 - 17 April: Cupcake Decorating Classes - Sweet Pea Parties, Hamilton. Sweet Pea Parties offers a range of cupcake decorating classes for all abilities in their dedicated decorating classroom. More information

16 April: Bat Fun Day - April School Holidays - Go Eco, Hamilton. Calling all you Bat Fans! - it's time for a FREE BAT-ASTIC Fun Day these April school holidays. More information

22 - 23 April: Punnet Kids Club - Punnet Eatery, Tamahere. Exciting workshops for your little ones. More information

Top Activities

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!
top pick Michael Jeans
from
$55
Cambridge

CAMJET Cambridge Jet Boat Tours

Unique opportunity to visit the Karapiro Dam and see some of the amazing native bush and bird life in the Cambridge River Gorge. Ideal for you and your whole family, anyone who likes adventure, fun, speed or scenery. Speeding up the Mighty Waikato in a 450 hp V8 Jet Boat is going to get the heart pumping, adrenaline flowing and the faces smiling. If you are a thrill seeking adrenaline junkie then this is for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy a game of golf, followed by a browse round a picturesque town and a latte, or a visit to the close by Hobbiton movie set from the Lord of the Rings, then give the team at Camjet Cambridge Jet Boat Tours a call and we can have a quiet cruise up our beautiful river.
top pick Natasha Halliday
from
$12
Hamilton

Hamilton Zoo

Featuring the largest free-flight aviary in New Zealand dedicated to native birds and plants, there’s always something new to explore. Connect with the animals up close and learn more about their counterparts in the wild and how you can make a difference to their survival. Hamilton zoo plays an important role in connecting people with nature and conservation, providing fun experiences that inform and educate visitors, and participate in breeding programmes for endangered species, as well as undertaking conservation and research projects and rehabilitation for our precious native animals.
top pick Waitomo Adventures Ltd
from
$425
Waitomo Caves

Lost World Half Day Option - 100m Abseil & Cave Exploration

The descent takes around 20 minutes of 4 hours required. Abseil alongside your instructor who provides information, reassurance and a backup safety tether. Imagine freehanging in a massive void bouncing a bit & turning - look into upper levels of the cave. Weird plants & formations cling to the sheer walls and the roar of the Mangapu River echoes up from far below. One guide looks after up to 4 people - who all make their unforgettable descent together down through the surreal mists and eventually landing in the base of this massive cavern. Once down, take in the awesome views before starting on an even more amazing trip back to the surface. Climb over massive slabs of rock and a series of ladders.