Enjoy science-related activities during the summer school holidays. Below are a selection of events held around the motu. Many of the providers have additional non-science activities that will be of interest. Follow the weblinks to see the full listings.
All events are subject to changes – see the event’s weblinks for the most up-to-date information.
NOTE: If you know of any science-related events we have missed, please do get in touch: enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Summer is a wonderful time of year to explore science – UV light, solar power, beaches, the rocky shore, fire risks and more. Explore our articles, activities and interactives about all things Summer in this collection.
- Multiple locations or nationwide
- Northland
- Auckland
- Waikato
- Bay of Plenty
- Hawkes Bay
- Taranaki
- Manawatu
- Wellington
- Nelson
- Christchurch
- Otago
Multiple locations
Check out the free online IYM Anytime programme – great for anyone considering a STEMM career. The online content includes: interviews, presentations, recorded sessions, videos and blogs featuring a range of people who are involved in STEMM based careers.
For more information: https://anytime.iym.org.nz
Northland
Te Ahu Museum
Te Ahu Museum in Kaitaia hosts a remarkable collection telling the stories and histories of the Far North District (Te Hiku o te Ika) of Aotearoa. Treasures among the pre-European Māori collection include pounamu, early carvings and the 500 year-old skeletal remains of the extinct kuri.
Find out more: https://teahumuseum.nz.
Auckland
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Daily: Visit the Auckland Botanic gardens these summer holidays for fun for the whole family, including plant sales every Thursday and music in the park. Sculpture in the Gardens returns to the Gardens and is running until 2 March 2025.
Find out more here: www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz.
Auckland Museum
Daily: A wide range of things to do and see, includng the exhibition Te Rā: Navigating Home (the only known customary Māori sail in existence). Book tickets for one (or more) of the three 3D films: T.Rex, Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, and Wild Africa.
Find out more here: www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on.
14–31 Dec: Visit the special exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches.
- Summer is a great time to participate in the New Zealand Mosquito Census citizen science project.
Striped mosquito Aedes notoscriptus
This mosquito was introduced to Aotearoa in 1920s and is currently widespread in the North Island and down to Lyttleton in the South Island. The females like to feed via biting of both humans and animals, with their preferred feeding times evening and early morning.
Auckland Zoo
Daily: Auckland Zoo is a great place for the whole family, plan your trip around one of the keeper talks such as the free flight displays. Get closer to wildlife and make memories to last a lifetime with a Zoo Experiences and/or take an immersive tour through the six stunning habitats of Te Wao Nui.
Find out more here: www.aucklandzoo.co.nz.
Butterfly Creek
Daily: Visit Butterfly Creek these holidays for butterflies and lots more, suitable for all ages.
There are also two holiday programmes (places book up fast) running in January:
- Junior Keeper Rookie programme (aged 7–11) is an introductory programme where kids will learn the basics of animal care including feeding, cleaning and play with the animals.
- Junior Keeper Explorers programme (aged 11–14) is a more in-depth look into animal care designed for older kids where they will learn about conservation, behavior and health.
Find out more here: www.butterflycreek.co.nz.
- Want to know more, see our resources under our Butterflies and moths topic.
Dinosaurs of Patagonia
10 Nov–30 Jan: This jaw-dropping exhibition brings the ancient giants back to life. It features life-size casts of dinosaurs discovered in Patagonia. The exhibition from Argentina’s Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio showcases the dinosaur species that once roamed the vast landscapes of the southern hemisphere.
See our event listing here: Dinosaurs of Patagonia
Little Scientists!
18 Dec–26 Jan: A science-based school holiday programme in Auckland with locations in Herne Bay, Glen Innes and Hillsborough. The programmes are designed for 5–10 year old children, to encourage participation and increase engagement in science.
Find out more: www.littlescientists.co.nz/holiday-programme-auckland.
Maritime Museum
Daily: this is where the stories of people and the sea are preserved, shared and explored. It houses one of the nation’s most important heritage collections, covering the breadth of our relationship with the sea; from the Great Pacific Migration a thousand years ago to the cutting edge of modern technology and design used in America’s Cup and modern yachting. Exhibitions include Into Ocean & Ice, Landfall and much more.
13 Dec–15 Dec: Scott’s Discovery Hut: Virtual Reality Experience explore Antarctica and visit Scott's Discovery Hut through the Antarctic Heritage Trust's immersive virtual reality experience. Note bookings required.
For more information: www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
MOTAT
MOTAT is New Zealand's largest transport and technology museum and offers a fun and exciting learning experience for visitors of all ages. Uncover stories from the skies of Aotearoa with Te Kōtiu, the new immersive digital experience live at the Aviation Hall. Visit Te Puawānanga Science and Technology Centre and watch your tamariki surround themselves with the magic of more science, more technology and hands-on exhibitions. Make Music is an interactive and hands-on exhibition ready for little virtuosos to explore.
Find out more: www.motat.nz
- Use music to engage students in learning the science concepts of sound in a fun and meaningful way – find out more in Building Science Concepts: Exploring sound.
Summer Holiday Experience
21 Dec–2 Feb, 10am–4pm: This summer holiday MOTAT are running Supercharge It!
Find out more: www.motat.nz/events/summer-holiday-experience-2024/
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium
Daily: Explore over 30 live animal exhibits in spectacular habitat displays, including the world's largest Sub-Antarctic penguin colony and amazing underwater viewing tunnels.
Find out more: www.visitsealife.com/auckland.
- Discover more about penguins and browse the wide range of content we have under the fish, oceans and Antarctica topics.
Stardome
Daily: Astronomy shows, live science demonstrations and, if the weather is clear, rocket launches outside. Come and enjoy the magic! In the newest planaterium show The Year in Space 2024 see highlights of the year, including the best astrophotography, stunning recent images and discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope and much more. For ages 14+ why not register for the Zeiss Telescope Experience.
Find out more here: www.stardome.org.nz.
Waikato
Hamilton Gardens
Daily: Visit the Hamilton gardens these holidays for fun for the whole family. Download the free Discovery Trail sheet here to help explore an enchanting world of secret-themed gardens.
Find out more here: https://hamiltongardens.co.nz.
Te Parapara Garden
Kūmara plants, growing in Te Taupa at Te Parapara Garden.
Te Parapara is designed to incorporate two realms representative of both wild, uncultivated foods and cultivated or farmed foods. Te Ara Whakatauki (Path of Proverbs) lies between the Piazza (section of garden) and the waharoa (gateway). This realm represents the unculivated foods under the care of Haumiatiketike. Te Taupa sits beyond the waharoa and is under the care of Rongomātane renowned as atua of cultivated foods such as the kūmara.
The garden takes its name from the pre-European Māori settlement that occupied the site.
Various dates: Pekapeka night-time discovery walk – experience the magic of the night and explore the hidden world of the native pekapeka (long-tailed bats).
Mahi Aroha Summer Programme 2024
Presented by Project Tongariro and Department of Conservation Central Plateau visitors and communities are invited to explore, protect and enjoy their local natural environments this summer. There are a range of nature-based experiences for the whole family, such as trap building, nature watercolour painting, guided walks in the wetland or caves, various bird species' Aversion Training for your dog, and much more.
Find out more here: www.tongariro.org.nz/mahi-aroha.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
Daily: This 3,400 hectares of fenced sanctuary offers a safe haven for many of New Zealand’s most endangered species – from birds to bats, frogs to reptiles, tuatara to giant weta. Explore on your own or take a guided walk.
Find out more here: www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz
Te Awamutu Space Centre
Daily: Museum and activity centre suitable for all ages. Note you need to book in advance.
Find out more here: www.spacecentre.nz.
- Want to know more, see our resources under our astronomy topic.
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery
Daily: on 12 December the museum will reopen after being temporarily closed for refurbishment – check out the new exhibitions including Astronomy Photographer of the Year. Visit the interactive science exhibition – the Exscite science gallery.
For a complete list of events at Waikato Museum, see: https://waikatomuseum.co.nz/.
Bay of Plenty
The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa
9:30am–2pm daily: If you're in the Rotorua why not join one a Kiwi Hatchery experience during hatching season (September–March), you'll get to see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process and newly hatched kiwi chicks.
Find out more: www.nationalkiwihatchery.org.nz/visit.
Hawkes Bay
Faraday Museum of Technology
Monday to Saturday: This is a place of discovery where history comes alive through hands on experience and it's free. See the Fullagar Engine and Science of Colours exhibition – the only remaining operational example of its kind in the world.
Find out more: www.faradaymuseum.co.nz.
MTG Hawke's Bay
Daily: Visit this award-winning museum, home of the Hawke’s Bay region's taonga and other treasures, including the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Exhibition. Celebrate Napier's 150th anniversary.
Find out more: www.mtghawkesbay.com.
National Aquarium
Daily: Visit the National Aquarium of New Zealand – it's home to a wide range of saltwater, freshwater and land animal exhibits from New Zealand and around the world. Plan your visit around the keeper talks and animal feeding. Book one of the tours, such as a close encounter with the little penguins or terrapins. Below are some special summer activities:
- 27 Dec–2 Feb: Book a 'Wildlife photography' experience on the rocky shore
- 27 Dec–9 Feb: Become an ocean detective this Summer
Find out more: www.nationalaquarium.co.nz.
Central Star Party
2 Jan–6 Jan: Book tickets now to the ninth Central Star Party hosted by the Hawke's Bay Astronomical Society. This annual star party is held in the central North Island for the astronomical community of the North Island of New Zealand. Fun for all the family.
Find out more here.
Taranaki
Puke Ariki
There is loads to keep everyone entertained – discover more about Taranaki. Reef Alive is great for anyone curious about the Taranaki's fascinating reef biodiversity. From 7 December, explore the moon’s past, present and future in the Our Moon: then, now and beyond exhibition.
Find out more: https://pukeariki.com.
Manawatu
Te Manawa Museum
Daily (except Mondays): Visiting Palmerston North? There are many more things to see for all the family. The Call Me, Maybe exhibition explores how telephones, Te Awa – The River looks at the importance of the Manawatū river, whilst Sunlight – Ihi Kōmaru offers visitors the chance to get hands-on with Earth’s star at room temperature
Find out more: www.temanawa.co.nz.
- View our various resources on the Sun, including activities.
Wellington
Nōku te Ao Capital E
Daily: Come along and harness the power of play to ignite creativity, build confidence, and foster resilience in tamariki and rangatahi, preparing them for the future.
For more about what's on at Capital E: www.capitale.org.nz/whats-on-at-capital-e/.
Ngā Manu Nature Reserve
Daily: A great day out with hands-on experience with nature and education with free eel feeding talks and guided forest walks. Book a special ranger tour, covering native birds, a ranger experience, a kiwi night experience and more.
Find out more: https://ngamanu.org.nz.
Ōtari-Wilton Bush
Ōtari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. Experience a stunning array of native flowers that create a feast for New Zealand birdlife. Immerse yourself in forests of large tree ferns including the silver tree fern and view spectacular displays of rātā trees in full bloom over summer.
Find out more: https://wellingtongardens.nz/our-gardens/otari-wiltons-bush.
Police Museum
This museum takes visitors 'up close and personal' with policing methods of the past, present, and future. Your tamariki could participate in the Junior and/or Senior Detective Mystery trails and there are daily museum tours.
Find out more about the museum events and activities: www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history-museum/museum.
- Use our activity DNA detective and the Mobile forensic kit – unit plan to explore the use of forensics in crime scene investigations.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
Daily: Pūkaha manages an unfenced 942-hectare forest as a breeding sanctuary for native wildlife. Inside the aviaries kiwi, kākā and kākāriki are hatched for release across Aotearoa New Zealand. Either enjoy a self-guided walk around or join one of the special tours. See their article Get your kids into nature these school holidays for some inspiration.
Find out more here: https://pukaha.org.nz.
Star Safari
Various: Experience the best telescope equipment in Wairarapa and explore the night sky from one of the best places for stargazing in the world, the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve and discover New Zealand’s most famous constellations.
Find out more: https://star-safari.nz.
Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi | Space Place
Daily: Visit Space Place these summer holidays for lots of resources on astronomy and fun for the whole family.
Find out more here: www.museumswellington.org.nz/space-place.
- Want to know more, see our resources under our astronomy topic.
Te Papa
Daily: A great place to take the kids during the holidays with a huge range of exhibitions, including Te Taiao | Nature and Blood Earth Fire.
For a list of events at Te Papa, please visit: www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/events.
Wellington Botanic garden
Daily: Visit the Wellington Botanic Gardens these holidays for fun for the whole family. Visit the Treehouse to see one of the free pictorial displays:
- 1–28 Dec: Botanical insights – shooting mechanisms in plants and fungi, looking at how plant seeds, pollen and fungi spores are released from their parent reproductive organs.
- 1–31 Jan: Botanical insights – molecules at Work looking at the biological substances and processes behind the growth, development and behaviour of plants.
Find out more here: https://wellingtongardens.nz/our-gardens/wellington-botanic-garden.
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho | Wellington Museum
Daily: For fascinating stories of the Wellington region, visit: www.museumswellington.org.nz/wellington-museum.
Wellington Zoo
Daily: Wellington Zoo is a great place for the whole family to visit.
Find out the talk times and more: https://wellingtonzoo.com.
Holiday program
18 Dec–24 Jan: The Wellington Zoo School Holiday Programme is perfect for kids who want to learn about animals and conservation. Each session will explore a different side of the Zoo and its inhabitants. Be in quick to book a place: https://wellingtonzoo.com/visit/plan-your-day/things-to-do/holiday-programmes.
Zealandia
Daily: An awesome place to visit with the whole family to see Aotearoa New Zealand’s native wildlife, open 9am–5pm. Check out the daily talks and tours about our unique wildlife. Check out the wide range of downloadable resources – fun activities for the whole family.
Find out more: www.visitzealandia.com and www.visitzealandia.com/Visit#Experiences.
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne in the heart of Wellington City was conceived in 1995 and opened in 2000 after the erection of an 8.6 kilometre long predator proof-fence. The sanctuary has a 500 year plan to restore the reserve to how it would have appeared before humans arrived in New Zealand. It is home to many endangered species of birds, plants and animals such as saddleback, tuatara, giant wētā and little spotted kiwi.
Nelson
The Nelson Provincial Museum
Daily: This museum is the kaitiaki (guardian) of social and natural history and Taonga from the Nelson and Tasman regions. Visit the Six Extinctions – explore the events that changed the World – journey through 485 million years, exploring an incredible collection of replica fossils and meeting some of the top predators from each geological period, including the largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever found.
Find out more here: www.nelsonmuseum.co.nz.
- Explore our range of fossil resources under the Fossils topic.
Christchurch
Canterbury museum
Daily: Whilst a new museum is being build you can still get a taste of Canterbury Museum at the pop-up at CoCA (66 Gloucester Street) – and associated activities such as family-friendly free exhibition Bugs at the museum at Kaiapoi Library and Explore Canterbury's tropical past at Tūranga, 60 Cathedral Square.
Visit Quake City, a special exhibition telling stories from the Canterbury earthquakes and Ravenscar House Museum, an extraordinary collection of New Zealand art and objects house in a purpose-built contemporary house.
You'll also find smaller Canterbury Museum exhibitions in locations around Waimakariri, Hurunui and Selwyn Districts.
Find out more here: www.canterburymuseum.com
Christchurch Botanic gardens
Daily: Visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens these holidays, for fun for the whole family. Check our the various tour options.
Find out more here: www.ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/christchurch-botanic-gardens.
International Antarctic Centre
Daily: The Antarctic Academy Programme offers daily and multi–day programmes with Antarctic themes. With Science Alive learn about the important role Antarctica plays in scientific discovery, including fun activities focused on electricity, astronomy, and technology. Join a behind the scenes tour, take a Hägglund field trip and more.
Find out more here: www.iceberg.co.nz.
- Want to know more, see our resources under our Antarctica topic.
Orana Wildlife Park
Daily: A great place to visit during the holidays for an animal adventure the whole family will enjoy. You could have the chance to get up close and personal with the animals.
Find out more here: www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Daily, 9.30am–5pm: Visit this New Zealand themed wildlife park, including visiting the Nocturnal Kiwi House to see North Island Brown Kiwi. See the Holiday programme options: check out the Junior keeper and the Junior keeper PLUS programmes during the school holidays.
Find out more here: www.willowbank.co.nz.
Otago
Dunedin Botanic Garden
Daily: Visit the Dunedin Botanic Gardens these holidays, for fun for the whole family. Take the 1-hour walk up an extinct volcano, view a wide range of birds and take one of the varied trails.
Find out more here: https://dunedinbotanicgarden.co.nz.
Kiwi Birdlife Park
Daily: Discover the captivating wildlife Sanctuary at the Kiwi Park and witness conservation in action, nestled in the heart of Queenstown.
Find out more: www.kiwibird.co.nz.
- Explore our resources on New Zealand’s iconic bird and on conserving our native birds.
Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary
Daily (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays): Orokonui is a 307 hectare biodiversity sanctuary near Dunedin and is home to many threatened species and habitats with a range of tours available.
Find out more: https://orokonui.nz.
- Find out more about the creation of Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary.
Otago Museum
Otago Museum is always a fabulous place to visit with so much on offer. Visit Tūhura – New Zealand's biggest science centre and the Tropical Forest with exotic butterflies and so much more.
Find out more: https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on.
Sinclair Wetlands, Te Nohoaka O Tukiauau
Daily: Visit the Sinclair Wetlands these holidays and see if you can spot all 46 bird species that live there.
Find out more here: www.tenohoaka.org.nz.
- Read more about wetlands and see the Te repo/wetlands collection – it features our resources on repo/wetlands.
Vanished World
Daily: Take a walk along the vanished world trails or visit the Vanished World Centre and see a range of geological finds including fossils. This could be the perfect place for your budding paleontologist these school holidays.
Find out more here: https://vanishedworld.co.nz.
- Want to know more, see our resources under the fossils topic.
Related content
Explore our articles, activities and interactives about all things Summer in this collection.
If you want to continue the learning at home during the holidays whilst still keeping it fun – see Learning science from home – ideas to deepen learning before you begin. Science for young learners is about discovery, curiosity and observation. Two key outcomes of any activity can simply be enjoyment and the conversations that arise from the experience.
