A last holiday hurrah
Before the kids return to school, there’s time for one more week of fun to be had, with free entertainment options around the country, writes Lorna Thornber.
Whether you’re looking forward to the end of the school holidays or dreading it (I’ll hazard a guess that you and the kids have different opinions there), you may as well see them out in style.
If you’re still at the beach, all power to you. Another week of sun, surf and sandcastles is all but assured. Those back at home, or who never left, needn’t feel jealous though, as our biggest cities’ events calendars next week are amazingly full for life in the time of Covid-19.
From America’s Cup action and New Zealand’s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to ‘‘kids go free’’ deals on bucket-list attractions, our cities are giant, all-ages playgrounds.
We’ve put together a guide to some of the best things to do in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown, before the kids wave goodbye to their freedom in early February, when they start the school year.
Auckland
With the City of Sails in the grip of America’s Cup fever, it makes sense to get amongst it. Not least because it provides loads of family-friendly entertainment.
The semifinals of the Prada Cup, which decides which overseas crew gets to take on Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup, takes place during the last week of the school holidays, from January 29 to February 2.
The free-to-access waterfront Race Village is at the hub of the action and well worth a wander to soak up the vibe. Stretching from Hobson Wharf to Wynyard Quarter and Silo Park, it includes four team bases, a concert stage, sailing simulator, and two big screens to view the racing.
The Spark 5G Race Zone, which showcases the world-beating technology that Team NZ uses to make its boat go faster, is also free to check out, but you need to book ahead.
If you’d prefer not to head into the city centre, check the Race Ready for the 26th America’s Cup website at 10am on race days to find out which of the five courses has been selected for that day’s racing.
Depending on the course, the best vantage spots include lower North Shore beaches, North Head, Ta¯ maki Drive, southeastern beaches such as Achilles Point and Glover Park, and Musick Point and Maraetai.
The city celebrates its maritime heritage on Auckland Anniversary Day on February 1, and gathering to watch – on land or on the water – is a tradition for many Auckland families. Now in its 179th year, it’s one of the biggest and oldest one-day regattas in the world, and sees the City of Sails – and paddles – come into its own.
You’ll see everything from tall ships and classic yachts to racing keelers, radio-controlled craft and waka ama (outrigger canoes) compete for trophies, cash and a host of other prizes.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own boat (even a dinghy will do), enter online or join the floating party on the Waitemata¯ Harbour and Waitemata¯ Gulf.
If you don’t have a boat, pack a picnic and head to Westhaven, Princes or Queen’s wharf, the Viaduct, North Head, Bastion Point, or the East Coast Bays for the best views.
The Ports of Auckland are the place to be on January 31, when it will play host to the SeePort Festival: a free concert and fireworks display kicking off at 4pm. Take a picnic or grab something from an on site food truck, then settle in for performances by the likes of the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, White Chapel Jak and Sweet Mix Kids.
There’s more free entertainment to be had in the form of the Auckland International Buskers Festival, which runs over four days at Silo Park, Te Komititanga Square and Te Wero Island from January 29.
Expect acrobatics, comedy, contortion, hula hooping, a ‘‘rock-n-roll circus’’, a show by ‘‘New Zealand’s best, and only, masked Mexican wrestler’’, and a juggling and unicycle act culminating in what performer Basketball Jones bills as the most dangerous basketball trick in the world.
Folk music fans should head to the Kumeu Showgrounds between January 29 and February 1, for performances by some of New Zealand’s most famous faces in the genre. The Auckland Folk
Festival features a dedicated kids’ stage, and the whole family can expect jam sessions, singalongs, and workshops on everything from Scottish dance to Cossack swordplay. Camp on site for the full experience, or make it a day trip.
Wellington
Head along to Bush City at Te Papa in the last week of the school holidays for games, talks, storytelling sessions, evening performances, and some special kai to go with your harbour-view nature walk.
A living outdoor exhibition, Bush City features more than 14,000 native plants and some of the oldest rocks in Aotearoa. Far from your average urban park, its activity options include digging for fossils and entering a cave to discover glow-worms, stalactites and moa bones.
Ride Wellington’s version of Thomas The Tank Engine (Craig the Cable Car?) to Space Place until February 8, and you’ll get 20 per cent off the return trip and general admission to the astronomical hub.
‘‘Take a red rocket to space’’ tickets will see you blast off from Lambton Quay and pass through a tunnel decorated with murals and lights en route to the lookout with its brilliant city and harbour views. Check out the free Cable Car Museum and grab a coffee or icecream to fuel your (short) walk through the Wellington Botanic Garden to Space Place. The full-dome planetarium, historic telescope and multimedia exhibits will take the kids on a voyage of discovery, guaranteed to up their interest in science this school year.
If the kids like mixing strange concoctions in the kitchen, they will find inspiration at the Cool As challenge in Lower Hutt, which sees local cafes, restaurants, bars, and a bakery serve up special signature drinks over two weeks.
The beverages this year include a loaded doughnut-inspired milkshake from Fix Federation and a sherbet jelly slushie from Buzz. Parents can quench their thirst on a lemon meringue pie cocktail at the Crooked Elm, and the Not So Karen cocktail at Atrium Cafe. Scan the QR codes at competing venues to vote for your favourites on the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Arty and crafty children might like to use their last week of freedom to check out two must-see Wellington exhibitions ending soon: Van Gogh Alive and World of WearableArt Up Close.
Christchurch
The Garden City’s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is back and, while international performers are missing this year, there’s no need to feel short changed. That’s partly because many acts at the Bread & Circus – Backyard Buskers Festival are free, and partly because of the stellar Kiwi lineup.
The acrobats, circus performers, musicians, and comedians set to perform are some of the best in Aotearoa, with family-friendly highlights in the last week of the holidays including The Biggest Little Circus and the Manubrium Circus Theatre at Scott Statue park, and the roving Amateur Amateur Dramatic Society. Help direct the show by passing them a prop on the central city’s streets between January 29 and 31 to watch it take (another) unforeseen dramatic turn.
You can also watch potentially hundreds of kites take to the sky above New Brighton Beach on January 30. The annual Kite Day event is so well renowned it has previously attracted kite flyers from as far away as the Netherlands, and this year’s event is shaping up to be just as spectacular.
You can bring-your-own kite, buy one there, or just sit back, relax and watch them whirl in the wind. A sandcastle competition, and beach sports organised by Sport Canterbury, should also keep the kids amused. Plus there’s free icecream.
Queenstown
Board the century-old steamship, TSS Earnslaw, for a 90-minute cruise across Lake Wakatipu before February 5, and you won’t pay a cent for the kids.
Ripe for exploration, the Lady of the Lake features giant steam engines, a mini-museum, piano player, and licensed cafe.
For a full day’s fun, combine the cruise with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided tour, horse trek, bike ride along backcountry roads, or gourmet barbecue lunch or dinner. Kids go for free on the Walter Peak trip.
If you’re yet to visit the headline New Zealand attraction that is Milford Sound, now is a good time to do it. Real Journeys and Southern Discoveries have ‘‘kids go free’’ offers these holidays on cruises through what Rudyard Kipling once described as the eighth wonder of the world.
Real Journeys’ ‘‘kids go free’’ special also applies to its Te Awa Glowworms Caves tour, Doubtful Sound cruise, TSS Earnslaw cruise, and jet boat combo, and Stewart Island ferries.
Children also travel for free on Southern Discoveries’ Lake Wakatipu cruise.
And it’s a good time to bag a bargain on accommodation and activities in the adventure capital in general. Head to queenstownnz.co.nz to find the latest deals. Family-friendly offers include significant discounts on jet boating, zip-lining, scenic flights, golf, and skating, bumper cars, and Frisbee golf at the Queenstown Ice Arena.