Term 3 school holidays 2022

Enjoy science-related activities during the spring school holidays. Below are a selection of events held around New Zealand. Many of the providers have additional non-science activities that will be of interest. Follow the weblinks to see the full listings and for up-to-date information.

NOTE: If you know of science-related events we have missed, please get in touch: enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.

• Auckland
• Waikato
• Wellington
• Christchurch
• Otago

Auckland

MOTAT

Project: Reclaim

1–16 October: Pass through a time travelling gateway to the distant past of 2022 and discover how thinking more sustainably can help keep our environment thriving. Complete tasks to earn Flux, the Reclaim headquarters currency, then use your Flux to restore the natural environment, shown on a far future map.

Find out more: www.motat.nz/events/project-reclaim

MOTAT is New Zealand's largest transport and technology museum and offers a fun and exciting learning experience for visitors of all ages.

Find out more: www.motat.nz

Nanogirl

3–11 October: The Nanogirl science team will be performing at shopping malls over the holidays – educational entertainment experience for tamariki aged 5+ as you are taken on a bubble adventure.

Find out where here: www.nanogirl.co/upcoming-appearances

Stardome

Daily: Astronomy shows, sci-fi films and night sky presentations for all ages. Come and enjoy the magic!

Find out more here: www.stardome.org.nz

• Want to know more about space, see our resources under our astronomy topic.

Auckland Zoo

Daily: Auckland Zoo is a great place for the whole family and this year they are celebrating their 100th birthday.

Find out more here: www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/

Butterfly Creek

Daily: Visit Butterfly Creek these spring holidays, for butterflies and lots more, suitable for all ages.

Find out more here: www.butterflycreek.co.nz/

• Want to know more, see our resources under our Butterflies and moths topic.

Botanic Gardens

Daily: Visit the Auckland Botanic gardens these spring holidays, for relaxation and fun for the whole family.

Find out more here: www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/

Jaycar

5–15 October: Become a STEM experimenter! Create an electromagnet, motor, buzzer with a switch and more.

Find out more: www.jaycar.co.nz/workshops

Waikato

Waikato Museum

Exscite science gallery

Daily: An interactive science gallery.

Find out more here: http://waikatomuseum.co.nz/exhibitions-and-events/view/257/exscite-

For a complete list of events at Waikato Museum, please visit: http://waikatomuseum.co.nz/exhibitions-and-events/current-exhibitions

Te Awamutu Space Centre

Daily: Museum and activity centre suitable for all ages.

Find out more here: www.spacecentre.nz

• Want to know more about space, see our resources under our astronomy topic.

Hamilton Gardens

Daily: Visit the Hamilton gardens these spring holidays, for fun for the whole family.

Find out more here: https://hamiltongardens.co.nz

Jaycar

5–15 October: Become a STEM experimenter! Create an electromagnet, motor, buzzer with a switch and more.

Find out more: www.eventbrite.co.nz/o/jaycar-hamilton-39307448463

Wellington

Wilderkids

3–14 October: A school holiday programme for kids aged 5 to 12 centred around exploring nature and learning about the world around them.

Find out more here: https://sustaintrust.org.nz/school-holiday-programme

Capital E

Capital E has a range of events throughout the school holidays, including illustrative storytelling.

For what's on at Capital E: www.capitale.org.nz/whats-on-at-capital-e/

Wellington Zoo

Daily: Wellington Zoo is a great place for the whole family to visit.

Find out talk times: https://wellingtonzoo.com

Holiday program

3–14 October: Aimed at 5–12 year olds, the Zoo’s holiday programmes are perfect for kids who want to learn about animals and conservation. Each session will explore a different side of the Zoo and its inhabitants.

Find out more here: https://wellingtonzoo.com/things-to-do/holiday-programmes/

Police Museum

Explore fascinating resources on New Zealand policing and forensics.

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.

Te Papa

Daily: A great place to take the kids during the holidays. For a full list of the wide variety of holiday events at Te Papa, please visit: www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/events

Space Place

Daily: Visit Space Place these spring holidays for lots of resources on astronomy and fun for the whole family. See the school holiday planetarium schedule here.

Find out more here: www.museumswellington.org.nz/space-place

• Want to know more about space, see our resources under our astronomy topic.

Zealandia

Daily: An awesome place to visit with the whole family to see New Zealand’s native wildlife. See here their ideas for various ways to connect with nature.

Find out more here: www.visitzealandia.com

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve

Daily: A great day out with hands-on experience with nature and education, including free eel feeding talks and guided forest walks.

Find out more: http://ngamanu.co.nz/

Wellington Botanic garden

Daily: Visit the Wellington Botanic Gardens these spring holidays for fun for the entire family.

Find out more here: https://wellingtongardens.nz/our-gardens/wellington-botanic-garden

Christchurch

Canterbury Museum

The museum is a great place to take the kids during the holidays, for a list of events at Canterbury Museum, please visit: www.canterburymuseum.com/whats-on/

International Antarctic Centre

The Antarctic Academy Programme offers daily and multi-day programmes with Antarctic themes.

Find out more here: www.iceberg.co.nz/our-experiences/school-holiday-programmes/

• Want to know more, see our resources under our Antarctica topic.

Days of Ice

29 September–9 October: Celebrate the opening of the Antarctic Summer science season and Christchurch’s unique connections with Antarctica with eleven days of events and activities.

• Want to know more, see our resources under our Antarctica topic.

Nanogirl

10–14 October: The Nanogirl science team will be performing at shopping malls over the holidays – educational entertainment experience for tamariki aged 5+ as you are taken on a bubble adventure.

Find out where here: www.nanogirl.co/upcoming-appearances

Orana Wildlife Park

Daily: A great place to visit during the holidays for an animal adventure the whole family will enjoy, with giraffes, gorillas, a white rhino, kiwis and more. There are daily expert talks and live Q&As with staff.

Find out more here: www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/

Christchurch Botanic gardens

Daily: Visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens these holidays, for fun for the whole family.

Find out more here: www.ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/christchurch-botanic-gardens/

Christchurch City Libraries

Daily: Libraries and Learning Centres offer holiday programmes including a variety of accessible, safe and affordable activities for children including spider talks (marking the 70th anniversary of Charlotte’s Web), radio and Minecraft.

Find out more here: https://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?programs=5475293749b3b85c4e00fe93.

Read this blog article from Dr Fiona Cross about her love for spiders, with links to spider books and a video too.

Otago

Otago Museum

Explorers' club

3–14 October: Whole day sessions including a space day, engineering challenges and an under the ice day, for 5–12 year olds.

Find out more: https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/explorers-club-october-22

Otago Museum has several other events on offer. To find out more and to book a place, visit https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/

Dunedin Botanic garden

Daily: Visit the Dunedin Botanic gardens these spring holidays, for fun for the whole family.

Find out more here: https://dunedinbotanicgarden.co.nz/

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

Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary

Daily: Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary is an awesome place to visit with the whole family to see New Zealand’s native wildlife.

Find out more: https://orokonui.nz/

• Find out more about the creation of Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary.

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.

Find out more here: https://vanishedworld.co.nz/

• Want to know more, see our resources under the fossils topic.

Kiwi Birdlife Park

Daily: An awesome family-owned and operated wildlife centre in the heart of Queenstown, dedicated to saving our endangered wildlife species.

Find out more: www.kiwibird.co.nz/

• Discover more about the efforts to conserve our native kiwi.