Auckland’s Best Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Auckland offers a ton of unique places to visit with kids in New Zealand, including plenty of indoor options for rainy days or inclement weather. You can learn about Māori and Pacific cultures at the Auckland War Memorial Museum or check out planes and trains at the Museum of Transport and Technology. For year-round alpine sports, you can visit Snowplanet or head to Sky World for bowling, movies and games. Learn about some of the best indoor activities for kids in Auckland, with rainy day options to entertain the whole family.

1. Explore immersive historical exhibits at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is a museum exploring natural history, military history and historical events in both the Auckland region and New Zealand. Located in the Auckland Domain public park, the museum is only a short distance from the Auckland central business district. Museum collections fall within 3 distinct categories, documentary heritage, natural sciences and human history. Exhibits range from information on Māori and Pacific cultures to historic paintings and documents, photographs, pottery, geology and archaeology collections. A large permanent exhibit at the Auckland War Memorial Museum honours the individual New Zealanders who participated in wars and overseas conflicts.

2. Play on one of Auckland’s coolest mini-golf courses at Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley Golf Club is a trendy indoor space offering mini-golf, karaoke, and a full bar. Located on the waterfront at Viaduct Harbour, this spot isn’t your average putt-putt place. Clever course design and pop culture references give their mini-golf courses extra flare, set among a cool aesthetic that’s sure to be a hit with older kids and teenagers. Children under 18 are welcome at Holey Moley with adult supervision before 7 pm. Locals recommend booking in advance, as this is a popular local spot that fills up quickly on weekends.

3. Get creative at the Auckland Art Gallery

The Auckland Art Gallery, or Toi o Tāmaki, houses extensive collections of artwork from New Zealand and international sources. Located in Auckland’s city centre, the gallery is near Albert Park. Within the Auckland Art Gallery, you’ll find modern, contemporary and historic works of New Zealand art across diverse mediums, focusing on artwork from Māori and Pacific Islander artists. Families can enjoy a range of free downloadable Gallery Games during their visit to the museum, as well as kid-friendly events and storytelling sessions. Check out the Creative Learning Centre for kids activities and hands-on exhibits geared to children.

4. Go snow tubing indoors at Snowplanet

Snowplanet offers year-round indoor activities for kids in Auckland, across 8,000 square meters of real snow. The centre is located only 20 minutes north of Auckland, in Silverdale. Indoor alpine sports at Snowplanet include skiing and snowboarding for children and adults, along with lessons and family-friendly events. They also offer snow tubing lanes and an alpine village so that you can play in the snow with the kids any time of year. A cozy restaurant overlooks the snowy interior, and Snowplanet also offers gear and waterproof attire for purchase or hire in their retail store.

5. See historic Māori vessels at the New Zealand Maritime Museum

The New Zealand Maritime Museum, or Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa, explores New Zealand’s long-running maritime history. The museum is located at Hobson Wharf, off of Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. Expansive collections within the museum follow the history of some of the region’s first Polynesian settlers, all the way through modern accomplishments and technologies. You can see historic Polynesian and Māori sailing vessels and navigational equipment and maritime artifacts, photos, records,\ and artwork. Many ships and vessels are housed within the museum, with more berthed outside on the adjacent docks.

6. Get lost in immersive spaces at Odyssey Sensory Maze

Odyssey Sensory Maze is an adventure maze and indoor family attraction in Auckland. Inside the Sky World Entertainment Centre, Odyssey Sensory Maze is housed within the centre’s lower basement level. You can experience a journey of the senses through this multi-room maze, designed to stimulate the imagination with lights, movement, immersive environments, and mind-bending illusions. For even more fun, you can don a pair of crazy goggles to wear through your maze journey. The suggested age for participating children is 8 and up, at the parent’s discretion.

7. Explore the universe at Stardome Observatory and Planetarium

The Stardome Observatory and Planetarium is one of the unique places to visit with kids in Auckland, located on the south slopes of One Tree Hill on Manukau Road. Within the centre, you’ll find a range of exhibits within the Space Gallery, exploring the wonders of our universe. Planetarium shows are held within a dome-screened theatre, with digital projections across the ceiling above you and reclining seats to immerse yourself in the experience fully. Evening Planetarium shows also include the chance to enjoy telescope viewing outside in the courtyard on clear nights. Planetarium shows are suitable for children older than 3.

8. Watch playful penguin antics at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is a great indoor activity for kids in Auckland, where you can explore an underwater world full of diverse marine life. The aquarium is located on the shore of Auckland’s Okahu Bay, near the Okahu Bay Wharf. Themed zones include an Antarctic Ice Adventure with penguins, a sea turtle rescue centre, a shark tunnel and a seahorse kingdom. Interactive spaces for families with children include a large indoor play area, hands-on art spaces, and touch pools. Adventure seekers can even add additional animal encounters to their visit, like a shark cage encounter.

9. Play board games at Cakes n Ladders

Rainy day activities in Auckland can be found at Cakes n Ladders, a family-friendly board game cafe in Eden Terrace. A large gaming library is available at Cakes n Ladders, from card games and board games to classic family games, all rented at an affordable hourly rate. Walk-in play is available, but you can also book ahead online or by phone. Their cafe serves up a mix of sweet treats and savoury snacks alongside coffee-based beverages and a range of hot and cold drinks.

10. See planes, trains and automobiles at the Museum of Transport and Technology

The Museum of Transport and Technology is a science and tech museum, especially popular with kids who love trucks, trains and planes. The museum is in Western Springs, near Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium and the Auckland Zoo. A huge collection of vehicles and transportation types are exhibited, from trams and trains to fire engines and police vehicles, rockets and spacecraft, and aeroplanes. The museum’s colonial village also houses early examples of shops and houses, including a blacksmith shop and a cottage. Tram rides are also available to transport visitors between the museum’s two exhibition sites.

11. Burn off some energy at Xtreme Entertainment

Xtreme Entertainment houses lots of options for indoor kids activities in Auckland, all under one roof. This family-friendly spot is located in Auckland’s Wairau Valley and is open daily. Activities range from 10-pin bowling to laser tag and arcade games, plus a multi-story climbing structure and kids play space. The kids’ zone playspace is appropriate for children under 12, and parents can enjoy an adjacent cafe with comfy seating. Be sure to pack socks for kids using the kids’ zone playspace.

12. Enjoy multiple indoor activities for kids in Auckland at Sky World

Sky World is an indoor entertainment complex with plenty of rainy day activities to enjoy in Auckland. Located in Auckland CBD on Queen Street, Sky World is a mixed-use facility with shopping, entertainment and food and drink options. You can catch a movie at Event Cinemas or go bowling at Metro Lanes. Play a round of crazy golf at Lilly Putt Mini Golf, or head to Game On for arcade games, video games and sports. The centre also offers a range of cafes and snack options and casual dining restaurants and retail stores.

13. Explore Victorian glasshouse gardens at Domain Wintergardens

The Domain Wintergardens are a historic public garden complex housed within two large Victorian-style glasshouses, which date back to the 1900’s. The gardens are located in the Auckland Domain parklands, near the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Within the heated Tropical House, you’ll find a mix of rare and exotic tropical plants. Collections within the non-heated Temperate House change seasonally, with temperate plants themed to the current season. A formal courtyard connects the two Victorian glasshouses, complete with water features and marble statues.

14. Go roller skating at ActivZone

ActivZone is an indoor roller rink and sports facility for families with kids in Auckland. Located on Auckland’s North Shore, ActivZone is on Downing Street in Glenfield. You can hit the rink during public skate sessions for roller skating or rollerblading, with rentals available at the centre for kids and adults. You’ll also find spaces for indoor sports, a cozy cafe and a calendar of family-friendly events hosted here throughout the year.

15. Jump around at Inflatable World

Inflatable World is a great rainy day activity for kids in Auckland, a large indoor inflatable playground. The centre is located in Central Auckland’s Mt Roskill, behind the Caltex. Inflatable playspaces range from themed bounce houses and slides to obstacle courses and games. Parents should plan on accompanying kids around the facility and can even participate in play spaces alongside children. Socks are required in Inflatable World, and a snack bar is on-site with refreshments.