April has arrived in the blink of an eye which means yet another round of school holidays are fast approaching. If you're scrambling for ways to keep the boredom (and kids) at bay, we've got you. From an eggciting Easter hunt to a dazzling kids' ballet, and a cute as clay workshop, there's a whole lot of kid-approved things to get amongst this month.
Here are the best things to do with kids in Wellington this month and this year.
Wellington Great Easter Hunt
7 -19 April | Around Wellington
It wouldn’t be Easter without a good old fashioned egg hunt and stuffing yourself silly with chocolate, so thankfully Wellington Chocolate Factory have come to the party and teamed up with Iko Iko to host an eggstraordinary Easter hunt around the city. Round up the fam and head to Iko Iko between 11am and 2pm to pick up the first clue that will take you to your next location. Each stop will provide a new clue, along with special treats and discounts along the way. At the final spot, claim a delicious reward and enter the draw some egg-citing prizes including Easter hampers and chocolatier experiences with Wellington Chocolate Factory. Hop to it.
Glow in the dark titiwai tours - New Zealand glow worms
11 April to 23 May | Botanic Garden Ki Paekaka
Image credit: Botanic Gardens - website
Make your kids' day by letting them stay up past bedtime for an after-dark adventure through the Botanic Garden Ki Paekaka to discover the wonderful world of the titiwai - New Zealand glow worms. On this one-hour, night-time tour, you’ll go on a glow worm spotting mission and learn all about these fascinating luminous creatures who make their home in damp and sheltered spots in the bush. Pack a torch and raincoat (just in case) as tours will go ahead rain or shine. Adult tickets are $10 while kids under 12 are free, and tours are most suited to kids over the age of 7.
Royal New Zealand Ballet presents Dazzlehands
12 - 13 April | St James Theatre
Image credit: Royal New Zealand Ballet - website
We’ve all heard of “jazz hands” but how about “dazzlehands”? Based on the award-winning children’s story, Dazzlehands, the Royal New Zealand Ballet has turned this riotous tale into a moving and grooving ballet bash. This farmyard frolic about a pig with pizzazz has been brought to the stage with enchanting original music, bold costumes and side-splitting characters that is sure to delight all ages.
Junior Intro to Leather
13 - 27 April | Wētā Workshop
Image credit: Wētā Workshop - website
If you’ve got crafty kiddos at home who are looking for some hands-on fun these school holidays, then Wētā Workshop’s Intro to Leather classes could be just the ticket. Designed for kids 6 to 11 years, these creative workshops introduce the art of working with leather. Learn simple techniques from the Wētā Workshop wizards, who have been creating intricate leather costumes and accessories for the big screen for more than 20 years, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. With guidance from the experts, young makers will be able to design and create their very own leather keepsake.
Bricks4Kidz Junior Engineering with Bricks
15 & 22 April | Johnsonville Shopping Centre
Got a LEGO® -mad littlie? Bring them along to this free workshop where they’ll be able to play with bricks, flex their creativity and learn some new skills at the same time. Young creators and innovators aged 5-12 will have a blast building brick creations and solving engineering problems. If the kids are really into it, they can also sign up for the Bricks4Kids STEAM holiday programme, with an exciting line-up of hands-on activities encouraging kids to explore, experiment and innovate, through LEGO® building, robotics, coding, engineering, arts and science. Who said learning can’t be fun too?
2D Game Design
15 April | Noku te Ao Capital E
Calling all future game designers, this one’s for you. Join Capital E’s 2D Game Design workshop and learn what goes into making a 2D arcade game from scratch. In this two-hour workshop, tamariki aged 11-13 learn to use Construct software to develop their own platformer or arcade style game. From designing custom sprites to creating game assets, tamariki are taught everything they need to know to create a game they can play by the end of the workshop. Tickets are $35, and places are limited so get in quick to snag a spot.
Sound of Science
15 - 23 April | Space Place
These school hols, Space Place will be buzzing with a symphony of sounds, as they host a series of science-based workshops for kids aged 8-12. Discover the science of sounds through hands-on experiments and exciting demos. Your minis will get to create soundwaves with tuning forks and ping pong balls, and learn all about vibrations, wavelengths, and how sound travels through the world around us. Following the workshop, kids will be treated to a screening in the impressive full-dome planetarium. Workshops take place each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the April school holidays, and cost $65 per child.
Clay Cuisine
16 April | Wellington Museum
Little foodies are in for a treat at this delightful workshop at Wellington Museum. Budding chefs can put their cuisine skills to the test, whipping up some marvellous miniature clay food creations that look good enough to eat (just resist the temptation!) From tiny dumplings to tiny cakes, these mini clay bites can be baked at home to last forever. Now that’s just a little bit cute.
Disney: The Magic of Animation
Until 13 July | Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre
Image credit: Takina - website
If you've got kids who go mad over Moana or dress up as Elsa on the reg, then they will get a kick out of the brand spanking new Disney exhibition that has landed at Tākina. See how all your favourite Disney characters are brought to life on the big screen, with more than 600 objects and artworks on display. Get a close up look at almost 100 years of Disney magic, from original sketches of timeless characters to modern, computer-generated wonders. Littlies can also practice their colouring magic at interactive animation stations, dress up as their fave character, or take a spin with Belle and the Beast in the ballroom. Book your tickets.
Main image credit: CubaDupa | Website