Top 10 FREE Things to Do These School Holidays in Auckland: EcoFest Kid-Friendly Events 

Wednesday 8 April, 10:00am – 3:00pm – Camp Adair, 2487 Hūnua Road, Auckland 

Tamariki will spend a full day exploring the ngahere (forest) at Camp Adair as Wildlife Detectives, learning how conservationists monitor animals through hands-on bush adventures. They will collect wildlife clues, build a tracking tunnel to take home, and tackle an orienteering native tree trail.  

Recommended age: 8–12-year-olds 

Registration: required 

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Monday 13 April, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Waiuku Yacht Club, 13 Rangiwhea Road, Waiuku, Auckland 

Drop in for a relaxed, family-friendly session exploring the birds of the Waiuku Estuary. Learn how a simple 5-minute bird count helps protect native species, then enjoy a guided bird-inspired painting activity with a local artist.  

Recommended age: all ages 

Registration: no registration required 

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Monday 13 April, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Whangaparaoa Library, 9 Main Street, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa, Auckland 

Teens can participate in a one-of-a-kind event, upcycling old jewellery into something new! Rangatahi can bring their old or broken jewellery that they no longer wear and use it to create new pieces. Jewellery making tools and basic materials will be available.  

Recommended age: 12+ 

Registration: no registration required 

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Friday 17 April, 10:00am – 12:00pm, Waitākere Central Library, 3 Ratanui Street, Auckland   

Tamariki will use reclaimed fabrics to create their very own Pēkapeka (native long-tailed bat) soft toy. This hands-on activity not only builds sewing skills but also inspires a love for conservation and sustainability in a fun and meaningful way. An eco-friendly way to learn and spread awareness about one of Aotearoa’s only native land mammals.

Recommended age: all ages, children under 14 must be supervised by an adult 

Registration: required 

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Thursday 16 April, 10:30am – 12:30pm, Dig It! Community Garden, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak 

Get the whole family together for a hands-on workshop where you will build a small bug hotel using natural and reclaimed materials. Learn how native insects and pollinators support food growing, biodiversity, and healthy soil — then take your bug hotel home or help install one in the community garden. We will start with identifying which insects you have at home, and custom-make a bug hotel just for them. 

Recommended age: all ages 

Registration: required 

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Thursday 9 April, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Totara Park, 90R Wairere Rd, Manurewa 

Walk. Wonder. Write. Draw. Tamariki will create their own handmade book, inspired by a journey through the park. Guided by creative prompts, we’ll walk, observe, and gather stories—both from the land and from what you bring. Tamariki will learn how to fold and bind a book to fill with the day’s reflections, then take it home.  

Recommended age: all ages 

Registration: required 

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Monday 13 April, 10:00am – 11:00am, Huia Lodge Discovery Hub, Cromwell Park, Green Lane West, Epsom 

Gather your whānau and join Birds New Zealand to learn about birds on a guided walk. Cornwall Park is a favourite spot for many different species of endemic, native and introduced birds. This guided walk will introduce many of the birds that can be seen in the park, their origins and information on how to best identify them. The walk will go off-road, so it is not suitable for prams, dogs are not permitted.  

Recommended age: 6+ 

Registration: required 

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Thursday 9 April, 10:00am – 11:30am, St Heliers Community Library, 32 St Heliers Bay Road, St Heliers 

Get the whole family for this fun, hands-on worm farming workshop. Discover the fascinating world of tiger worms and how these tiny composting heroes turn food scraps into fertiliser. There’ll be plenty of fun and hands-on activities for the whole whānau. All confirmed workshop participants get a 50% discount voucher to order a compost system.

Recommended age: 3–9-year-olds  

Registration: required 

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Sunday 12 April, 2:00pm – 4:30pm, Hobsonville Point Park, 1 Buckley Avenue, Hobsonville

Get the whānau outside for a family-friendly ride around the Hobsonville area. The ride will explore the neighbourhood and include practical tips along the way to help families feel more confident getting around by bike. The ride is all about enjoying time together, building confidence on bikes, and discovering safe, family-friendly ways to travel locally.

Recommended age: all ages, under 6 must ride on a parents’ bike using child seats or trailers. 

Registration: required 

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Thursday 16 April, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Glen Eden Library, 12-32 Glendale Rd, Glen Eden 

Get the whole family together and learn to grow your own edible plants and use them to create an easy snack, a colourful cake, or add them to your salad. The choice is yours. Practical advice about how to be creative with your fresh food and leftovers will be given, to help them last longer. Making the most of the food we have helps save money and is better for the environment.  

Recommended age: 8+ 

Registration: required 

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Thursday 16 April, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Glen Eden Library, 12-32 Glendale Rd, Glen Eden 

Get the whole family together and learn to grow your own edible plants and use them to create an easy snack, a colourful cake, or add them to your salad. The choice is yours. Practical advice about how to be creative with your fresh food and leftovers will be given, to help them last longer. Making the most of the food we have helps save money and is better for the environment.  

Recommended age: 8+ 

Registration: required 

Find out more