School Holiday Ideas in New Zealand

"Spring into the school holidays with one of the coolest adventures you'll ever experience with the family. Jump is a revolutionary trampoline park that's all about taking this classic Kiwi backyard activity and making it safe and exciting for everyone - whether you are a kid or, like me, a big kid at heart. I recommend taking a group of adventurous adults and children along for a school holiday outing to remember and, because you can book online and in advance, it's a great way to plan an excellent day out, no matter the weather. The brainchild of a couple of clever Kiwis who got the idea while travelling around the US, indoor trampoline parks are a hot trend taking the world and now New Zealand by storm. Kids will love the multiple trampolines and safety padding around the walls that lets them test their acrobatic skills and limits without the same dangers of a garden trampoline. Jumping on a trampoline is also proving to be a bit of fitness craze and Jump hold special Jump Fit classes at this park. So popular is the concept that there are now two other parks open in Auckland's North Shore and in Hamilton in the Waikato with plans to create many more around New Zealand. Now that makes me want to jump for joy!"

"Action World is Kiwi ingenuity at its best. This New Zealand first - an amazing blow-up park in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson - was set up by a former professional trapeze artist, who had a vision of letting kids fly through the air with the greatest of ease. With no harnesses or safety lines necessary, tots, children and teens love flipping and flopping onto the comfortable safe surfaces below as they negotiate the high wire and shoot from trapeze to trapeze. There's also huge blow-up, colourful slides that the littlies love, an inflatable rock climbing wall and a jousting bridge, which is a hit with the boys. Not only is it a great idea for a school holiday outing but it's also a wonderful way to build confidence and self-esteem. You can just bowl up on the day but space is limited and it gets packed in the school holidays so it pays to make a plan and book online."

"If you have to work during the school holidays, Youthtown has a series of renowned school holiday programmes for young children and teens alike - all of which are designed to delight and inspire. It pays to book early to secure your child a place in the programme of their choice with activities ranging from trips to the movies to a day visit to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. There's also in-house workshops that include cooking, crafts and even magic and circus skills. With programmes specially tailored for each week of the holidays, kids can enjoy it all, select the days they like best or choose what works for the family's schedule. Teens will enjoy a host of exciting activities and fun days out, including Blo-Karting (go-karting with the power of wind), a Rainbow's End visit and special Our Kitchen Rules and Amazing Race workshops. It's also a chance to make new friends and lifelong connections."

"An excellent day out for kids who love interesting insects, reptiles, farm animals and, of course, butterflies, Butterfly Creek is one of South Auckland's true gems. And every school holidays it comes alive with magical events. To celebrate the warmer months ahead, the attraction - which is on the way to the Auckland Airport - is throwing a special Spring Festival. Over the coming weeks, kids can get up close and personal with Butterfly Creek's new baby animal arrivals while enjoying face-painting, mice racing through a maze and craft workshops. There's also going to be barbecue action and specials at the on-site cafe to make sure every day is a fantastic adventure to keep the kids captivated. And if you haven't yet seen Butterfly Creek's amazing Dinosaur Kingdom then it's a great opportunity for a unique encounter of the reptilian kind."

"Do you have a budding photographer in your house or an animal-mad teen who is keen to get up close and personal with wildlife? In the late September/early October school holidays, the Auckland Zoo are running a very special programme for young teens aged 10 - 14, who like to view life from behind the lens. Learning to compose images, getting confident working with different camera modes and taking photos of both people and wildlife, the programme is designed to encourage creativity, conversation and team work. The workshops will be run by a zoo photography tutor and a zoo guide so that teens can create magic images and learn about animals all at the same time. Running every day in the school holidays from 9.30am to 2.30pm, it's a great chance for your teen to get an all access pass to one of Auckland's favourite destinations, as well as being a truly educational experience. Plus, they will walk away at the end of the holidays with a clutch of great photos and even better stories."