Summer fun with the kids

Brook Sabin and Radha Engling hunt down the best children’s holiday entertainment that won’t break the bank.

If you are a parent with kids at home these school holidays, congratulations, you just became a CEO – ‘‘chief entertainment officer’’. And now we are in the hard part of the summer break, where the excitement of Christmas has passed, and the return of school is still weeks away, you will also need an excellent CFO (chief fun officer).

OHOPE ¯ WATER SLIDE

A young entrepreneur has created a new attraction at a popular Bay of Plenty holiday spot. Sam Oliver, who studied industrial design at university, approached the owners of a steep block of land overlooking O¯ hope Beach, thinking it would make an epic water slide. With their blessing, he carved up a track, layered it with carpet for padding, then wrapped it in plastic for speed. The result is a water slide that kids love; they hold on to a mat and rocket down. The slide is at the faster end of the spectrum, which means heavier adults tend to fly down with considerable pace. But don’t let that put you off; the oldest rider so far has been a 76-year-old grandmother. The slide will run until Waitangi Weekend.

Price: $15 for an hour session, with unlimited rides.

Best for: Children who love adrenaline. See: O¯ hope Water Slide on Facebook for the latest opening days and times.

CHILDREN GO FREE

The border closures have presented us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the best spots without the usual crowds, and RealNZ is making the opportunity even more enticing by offering a ‘‘kids go free’’ deal until January 31. The deal allows one free child per adult on the TSS Earnslaw coal-fired steamer, Queenstown Jet Boat, Te A¯ nau Glowworm Caves, and cruises along Milford and Doubtful sounds.

Price: from $70.

Best for: Kids who love adventure.

See: realnz.com.

NEW ZEALAND’S SLICE OF FIJI

Auckland’s Goat Island is a must experience for children. It’s an ideal place to increase their confidence in the water, surrounded by fish – and best of all, it’s free. If your children haven’t quite got the confidence to swim right out to the island, where most of the fish hang out, you can rent a transparent kayak, known as a Clearyak. The paddle out is easy, and in just a few minutes, you will have giant snapper under the kayak.

Price: From $60.

Best for: Children who don’t have the confidence to swim in deeper water. See: clearyak.co.nz.

WHAT AM I SEEING?

Rotorua is home to the country’s only trick art gallery, a great indoor activity for rainy days. Inside, you will find more than 50 optical illusions. For example, kids can look like they are being eaten by a giant octopus, ride a dolphin, jump across a crevasse, or cross an enormous waterfall over a log.

Price: $69 for a family pass.

Best for: Children old enough to take photos, but not too old that taking photos with parents is uncool.

See: 3dtrickart.co.nz.

GEOTHERMAL WONDERLAND

If your kids love a sense of adventure, a visit to one of the country’s most active geothermal parks is a must. O¯ ra¯ kei Ko¯ rako is 30 minutes’ drive from Taupo¯ , or 45 from Rotorua, and on arrival at the car park, a smoking geothermal valley is seen across the other side of the Waikato River. You first board a ferry, then jump on a maze of boardwalks to explore geysers, silica terraces, hot springs, and bubbling mud pools.

Price: $17 a child, $42 an adult.

Best for: Kids who haven’t been to Rotorua before.

See: orakeikorako.co.nz.

A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

Rain and the school holidays can be a frustrating combination, but Auckland’s We¯ta¯ Workshop Unleashed involves a behind-thescenes look at three fictitious movies, where kids get to play ‘‘operation’’ on enormous zombies, explore a horror maze (younger kids can skip this), and be confronted by a massive robot. It is like walking through an interactive video game. This is already winning international awards, and will be one of the top things to do when the borders reopen, so get there before the rest of the world discovers it.

Price: $25 a child, $49 an adult, family passes from $99.

Best for: All kids.

See: wetaworkshop.com/unleashed.

INTO THE JUNGLE: KIWISTYLE

Welcome to one of Auckland’s bestkept secrets, Ta¯ wharanui Regional Park. The 588-hectare reserve is just 20 minutes from Matakana, and the predator-free sanctuary is home to a stunning array of birdlife (about 90 species), and some of the region’s best beaches. We even spotted ka¯ ka¯ , which made their way over from Little Barrier Island. By night, dozens of people try their chances at spotting kiwi, which are common in the park. It’s a bit hit-and-miss so if you are intent on seeing one, your best bet is a guided walk with Habitat Tours. The guides use thermal imaging binoculars, positioning you in the perfect place to see them with an almost 100 per cent success rate. Price: Entry to the park and self-guided kiwi spotting is free. Habitat Tours from $60 a child, $130 for an adult.

Best for: Kids who love the outdoors and wildlife.

See: habitattours.co.nz.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Near Matakana, you will find a real world Alice in Wonderland, with lifesize elephants made of driftwood, giant neon pink snails, and a tin version of The Lion King’s Rafiki. Sculptureum has hundreds of weird and wonderful pieces to view on a 11⁄2-kilometre trail. On weekends, there is also an animal encounter – where children can get up close to the park’s rare birds, giant rabbits and kunekune pigs.

Price: Children: $14, adults: $29.

Best for: Children with imagination.

See: sculptureum.nz.

The writer was hosted by the various providers mentioned, but any inclusions are on merit.

Staying safe

New Zealand is under Covid-19 restrictions. Face coverings are mandatory on all flights and public transport. Proof of vaccination and vaccine exemption may be required in some venues. Follow the instructions at covid19.govt.nz.