Light, colour and play take over Auckland these April school holidays
Published: Tuesday 24 April 2026
Auckland Live: Airship Orchestra
From exploring under the sea to travelling to the moon – and stepping into glowing worlds of colour and light – there are lots of exciting activities for the whole whānau to enjoy these April school holidays in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Light up your school holidays with three immersive experiences in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau. Darklight: The Hidden World at Aotea Centre (9–18 April), presented by Auckland Live and the Darklight creative team, transforms the Hunua Rooms into a playful environment of colour, sound and interactive installations that evolve from day to night. In Aotea Square, Airship Orchestra (3 April–3 May) invites families to experience a free, 24/7 light and sound installation by ENESS, featuring 16 towering inflatables that pulse with rhythmic light and an enveloping choral soundscape. Just a short walk away, Dreamer (3–12 April) fills the New Zealand International Convention Centre with large-scale indoor light installations and glowing pathways designed for families to explore together. Book tickets for Darklight: The Hidden World and Dreamer online.
Dive into Ngā Huhua | Abundance, a deep blue world teeming with life at New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa. An immersive exhibition celebrating the lifeforce of Te Moana-nui-a-Toi, the outer Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, follow the Ōku Hoa Moana - My Ocean Friends trail and discover the vibrant citizens beneath the waves along the way. Kids can create their own miniature honu turtle keepsake to take home and remember to snap a selfie with a dazzling performer inspired by the moana!
Get creative at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki at its Kids and Whānau Create | Giacometti’s Paris Pop-up. Inspired by Alberto Giacometti and the Giacometti without End exhibition, transport yourself to Paris by making a vase in Giacometti’s style and placing it in the gallery’s Parisian café pop-up scene. Take a seat, imagine yourself in one of his drawings, and enjoy this creative experience on weekends from 11am–3pm and every day during school and public holidays.
Discover Artland: An Installation by Do Ho Suh and children at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, a collaborative hands-on installation created with the artist’s young daughters. This evolving sculptural world of modelling clay features imaginative creatures and fantastical landscapes – from Noodlegrass and Blobbugs to Spocky Trees and Slimes – and invites visitors of all ages to shape their own creations. Sessions run for 45 minutes on the hour from 10.30am–3.30pm daily. Book your free ticket online to avoid disappointment.
Experience unforgettable large-scale artworks along Auckland’s waterfront at the Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail presented by Viaduct Harbour. A striking way to take in contemporary art in the open air, the 2026 Sculpture Trail is bigger than ever, free and open to everyone.
Follow the Climate Trail at Auckland Zoo, created with Auckland Council’s Climate Action team. This fun and fascinating trail highlights how the Zoo’s climate action helps protect species in the wild, while sharing simple ways visitors can take action at home. Tamariki and whānau can pick up a free We Share the Same World activity book and discover how small everyday choices can make a big difference for wildlife and the planet.
Missing those warm summer days? Visit the Swamp Forest at Auckland Zoo. Part of the South East Asia Jungle Track, the Swamp Forest is 28°C all year round. Feel immersed in a unique habitat that is hot, humid and home to Sunda gharial crocodiles, a variety of South East Asian fish species and diverse flora. Follow the track to the lowlands habitat featuring tigers and otters and the high canopy primate habitat featuring orangutans and siamangs.
Show some home ground support for Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium when the team plays its final matches of the regular season against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 11 April and Central Coast Mariners FC on Sunday 19 April. Head across town for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Oceania Qualifiers Final at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday, 15 April. Support the Blues in round 10 of the Super Rugby Pacific 2026 as they take on the Highlanders at Eden Park on Friday, 17 April. For rugby league fanatics, snap up the hottest tickets in town when the One NZ Warriors play the Gold Coast Titans at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, 18 April.
Get whisked away on a fabulous journey with & Juliet at The Civic. This explosive new musical flips the script on the world’s greatest love story and asks: what if Juliet’s famous ending was just her beginning? Packed with reimagined iconic pop anthems that you know and adore, & Juliet is a celebration of love, self-discovery, and second chances. Fun for the whole family, & Juliet features hist such as I Want it That Way, Larger Than Life, I Kissed a Girl, Roar, Domino, Oops... I Did It Again, and more.
Discover how numbers tell stories as MOTAT turns data science and statistics into hands on holiday fun for the whole whānau. Visitors can jump, test and vote their way through an exciting world of science and statistics. This interactive experience brings maths to life, showing how information is collected, displayed and interpreted in fun and practical ways. Included in General Admission, MOTAT invites everyone to enjoy a holiday filled with movement, discovery and hands on fun – and to see how data is all around us.
Have an out of this world experience at Te Whatu Stardome this April school holidays. Look to the skies during a $12 daytime planetarium show. Recently launched, Moonbase: The Next Step, tells the story of the scientific and technological advances needed to safely travel 250,000 miles and survive the hostile and alien conditions on the moon. Rocket launching runs on weekdays at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, and 3.30pm (weather dependent) or you can join a half-day workshop and build a Mars LEGO rover!
Explore the fascinating world of sharks at Auckland Museum. Dive into Swimming with Sharks, a live puppet show created with internationally renowned theatre company Erth and see a range of remarkable shark species come to life. Families can also take part in Shark Quest, a free self-guided trail through the galleries filled with clues and activities. Don't miss the Museum's current international exhibition, Sharks, featuring life-sized models, fossils and hands-on displays that reveal the diversity and importance of these extraordinary ocean predators.
There’s always something on in Auckland. For more ideas these school holidays, visit Discover Auckland or find free, local events and community activities on OurAuckland.
