Spring is upon us, but unfortunately, regardless of the season, you have to prepare to potentially have buckets of water fall from the sky as you venture out in this wild city. The last thing I like to do on a rainy day is get stuck in a room with children for the entire day. I start to itch if it reaches 9 am and I haven’t left the house (or hotel) yet, and my boys love to climb the walls with me. So what can you do with your littlies when the weather is onerous? Here a few ideas:

Kelly Tarltons
23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei. Open from 9.30am-5pm daily
Featuring the world’s largest Antarctic penguin colony exhibit, and aquariums filled with sharks, stingrays, and fish. Loads to see and do, especially for the little ones. There is also a small play area and café in the centre. Easily accessibility for wheelchairs and prams.

Snowplanet
91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland
This is a bit of a drive, but well worth it. A ski slope which will satisfy all levels of the ski and snowboard fanatic for, and fantastic options for the family with younger children, including the tobogganing ‘snow play’ sessions. There is also a fantastic child-friendly restaurant where you can sit and watch people sail down the slopes through the huge glass walls.

Auckland Museum
The Auckland Domain, Parnell
The museum can get a little crazy on rainy days, as most museums around the world do, but for good reason. Full of loads of interactive exhibits, and the section ‘weird and wonderful’ is full of curiosities children can touch, explore, and all completely childproof.

Jump
7A Arwen Pl, East Tamaki and 48 Arrenway Dr, Mairangi Bay
Basically, a huge warehouse featuring trampolines in the place of a floor. There are areas dedicated to the younger children, and some days include jump mini sessions which are classes designed for the under 4-year-olds. There are also basketball hoops, a dodgeball court, and a huge foam pit. All sessions are one hour and start on the hour.

Metro Centre
291-297 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
The Metro Centre is rather structurally grotesque inside, and it is right in the centre of the CBD which, you will quickly learn, isn’t Auckland finest spot. But the Metro Centre does have a few things on offer for the young ones on a rainy or cold day. The basement holds a dinosaur themed ‘lost in time’ mini golf course, and also the Odessey sensory maze, where you have to use all your senses to get out due to limited visibility. On level three there is a ten-pin bowling alley, and there is also a movie and IMAX theatre.

Tepid Baths
100 Customs Street West, Auckland CBD
Auckland has many indoor swimming pools, the Tepid Baths being the most central. An Auckland icon, it has been beautifully restored and is clean and safe for all ages and abilities. There is also great food options close by, including the Fish Market which serves up delish fish and chips, and has an outdoor (covered) sandpit in the central courtyard – 22 Jellico street, Wynyard Quarter.

Woah Studios
8 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson, Auckland 0612
Woah studios are fairly new, and not in the handiest place, but it is definitely worth the drive for a fun day out. Live productions featuring songs, puppets and amazing sets are shown on Saturdays, Sundays, or mid-week during the school holidays. The restaurant is also fantastic, and if the weather fines up the playground will keep all ages amused for hours.

A Date in a Café
Seriously, I cannot think of anything I love more than a date with my boys, and Auckland has some incredible cafes on offer. If you are visiting from abroad and you want to immerse yourself in a kiwi quintessential pastime then make sure you go to one of the many cafes we have on offer (no, I am not talking about Starbucks). Many are child-friendly, and you will be sure to have some world class coffee. If you would like a few recommendations please go to my page where you find a few café suggestions.