A region-by-region shortlist of trusted holiday programmes for Auckland kids — plus holiday fun at the city’s best attractions. Many are OSCAR-approved, so eligible families can claim the Work and Income subsidy.
Dates, prices and times change each school holidays — tap a card to check the provider’s latest details and book.
🗓️ All-day programmes — drop-off care (often 7am–6pm) run by YMCA, sKids, Kelly Club and council leisure centres. Best when you need cover for a work day.
🎨 Interest camps — half or full days built around one thing: sports, STEAM & coding, performing arts, gymnastics or swimming.
🎟️ Days out — drop-in attractions with holiday activities (Zoo, MOTAT, Snowplanet). Great for a single fun day, but not childcare.
💸 OSCAR subsidy — cards marked OSCAR are MSD-approved, so eligible families can claim a Work and Income subsidy toward the cost.
💡 Many sKids and Kelly Club programmes run right at a local primary school — handy if it’s your child’s own school.
Chains and charities running programmes at multiple sites citywide.
Action-packed days at recreation centres across Auckland — sports, swimming, crafts and day trips. OSCAR subsidy available.
Visit website →Safe, structured fun at 170+ school sites — crafts, science, sports, cooking and community trips. Free pick-up/drop-off at many schools.
Visit website →Multi-sport days that get kids moving and learning new games. WINZ OSCAR subsidy for eligible families.
Visit website →From the North Shore to South Auckland — sports, arts, games and youth hubs run by a long-standing local charity.
Visit website →Affordable holiday programmes at council pools and leisure centres citywide, with swimming, active play and day trips. MSD-approved.
Visit website →STEAM holiday workshops built around LEGO® — robotics, coding, motorised models and engineering challenges. Locations across Auckland.
Visit website →MSD-approved holiday care hosted at primary schools across Auckland — cooking, sports, science and outings.
Visit website →Coding, robotics and AI camps (Minecraft, Roblox, Python) on the North Shore and in Botany Downs.
Visit website →100% outdoor nature-play days at Brookby and Pukekohe farms plus reserves like Western Springs and Churchill Park.
Visit website →Drop-in days out (not day-care) with school-holiday activities.
Keeper talks, seasonal trails and hands-on animal encounters every school holidays. Junior Keeper experiences for older kids.
Visit website →Hands-on transport & technology, a working tram, VR experiences and an imagination playground — mostly undercover for wet days.
Visit website →Daily planetarium shows through the holidays plus evening stargazing on the Zeiss telescope. A great rainy-day option.
Visit website →Holiday activities plus the hands-on Weird & Wonderful gallery and earthquake simulator. Donation entry for Aucklanders.
Visit website →Free family art-making activities and interactive spaces during the school holidays, in the heart of the city. Entry is free.
Visit website →Tropical butterfly house, dinosaurs, a farm and a train near the airport — a warm, all-weather day out popular with under-8s.
Visit website →Five-day ski and snowboard courses each break at NZ’s indoor snow centre — gear and snow pass included.
Visit website →High-wire tree-top adventure courses in Woodhill Forest, open daily through the holidays — about 35 min from the city.
Visit website →Outdoor, nature-based holiday programme on the North Shore focused on teamwork, confidence and creativity.
Visit website →Day and excursion programmes from the North Shore Recreation Centre on Akoranga Drive.
Visit website →On-site at Browns Bay School — crafts, science, sports and trips, 7am–6pm care.
Visit website →30+ holiday art workshops — clay, jewellery, painting and movie-making — plus an Art Venturers holiday club.
Visit website →Intensive daily swim lessons and skills clinics plus Kids Club activities on the Hibiscus Coast.
Visit website →Gymnastics games, parkour and obstacle courses — half or full day, no experience needed.
Visit website →OSCAR-accredited craft, sewing, games and science days on Clarence Street.
Visit website →Daily holiday programmes from three central locations — Balmoral, Epsom and Parnell — with games, crafts and outings.
Visit website →Day trips and sports from 149 Greys Ave in the city centre; WINZ/OSCAR subsidy available.
Visit website →Hosted at Grey Lynn School — crafts, science, sports and trip days, 8am–6pm.
Visit website →Cooking, sports and arts serving Newmarket, Parnell, Remuera, Mt Eden and Epsom.
Visit website →A dozen performing- and creative-arts workshops each break — musical theatre, circus, film and ceramics.
Visit website →One-day dance, drama and musical-theatre camps at St George’s, Epsom.
Visit website →MULTIActivity, netball skills and multisport at Windmill Park.
Visit website →Performing-arts holiday workshops in East Auckland — drama, dance and music, ending in a mini showcase.
Visit website →Council programme — games, sports days and outings to Stardome, bowling and movies; 7:30am–6pm.
Visit website →Full and half-day options with crafts, science, sports and community outings.
Visit website →Runs from Howick Primary — sports, cooking, arts and crafts serving wider East Auckland.
Visit website →Coding, robotics, 3D printing and Minecraft/Roblox days — 9am–3pm with early drop-off.
Visit website →OSCAR holiday adventures for the Ormiston and Mission Heights schools, based at Ormiston Primary hall.
Visit website →Not-for-profit club running gymnastics, parkour and trampoline holiday days.
Visit website →Henderson’s big pool complex runs a popular holiday programme — sports, active play, crafts and pool time. OSCAR-approved.
Visit website →Flexible 3–5 day weeks, 6–7 hour days, WINZ subsidy available.
Visit website →Hosted at Massey Primary — themed daily activities and trips, 7am–6pm.
Visit website →Hosted at Titirangi Primary — sports, cooking and arts serving Glen Eden, Laingholm and Oratia.
Visit website →MSD-approved OSCAR programme — free play, planned activities and affordable trip days, open to any school.
Visit website →Gymnastics, fort-building and obstacle courses at Olympic Park, 8:30am–4:30pm.
Visit website →Gallery art workshops with all materials supplied, 10am–2pm, including an exhibition tour.
Visit website →Full-day programmes in Takanini with Kids Club (5–8) and Master Kids (8+) — sports, activities and before/after care.
Visit website →Carnivals, swimming, park visits and adventure days; 7am–6pm, MSD-approved.
Visit website →Trips to parks, ice skating and movies with a pool on site; 7am–6pm.
Visit website →Crafts, science experiments, sports and trips; 7am–6pm care.
Visit website →Arts, cooking, sports and outings serving Flat Bush, Ōtāhuhu, Papatoetoe and Ōtara.
Visit website →Excursions to Bounce, pools, Skateland and beaches; about $6/day with subsidy.
Visit website →Runs from Karaka School hall — baking, playgrounds and field games, 8am–3pm plus wraparound care.
Visit website →Planning the whole break?
See what’s on this weekend and free things to do between programme days.
Listings are a free community resource that link to each provider’s official site. We’re not affiliated with the programmes and don’t handle bookings — please confirm details, safety and pricing directly with the provider.