Auckland School Holiday Programmes
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.
On during these holidays26 Sept – 11 Oct 2026
Dated sessions we found for this break — libraries, museums, pools and attractions. Times and prices are on the provider’s page.
See every event on during the holidays →What kinds are there?
🗓️ 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.
Across Auckland
Chains and charities running programmes at multiple sites citywide.
The Y (YMCA) Holiday Programmes
Action-packed days at recreation centres across Auckland — sports, swimming, crafts and day trips. OSCAR subsidy available.
Visit website →sKids Holiday Programmes
Safe, structured fun at 170+ school sites — crafts, science, sports, cooking and community trips. Free pick-up/drop-off at many schools.
Visit website →Kelly Sports Holiday Programmes
Multi-sport days that get kids moving and learning new games. WINZ OSCAR subsidy for eligible families.
Visit website →Youthtown Holiday Programmes
From the North Shore to South Auckland — sports, arts, games and youth hubs run by a long-standing local charity.
Visit website →Council Leisure Centre Programmes
Affordable holiday programmes at council pools and leisure centres citywide, with swimming, active play and day trips. MSD-approved.
Visit website →Bricks 4 Kidz
STEAM holiday workshops built around LEGO® — robotics, coding, motorised models and engineering challenges. Locations across Auckland.
Visit website →Kelly Club
MSD-approved holiday care hosted at primary schools across Auckland — cooking, sports, science and outings.
Visit website →Skill Samurai
Coding, robotics and AI camps (Minecraft, Roblox, Python) on the North Shore and in Botany Downs.
Visit website →Nature's Den
100% outdoor nature-play days at Brookby and Pukekohe farms plus reserves like Western Springs and Churchill Park.
Visit website →Holiday fun at Auckland attractions
Drop-in days out (not day-care) with school-holiday activities.
Auckland Zoo — School Holidays
Keeper talks, seasonal trails and hands-on animal encounters every school holidays. Junior Keeper experiences for older kids.
Visit website →MOTAT — What’s On
Hands-on transport & technology, a working tram, VR experiences and an imagination playground — mostly undercover for wet days.
Visit website →Stardome Observatory
Daily planetarium shows through the holidays plus evening stargazing on the Zeiss telescope. A great rainy-day option.
Visit website →Auckland Museum — What’s On
Holiday activities plus the hands-on Weird & Wonderful gallery and earthquake simulator. Donation entry for Aucklanders.
Visit website →Auckland Art Gallery
Free family art-making activities and interactive spaces during the school holidays, in the heart of the city. Entry is free.
Visit website →Butterfly Creek
Tropical butterfly house, dinosaurs, a farm and a train near the airport — a warm, all-weather day out popular with under-8s.
Visit website →Snowplanet
Five-day ski and snowboard courses each break at NZ’s indoor snow centre — gear and snow pass included.
Visit website →Tree Adventures
High-wire tree-top adventure courses in Woodhill Forest, open daily through the holidays — about 35 min from the city.
Visit website →North Shore
Social Nature Movement
Outdoor, nature-based holiday programme on the North Shore focused on teamwork, confidence and creativity.
Visit website →The Y North Shore
Day and excursion programmes from the North Shore Recreation Centre on Akoranga Drive.
Visit website →sKids Browns Bay
On-site at Browns Bay School — crafts, science, sports and trips, 7am–6pm care.
Visit website →Mairangi Arts Centre
30+ holiday art workshops — clay, jewellery, painting and movie-making — plus an Art Venturers holiday club.
Visit website →Northern Arena
Intensive daily swim lessons and skills clinics plus Kids Club activities on the Hibiscus Coast.
Visit website →North Harbour Gymnastics
Gymnastics games, parkour and obstacle courses — half or full day, no experience needed.
Visit website →Devonport Community House
OSCAR-accredited craft, sewing, games and science days on Clarence Street.
Visit website →AUT Millennium Holiday Programmes
Active multi-sport days, aqua adventures and swim intensives at the National Aquatic Centre — several programmes split by age.
Visit website →Central Auckland
Village Square Trust
Daily holiday programmes from three central locations — Balmoral, Epsom and Parnell — with games, crafts and outings.
Visit website →The Y Auckland City
Day trips and sports from 149 Greys Ave in the city centre; WINZ/OSCAR subsidy available.
Visit website →sKids Grey Lynn
Hosted at Grey Lynn School — crafts, science, sports and trip days, 8am–6pm.
Visit website →Kelly Club Newmarket
Cooking, sports and arts serving Newmarket, Parnell, Remuera, Mt Eden and Epsom.
Visit website →TAPAC Holiday Programmes
A dozen performing- and creative-arts workshops each break — musical theatre, circus, film and ceramics.
Visit website →Pform Dance & Drama
One-day dance, drama and musical-theatre camps at St George’s, Epsom.
Visit website →Auckland Netball Holiday Programmes
MULTIActivity, netball skills and multisport at Windmill Park.
Visit website →East Auckland
Artz on Show
Performing-arts holiday workshops in East Auckland — drama, dance and music, ending in a mini showcase.
Visit website →Howick Leisure Centre
Council programme — games, sports days and outings to Stardome, bowling and movies; 7:30am–6pm.
Visit website →sKids Botany Downs
Full and half-day options with crafts, science, sports and community outings.
Visit website →Kelly Club Howick
Runs from Howick Primary — sports, cooking, arts and crafts serving wider East Auckland.
Visit website →SCRATCHPAD Botany
Coding, robotics, 3D printing and Minecraft/Roblox days — 9am–3pm with early drop-off.
Visit website →Ormi Kids & Mission Kids
OSCAR holiday adventures for the Ormiston and Mission Heights schools, based at Ormiston Primary hall.
Visit website →Howick Gymnastic Club
Not-for-profit club running gymnastics, parkour and trampoline holiday days.
Visit website →West Auckland
West Wave Pool and Leisure Centre
Henderson’s big pool complex runs a popular holiday programme — sports, active play, crafts and pool time. OSCAR-approved.
Visit website →sKids Massey
Hosted at Massey Primary — themed daily activities and trips, 7am–6pm.
Visit website →Kelly Club Titirangi
Hosted at Titirangi Primary — sports, cooking and arts serving Glen Eden, Laingholm and Oratia.
Visit website →Glen Eden Community House
MSD-approved OSCAR programme — free play, planned activities and affordable trip days, open to any school.
Visit website →Waitākere Gymnastics
Gymnastics, fort-building and obstacle courses at Olympic Park, 8:30am–4:30pm.
Visit website →Te Uru Art Workshops
Gallery art workshops with all materials supplied, 10am–2pm, including an exhibition tour.
Visit website →South Auckland
Bruce Pulman Park
Full-day programmes in Takanini with Kids Club (5–8) and Master Kids (8+) — sports, activities and before/after care.
Visit website →Manurewa Leisure Centre
Carnivals, swimming, park visits and adventure days; 7am–6pm, MSD-approved.
Visit website →Ōtara Pool & Leisure Centre
Trips to parks, ice skating and movies with a pool on site; 7am–6pm.
Visit website →sKids Papakura Central
Crafts, science experiments, sports and trips; 7am–6pm care.
Visit website →Kelly Club Willowbank
Arts, cooking, sports and outings serving Flat Bush, Ōtāhuhu, Papatoetoe and Ōtara.
Visit website →Māngere East OSCAR
Excursions to Bounce, pools, Skateland and beaches; about $6/day with subsidy.
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.