Is it the low expectation, or the fact that you didn’t need to get your money out that makes free activities so much fun?  There’s plenty of promotion out there for activities you have to pay for, but very little information on a good range of free activities.   You’d be forgiven for thinking that you can’t do free things anymore!

Free 4 Kids is a growing collection of good ideas supplied by families to get people out and about doing interesting things!  Help the collection develop by sharing fresh ideas or giving feedback on listed activities, or the Free 4 Kids page itself.  At this stage, we’re collecting free activities within or near Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.  Activities must get families out of the house and be totally free!

                     Send an Idea        Give feedback on activities

Auckland                                 Auckland - CBD
                                                        Auckland - Inner Suburbs 
                                                        Auckland - To the North
                                                        Auckland - To the East
                                                        Auckland - To the West
                                                        Auckland - To the South

AUCKLAND - CBD

Albert Park
Princes Street, Auckland Central
Albert Park is a very civilized place to visit if you want to look at flowers, sculptures, fountains and trees.  There are many beautiful historical buildings surrounding the park that are mainly used by Auckland University and make for an interesting walk when combined with a look around Albert Park.  At the bottom of the park, there is a tall stone sculpture which can be a quirky thing to amuse the children with as they try and guess how many rocks are stacked on top of one another!

Auckland Art Gallery
Corner of Wellesley and Kitchener Streets, Auckland Central
10am to 5pm
(09) 307 4540
www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz
The main part of the gallery is free to the public and it houses New Zealand’s largest collection of national and international art.  There is also a fountain outside the entrance which small children in particular will enjoy.

Auckland City Library
44 - 46 Lorne Street, Auckland Central
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm, Saturday from 10am to 4pm, Sunday from 12pm to 4pm
(09) 377 0209
www.aucklandcitylibraries.com
The central library has a good selection of things to entertain children with and they have recently opened a children’s interactive floor area.  Every Sunday at 12.30pm, they have story time with songs, stories and rhymes.

Borders Bookshop
291-297 Queen Street, Auckland Central
(09) 309 3377
www.bordersstores.com
If you’re looking for something to do on a wet day, Borders is a great place to visit and at 2pm every Sunday, they have story time.

Britomart
Quay Street, Auckland Central
Britomart is a neat place to have a look around.  Watch the trains come and go and discover interesting features inside and outside the station such as water fountains and the volcanic garden.

The Viaduct
Quay Street, Auckland Central
Auckland’s Viaduct is an interesting place to take children.  Walk around the water’s edge soaking up the sights and check out the luxury boats moored in the viaduct.  You can watch the ferries come and go from the nearby terminal on Quay Street.

Victoria Park Playground
Victoria Street West, Auckland Central 
This is a handy playground to visit if you are in town and looking for something physical to do with the children.  On summer weekends, you can watch people play cricket on the adjacent fields which can make for a pleasant afternoon when coupled with a session at the playground or a wander through Victoria Park Market across the road.

Auckland Harbour Bridge
St Mary’s Bay
Park on the western side of the bridge and walk around the edge of the harbour, taking in the sights of people fishing, boats passing by and of course the scale of the bridge itself.  Walk right under the bridge and out the other side to the Westhaven Marina to check out the hundreds of boats moored there.

Auckland Domain
Domain Drive, Parnell
The Domain is a great place to go to feed ducks and geese.  There are a lot of areas where children can run around, with many interesting sculptures and water features hidden amongst the trees.  Some of the trees have enormous root structures which children will find great for climbing.

The Wintergarden
Domain Drive, Parnell
The Wintergarden is an excellent place to take children to discover an amazing array of plants and flowers.  There are two hot houses with a picturesque fountain area between the two and there is also a fernery attached to the Wintergarden which children will love to explore and have a go at spotting the bird sculptures amongst the ferns.

Auckland – Inner Suburbs

Bastion Point
Off Tamaki Drive, Orakei
Bastion Point is a great place to go and fly a kite.  There are some interesting World War Two battlements to explore and the area gives a fantastic view over the Waitemata Harbour.

Orakei Basin
Access off Orakei Road, Orakei
This is a nice place for a walk and to watch water skiing from close quarters.  One side of the basin is a train track, so it’s also a great spot for kids to watch the trains go past on their way to and from the city.

Orakei Wharf
Tamaki Drive, Orakei
This wharf is a fun place to visit and kids love walking out over the water to the end of the pier.  There are always people to watch fishing at the end of the pier.  Alternatively, you might like to take your own rods and have a go!

Judges Bay
Judges Bay Road, Parnell
Judges Bay is a fun area to visit.  It has steep grassy slopes for children to enjoy rolling down, there are BBQs and the tidal water in the bay is a great place to explore.  Up the hill slightly is St Stephens Anglican Church, which has an interesting graveyard and views out over the harbour.

Gladstone Road Playground
Gladstone Road, Parnell 
This playground is an excellent one to visit, as it has two playgrounds next to each other – one that is suitable for littlies and one more suited to older children.  Apart from standard play equipment, there is also a long tunnel slide, a jeep and many challenging equipment besides.  There is space to throw out a picnic blanket or throw a ball around.  It can be tricky to locate – it’s best described as right beside the Parnell Tennis Club.

Parnell Rose Gardens
Gladstone Road, Parnell
These gardens make for an enjoyable walk and kids will have fun running amongst the bush tracks and paths while you enjoy the tranquility of the garden and admiring the huge selection of roses.  The Gladstone Rd Playground is across the road but hard to find!

Grey Lynn Park and Playground
Grosvenor Street, Grey Lynn
This park is huge and it has a skateboard ramp and a fun playground with lots of variety.  Right next to the playground is an awesome FREE outdoor pool that is supervised by a qualified lifeguard (summer only).  The pool even has a neat array of inflatable pool toys, also free for swimmers’ use.

Ponsonby Street Walk
Ponsonby
The streets around Ponsonby make for an interesting walk for those who love looking at villas and historic homes.  There is always a lot going on around Ponsonby, which makes it a lively place to spend time on weekends.

Outhwaite Park
Carlton Gore Road, Grafton/Newmarket
This is a fun place to take children, as there is a good playground, BBQs and plenty of trees to relax under.

Auckland – To the North

Devonport Playground
Off King Edward Parade, Devonport
Devonport playground is situated near the beach at Devonport and the surrounding area is picturesque and has a variety of attractions, including a pier, excellent window shopping and historic buildings to wander past.  Devonport is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

North Head
Access via King Edward Parade, Devonport
North Head is interesting because it has many military tunnels open to the public which were constructed to defend Auckland.  Make sure you take a torch, as the tunnels can be very dark and some are quite long!  Don’t miss the disappearing gun and the view from the top.

Narrow Neck Beach and Playground
Access from Old Lake Road, Devonport
This beach has a playground, BBQs and picnic tables.  It is popular with children and it is pleasant watching the boats from the nearby yacht club sailing past.

Cheltenham Beach
Access via Bath Street, Matai, Cheltenham and Arawa Roads, Devonport
Cheltenham Beach is a great beach to visit, complete with playground and a long expanse of sand with room for lots of people to enjoy the scenery and swimming.

Milford Beach & Playground
Craig Road, Milford
Milford Beach is another safe and pleasant beach for children.  It has a good playground and there are BBQs near the playground.  There is also a marina back from the beach which can be an interesting place to watch boats come and go from.

Milford to Takapuna Coastal Walk
Craig Road (Milford) and The Strand or The Promenade, (Takapuna)
This is a very interesting walk, although no good for pushchairs.  The walk takes around 45 minutes each way and encompasses rock pools, narrow rocky paths and some very interesting houses along the way including a castle!

Takapuna Beach
Access from The Strand or The Promenade, Takapuna
A safe beach which also has a boat ramp at the northern end which can be a fun place for littlies to explore and watch the boats come and go.

Brown’s Bay & and Playground
Clyde Road, Browns Bay
Brown’s Bay is a lovely beach, with a wide variety of fun amenities on or near the beach, including a skateboard ramp, playground, ball court and of course, there is also swimming in the bay during the warmer months.

Long Bay & Playground
Beach Road, Long Bay
Long Bay beach is a very popular beach because of its beauty, safe swimming and range of enjoyable equipment for kids including a flying fox, miniature train and a playground.  There are also BBQs for visitors’ use.

Shakespear Reserve
Whangaparaoa Peninsula
This reserve is a great one to visit because of the range of birdlife to discover, walking tracks to enjoy, beach to swim at and grassy areas to lounge around on a sunny afternoon.

Wenderholm
State Highway 1, North of Waiwera
There is heaps to do at Wenderholm!  Take in the fantastic scenery, the birdlife, the water, pack a BBQ and explore the bush area.  A cool place to spend a whole day!

Warkworth Township
State Highway 1, Warkworth
The town of Warkworth is vibrant and it is a really pretty place to visit and spend a few hours.  The jetty behind the main street has been refurbished and it is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the hustle and bustle of this lively area or feed the ducks.

Goat Island Marine Reserve
North of Leigh (State Highway 1)
This reserve is a popular spot to visit, as it has great snorkeling and very friendly fish!  The coastline is scenic, including close views to nearby Goat Island.  It takes about an hour to drive there from Auckland and the drive itself is also enjoyable with lots of things to stop and look at along the way.

Auckland – To the East

Okahu Bay Beach and Playground
Tamaki Drive, Orakei
Okahu Bay is a beautiful safe beach with lovely views across the harbour and moored boats to Rangitoto.  Sit on the sand or grass and wander across the road to the new and unique playground.  There is plenty of space for picnics or to play ball games. 

Mission Bay Beach and Playground
Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay
Mission Bay is a lovely safe beach that is very popular.  It has a neat children’s playground and nearby is a large and iconic fountain which the littlies will be interested in.  There is plenty of room for picnics or ball games on surrounding grass areas.

Kohimarama Beach 
Tamaki Drive, Kohimarama
Kohimarama Beach has recently been overhauled with tons of new sand, some very natural looking artificial headlands and a great boardwalk.  It’s a wonderful beach to take children of all ages, as it is very safe and there are masses of interesting shells which the children will enjoy collecting and making sandcastles with.

St Heliers Beach and Playground
Tamaki Drive, St Heliers          
St Heliers beach is a pleasant and safe beach to visit with rock pools to explore and a good playground at the eastern end of the beach, complete with picnic tables.

Glover Park
Glover Road, St Heliers
This is an interesting park to make a trip to, as it forms part of a volcanic crater.  In summer months, cricket is played on the flattest part of the crater and you can walk right up the inside of the crater to the top, where you get a spectacular view out across the Waitemata Harbour and the islands in the Hauraki Gulf.

Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve
Tahaki Road, Wai o Taiki Bay
Tahuna Torea encompasses 25 hectares on a long sand bank extending almost completely across the Tamaki Estuary.  There is a network of tracks and a wide variety of wildlife to see along the way.  It is a very peaceful and picturesque area to visit.

Little Rangitoto Reserve
Upland Road, Remuera
This reserve is pleasant, with a good playground, a skateboarding area, paved footpaths which are great for riding bikes on and even a flying fox.

Mt Hobson
Remuera Road, Remuera
Mt Hobson is great to climb if you want an interesting close-up view over the Waitemata Harbour.  There are often cows grazing on the summit and it is a pleasant area to walk around and explore.

Waiatarua Reserve
Corner of Grand Drive and Abbotts Way Ellerslie
This reserve is an enjoyable place to explore, as it is a working farm and you can wander past cows and through wetlands with an interesting selection of native birds to see.  There is a basketball hoop, playgrounds for both littlies and older children and a skateboard ramp. 

Panmure Basin
Lagoon Drive or off Ireland Road, Panmure
Panmure Basin is a great place to walk around, because there are excellent paths for riding bikes, some neat bridges that the children will love to play on and a range of things to look at on the way around, including the model boat club and steam train enthusiasts’ club.

Lloyd Elsmore Park, Playground and Pool
Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga
If you are looking for something fun to do with the children, Lloyd Elsmore Park is a good place to visit.  There is a playground which can be visited after a swim at the four indoor pools nearby which are FREE to visit. 

Cockle Bay Beach and Playground
Shelley Beach Parade, Howick
Cockle Bay Beach makes for a spectacular place to visit when the pohutukawa trees that line the beach are in full bloom.  It’s a safe beach for swimming and there is also a playground for the children.

Maraetai Beach
Omana Beach Road, off Whitford and Maratei Road
This is a beautiful beach to make a day trip to.  It takes about 45 minutes to drive to from Auckland, the beach is covered in white sand and there are plenty of rock pools for the children to discover.

Omana Regional Park
State Highway 1 (near Whitford)
9am to 5pm (winter)
This is a fantastic regional park to make a day trip to.  It takes about 45 minutes to drive to from Auckland and there is heaps to do, including patting the animals, playing on the playground, swimming at the beach, walking the tracks or enjoying a BBQ.

Auckland – To the West

Western Springs
Great North Road, Western Springs
Western Springs is a fantastic place to visit – even on wet days, as there are hundreds of ducks, geese, swans and pukekos to feed.  There are many eels which the children will enjoy trying to find in the water and there are plenty of picnic tables and BBQs.  There is a neat children’s playground next to the zoo and occasionally you will be able to hear the lions roaring and sometimes you can see the elephants from near the playground.  Western Springs is a great place for families to ride bikes together as there are plenty of good paths and lots of things to see and do along the way.

Rocket Park
Corner of New North Road and St Luke’s Roads, Mt Albert
This playground is an Auckland icon but unfortunately, these days, the rocket is unable to be climbed.  It is, however, still at the playground, along with a diverse range of play equipment, some of which seem unique to the playground. 

Meola Reef
Meola Road, Pt Chevalier
Meola Reef is an interesting area to explore, because it is a volcanic lava flow. It has mangroves, a stream and encompasses farmland and is a pleasant place to discover with your family.

Avondale Market
Great North Road, Avondale
Sundays
These markets are a fascinating place to wander around and watch the comings and goings of the people both buying and selling.  There is a huge array of stalls to look at, including hundreds of fresh produce stalls, bric-a-brac, clothing, tools – you name it, it’s there!

Titirangi Market
Titirangi War Memorial Hall, South Titirangi Road, Titirangi
Last Sunday of every month
An interesting market to wander through and soak up the atmosphere of this notoriously laid back suburb.  There are plenty of craft stalls and entertainment to enjoy and it can be a fun place to simply people-watch.

Gannet Colony
Muriwai Beach, West Auckland
The gannet colony at Muriwai is a really neat place to take children.  About 1,200 pairs of gannets can be seen nesting there between August and March each year.  You get the most amazing view out over the colony from platforms above.  Combine the visit with a walk down the hill to Maori Bay, a small wild beach with black sand that the children will find appealing.  Maori Bay is not patrolled by lifeguards and is dangerous for swimming.  Visit www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/surf_safety.php for safety tips on the west coast.

Muriwai Beach
Muriwai Road, Muriwai, West Auckland
Muriwai Beach is a good place to go on days when the children need to burn off some energy.  It’s a very long beach, is covered with black sand and the surf is typical of the west coast – wild!  It can be a fascinating place to walk, especially on a winter’s day because of the nature of the coastline.  Visit www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/surf_safety.php for safety tips on the west coast.

Crystal Mountain
80 Candia Road, Swanson
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 10am to 4pm
(09) 833 5033
www.crystalmountain.co.nz
Although most of the activities at Crystal Mountain have a fee attached to them, it can be an interesting place to visit for the free playground and the enormous selection of rocks and crystals in their shop which children will find interesting.

Te Henga (Bethells Beach)
Bethells Road, Bethells, West Auckland
Te Henga (Bethells Beach) is a wild beach on the west coast and as such, is a dangerous beach for swimming at.  However, it has an amazing range of other interesting features, such as caves, rock pools and sand dunes to explore.  Visit www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/surf_safety.php for safety tips on the west coast. 

Lake Wainamu
Bethells Road, Bethells, West Auckland
Lake Wainamu is situated approximately 1km before Bethells Beach (on the bend just after the one lane wooden bridge) and it takes around half an hour to walk to the lake over enormous sand dunes.  It makes for a peaceful place to visit and picnic, the sand dunes are an amazing feature and the swimming is great.

Karekare Beach
Karekare Road, Karekare, West Auckland
Karekare is another wild west coast beach with an estuary and cliffs to explore, a wide expanse of beach to discover and some pretty waterfalls in the bush behind the beach.  The windy road to Karekare through the Waitakere Ranges is part of the enjoyment of the trip as well.  Visit www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/surf_safety.php for safety tips on the west coast.

Piha Beach
Marine Parade, South Piha, West Auckland
Piha is an iconic area of Auckland with its amazing scenery, landmark rock formations (Lion Rock) and surf.  It is a very popular beach in summer and there are lots of rock pools to be enjoyed, a lagoon that children will find interesting and plenty of fun to be had in the surrounding area.  Visit www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/surf_safety.php for safety tips on the west coast.

Fairy Falls Track
Off Scenic Drive or Mountain Road, Waitakere Ranges
This is a wonderful bushwalk to do but it is not suitable if young children can’t be carried in backpacks or pouches.  It is very steep in places and is quite a long walk (about 2 hours return).  You can walk in from the top from Scenic Drive and end up at Mountain Road or vice versa.  You can also walk to the falls from either end – it’s not too steep from the Mountain Road end.  The falls are beautiful, with a large flat stream bed at the bottom which is nice for a picnic and where the children can have fun watching leaves float down the stream.

Auckland – To the South

Cornwall Park
Access from Greenlane West, Manukau Road and Campbell Road
Cornwall Park is a fantastic park, with a huge array of activities to do there.  It’s a great place to get some exercise, there are chickens to feed, cows and sheep.  At the Manukau Road entrance to the park, there is a great children’s playground – complete with a miniature train.  Further up the hill towards the Observatory, there are more playground activities, including a flying fox, tyre swing and climbing rope frame.

One Tree Hill
Access from Greenlane West, Manukau Road and Campbell Road
One Tree Hill is a great place to get a good view of the city and get some serious exercise in as you walk up to the summit.  You can park part way up the mountain and walk to the top, or if you prefer, you can drive right to the top and take in the view.  Exploring the mountain crater from the paths is fun and there are some great places to have quiet picnics whilst enjoying the scenery.

Maungawhau Playground
Clive and Mt Eden Roads, Mt Eden
This playground is a fun one, with a flying fox, areas for both young and older children to play and lots of fun equipment.  Some of the older children may enjoy climbing the natural rock features around the playground and exploring the surrounding bush.

Mt Eden
Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden
This mountain is a great place to visit, as it provides a different perspective on the city’s vista.  It is well worth the climb to the top, having a picnic part way down and finishing the visit off with a visit to Maungawhau Playground at the bottom of the mountain.  There is an interesting natural amphitheatre (access off Mt Eden Road) where bands occasionally play, with a rotunda which can be a pleasant place for a picnic – even on a rainy day.

Big King Reserve
Mt Eden Road, Three Kings
This is an often neglected but interesting volcanic cone which provides a novel view over the city.  It has a reservoir on top of the cone and is also a good place to walk dogs.

Jansen’s Pet Shop
985 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden
Daily from 9am to 5.30pm
(09) 625 7915
www.jansens.co.nz
This is a great place to visit, as the staff are very friendly and there is always a great range of things to look at including an interesting water garden exhibit, an indoor aviary, an incredible range of tropical fish and of course, dogs, cats and rabbits.

Waikowhai Reserve and Playground
Waikowhai Road, Waikowhai
Waikowhai is a tiny suburb nestled in between Hillsborough and Lynfield.  It has a playground with a fantastic stainless steel slide that runs for about 10 metres!  There is also a flying fox, tyre swings and other fun equipment.  Within the reserve there are coastal walks in either direction.  At the end of the road is Waikowhai beach which is not very suitable for swimming but it does make for an interesting coastal walk.

Jellicoe Park and Playground
Corner of Quadrant Road and Grey Street, Onehunga
Jellicoe Park is a fun place to explore, as there is a lot of equipment for a variety of age groups, including a sandpit with diggers.

Ambury Farm Park
43 Ambury Road, Mangere Bridge
Daily from 8am to 7pm (winter) and 8am to 9pm (summer)
(09) 636 6118
Ambury Farm Park is an excellent FREE place to take children of all ages.  It is run by the Auckland Regional Council and has BBQs, wide open spaces for picnics and there is a great range of farm animals.  At certain times of the year, they demonstrate milking and there is also a coastal walk around the park you can do.

Mt Mangere
Access off Domain Road, Mt Mangere
Mt Mangere is Auckland’s biggest volcano and it is a very interesting place to walk.  The view from the top over the Manukau Harbour is expansive and you can look straight down into a flooded crater with a tiny volcanic cone forming an island in the centre towards Puketutu Island.

Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens
Hill Road, Manurewa
Daily from 8am to 8pm (mid-October to mid-March) and 8am to 7pm
(mid-March to mid-October)
(09) 267 1457
The Botanic Gardens are worth a visit if you want the children to burn off lots of energy.  They have recently upgraded the facilities and there is a huge range of plant species to discover, set up in themed areas.  There is a fantastic children’s interactive area with heaps of interesting activities, including an oversized wood pigeon that children can feed puriri seeds into and it expels them out the other end!  There are lots of paths for bike riding and you are even allowed to bring dogs. 

Awhitu Peninsula
Off King Street, Waiuku
Awhitu Peninsula is a lovely place to spend the day.  It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to drive to from Auckland and there are wetlands to enjoy, long beaches to explore, walks with beautiful scenery and wide open spaces to relax and pass the time.

Hunua Ranges, Falls and Dams
Hunua Road, Hunua
There are many activities to do in these ranges including tramps, picnics, enjoying the Hunua Falls or dams, or simply soaking up the atmosphere in the peaceful surroundings.