Events for kids
Looking for something to take (or send!) the kids to? Look no longer!
Kiwi Night Encounter
74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae
Watch our birds as they emerge from their daytime slumber and engage in the nocturnal exploration of their outdoor enclosure. Every evening presents a new episode in the lives of our birds!
Each Encounter starts with a kiwi presentation in our Visitor Centre. Your guide will then escort you to our outdoor kiwi enclosure where you will take your seat in our covered observation area. For the following 30 to 40 minutes we promise you will be captivated by the birds behaviour.
This experience is not recommended for children under 7 years.
Lego Club
District libraries
Calling all Lego fans! We supply the Lego pieces, you supply the ideas. Come along to this informal group to get creative and share skills.
- Paraparaumu Library 3.30-4.30pm First Thursday of each month
- Waikanae Library 3.30-4.30pm Second Thursday of each month
- Ōtaki Library 3.30-4.30pm Third Thursday of each month
Queen Elizabeth Park Festival
28 Feb 2021
Queen Elizabeth Park, Mackay's Crossing State Highway 1, Paekakariki
Bring out your wild side at this free family-friendly day out in scenic Queen Elizabeth Park.
Enjoy the walks, talks, excellent music and delicious local food. There’s something for everyone!
Get in the wild adventure with your whanau, starting with a scavenger hunt that will walk you through the best parts of the park, bring your bike to use on Te Ara O Whareroa, jump on the bouncy castles and more… We work alongside a whole bunch of different groups in our park, so come and say hello to the people who run the trams to get a discounted ride and meet Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards. We’ll also have Kapiti Stables on the spot if you would like to get up close and personal with horses. There’s no other place you’d rather be!
Brought to you by Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Children’s Day
7 Mar 2021
74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae
Children will enjoy free entry to Ngā Manu Nature Reserve on Te Rā O Ngā Tamariki (Children’s Day) and can take part in Kākāriki Nature Play activities and storytime. Bring a picnic and come and enjoy a fabulous family day out at Ngā Manu. Meet kākā, kākāriki, kea and whio in the walk-through aviaries, spot kiwi in the nocturnal house and see the eels being fed at 2pm. There will be storytelling sessions in our forest circle setting throughout the day along with Kākāriki Nature Play activities (whittling and flax rope making) in between storytelling sessions until 4 pm. T&Cs: Free entry for children (aged 0 – 17 years) with a paying adult.
He Rangi Mokopuna - Celebrating Children's Day
7 Mar 2021
Mill Rd, Ōtaki
Nau mai haere mai! We're celebrating New Zealand Children's Day with a free fun day out for the whole whānau. Enjoy the Ōtaki pools, waterslide and lots of sport and play activities for free. There'll be chill-out areas to read books with our librarians, and you can listen to local musicians at the Zeal stage. Bring a picnic or select from a range of food options to purchase. Play activities finish at 4:30pm with a family movie showing on a big outdoor screen, sponsored by Mike and Audra from Voyle and Co.
Park to Path Fun Run and Walk
14 Mar 2021
120 King Arthur Drive, Otaihanga, Paraparaumu
Park to Path our free all-ages 10km, 6km and 1km walk and run is back to finish off Parks Week 2021. Start and finish at Otaraua Park in Lancelot Grove (Otaihanga). It's a fun family-focused event! Get your friends and family together to hit the trail. There're prizes for best dressed and most colourful costumes! It's a bit of fun so book it in your diaries now! All kids who enter the 1km run and walk will receive a certificate and complimentary swim pass to either Coastlands Aquatic Centre, Waikanae Pool or Otaki Pool. Find out more and register online now. This is a free event although you’re welcome to bring a donation of food for the Kapiti Food Bank if you choose. For more information and to enter online go to the official website.
