Make the most of school holiday activities

From City Scene, published on 16 September, 2007

Things to do - Auckland Zoo's Paddlepop Lion's rainforest adventure takes children on an interactive voyage of discovery (above).

Auckland City Council provides community facilities that offer many recreational activities.

Get busy! - Auckland City Council also provides nine recreation centres, 12 swimming pools, three golf courses, more than 100 tennis courts, 550 sports fields and 10 skate parks for public use.

With school holidays approaching, now's a great time to plan how to make the most of Auckland City Council's art gallery, zoo, libraries and other community facilities.

Auckland Art Gallery has two exciting art workshops for kids aged 5 to 12 years. Secret creations (26, 27 and 28 September) focuses on international artist Annette Messager's work Secret, and Mystic trees (3, 4 and 5 October) is based on Superstitious Scaffolding by Australian artist Mikala Dwyer. For enquiries and bookings, phone 307 4540.

Auckland Zoo's Paddlepop Lion's rainforest adventure takes children on an interactive voyage of discovery (daily shows during the school holidays at 10.45am and 11.45am). Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or phone 360 3819 for details.

Freak out at Auckland City Libraries with activities based on twisted tales, freaky facts and scary stories - from mask-making and storytimes to creepy word finds and ghoulish games. Phone 377 0209 or visit www.aucklandcitylibraries.com to find out more.

Holiday workshops at Artstation include Mixed Bag (24 to 28 September), where children aged 6 to 12 years can try different art techniques each day. A four-day workshop (25 to 28 September) gives 5 to 8 year olds the opportunity to create their own badges, jewellery and more from salt ceramic modelling clay. Teens aged 13 to 17 years are catered for with a comprehensive, four-day, black and white photography course on offer from 25 to 28 September. Visit our website or phone 376 3221 for bookings.

Auckland City Council also provides nine recreation centres, 12 swimming pools, three golf courses, more than 100 tennis courts, 550 sports fields and 10 skate parks for public use. To find out more about these community facilities - and the safe, fun school holiday programmes offered at many of the council's 21 community centres.