What's on these school holidays in Tauranga

School holiday fun at Waimarino. Hannah Huggan on the water slide. Photo/file

Not sure what to do with the kids while school's out? Don't panic!

Children's internet coding workshops.
WHERE: Basestation, 148 Durham St, Tauranga.
WHEN: Oct 5, 6 and 7 from 10am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
COST: $25 per workshop.
AGES: School years 4 to 8.
Codebrite offers hands-on coding workshops aimed at children with little or no previous experience in programming.

3D Computer Creation Class
WHERE: Tauranga Library
WHEN: Thursday Oct, 1, Wednesday Oct, 7 and Thursday Oct, 8 from 1pm to 3pm
AGES: Eight to 14-years
COST: $10
Have a go at creating and printing objects in 3D. A parent or caregiver must supervise children. Registration required.
FREE events at Tauranga, Papamoa, Mt Maunganui and Greerton Libraries include: Reading with dogs, Lego free-play and kits and robot making. visit library.tauranga.govt.nz

Rotational Stencil Prints
WHERE: Tauranga Art Gallery
WHEN: Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 2.
For session times and ages visit artgallery.org.nz and click on Education.
Inspired by the gallery's mural artwork participants will explore the exhibition Printmaking Beyond the Frame before creating their own rotational stencil print artwork.
COST: $20 bookings required.

Print Media Beyond the Frame: Découpage Bowl
WHEN: Monday, October 5 to Friday, October 10
For session times and ages visit artgallery.org.nz and click on Education.
After examining examples of print media found in the Printmaking Beyond the Frame exhibition, participants will use découpage techniques to create a bowl artwork using print media.
COST: $20 bookings required.

Teacher in the Paddock
WHAT: Learn about life on a small farm - interacting with animals, horse-riding, gardening and food production.
WHERE: 190a Tara Rd, Papamoa
WHEN: Weekdays during the holidays.
COST: $50 per day (9am to 3pm) or $200 for the week.
Email teacherinthepaddock@gmail.com to book.

Learn about cats and dogs
WHERE: Animates Tauranga, corner Cameron Rd, First Ave.
WHEN: Thursday, October 1 and October 8 at 11am.
Learn how to care for cats and dogs ranging from Maine coons to Yorkshire terriers.
Each child will receive a certificate of completion.
No bookings required.

Coast Care working bee
WHERE: Meet at beach access 6.5 on Oceanbeach Rd, Mt Maunganui - look for the Coast Care flag.
WHEN: Sunday, September 27 (tomorrow) at 10am.
Volunteers will be planting dune plants so sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

Alessia Spense feeds her favourite animal, at the Marshalls Animal Park. Photo/file

Art classes
WHERE: Papamoa Plaza, Gravatt Rd, Papamoa.
WHEN: October 5 to 9. Sessions at 10am, 11am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. Book at the customer service desk.
AGES: Five and over.

Bug, Butterfly and Birdcage creating and Digital Slot Car Racing
WHERE: Bayfair Shopping Centre, Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui.
WHEN: Monday, September 28, to Thursday, October 1, from 10am to 3pm: craftwork - children receive instructions and an art teacher is on hand.
Monday, October 5 to Thursday, October 8, 10am to 3pm:
race cars on a huge slot car racing set.
Every Wednesday at 10am: pirates and princesses storytelling.

Have a go Geo-teering
WHERE: McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Rd, off SH29.
WHEN: Thursday, October 8, from 10am to midday.
Have a go at geo-teering - a combination of treasure hunting, orienteering and geocaching.
To register, contact Kate Clark, Sport BOP, 578 0016 ext 828. katec@sportbop.co.nz
Holiday events

Scenic Harbour Cruises
WHEN: Departs Pilot Bay Wharf daily at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
COST: Adults $20, 12 to 17-year-olds $15, Under-12 free.
Hop-on/hop-off cruise to Matakana Island Beach also available on request.
Movies
WHERE: Event Cinemas, Elizabeth St, Tauranga, and Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui.
September 24: Blinky Bill The Movie, Pixels and Born to Dance. October 1: Pan.
Kids' Movie Club - see six movies, get one free.

Dialled Indoor Tramp Park
WHERE: 13 Triton Ave, Mt Maunganui.
WHEN: Every day, 10am to 7pm, late night Friday to 8pm.
COST: One hour $15, two hours $25, preschoolers $10, family pass $50.
A variety of different-sized flat and wall tramps up to 3m wide. Massive foam pit that can be jumped into from a high platform.
Tarzan swing, basketball hoop and a separate jump and dodgeball area which incorporates ball sports including tramp cricket.

ASB Arena Sporty Carnival
WHERE: ASB Arena, Mt Maunganui.
WHEN: Monday, September 28, 10am to 3pm.
COST: $20 per child.
AGE: 5 to 13 years.
Bouncy castles, slides, pole jousting, scooter races, football, uni hockey, table tennis, badminton, basketball, colouring-in competition.

School holiday fun at Waimarino. Jacob Poysden on the climbing wall. Photo/file

Marshalls Animal Park
WHERE: Adjacent to McLaren Falls Park, SH29
WHEN: Every day, 10am to 4.30pm.
Walkways guide you to a close-up encounter with domestic and exotic animals. Children are able to feed and play with farmyard animals and see the unusual character-filled emus, giant African ostriches, Texas longhorns, several breeds of sheep, deer, goats, birds, pigs and horses from Clydesdales to cute miniatures. Plenty of picnic spots.
COST: Adult $12, Child 2-15 $6, family pass $32. Animal feed $2.

Holiday programmes

Bay Kids
WHERE: Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa, Arataki and Welcome Bay.
COST: Full day $40. Some half-days available $23.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Sports carnival, magic tricks day, PJ party, backyard games, movie mania, fashion show, slip & slide at Baywave, ice-skating, MasterChef challenge.
¦Full programme at www.baykids.co.nz

House of Science
WHAT: Wonderful Waves (week 1) Robotics (week 2)
WHERE: 8/58 Cross Rd, Sulphur Point, Tauranga.
WHEN: 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday.
COST: $250 for the week. Includes morning and afternoon tea.
www.houseofscience.org.nz.

YMCA
WHERE: Tauranga (Tauranga Boys' College, Devonport Rd entrance). Mt Maunganui (Mount Football Clubrooms, Links Ave).
WHEN: Monday to Friday.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Day trips to the luge (from Tauranga), movies, hot pools and a day on the farm.
COST: Average of $42 per day. Bookings essential.

Craft Collective
WHERE: 85 Twelfth Ave, Tauranga.
WHEN: Monday to Friday - 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm.
COST: $25 per session or any three sessions for $60.
A super craft table packed with supplies and lots of sample projects to give kids inspiration.

Bay Venues
Soccer clinic: October 1, 2, 6 and 7.
Tauranga City basketball clinic: September 29 and 30.
Tod-Langman netball 360 clinic (with Jodi Tod): September 30 and October 1, 7 and 8.
WHERE: ASB Arena, Mt Maunganui.
WHEN: 9.30am to 3pm.
COST: $32 per day.
AGES: 6 to 13.
Registrations essential: Call 577 8560 extn 6000

Riley Fenwick enjoys Dialled Indoor Skate and Tramp Park. Photo/file

Waimarino Spring Holiday Programme
WHERE: Waimarino Adventure Park, Taniwha Place off SH2, Bethlehem
WHEN: Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 9.
COST: $20 for an all-day Supreme Pass.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Kayaking, rock climbing, The Blob, The UFO, warm pool, slip 'n' slide, low ropes course, diving boards and picnic area.