Sarah Ell checks out the big screen action that could save a parent's sanity these holidays.
While many of us parents are hoping the good weather lasts a little bit longer, it's a good idea to have some rainy day ideas up your sleeve for the April school holidays.
Going to the movies is always a good bet and this Easter there's a great swag of kid-friendly offerings coming to the big screen. Once your kids are inspired by their favourite, carry on the fun with activities tied to the same theme.
Check out our list if your kids are obsessed with the following:
See: Parents of young girls will be both excited and somewhat terrified to hear that the next instalment of Frozen is here. The short film Frozen Fever plays before new Disney live-action movie Cinderella and is only eight minutes long, but it includes a new song to get into your head and be sung a thousand times a day. If the kids aren't too excited to sit still after seeing that, the new version of Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh, is also likely to please.
Disney is also releasing Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast these holidays. Voiced by such stars as Ginnifer Goodwin, Angelica Huston and Lucy Liu, it's another adventure for the fairies of Pixie Hollow and their friends.
Do: The Fairy Shop in Ponsonby is theming its school holiday programme around the Tinker Bell movie, with a bit of Frozen thrown in. Wannabe fairies and princesses can take part in Pixie Hollow afternoon sessions, create fairy wings and decorate Frozen-themed cookies -- while male siblings are catered for with a bit of Peter Pan and pirate action.
See: You won't find them in a rock pool nearby, but Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick Star and Squidward Tentacles are coming to Auckland these holidays. The new 3D Spongebob movie Sponge Out of Water sees the hero and his friends leave Bikini Bottom and come ashore to dry land -- and into live-action territory -- in pursuit of the stolen krabby patty secret formula.
Do: Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium has taken on the SpongeBob theme for its April school holiday programme. Kids can also get to know real-life starfish and crabs in the interactive rock-pool area -- and find out that actual sea sponges do not have brains or a central nervous system, can't move around and most certainly do not wear ties.
There will be interactive SpongeBob-themed activities around the aquarium, a quiz trail and prizes to be won.
Near the rock pools is the new Shipwreck Shores playground, opened to celebrate Kelly Tarlton's thirtieth birthday this year. There's a great two-level enclosed soft play area, with plenty of places to explore, as well as a sea cave to crawl through, an anemone to climb on and an interactive water-play table. Parents can have a break at the adjacent cafe before taking on the shark tank, fish gallery and seahorse zone -- if you can get your kids out of the playground, that is!
See: Kids love aliens -- especially when they're round and cute. The star of the latest DreamWorks animated 3D picture Home is Oh, a loveable purple extraterrestrial whose race, the Boov, come to take over the Earth. But Oh is different; outcast by his own people because of his poor social skills, he befriends a human girl and the pair set off to find her mother -- and save the world in the process. Oh is voiced by Jim Parsons, lead geek Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory, with pop star Rihanna as the unusually named Gratuity Tucci.
Do: If all this dashing around in animated space stimulates an interest in the real thing, head to Stardome. There is plenty to explore in the planetarium itself, which is free to visit, with exhibits about the solar system, the universe, space exploration and telescopes. The special show in the dome-roofed theatre for the holidays is Dragons -- Real Myths and Unreal Creatures.
Stardome marketing manager Delyse Diack says kids will also be able to decorate a cardboard tube and make star cards to create their own telescope, "and, if the weather is good we'll launch our water-powered rocket".
Bonus: There is also a lunar eclipse overnight on April 4, the last one visible from NZ until 2018. It's not a school night, so the kids can stay up late. Stardome will be showing a short presentation about eclipses with the opportunity to take a look through the telescopes, starting from 8pm with the eclipse getting under way around 10pm.
See: British Studio Aardman set a new standard in claymation with their creation of the characters of Wallace and Gromit. Now Shaun the hapless sheep, who got his own TV series in 2007, has followed those other characters on to the big screen. Shaun The Sheep The Movie is a feature-length adventure in which Shaun and his flock leave Mossy Bottom Farm and travel to the big city, with hilarious consequences -- all without any (human) dialogue.
Do: If the adventures of Shaun make your kids want to get close to some real animals, Kiwi Valley Farm in Henderson has them all: sheep, cows, goats, ducks, chickens and even water buffalo. There are lots of baby rabbits, chickens, ducks and guinea pigs to get close to, and a newborn baby donkey. There is also a playground and cafe, a maze and pony and tractor rides. Or head out to one of the regional parks that are still working farms -- Ambury Park near Mangere has interaction with animals, or further afield you can picnic and have the kids run around Atiu Creek, Hamlins Hill, Scandrett and others.
See: One for slightly older kids, the animated comedy The Book of Life takes viewers on a visually stunning, colourful fantasy journey drawing on Mexican traditions such as the Day of the Dead. Produced by Mexican Guillermo del Toro, maker of Pan's Labyrinth, the film follows the journey of young boy Manolo through three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears, and underlines the importance of stories, myth and heritage.
Do: Kids can explore their own heritage and stories at the Auckland Museum these holidays, with a programme based around the museum's new exhibition, Taku Tamaki: Auckland Stories. Tales of Tamaki: Stories over Auckland includes daily kids' activities, including crafts, face painting and dance performances reflecting the many cultures of the city. Each day at 11am storyteller "Guy in the Hat" will start to tell a different story, which visitors can have a hand in creating.
These movies aren't new but they are still hugely popular. Here are some ideas if your kids are still nuts about ...
The Lego Movie
It's been a year since this blockbuster was released but if "everything is [still] awesome" in your house head to Motat, where the holiday programme theme is "We Built This City". There will be a display by the Auckland Lego User Group over Easter weekend and Minecraft architecture workshops April 13-15 (bookings essential).
Anything involving singing and dancing ...
High School Musical, Glee, more Frozen... check out the holiday programme at TAPAC in Western Springs, where there are a range of performing arts classes including a three-day workshop on all the songs and dances from Frozen. There are also boys-only courses on magic, juggling and sword-fighting.
The Hunger Games
Auckland Archery is holding a "have a go" day tomorrow at its base on One Tree Hill, from 9.30am-12.30pm -- entry is by gold coin donation and all equipment is provided. For all those budding Katniss Everdeens, the club's next beginner course starts on May 2.
Disney Planes
There's lots to see from the viewing area at Auckland International Airport on Puhinui Rd. Or head out to Ardmore Airport in South Auckland, settle in at the cafe and watch the action.
• Cinderella with Frozen Fever, on now.
• Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, opens April 2.
• The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (3D), opens April 2.
• Home (3D), on now.
• The Book of Life, opens April 2.
• Shaun the Sheep, on now.
• The Fairy Shop. 79 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, open seven days. Holiday programme runs April 6-17, bookings essential. search on Facebook for The Fairy Shop for the latest activities timetable.
• Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, Tamaki Drive, open seven days. Holiday programme runs April 3-19.
• Stardome, 670 Manukau Rd, Royal Oak, open seven days. Holiday programme runs April 7-17, bookings essential.
• Auckland Museum, The Domain, open seven days. Holiday programme runs daily April 4-17, 10am-4pm, free.
• Kiwi Valley Farm Park, 308 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson, open daily during the school holidays.
• More info on other Farm parks here.
A live cook-off featured ox heart, wapiti, wild boar and plenty of edible wildlife.