Henry Wright feeds a tamarin monkey at Auckland Zoo as part of the Monkey Business encounters.
Photo / Danielle Wright
Henry Wright feeds a tamarin monkey at Auckland Zoo as part of the Monkey Business encounters.
Photo / Danielle Wright
There's oodles on this weekend so we're going to overlook the massive crowd collecting events and instead switch on our imagination button and check out some of the special stuff happening for smaller sorts.
Monkey Business
If you grew up with the meanest parents in the world who wouldn't let you get that monkey for your bedroom, head along to Auckland Zoo on Saturday and Sunday for your primate cuddles. Get up close to the punk rock-meets-pussy-cat primates, the cotton-top tamarins, or the littledears - the spider monkeys and lemurs. Join the story time and face-painting and be in to win a behind-the-scenes encounter.
Details: Saturday and Sunday, all day. Website here.
Avoid those NRL Nines crowds at Eden Park, and get yourself and the kids to North Harbour Stadium (now known as QBE, apparently) to meet our other footy players - the Auckland Blues. Skills and drills for players of all ages, the bouncy/face painting brigade and giveway games from the New Zealand Herald.
Details: Sunday, 2.30pm until 4.30 pm. Website here.
Planet kids
Greetings little earthlings - take the rug rats on the ultimate space vacation, a cute kid-friendly show at the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium. The show soars over the surface of Pluto, dives down the ice cliffs of Uranus' moon, sails through the beautiful rings of Saturn and leaves you well educated about the solar system. Plus, it's in a cool, dark place, which might be what you need on a Sunday. Also check out booking a party there - cool for big and little kids.
Details: Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Rd, One Tree Hill Domain. Sunday, from 2 until 3pm. Website here.
Tryathlon
Charlotte Cornwall, 10, completing the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.
Photo / Sarah Ivey
There's something about the sight of happy, healthy tykes duking it out on the water, furiously pedalling their bikes and running their lungs out that puts a glow in our heart and a hope for the future. Thousands of kids (and their support team) will turn up for one of the last of the WeetBix Tryathlons on Sunday at St Heliers. Sweet too, how they idolise the sporting stars who turn out to cheer 'em on - big ups to Jonah Lomu, Valerie Adams, Tom Abercrombie, Mahe Drysdale.
Details: Vellenoweth Green, Sunday, from 8.30am. Website here.
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