Take a step back in time, enjoy freaky fun in the city or immerse yourself in te ao Māori.
This content was prepared by Discover Auckland and is being published by The New Zealand Herald as Advertorial.
With the City Rail Link opening this month and making travel into the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland easier than ever, there’s a whole swag of exciting family friendly events ongoing and coming up – read on for some more of our favourites.
The city’s pretty freaky
Pop down to Aotea Square in Auckland city centre at the moment, and your kids would be forgiven for thinking there’s been a fast development in our effort to uncover extraterrestrial life. Constructed from a hodgepodge of upcycled materials, Octopoda is a free, interactive and towering eight-legged, 9m-tall creature. Crafted by international experiential art masters Amigo and Amigo, it’s up from now until September 15.
Take a step back in time
More than just an incredible collection of artefacts from one of the world’s most storied ships, Titanic: The Human Story offers a truly immersive look at the lives of those who boarded the ‘Queen of the Ocean’ for her tragically fated journey in 1912. Created by Musealia in close collaboration with Titanic historian Claes-Göran Wetterholm, the exhibition comes to the historic Smith & Caughey building fresh off the back of a sold-out Australian season – with Auckland being its only New Zealand berth.
Immerse yourself in te ao Māori
A three-day celebration of the birth of Tāmaki Makaurau, Poumatua Festival takes place in the city from September 17-19. Visit the Mākete Whātua in Aotea Square to pick up toi Māori gifts, tino reka kai and more, or head along to Tuku Kōrero | Tāmaki Talks at Q Theatre for an evening of storytelling and shared wisdom
Kapa haka fans will be well-served too: catch the next generation of kaihaka at Te Kahu Tōpuni kapa haka festival on September 17 and 18, then head to Tuku Iho | Golden Years of Kapa Haka to see four legendary rōpū perform at the iconic Auckland Town Hall.
A festival of arts and imagination
If you’re feeling stressed about the impending school holidays, Auckland Live has just the thing. We The Young returns in September and October with a massive calendar of kid-focused activity – more than half of it free of charge – across Aotea Centre, Aotea Square and Auckland Town Hall.
Featuring everything from award-winning local musicians to magic shows and immersive arts experiences, We The Young is the ideal way to get your tamariki off the couch; even better, they might just learn a few things!
Making a great visit even better
With cultural cornerstones like Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the New Zealand Maritime Museum (check out the landmark Moana Oceania show Our Ocean of Islands, on now), a veritable smorgasbord of Iconic Auckland Eats across the city centre, and some of the country’s best retail, entertainment and hotels, it’s always on in Auckland. Whether you’re after a daytrip, a staycation or planning for your first ever visit, head to Discover Auckland and get ready to make it happen.