27/09/2026
If your school, club, business or community group has something happening for kids and families, please let us know what you’re doing in the comments!
What are you enjoying these school holidays?
There’s plenty happening across the Hauraki Plains and Coromandel Peninsula over the break.
Here are a few ideas, in order of when they get underway:
- 26 September to 11 October – Pauanui Pink Walk Treasure Hunt
A fun school holiday treasure hunt for the whole family, supporting the Pauanui Pink Walk and breast cancer research. Pick up a clue sheet from Hello Friday or the Pauanui Info Centre, complete the hunt and return your entry. Every correct entry gets a treat and goes into the grand prize draw on 11 October. Entry is $2 per person or $5 per family.
- From Friday 25 September – MBAS Photo Contest
Open to all Mercury Bay Area School students. Get outside these holidays, take a photo capturing the natural world around you, and be in to win Polaroid prizes. Entries close Sunday 13 October.
- From Monday 28 September – Goldfields Shopping Centre. School Holiday Activities
Free kids’ activities at Goldfields, including Design Goldie’s Outfit from 28 September to 9 October, with Goldie’s Adventure Hunt coming in week two.
- Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October – Age Concern Hauraki Coromandel Chats & Hats
To celebrate International Day of Older Persons on Thursday 1 October, Age Concern Hauraki Coromandel is encouraging people across the region to gather with friends, neighbours, groups and whānau for Chats & Hats. Put the kettle on, wear your jazziest hat and enjoy a morning tea, coffee, shared lunch or picnic together. They’d also love you to take a photo and send it in so they can share celebrations from across Hauraki and Coromandel.
- Tuesday 29 September to Thursday 8 October - Warehouse Stationery Whitianga Get Creating Workshops
Free hands-on art and craft workshops are running in-store from 11am to 12 noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, including Clay Creations, Loom Band Fun, Flower Power Craft, Design Your Own Tote Bag, Paint a Masterpiece and Slime Time Lab.
Spaces are limited, so bookings are essential - visit Warehouse Stationery on Joan Gaskill Drive and scan the QR code to sign up.
- Tuesday 29 September to Thursday 1 October – Library Holiday Programme Thames Coromandel District Libraries
Free creative activities at Thames, Tairua and Mercury Bay Libraries, including witches, monsters, magic potions, portals and wand-making.
- School Holidays – Tairua Library Monsters Inc Escape Box
Can you find Boo? Book a spot for the Monsters Inc Escape Box at Tairua Library. Bookings are required – phone 07 864 7960.
- School Holidays – Thames Library Witch’s Lair Escape Room
Can you unlock the raven’s cage while the witch is out and escape the room? Bookings are required, with tickets available through Humanitix.
- Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 October – Mercury Bay Model Railway Annual Show
Head to Whitianga Town Hall on Monk Street for the Mercury Bay Model Railway Club’s annual show, featuring trains, planes, cars, trucks, boats, Lego, dolls, houses and a raffle. Open 10am–4pm Saturday and 10am–3pm Sunday. Entry is $3 for children, $6 for adults or $15 for a family.
- Saturday 10 October – Ready for Anything Day, Tairua
Head along to the Tairua Rugby and Sports Club from 11am to 2pm for a family-friendly Disaster Resilience Roadshow with local first responders. There’ll be raffles, prizes, VR experiences and a Grab-and-go challenge, all designed to help families think about preparedness, planning and resilience — and find out how ready you really are for the unexpected.
That’s just a handful of things happening around the region.
What are you enjoying these school holidays?
If your school, club, business or community group has something happening for kids and families, please let us know what you’re doing in the comments!
