Stuff To Do This Weekend

                                                          Helloooooooo Queen!


Alright everyone, long weekend! Some of you are probably hugely looking forward to the day off, some of you are probably all oh dear god, I have to entertain them a whole extra day?!
But it's all good, there are some great things going on this weekend - Monday included!


First up, if you've got older kids take them along to Silo Park on Friday night for the free Silo Cinema outdoor movie. This week it's the classic Life Of Brian! 


Then head back to the waterfront on Saturday for all the very British and queenly activities they have going on. Munch down on Devonshire Tea while the kids play lawn bowls and badminton in The Cloud, go on a scavenger hunt for the crown jewels and buy British food all along the wharf.


On Sunday Silo Cinemas is showing Alice In Wonderland at the nice and early time of 5:30pm. The bar and food stalls will be open from 5 and they're planning an actual Mad Hatter's Tea Party!


And then on Monday they'll be doing the crown jewels and badminton and tea and everything again! 


It's Samoan Language Week and there are some great events going on all around the city. Performance, story telling, crafts and more. 


The annual Waiheke Festival Of Story is on this weekend too. Storytelling all weekend all over the island! The festival is for everyone but especially dedicated to children. 


And while you're over there make sure you go check out the 2 Buck Book Fair. Everything $2!


I don't know if you've heard the news yet but MOTAT is free for the whole of June! 


If you're in the Gisborne area for the weekend, make sure you go check out the Wairoa Maaori Film Festival at Kahungunu Marae. 




Have a fantastic weekend everyone. I'm dropping Haeata off at her dad's in Whakatane tomorrow and then I've got the whole weekend off till Monday. I probably won't make it to any of the above activities. 

Stuff To Do This Weekend

Alright, so apparently we've got one of those awesome weather bombs headed our way on Saturday but the good news is it's supposed to be all clear again by Sunday.


With that in mind I'm still going to include Saturday's activities (always an optimist, even regarding Auckland and rain!) but I've added my favourite rainy day things to do too. 


-So, if this whole massive storm thing doesn't end up happening then you might want to take your more fashion forward little people down to Britomart and Silo Park for the free Fashion Festival shows.Otherwise, Frocks on Bikes could be very interesting with high winds down in Silo Park!


-If we do have crazy, horrible weather tomorrow and staying locked up inside with the kids is driving you even more crazy and horrible then I would definitely recommend the Auckland Art Gallery or the Auckland Museum. As well as the great areas dedicated to children and the cool activities in the North Atrium from 1 - 3 on Saturdays, the Art Gallery has got the amazing looking Degas to Dali exhibiton starting tomorrow. The Art Gallery has free entry and I take Haeata there all the time. The Degas to Dali exhibition is $20 for adults, $10 for kids under 14 and FREE for under 4s! I definitely need to take advantage of all things free under 4 for the rest of this year.


On Sunday the weather is supposed to be a whole different story which is good because there's a whole lot of good times scheduled for that end of the weekend.


-Motat is throwing a Children's Day on Sunday. Free entry for all kids under 16! There will be horse and cart rides, rides in military vehicles and the steam train, lolly making, a blacksmith in action and facepainting. And just to make the day even cheaper, Grabone has got 50% off tickets on offer right now! Get in quick! 


-The weather slightly up north in Leigh is supposed to be even better on Sunday so head up to the Leigh Sawmill for Outer Base from 3pm. This is Base FM's last Outer Base afternoon for the summer and always it will be well worth the trip out of town. Get a pizza and some beer and listen to some beautiful music care of the Base DJs while the kids tear up the very kid-friendly courtyard - they have swings, a boat and a maypole. Fun! 


-Later in the day The Mamaku Project are playing for free in the Auckland Domain on Sunday from 6 - 7:30. Expect a fusion of French and Pacifica roots in a dub/reggae/live electro style. They have Simon Sweetman's thumbs up so definitely worth checking out.


Have a great weekend everyone - I'm off to get as much work done outside as possible until this weather bomb hits and we are forced to take shelter in the lounge with popcorn and DVDs. Such a hard life.  

Leigh Sawmill Playground

Auckland City Mission

While you're busy making sure Christmas is awesome for your own kids, don't forget the children for whom Christmas might not be so awesome.


You can take new, unwrapped presents and nonperishable food down to Auckland City Mission on Hobson St or even just call to make a donation. 


MOTAT is also doing a great deal this week. Buy a gift in their gift shop to be donated to either Auckland City Mission or Ronald McDonald House and get free admission!

Motat Nights, Christmas Lights

I've been hearing a lot of reviews about Motat Nights and they are all glowing. Gold coin entry and it all goes to Auckland City Mission. On every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night until Christmas Eve (how cool would it be to go there on Christmas Eve?!). Ride on the tram in the dark, walk through a sparkling Victorian village and listen to carols. There are also activities on offer (I heard a rumour about lollipop making) and you can buy mulled wine. Yum! 

We're definitely going to go check it out this weekend. 

Also, if you go along to MOTAT during the week between 10am and 5pm you get free entry when you buy a present for charity from the MOTAT gift shop. The presents all go to Auckland City Mission and the Ronald McDonald house. 

Playing With Light at MOTAT

This traveling exhibition made up of 22 different exhibits all based on light looks like a lot of fun. 

MOTAT exhibitions are always about interaction and this one doesn't disappoint. You can play laser dodge (just like in spy movies!), paint with infrared light and virtual paintbrushes, freeze your shadow and make light bounce of water.

Entry to the Playing with Light Exhibition is included FREE with your normal admission and don't forget, North Shore residents get a free pass till the end of November!

Free Entry to Motat!

All November, North Shore residents get one free pass to MOTAT! Just bring in your proof of address (I'm assuming they'll accept library cards just like everywhere else). Check out this list of suburbs in case you live somewhere like all the way out in Greenhithe or Dairy Flat and you're not sure if they're counting that as part of the Shore (they are). 


Looks like they've got some really cool stuff on this month too but more about that later.