Things to do these July School Holidays in Whitianga
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Things to do these July School Holidays in Whitianga

KN Updated
Man and child in red jacket on beach

In Whitianga these school holidays and looking for things to do with the family? We have you sorted! The All About Whitianga team have put their heads together and come up with over 45 ideas to keep you entertained. Check out our categories of interest for holiday ideas to keep your family and friends inspired. And adults, make sure you check out the ‘For the grown up’s’ section also!


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See the related links section at the bottom of this page for more detailed information about businesses and events listed below.

Inside Activities

  • Cinema – sit back in comfort at the Mercury Twin Cinemas and spend the morning, afternoon or evening viewing one of the latest releases
  • Model Railway exhibition –on the weekend of the 17 and 18th July, Monk Street
  • Baking – get the kids to make lunch, perhaps lemonade scones? Or maybe a batch of biscuits or muffins for an elderly neighbour or friend?
  • Board games – make it a competition? Everyone chooses their game of choice and then play them in a round robin giving points for win, draw or loose. Decide what the winner or loser may have to do!
  • Junk sculpture – grab the recycling and build a sculpture – use a theme, or just the imagination
  • Learn something – like knitting /crochet, YouTube and Pinterest have lots of easy crafty project ideas
  • Master chef competition – a great way to get the kids to cook dinner each night (or part of dinner). Mix it up by giving them certain ingredients to use, a timeframe or theme. Try one of the delicious dishes from our recipe pages
  • School Holiday Programme – Space themed at the Mercury Bay Library, see our event page
  • Market at Cooks Beach Hall – Community Garage Sale at the hall, from 9am to 12pm Saturday 17 July
  • Winter Market – At the Coro Club Cafe / Flight Club - Doughnuts and plants - and 34 stalls! Saturday 17 July from 9am.

Outside Activities

  • Visit an animal park – Mill Creek Bird and animal park not only has animals but lots of activities for the kids
  • Mini Golf – get serious or just have a lot of fun at the pro course at Wild Wood Mini Golf
  • Geocaching – outdoor hide and seek with your device – there’s a heap of geocaches in and around the Mercury Bay.
  • Watch the sunrise or set – pick a spot, grab a blanket and enjoy the quiet of the world. Or grab an 'instagramable' pic!
  • Look after our coast - take part in Coastcare dune planting and maintenance in the Mercury Bay
  • Clean up & Create - take part in the community clean up in and around Whitianga. Then create a beautiful art in nature for exhibition. See Events pages for more information
  • Pick you own mandarins - Take the kids out to Colenso Cafe in Whenuakite and pick a bag of mandarins, great family activity.

For free

  • Playgrounds – discover a new playground. Drive, ride your bike or walk to a new playground. Have you visited the one at the Whitianga Waterways (by the Mobil station) yet?
  • Bubbles – grab some detergent and water, add a touch of sugar or corn syrup and you’ll get some great bubbles. Make your own bubble wands out of a stick and a loop (pipe cleaner or wire). Then leave the kids to it!
  • Rock hunting – paint some rocks to ‘hide’ for others to find. There’s a local facebook page (Mercury Bay Rocks) for hints for where rocks are hidden.
  • Paper boats – grab some newspaper and make some paper boats to sail at the beach or stream. Just make sure you take any capsizes home again.
  • Chalk drawing – decorate the driveway with artwork or perhaps a ‘road’ for bikes, skateboards or scooters.
  • Litter clean up walk – take a rubbish bag with you and pick up rubbish while you walk the neighbourhood or beach.
  • Historical walk – take a stroll around Whitianga’s historical walk and read about the sights along the way.
  • Picnic – wrap up warm and take a picnic to the reserve or beach. Why not grab some sausages and bread and use the local beach BBQs at Mother Brown’s or Purangi Reserve?
  • Matariki weaving - at the Mercury Bay Library, learn how to make flax stars and fish
  • Build an Ice castle – freeze some trays of ice and then build some ice castles – perhaps outside or inside on a tray before they melt.

Adventurous

  • Fun Zone – head out to Fun Zone Adventure and Family Park to enjoy everything from paintball and Argo rides to laser tag and archery, bring a picnic and spend the day.
  • Walks – so many to choose from – explore New Chums, Waitaia, Stella Evered Park, Cathedral Cove, Hahei Pa Site for example. See our Explore pages for more inspiration.
  • Amazing race – create an Amazing Race, complete with challenges just for fun.
  • Try out a new café or restaurant – then let someone else order for you! There’s heaps of great places to try in Whitianga.

Physical

  • Skate Park – try out the Whitianga Skate Park in the centre of town on Whakau reserve (Taylor’s Mistake)
  • Pickleball – the Pickleball club have club nights on Sundays at Mercury Bay Area School from 3 – 5pm. There may be other sessions too, please check their Facebook page for updates.
  • Whitianga Bike Park – ride out to the Bike Park and enjoy the great tracks of offer.

On the water

  • Sea Cave Adventures – grab a boat tour to see the beautiful Mercury Bay coastline, blowholes and caves.
  • Fishing charter – get the inside knowledge on fishing spots with a charter these holidays with Epic Adventures.

Quiet

  • Curl up with a book – there are libraries in Whitianga, Hahei and Matarangi. Enjoy a good book or activities offered over the school holidays.
  • Bird watching – head out on a bush walk and see what you can spot – remember to be quiet so you don’t scare them away!

For the brain

  • Museum – the Mercury Bay Museum is housed in the original 1937 Dairy Factory and is a great place to become absorbed in some of the fascinating history of Mercury Bay.
  • Scavenger hunt – use themes, such as shapes, colours, letters, or nature. Use your backyard, the beach, the town for your roaming. Use clues, take photos or gather items.
  • Family quiz – get everyone to write a round of questions and then have a family quiz. Use a theme or go totally trivial.
  • Magic tricks – practice makes perfect, try out a new magic trick for the family.
  • Learn to juggle – you can juggle just about anything – YouTube is sure to give some handy hints.

At the beach

  • Games – volleyball, cricket, petanque or just good old touch or soccer with a ball at the beach. Challenge the neighbours or a family competition.
  • Shell / rock skimming – who can skim their shell or rock the furthest? Or teach someone the art of skimming.
  • Sandcastle competition – it doesn’t matter that’s it’s winter, take the buckets and spades and get creating!
  • Shell collecting for mobile – collect some shells or driftwood and make a mobile to hang outside.

For the Grown Ups

  • Cocktail evening – in support of Pink Ribbon come along for a great night at the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club's Ladies Cocktail Evening.
  • Aperture Show –  this one-woman performance gives an insight into Ans Westra's life and career in photography. A sometimes controversial photographer, Dutch immigrant, Ans is a honoured photographer. 
  • Hot pools – a soak at The Lost Spring with a cocktail is great when the weather is cooler.
  • Mid-Winter Christmas – at Grace O’Malley’s Irish Inn – get dressed up and enjoy some mid-winter cheer!
  • Live Music – see our events pages for the weekly gigs in town.

More information

For more information about individual businesses or events suggested on this page please see the related links below.

Related Links

Mercury Twin CinemasMercury Bay Model Railway Club show on track for school holidaysThe Glass House EmporiumWalking the scenic coastal “path of Hei” as part of the Coromandel WalksMercury Bay SkateparkMercury Bay Pickleball Club Inc. WhitiangaWhitianga Bike ParkSea Cave AdventuresMatarangi Community LibraryMercury Bay Library, WhitiangaHahei's Florence Harsant LibraryMercury Bay MuseumAperture - The Life and Work of Ans Westra live at Coghill TheatreThe Lost Spring Geo-Thermal Pools and Day SpaLive music at Whitianga HotelWild Wood Mini Golf & Toys

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