Ten days of fun in the city

By STEVE HART

With two weeks of school holidays just around the corner it can become a daunting task to find something to keep the children occupied and interested without resorting to switching on the goggle box.

So with Auckland families in mind - here is a bundle of suggestions on what you could do on each day of the school holidays.

Monday, July 1

Incredible Science Day is being held at the University of Auckland's faculty of science, Symonds St, for one day only.

This free event includes a string of activities, shows and exhibitions, such as a chemistry "magic" show, how crime scenes are investigated, glass blowing, web page design and unravelling a mummy.

Events are held at different times (many are repeated during the day) and in different locations across the campus.

Faculty of Science

Where: The University of Auckland's city campus. Phone 373 7599 ext 8925.

Cost: Free to all. Open 9.30am to 3pm with free car parking.

Tuesday, July 2

Youthtown offers children aged 7 to 13 activities such as basketball, computers, swimming, table tennis, pool tables, access to a library and day trips (one a week) for just $4 a day.

A 10-day pass to cover the school holidays is $37 and includes all equipment.

Youthtown will also have two one-day trips during the holidays at no extra charge.

Where: 68a Nelson St

Cost: $4 a day

Youthtown

Wednesday, July 3

Time to burn off some energy with a swim with a difference - a pool with a wave machine.

Philips Aquatic Centre can generate the huge waves to take the boredom out of swimming up and down. Its Caribbean theme also adds a bit of colour to an enjoyable day out.

The centre has a leisure pool (which has a hydro-slide), lazy river, toddler's pool, sauna, steam room and spa pools.

The 25m, eight-lane competition pool is ozone treated and has a moveable floor, which allows easy access for less mobile people.

Where: Alberton Ave. Phone 815 7005.

Cost: Adult $7, children $5, family $20 (two adults and two children or one adult and three children).

Thursday, July 4

Reach for the stars. The Stardome Observatory is open seven days a week, with breathtaking displays, the chance to look at the stars through a telescope and enjoy presentations on subjects such as "Are we alone".

Children aged 3 to 6 can meet Mr Moon and there are planetarium shows.

Displays include New Zealand's first known meteorite, interactive computer displays, 3D planet models and space-car ride.

Where: One Tree Hill Domain, off Manukau Rd, Royal Oak. Call for times and details, phone 624 1246.

Cost: Adults $12, children $6, family pass $30 (two adults, three children).

Stardome

Friday, July 5

Get your skates on. Want to get on the ice without leaving Auckland? Paradice Ice Skating offers skating for all ages. Its offerings include week-long courses for children wanting to learn the art of ice-skating from experts.

Alternatively, skating sessions are held twice a day at the company's two arenas at Avondale and Botany Downs.

Phone Avondale 828 3800, Botany Downs 273 2999.

Where: Avondale, Lansford Crescent; Botany Downs, cnr Botany Rd and Ti Rakau Dr.

Cost: Adults (13 and over) $11: Under-13s $8.50, family pass $35. Prices include skate hire.

Paradice

* Want to skate on wheels? Roller-skating sessions are held at Skateland, Mountain Rd, Panmure, every Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 4pm. Entry is $5 plus $1 to hire skates. Entry to view is free. Phone 570 4811.

In addition there are plenty of interesting skateboard parks that are free to use.

Monday, July 8

Head for the sea with Fullers Cruises which is offering children's trips for $1 when each child travels with a full-fare-paying adult - saving $24 on a child's ticket to the world-renowned bird sanctuary on Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Phone 367 9111.

Tuesday, July 9

Take a walk. It can't rain every day, so don't be afraid to get out and enjoy Auckland's many parks and recreation areas.

If you live in the city you can make an event of visiting Devonport's park by ferry.

While in Devonport you can take in some historical sites or watch the world go by at the water's edge while the children wear themselves out at the nearby playground.

Or stay in the city and take a stroll around the many parks, such as Albert Park, just a block from Queen St, the city's oldest park and one of the most popular in Auckland - Auckland Domain (Park Rd, Grafton, near Auckland Hospital) or Victoria Park, with a playground for youngsters, just off Victoria St West.

Wednesday, July 10

Motat (Museum of Transport, Technology and Social History) can easily take half a day to enjoy and fully explore, and if you visit the nearby Auckland Zoo, it can turn out to be more than a day's fun.

Motat has a range of exhibits - from technology starting with the valve radio to interesting vehicles from down the ages and telecommunications equipment. There are lots of interactive displays for children of all ages.

As well as its set exhibits, Motat is holding the Lego Imagination Show until September 15.

It will include life-size models, such as Star War's Darth Vader made of Lego, and you can play World Cup Lego soccer and stage your own earthquake.

Where: Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland City. Phone (09) 846 7020 (24 hours).

Cost: adults $10, children $5, family pass $20 (two adults and four children). Open: 10am to 5pm.

* Auckland Zoo, Motions Rd, Western Springs. Phone 360 3819.

Cost: Adults $13, children $7 (aged 4-15), children under 4 free. Family pass $35 (two adults with two children). Open 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Thursday, July 11

Get bowled over. Tenpin bowling is great fun and is something people of almost any age can tackle. Games can last an hour or more and many alleys have special sloping ramps so even those who can't pick up the ball can push it in the general direction of the pins.

Among the bowling alleys in Auckland are: Tenpin New Zealand, Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna, phone 0800 836 746; Manukau Tenpin Bowling Centre, Great South Rd, Manukau, phone 277 9296; Wairau Park Tenpin, Link Drive, Glenfield, phone 442 2469; and Tenpin Westgate, Westgate Shopping Centre, Hobsonville, phone 831 0260.

Friday, July 11

Today is the day when you insist your children stay in and complete their homework - you know, the work they agreed to do by the first day of the holiday. Or, you could visit the cinema to see Scooby Doo, Spiderman, Star Wars ... as by now the crowds may have died down so you can find a park and not have to fight for a decent seat.