School Holiday Programmes and Activities
Join us for holiday fun in April 2021! Term 1 holidays go from Saturday 17 April to Sunday 2 May 2021.
- We offer bookable programmes and a range of drop-in holiday activities at libraries.
- Want to do crafts and activities at home in the holidays? Check our online Holiday Activities.
- Explore more holiday events and activities on in Christchurch for kids.
Holiday programmes
Ōtautahi Go Wild! - Holiday Trail
Pick up a copy of the Ōtautahi Go Wild! holiday trail from 1 April from:
- Canterbury Museum
- Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens Te Māra Huaota o Waipapa
- Tūranga - Christchurch City Libraries
Aotearoa New Zealand is a great place to explore wildlife. And you don’t have to go far to see it! Follow the map and explore four of the city’s favourite places.
You may need more than one day. Complete the activities, get a stamp and finish the picture on the back page.
Bookable programmes
Librarian for a Morning - Junior - 5-8 years
Want to be a librarian for a morning? Love books and reading? Come and see what happens behind the scenes at your local library. Learn how to sort and shelve, use the catalogue, share stories and many other wonderful things our librarians do!
 5 to 8 years |
 Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full |
 $FREE |
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Thursday 22 April, 9am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full
Librarian for a Morning - Intermediate - 9-12 years
| 9 to 12 years |
| Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full |
| $FREE |
South Library
Friday 23 April, 9am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full
Tangaroa Whakamautai – Sea Art
Looking for something to do during the April holidays? Then come learn about the sea through story, games and craft – there’s something for everyone!
Have you got what it takes? Are you up for the challenge? Then make sure you book YOUR place!!! FREE, bookings ARE essential.
Recommended for ages 5 – 15, children younger than 5 welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.
| 5 to 15 years (recommended)
Children younger than 5 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
- South Library
Wednesday 21 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out
or
Wednesday 21 April, 1pm to 3pm
Book online - New Brighton Library
Wednesday 28 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out
or
Wednesday 28 April, 1pm to 3pm
Book online - Turanga
Thursday 22 April, 1pm to 3pm
Book online Sold Out
or
Thursday 29 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online
or
Thursday 29 April, 1pm to 3pm
Book online Sold Out
A limited number of extra tickets have been released. Get in quick!
Bots and Bugs Adventures
What is a robot? Come and find out! Hear some great stories about what robots get up to. There’s a chance to play with a robot and consider some robots which are inspired by real world creatures. You’ll also do some other fun activities which run alongside our city natures challenge programmes.
| 5 to 7 years |
| Book online |
| $10.99 per child (including booking fee) |
- South Library
Tuesday 27 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Tūranga
Wednesday 28 April, 9:30am to 11:30am
Book online - Upper Riccarton Library
Tuesday 20 April,10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full
Sold Out? - Join Waitlist - There is a limited waitlist available for this programme. To check if waitlist places are still available, please click on the programmes Book online link above.
Exploring Nature with Minecraft
Learn about native New Zealand flora and fauna through exploration and play inside a custom Minecraft world. To really enjoy this programme you need to have a basic understanding of Minecraft.
| 6 to 13 years |
| Book online |
| $10.99 per child (including booking fee) |
- New Brighton
Monday 19 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full - Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Thursday 22 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full - Tūranga
Friday 23 April, 1pm to 3pm
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full
Thursday 29 April, 9:30am to 11:30am
Book online Sold Out - Waitlist Full
Friday 30 April, 9:30am to 11:30am
Book online Sold Out - Upper Riccarton Library
Tuesday 27 April,1pm to 3pm
Book online Sold Out
- South
Thursday 29 April, 10am to 12noon
Book online Sold Out
Sold Out? - Join Waitlist - There is a limited waitlist available for this programme. To check if waitlist places are still available, please click on the programmes Book online link above.
Take a Walk on the Wildside
Explore wildlife and discover nature living in your neighbourhood. Join us for a walk on the wildside, taking photos along the way that will contribute to biodiversity research. Please bring jackets as we will still go outside in light rain. If the weather is more severe, we will search for New Zealand flora and fauna in Minecraft during the photography section while still learning about how to contribute to citizen science in the rest of the session.
| 8 to 12 years |
| Book online |
| $16.24 per child (including booking fee) |
- Tūranga
Wednesday 21 April, 9:00am to 11:30am
Book online - Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Wednesday 28 April, 9:00am to 11:30am
Book online
Sold Out? - Join Waitlist - There is a limited waitlist available for this programme. To check if waitlist places are still available, please click on the programmes Book online link above.
Programme Evaluation
In order to continually improve our service and the programmes that we offer, your evaluation of the sessions that you have recently attended is invaluable to us. Please complete our online form to provide us with feedback.
Drop-in Activities
Korean Crafts
Join us to create traditional Korean crafts! Enjoy making Bucahe (traditional Korean fan) and Korean paper hat making.
Find out where and when.
Owls and Hedgehogs
Create a woodland creature from paper and autumn leaves.
Find out where and when.
Autumn Tea Lights
Upcycle a jar and create some autumn ambience. Please bring your own glass jar for this craft.
Find out where and when.
Stained Glass Leaves
Catch the sun with a colourful leafy craft to hang in a window.
Find out where and when.
Autumn Bunting (teens)
Jazz up your space! Come along and create a string of beautiful paper leaves made from recycled materials. Add notes and photos to brighten up your room!
Find out where and when.
Honour your Anzac
Honour your Anzac this April, create a poppy in commemoration of your whānau member and add it to the remembrance display.
Find out where and when.
Book Nooks
Book Nook Dioramas for Families
The first nurses of WWI
Conditions for bookable Learning Centre holiday programmes
Note: A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver for all learning centre after school and holiday programmes.
- Payment is required at the time of booking, using a debit or credit card.
- A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for cancellations. After this time the programme cost in non-refundable.
- A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver.
- Drop off and pick up times are 10 minutes prior to the advertised programme times. We are not responsible for your children outside of these hours.
- If your child is absent or running late, please telephone us 03-941-7923.
- Please do not bring along an unwell child to the programme.
- Children must meet the advertised age range/restrictions. Bookings received outside of theses advertised age range/restrictions will be cancelled and refunded.
Programme Evaluation
In order to continually improve our service and the programmes that we offer, your evaluation of the sessions that you have recently attended is invaluable to us. Please complete our online form to provide us with feedback.
More school holiday info
- See all library school holiday events
- Find more ideas for holiday events and activities
