Libraries and Learning Centres offer holiday programmes including a variety of accessible, safe and affordable activities for children during their school holidays. Our programmes run at various locations. We also connect you with more ideas for holiday events and activities in Christchurch.
Free Activities - Drop-in
Free, drop-in holiday activities - there is no charge or booking required for these sessions. Some of these sessions are all-ages, unless noted.
Autumn Crafts
Paper Craft Owls and Hedgehogs
Whoooo would like to create a woodland creature from paper and autumn leaves?
Personalised Notepad
Transform a book cover into a unique, handy dandy notepad. Perfect for shopping, journaling, sketching or gift to a friend!
Stained Glass Leaves
Catch the sun with a colourful leafy craft to hang in the window.
Tea Light Jars
Upcycle a jar and create some autumn ambience! Bring a clean glass jar.
Find Autumn Crafts times and locations
City Nature Challenge 2020
Drop-in to Tūranga and get involved with a global challenge to find and record nature and wildlife in our city over four days.
Find out how to take part, have your photographs of animals and plants identified by experts, talk to scientists as they catalogue our biodiversity using microscopes and other equipment, or just come by to see how many species we have found. There'll be talks, field trips and other activities at specific times, plus fun opportunities to train up before the challenge and identify what we found afterwards.
Tūranga Auaha Hihi / Spark Place, He Hononga | Connection, Ground Floor
Friday 24 April - Monday 27 April, during opening hours
Find out more about the City Nature Challenge 2020
Family Makerspace
Have fun, create craft and make cool stuff. A different creative activity every week.
Tūranga Taupuni Auaha / Creative Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Saturdays, 2.30pm to 4pm
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Saturdays, 1.30pm to 3pm
Find times and locations.
Friday Whānau Fun Night
An evening of stories, family and fun at the library!
Tūranga
Friday 24 April, 6pm to 7pm
Visit our events calendar for more information.
PlayStation 4 Tournament - NBA2K20
Show off your skills in our NBA2K20 PS4 Tournament!
Ages: 10+ years
Tūranga Wahi Rangatahi/Youth Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Thursday 9 April, 4pm sign up
Visit our events calendar for more information.
Babytimes
Please visit our events calendar to see if your local library is running babytimes during the April School Holidays.
Storytimes
Please visit our events calendar to see if your local library is running storytimes during the April School Holidays.
Free Activities - Bookings Required
Free activities, bookings (places are limited) are required for the following programmes - call 03 941 7923 or email library@ccc.govt.nz (conditions apply).
Ngā Kēmu Maōri (Māori games)
Have you ever thought, “I wish I could learn a super cool waiata (song) and a poi dance as well?” Are you up for the challenge? Do you have what it takes?
If so, come along to our Ngā Kēmu Māori themed school holiday sessions at a library near you, where not only will you learn a poi dance routine, but you get to make a poi to take home. It is totally cool for boys to learn the poi as well!
Then, if you are really up to the challenge, we will have a go at some other cool Kēmu Māori (Māori games) - so don’t miss out! It’s going to be heaps of fun!
Ages: 7 - 12 years
New Brighton Library
Wednesday 22 April
10.30am Session is FULLY BOOKED 10.30am to 12noon or 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
Thursday 23 April
10.30am to 12noon or 1.00pm to 2.30pm
South Library
Wednesday 15 April
10.30am to 12noon or 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Tūranga Nga Pounamu Māori Collection area, Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2
Wednesday 22 April
10.30am to 12noon or 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Find the event calendar listings
Pay-for sessions - Bookings Required
Bookings (places are limited) and payment are required for the following programmes - call 03 941 7923 or email library@ccc.govt.nz (conditions apply).
Bots and Bugs Adventures $7
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 nature challenge programmes.
Ages: 5 to 7 years
Cost: $7 per child
South Library
Friday 17 April, 10am to 12noon
Monday 20 April, 10am to 12noon
Find the events calendar listings here.
Exploring Nature with Minecraft $10
Find out about a native New Zealand species and then work in a team to design a Minecraft build inspired by your learning.
Special information: To really enjoy this programme, you need to have a basic understanding of Minecraft.
Ages: 5 to 7 years
Cost: $10 per child
New Brighton Library
Wednesday 22 April, 10am to 12noon
South Library
Tuesday 14 April, 2pm to 4pm
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Friday 17 April, 10am to 12noon
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Cost: $10 per child
South Library
Tuesday 21 April, 2pm to 4pm
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Tuesday 21 April, 2pm to 4pm
Tūranga Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4
Friday 24 April, 10am to 12noon
Find the event calendar listings
Take a Walk on the Wildside $15
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.
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Cost: $15 per child
Akaroa Library
Wednesday 22 April, 12.30pm to 3.30pm
New Brighton Library
Thursday 23 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm
South Library
Friday 24 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Tuesday 21 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Tūranga Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4
Tuesday 16 April, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Find the event calendar listings.
More school holiday info
- See all library school holiday events
- Find more ideas for holiday events and activities
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. Please ensure this is completed when you call in to pay the course fees or drop your child off for the programme.
- Payment is required no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the programme – if payment is not made prior to this, the Learning Centre reserves the right to cancel your booking.
- You can pay in person at any Christchurch City Libraries (excluding the Mobile) or by debit/credit card over the phone to the Fingertip Library, 03 941 7923.,
- A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is requested 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. Please ensure this is completed when you call in to pay the course fees or drop your child off for the programme.
- 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.
- Please do not bring along an unwell child to the programme.
- You are obliged to inform us at registration if your child has medical or behavioural conditions. Your child will not be excluded, but we require accurate information.
- Children outside the recommended age range will not be placed on the course.
- Children may be enrolled in two programmes only. If you would like to enrol your child in more than two programmes he/she will be placed on a waitlist and notified closer to the start date as to whether or not there is place available.
