School Holidays

 School Holidays: Saturday 5 July – Sunday 20 July

Secret Drawers and Doors

5 – 11 July
Daily at 12pm & 2pm
Meet at the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium
Limited to 20

Join our scientists for a tantalising discovery tour searching the hidden draws and doors revealing the unique treasures of your favourite Museum. From the gigantic spider crab lurking in the dark undisturbed recesses of the bottom draw to the unexpected ….. you will be surprised by what you learn.  PLEASE NOTE:  Apologies as our previously advertised TV personality is unable to attend this event.

Special Performance by the Dancers of Damelahamid

Sunday 6 July
2.30pm
Maori Court

The Dancers of Damelahamid perform masked dances from the Gitksan Nation. The collective hase been instrumental in reviving Native Culture on the North West Coast of British Columbia as well as in the City of Vancouver. The dances retell the Adaawk, the history of the Gitksan Nation, passed down from generation to generation virtually unchanged for thousands of years. This promises to be a colourful and enjoyable show and an opportunity to learn more about common experiences of indigenous peoples.

Lost Treasures of Rajah

Saturday 5 – Friday 18 July
Daily at 11am & 1pm

Collect your tickets from the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium from an hour before each tour. Limited to 30 children per show. Free with admission donation ticket.

Rajah the elephant has hidden some of his cherished treasures somewhere in the Museum. With help from Calcutta Smith, our archaeologist cum adventurer, follow the clues, complete the tasks and avoid the pitfalls to find the Lost Treasures of Rajah. All adventurers will be rewarded for their efforts. Suitable for ages 7 years and up. Meet at the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium.

Secrets Activity Book

Available from Saturday 12 July

Pick up a Kids’ Activity Book from the Information Desk in the Atrium for more to see and do in Secrets Revealed and around the Museum.

Masqueparade

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July
Mask making from 10am –2pm
Masked Walk at 2:30pm

Make a mask in this free workshop in the Stevenson Learning Centre. No need to book, just roll up, roll in and roll out any time between 10am and 2pm. (Last entry to make a mask 1:45pm). Then join us as we show you how to bring your mask to life with movement before you take a ‘masqueparade’ around the Museum. Dress in plain dark clothing for this event.

Have Your Say

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July
10am- 2pm
Around the Museum

What do you collect and why? What do you think of the Museum? What is your favourite part of the Museum? We want to know what you think! Our roving reporter will ask the questions and all you have to do is answer them – on camera. A selection of answers will be edited and posted on our website and on a screen in the Atrium.

Auckland Museum Night Quests – The Case of the Missing Curator

Sunday 13 – Friday 18 July (not Thursday 17) at 5.15pm, 6.15pm, 7.15pm
UPDATE: Please note revised show hours, no shows on Thursday 17, Saturday 19, Sunday 20 July.
Meet at the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium

Adults $15 (members $12), Children $10 (members $8). Suitable for children aged 7 years and over. Bookings and prepayment essential, call 09 306 7048 or email bookings@aucklandmuseum.com.

Embark on a night quest around Secrets Revealed - one of our curators is missing and you have to help us find him! We’ll take you undercover as a Museum object to interview your fellow artefacts and decipher the secrets they keep. Time is of the essence!

Lunchtime Secrets

Weekday lunchtimes in the Atrium
Meet at the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium

Hands-on Secrets

Mondays 14, Wednesday 16 and Friday 18 July
12.30pm

This is your chance to don your white gloves and handle real specimens. Museum staff will assist you to experience our precious collections in these hands-on sessions.

Lunchtime Secrets

Weekday lunchtimes in the Atrium
Meet at the Big Red Arrow in the Atrium

Scientist Secrets

12.30pm

Tuesday 15:  Ewen Cameron The Secret Life of Seeds
Thursday 17: Tom Trnski Fish Dissection and the Secrets that Lie Beneath.

Join our Museum Curators as they show you the what, why and how of what they do.

Junior Story Writing Competition: The Secret Life of my Favourite Thing

For children aged 10 and under
Closing Date: 6 October
Prize: Folkman's puppets

Do you ever imagine your toys come alive after dark? What do you think your much-loved teddy would say if he could talk back to you? Write a story about the life of your favourite object when you are not around. Pick up an entry form from the information desk or download one here.

Design Competition: My Dream Museum

For children aged 11 and over
Closing Date 6 October
Prize: A design kit from Studio Art Supplies

If you could design a museum, what would it look like? What objects would be in your dream museum? Dig deep into your imagination to design a whole museum or a single gallery. You can make it a drawing or a 3D model. Entry form inside Secrets Activity Book, or
download one here.

Workshops

Creative Curations

Wednesday 16 July, 10.30am – 3pm (bring lunch)
$30 per child or $15 for Dinomite members

Be a curator for the day. Build your own extraordinary exhibition (in miniature!), inspired by our Secrets Revealed exhibition.

Workshops

Artefact Artist

Thursday 17 July, 10.30am – 3pm (bring lunch)
$30 per child or $15 for Dinomite members

Create an array of awesome artefacts, using simple techniques gleaned during your own special guided tour of our Secrets Revealed exhibition.

 10-minute Craft Activities

  10am – 12pm and 1:30pm - 3pm daily

  Daily in the holidays and every weekend
  No booking required

  Where:  Weird & Wonderful
  $2 (or $1 for Dinomite members)

•   Character Lamination - Mondays & Thursdays
•   Treasure boxes - Tuesdays & Saturdays
•   Badge fun - Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays