Autumn School Holiday Guide

Check out the offerings by these fine, local, activity providers who will have the young ones entertained and engaged during the long and free days of the holidays.

BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days

On 12 & 13 April, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on 2 indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Event Centre. Enjoy bouncy castles and fun play for all ages, with an under 5’s and soft play areas, as well as ponies. Book your tickets in advance online for your 2.5 hour window of fun (they won’t be offering door sales).

Cost are free for under 6 months, $15.00 for 6 months-12 years, $8.50 for 13+ and adults

Book your tickets and find more info here.

Tōnui Collab 

STEMM Workshops: Across the two weeks of school holidays, Tōnui Collab offer six, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at their location at 466 Childers Road. Their workshops encourage children to explore the diversity of STEMM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori through the experimentation and creation of animation, engineering, game development, robotics, coding, virtual reality and more! For a description of all the courses offered, follow the link to their website (below).

Caters to ages 7-13

Cost is $60 per day.

Information and to book online, https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops

Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com or 0800 8 TŌNUI

Week 1: Tuesday 15 - Thursday 17 April

Tuesday 15 April - Digital Art

Wednesday 16 April - Virtual Reality

Thursday 17 April - Robotics

Week 2: Tuesday 22 - 24 April

Tuesday 22 April - Animation

Wednesday 23 April - Game Development

Thursday 24 April - Coding & Electronics

Pinehollow Riding School and Riverview Horse Trek

Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Mon - Thurs, 14 - 17 April and Tues - Thurs, 22 - 24 April from 9:15 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road. If you require transport, they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tav Restaurant. (Pick-up is at 8:50am and drop-off is at 4pm.)

Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes). With the beautiful weather at the moment, they’re hoping to spend plenty of time down at the river with the ponies, so also bring change of clothes, togs and towel for swimming in the pool. You’ll need sunscreen, plenty of kai and water.

Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $65 for the day. 

Email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com to register. Payments are via bank transfer (acct: Pine Hollow 06-0637-0264724-00). For more info, including booking and cancellation policy, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks

Ocean Rhythms Surf Camp

Join Ocean Rhythms Surf Coaching for their Autumn Surf Camp, Mon - Thurs, 14 -17 April. The camp runs daily 9am-3:30pm at Midway Beach, a safe beach for kids to learn the fundamentals of surfing, develop respect for the environment and make new friends. With a soft, sandy bottom, predictable conditions, a lack of hazards, and plenty of attentive, passionate and fully trained instructors, your child will safely play in the waves and develop confidence, ocean knowledge and safety. The primary goal of this camp is to teach kids to properly assess ocean risks, have fun in nature and introduce them to a healthy activity they can do for the rest of their life!

Your child will get surf instruction suited to their ability, grouped with kids at their level, with the ability to advance their skills throughout the week and advance to the next group. The coaches are there to provide water safety and to maximise fun! There will be tandem rides, party waves and plenty of beach games. The day includes warm-up games, health & safety discussions, 2 hour blocks of surf time before and after lunch, and an ocean knowledge and beach safety chat. If required, the location could shift to Northern Makorori, with notification. 

Caters to ages 6-13.

Cost is $340 for all 4 days and $380 if you need to hire a board

To book, or with questions, email oceanrhythmscoaching@gmail.com.

H.B. Williams Library 

The Gisborne Library have all sorts of activities to keep your little ones learning and happy this school holiday break. All the events are located at their beautiful space at 34 Bright St and are free. Just turn up –  there’s no need to book in advance. 

They have two activities that take place over the course of the holiday break for you to enjoy at your pace. The first is Te Hauhake o Ngahuru Reading Challenge. Read, review and repeat. Pick up a reading challenge form from the Children's Area.  Read a book and give them a review to go in the draw to win one of four mystery prizes up for grabs.  The more you read the more chances of winning. The second is Dogman Hunt. Help find the lost Dogman characters in the library to go in the draw to win a prize.

In addition to these ongoing challenges, they offer activities that encourage creativity and fun. Check them out below.

April 14, Monday – 10.00am - 11.30am

Paper Crafts

Get creative with paper and make a bunch of different things from fortune cookies to gnome homes and more.

April 15, Tuesday – 10.00am - 11.30am

Playing Card Crafts

Make a bunch of different crafts using playing cards.  Bring your own pack of cards and we will provide the rest.

April 16, Wednesday – 10.00am - 11.30am

DIY Boardgame

Make your very own boardgame to play at home with the family.

April 17, Thursday – 10.00am - 11.30am

LEGO

Build and repeat.  Get creative and let your imagination run wild, the sky is the limit.  Suitable for ages 5+

April 22, Tuesday – 10.00am-11.30am

Shoebox Theatre Show

We’re turning shoeboxes into theatre shows.  Create your characters, decorate your shoebox and let the show begin.

April 23, Wednesday – 10.00am-11.30am

Autumn Crafts

We’re celebrating autumn by getting crafty with nature.  We’ve got leaves, twigs and all sorts from out of the garden.

April 24, Thursday – 10.00am-11.30am

Mothers Day Cards

Mothers Day is just around the corner so come and make mum a Mothers Day card she will surely love.

April School Holiday Origami Workshops for Children

School Holiday Origami Workshops are happening again on Tues 22 April. Classes are offered based on age. See the class schedule below to find the right class for your child. All materials are supplied but you’re welcome to bring supplies if you wish. Each class will attempt 2 - 3 different origami creations. (Creations on the photos are examples.) Sessions are held at Te Hapara School (31 Mill Road). Caregivers are welcome to stay or can drop/pick-up. 

Enroll by text to 0220443717, by email to noboundaryhandmadecrafts@gmail.com, or message their facebook page with your name, your child's name and school year, and times you would like to book in. Mutsuko will reply to you with details. 

Year 1-3 | 9:30-11:00 

Year 4-6 | 11:30-13:00

Year 7 + | 13:30-15:00 

Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $15 each for a class.

The Y Oscar April Holiday Programme 

The Y Oscar programme offer a variety of fun activities every day, from 14 - 24 April (not including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and ANZAC Day). Bookings are available from 6:45am to 5:45pm at YMCA Oscar House - 153 Disraeli Street (look for the green fence). From trips to the Kiwa Pools and the cinema to Easter Egg Hunts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone! 

Caters to ages 5-13.

Cost is $60 for a full day (7:30 am - 3:45pm and includes Breakfast Club till 8:30am). You can add on aftercare for $20 per day (3:45pm - 5:45pm). To enrol, fill out the form at the link below and email it to oscar@ymcagisborne.nz. For questions, email or ring 867 9259, ext 3. https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Y-OSCAR-HP-Rego-April-2025-Easter-2.pdf?x86194 

Bush Kura – Pūkeko Camp 

Te Kura-a-Wao Charitable trust was established in 2019 to provide opportunities for rangatahi to learn practical life skills, co-operation, resilience, leadership attributes, bush craft and safe hunting practices around the Tai Rāwhiti region. From 12 - 14 April, Pūkeko Camp offers a basic, beginner’s course that promotes the outdoors. This digital-free camp builds positive and meaningful connections. 

Located in Ruatorea

Caters to ages 8-11. Cost is $30 per child. 

Book via their facebook page here or their website https://thebushkura.co.nz/course-details/

Sing out with any questions via email admin@thebushkura.co.nz or pm their facebook page.

Tairāwhiti Museum

During the holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer activities for your young ones, inspired by the Museum’s current exhibitions. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking and payment at the museum is essential. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the duration of the workshop. 

PLEASE NOTE NEW SCHEDULE

Important Art Workshops Update! 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, some adjustments have been made to the upcoming School Holiday Art Workshops schedule.

Monday & Wednesday classes remain the same - no changes.

Tuesday and Thursday classes that were in week 1 have now been moved to week 2.

Week 1:

Monday 14th April, 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$5 per child

Create fun sculptural artworks inspired from the Gisborne Pottery Group exhibition: A Piece of Me.

Wednesday 16th April, 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$5 per child

Transform fabric textiles into a unique artwork inspired by two textile exhibitions: Add Subtract, Transform - TARTS & Blooming by Kathy Grimson.

Week 2:

Tuesday 22nd April, 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$10 per child

Clay workshop: Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant.

Thursday 24th April: 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$10 per child

Clay workshop: Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant.

If you haven't registered yet, there's still room! Just stop by the museum to book in. They look forward to seeing you soon! 

Caters to ages 5-12.

Cost is $5 per child or $10 per child for the clay workshops.

Gisborne Gymnastics Club Open Gym

During the school holidays, the Gisborne Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play sessions. Book your little ones into any of the two sessions per day during Mon - Thurs, 14 - 17 April, and again in the second week, on Tues - Wed, 22 - 23 April. The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road). 

Caters to ages: 5-14 

Cost is $20. Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program

Eastwoodhill Arboretum

The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have a few options for you this school holidays to entertain and inspire the kiddies. 

Tuesday 15 April: Kids Creative Days

Drop in anytime between 10am - 1pm to take part in a fun, nature crafting day. Spaces are limited and all materials are provided, so please book in advance by emailing enquiries@eastwoodhill.org.nz. Parent supervision is required. 

Cost is visitor entry fees: Adults $18, age 5-14 $5, Under 5s are free.

Easter Weekend, 18 - 20 April: Eastwoodhill Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Find the clues around the arboretum and when you get all the answers right, the staff at the Visitor Centre will reward you with a yummy chocolate Easter egg. 

Cost is visitor entry fees: Adults $18, age 5-14 $5, Under 5s are free.

ANZAC Day, 25 April 10am - 12pm: Aya and the Butterfly

This new puppet and music show for the whole family features magical puppetry, music, songs, and lots of giant caterpillar fun. Parent supervision required.

Caters to ages 5-12

Tickets cost for adults are $25, ages 5-14 are $15, and under 5s are free. Entry to the arboretum is included with your ticket, so bring a picnic and make a day of it. Tickets are available at their website here.

Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes

Do you have a “water baby”? If so, Comet has just the thing for you: School Holidays Booster 30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool. Cost is for all the daily lessons for the week, 14 - 17 April. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water.

Caters to 3+ years. 

Cost is $48 per week.

To book or find more information, go to their website https://www.cometswimmingclub.com/book-now1 or email Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com