July 26, 2023 4 min read

10 Things to do in Auckland with your Toddler

As parents of toddlers and pre-schoolers, one thing we've found is that lots of places are baby friendly, cafes don't mind your quiet baby in their pram, but an unruley toddler is a different thing! Toddlers are keen to get out and explore the world, and this is a pretty cool city that we live in, here are some places that we like to go to with our little ones.

We've tried to include places that don't cost much, or any money, are fully fenced, and places where it doesn't matter if your child makes a whole lot of noise.

Read all the way to the end to find out how you can win one of three family passes to one of our fave places, MOTAT.

Madills Farm

6 Baddeley Ave, Kohimarama, Auckland 1071
A cool new playground, it's fully fenced, covered in bark, and has equipment that toddlers will be able to use without assistance. Plenty of free parking on the street, and they've just built a toilet block next to the playground, perfect for those toilet training toddlers!

Matakana Country Park

1151 Leigh Road. Matakana, Auckland
A privately owned 50-acre estate, located just one hour north of Auckland, With loads of ;fun things, like animals, miniature ride-on train, horse and carriage rides and an adventure playground. Entry is free, but you'll need to pay if you want to feed the animals or go on the train.
http://www.matakanacountrypark.co.nz/

Trampoline Park

They've popped up in every second suburb, and they're fun! Trampoline parks can be a little overwhelming for toddlers so you might want to avoid weekends and school holidays if you're after a quieter, more chilled experience.

Catch a ferry

You could go from Auckland to Devonport- or if you don't want to deal with expensive parking you can park in Devonport and take the ferry to town.

St Heliers Beach and playground

Tamaki Drive, St Heliers
A partially fenced playground next to a quiet beach with gentle waves. St Heliers beach is a lovely place on a sunny day! There are public toilets, and plenty of cafe's and ice creameries near by too. Take along your scooters or bikes for a gentle ride along the boardwalk.

National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

64 King Edward Parade, Devonport, Auckland 0624
There's a cafe overlooking the playground, a jetty, a beach down the road. You can dress up in sailors uniforms, and they have possibly the best parents room in all of Auckland- with a chair, bottle warmer, microwave, and wipes! Lots of fun for toddlers, and not a bad rainy day activity. Entry is free.
Loads of parking on the road, plus a car park.

http://navymuseum.co.nz/

Ambury Regional Park

43 Ambury Road, Mangere Bridge, Auckland 2022
You can see lots of farm animals, like sheep, cows, horses, pigs, and you can generally pat most of the animals too. If you go during milking season you can see the working milking shed too. Entry is free, there's loads of free parking, and even a camping ground if you want to stay the night.
http://regionalparks.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ambury

MOTAT

805 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland 1022
Two seperate sites connected by one fun tram ride, toddlers and pre-schoolers love this place! An area called Tinkering Tots is undercover and totally popular with the little ones, and they love the model railway too. Over the summer holidays MOTAT have events, and a fire engine ride called Little Flick. Lots of shady areas to eat your lunch, and a cafe.

It's easiest to park at the Meola Road site, then catch the tram over to the other site, then the problem of crossing the main road with your toddler.

Onepoto Domain

24 Tarahanga Street, Northcote, Auckland 0627

Easy to get to, as it's just at the motorway off ramp. A really good bike track for kids, with ramps, bridges, jumps, hills, and roundabouts. Perfect place to take your bikes or scooters.

Cornwall Park

Flagstaff carpark near Band Rotunda, Cornwall Park
Park yourself at one of the outside tables at Cornwall Park Cafe and your little one can ride their scooter or bike while you enjoy your coffee. With flat, smooth concrete paths, and no cars to worry about, this place is made for toddlers and pre-schoolers! Great brunches, a good selection of cakes and pastries, and our fave Alpress coffee, we love this place! Lots of coffee groups we know take blankets and picnics then grab a takeaway coffee from the cafe and sit on the grass. Plenty of free parking too.

http://www.cornwallparkeateries.com/cafe/

Thorne Bay Beach / Minneaha

Minnehaha Ave, Takapuna, Auckland 0622
Just north of Takapuna beach, Thorne Bay Beach has the best rock pools for toddlers. This is a good beach to go to at low tide. If you're feeling particularly adventurous you can walk from Takapuna Beach, but best if you put your child in a backpack if you do. Otherwise you can access the beach from Minnehaha Ave. It's not that easy to find a park, you might have to park and walk a little way.

Ride a double decker bus

They're in Auckland now, and so much fun for little ones. Not every bus route has a double decker, but keep an eye out for local double deckers, take note of the bus numbers, then check the bus timetable on the AT website.

Myers Park

72 Greys Ave, Auckland, 1010
A fun park for toddlers and pre-schoolers in Central Auckland. It has a dodgey past, and if you google the park you'll come across lots of interesting articles. But these days it's a really cool and modern playground!

Photo by @family_blog_nz

Auckland Zoo

Motions Road, just west of downtown Auckland and next to Western Springs Reserve.

A really cool and modern zoo with plenty of animals and play areas. Make sure you take the stroller as it is a lot of walking for little ones. Allow at least half a day, don't forget the snacks!

Photo by @teganbaker_

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