Auckland Rainy Day Experiences

Rainy day activities in Auckland start with places where the forecast doesn't matter: an aquarium on Tamaki Drive, a movie-effects workshop at SkyCity and a cave full of glow worms. This page sorts the options from Auckland by the kind of day you want, from a 60-minute workshop to a full-day trip, with more on the national rainy day experiences page.

An aquarium visit on Tamaki Drive

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium in Orakei is built around exhibits you walk through: an Antarctic Ice Adventure with a sub-Antarctic penguin colony, Turtle Bay with an interactive turtle rescue zone, and an underwater tunnel with a curved ceiling.

Daily animal talks and feeding sessions run through the day, there's an indoor playground for water play, and entry is by time slot. General admission includes free parking and a digital photo pass, and the aquarium is wheelchair friendly.

Movie-making tours at Weta Unleashed

Weta Unleashed sits on level 5 at 88 Federal St, opposite the Sky Tower. The Auckland Weta Workshop Unleashed Tour is a 90-minute guided walk through three movie projects across fantasy, sci-fi and horror, with practical effects to touch and play with and creatures, robots and dinosaurs along the way. Tickets include a free souvenir video from the film set, and departures run through the day, 7 days a week.

Mandarin-speaking guests can book the Mandarin guided tour, also a 90-minute tour, with Mandarin-speaking guides and a daily 2.20pm departure. Allow a 15-minute buffer on either tour, as there's plenty to explore on the level before you start.

Creative workshops: special effects and world building

The Intro into Special Effects workshop is a 60-minute session where you mix your own fake blood, sculpt a silicone wound, apply it to yourself and paint it until it looks real. It runs at 3.50pm daily, with an extra 12.50pm session every Saturday, and everyone leaves with a Certificate of Creativity.

The Intro into World Building workshop is an 80-minute class in small groups, with personalised instruction while you build your own miniature fantasy world the way a practical effects artist would. Sessions leave at 12.50pm and 3.50pm daily, and there's another Certificate of Creativity at the end.

A full-day trip among the Waitomo glow worms

The Waitomo Glow Worm Caves Tour from Auckland is a 7-hour day trip that starts with a 6.30am pick-up from most central Auckland hotels. A 2.5-hour scenic drive through South Auckland and into the Waikato region follows, with a photo stop on the way, then a 1-hour guided tour inside the Waitomo Glowworm Cave and a ride on a flat-bottom boat along the Waitomo river.

The glow worms are Arachnocampa luminosa, a species native to New Zealand, and thousands of them light up the Waitomo Grotto. Groups are capped at 20 guests, the vehicles are Mercedes-Benz with free Wi-Fi on board, and bottled water and light refreshments are provided. Lunch isn't included, and the operator suggests warm clothing between the start of June and the end of September.

Choosing a rainy day plan

If you only have a few hours, the SkyCity options run from a 60-minute workshop to a 90-minute tour and sit in the middle of the CBD, so they slot between a late breakfast and dinner. The aquarium works for a slower, self-paced half-day, particularly with younger kids, and there's more in our things to do with kids in Auckland collection.

If you want to leave the city altogether, Waitomo is the full-day option, with hotel pick-up and no driving. When the rain clears, Auckland's water sports and tours pick up where the indoor list leaves off.

Frequently asked questions

What can you do in Auckland when it rains?

Rainy day options in Auckland include SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, Weta Unleashed tours and creative workshops at SkyCity, and a day tour that includes a guided walk inside the Waitomo Glowworm Cave. Experience Oz sells tickets for each.

How long is the Weta Unleashed tour in Auckland?

The Auckland Weta Workshop Unleashed Tour is a 90-minute guided tour with regular departures between 10.10am and 5.10pm, 7 days a week. It's on level 5 at 88 Federal St, opposite the Sky Tower, and guests are advised to allow a 15-minute buffer before their session.

What age do you need to be for the Weta creative workshops?

The Intro into Special Effects and Intro into World Building workshops have a minimum age of 12, and child tickets cover ages 12 to 14. Both are held at Weta Unleashed on level 5 at 88 Federal St.

How long is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour from Auckland?

The Waitomo Glow Worm Caves Tour from Auckland is a 7-hour day that starts at 6.30am with hotel pick-up. It includes a 2.5-hour scenic drive through South Auckland and into the Waikato region, a 1-hour guided tour inside the Waitomo Glowworm Cave and a boat ride on the Waitomo river.

Is lunch included on the Waitomo tour from Auckland?

No. Lunch isn't included on the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves Tour from Auckland, though complimentary bottled water and light refreshments are provided. A minimum of 2 people is required to make a booking.

What is there to see at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium?

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium centres on exhibits you walk through, including the Antarctic Ice Adventure with its sub-Antarctic penguins, Turtle Bay and an underwater tunnel, plus an indoor playground for water play. General admission includes free parking.

Do you need a car for rainy day activities in Auckland?

Not for all of them. The Waitomo Glow Worm Caves Tour includes pick-up and drop-off from most central Auckland hotels, while the Weta Unleashed tours and workshops are self drive and sit opposite the Sky Tower at 88 Federal St.

Pick a plan from the list above and book it for the wettest day on the forecast, then save Auckland's attractions for the days the sky clears.