Five Things to do in Auckland on a Rainy Day
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Auckland has lots to offer- come rain, hail or sunshine!  1 - Explore a Museum Auckland has a number of fine Museums all suitable for a great browse on a rainy day. Instead of getting a quick overview of what is on display, slow down and read the information, watch all the videos, examine all there is to offer and find the serendipity that is hiding just out of sight. Museums include the iconic Auckland War Memorial Museum, that can easily keep you out of the wet all day, and The Auckland Maritime Museum. Have a fantastic day at MOTAT (the Museum of Transport & Technology) where you can get hands-on with great stuff, but remember that some of the exhibits are outdoors so you may have to do some dashing between showers to see them. There is also Kelly Tarlton's Sealife Aquarium, while perhaps not being classed as a Museum, is a collection of marine animals, and being underground, you won't get wet from the rain while exploring. 2 - Step back in Time Alberton started life as a two-storied farmhouse, built in 1863, but was extended in 1872 to the 18-room mansion we see today, preserved as a mansion of the colonial elite. Once it was the centre of a 500-acre estate, today it is in the suburb of Mt Albert, surrounded by houses. Highwic, in Epsom, dates from 1862 and is an original pioneering mansion of the Gothic style. If you are driving or don't mind a few spots of rain, visit Auckland's first suburb, Parnell (1841) to see a number of older buildings pleasing to the eye. Buildings to note are Hulme Court, the oldest house on its original site, Ewelme Cottage (1863), and The Holy Trinity Church built in 1886. Other historic buildings in Auckland include the Ferry Building on the waterfront, St Patricks Cathedral on Wyndham Street, and the Town Hall on Queen Street. 3 - Get Active There are lots of activities, most kid-friendly, to do during wet weather in Auckland. Go to Snow Planet and play in the snow. Try Skiing or snow-boarding indoors, and avoid the rain. Take the family or all your friends for hours of fun at Blastacars, and practice drifting on their indoor track. Have you ever flown a plane? Fly-A-Jet flying simulators are something exciting to try. It doesn't matter whether you are brand new at flying or a career pilot, you are catered for here. This is the real thing- it is approved and used by pilots for training. Your family or friends can share the experience while waiting for their turn, either from within the cockpit or from the First-Class lounge. Other indoor activities include the Odyssey Sensory Maze which promises a unique experience, and the Virtual Reality Studio, offering an out-of-this-world encounter with unreality. 4 - Examine some Art Leave the rain outside and travel through a world of different experiences as you wander through an Art Gallery, and see the world through another's eyes. The National Art Gallery is only one of a number of art exhibitions in the 'City of Sails'. The Gus Fisher Art Gallery is at the University of Auckland, and Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery is to be found in Titirangi, West Auckland. On the North Shore, at Takapuna is Lake House Arts, where you can take art classes, and get hands-on. Housed in The Pah Homestead, a house built in 1878 in Mt Roskill, is the TSB Bank Wallace Art Centre, where you can enjoy art in a beautiful historic setting. 5 - Go for a Drive When the rain looks as if its set in for the day, pack up the car and leave the city (and the rain) behind. Head north and visit Warkworth, or explore the Leigh Peninsula, out from this country town. If the sun is shining here, you can explore the Goats Island Marine Reserve, and feed the fish or take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat. Stop in at Ti Point Reptile Park and check out their animals. Head east out of the city and explore Helensville and Kaukapakapa. Stop off at Parakai for a swim- the water will be warm, even on a cold wet day! Try some wine tasting at Kumeu on your way back to the city. South may attract you out of the rain in Auckland. Hamilton is about an hour south and is a pleasant city for a day's visit. Further south, you could spend the day at Waitomo and check out the world-famous Caves and the Glow-worm Grotto. Try Black Water Rafting. Or head over to the Coromandel and explore the little town of Thames or go up into the peninsula itself. Visit Hot Water Beach. Or go further and visit Tauranga.
Step Back in Time
Get Active
Examine some Art
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