Can I ask a touristy question re: Auckland?

[Japonica]

I know there's quite a few of you familiar with Auckland obviously...ahem...:wave:

I'm travelling with the two kiddos (5 and 2) from Perth back to Canada in September--their grandfather has cancer and it doesn't look good, so I'm bringing the kids to see him so at least my daughter will have some better memories of him than a funeral.

Anyway, we have a 14 hour long stopover in Auckland...arriving in the early morning and departing that evening.

I was wondering what you'd suggest for a kid-friendly attraction. I just want to get out of the airport for a while and get them out in the fresh air and hopefully tired out before their 14h long flight to Vancouver.

Someone recommended Butterfly Creek http://www.butterflycreek.co.nz/ (which is close by the airport) or Auckland Zoo. I'm sure allowing for customs on the way in and check in on the way out, we'll probably have 11 hours free...and I sure don't want to spend it all cooped up in the airport.

Thanks!

[Paper Cut]

Butterfly creek and the zoo will use up your entire day.... In fact I would head to the zoo first (easy to spend the whole day there) and then if you have time on the way back hit butterfly creek :)

[Merry]

Butterfly Creek definately as it is right next to the airport and lots of fun things to do. Perfect for the 2 and 5 year old. http://www.butterflycreek.co.nz/

[Japonica]

Thanks!! Is one better than another? (In case we don't have time to do both).

[Merry]

The Zoo is great too! If you have time to both then definately do both. Sorry that didn't really help much did it. Butterfly Creek is right next to airport, Zoo is about a 25min drive from the airport.

[Paper Cut]

ZOO!.. I've taken a few kids there (long trip from where we lived at the time) and they were all happily entertained for the entire day (prepare to pay thru your nose for food and drink however) lots of different animals and a play ground...

Butterfly creek is great .. but more suited to older kids and adults IMO might be a bit boring for the littlies.. but if you have time after the zoo, definitely go have a look.

[Japonica]

Thanks! Looks like the Zoo then...Butterfly Creek if we still have time...

[MinorityView]

Have a good time! And I'm sorry about their grandfather being ill. Let's hope the visit goes well and leaves the kids with good memories of him.

[Japonica]

Thanks! I'm a little nervous about doing the trip on my own...my DH is staying in Australia. So...yikes! :wacko:

[MinorityView]

That does sound challenging. Don't forget to breath.

[Japonica]

:crazy: <---me after the trip...the hardest part, is just not having a moment of downtime and no one to hand them off to to say, use the toilet on your own without an audience...of course there will be dozens of relatives willing to help out once we get to Canada, it's making it through the flights over. 3/4 of the long flights are evening ones...let's hope they sleep!

[Seaweed]

Good luck! After doing a 26 hr flight with an 8 year old, I swore next time, we would use different surnames & she would go unaccompanied minor. Auckland zoo was really cool last time I went there. Not sure of anywhere else easy to get to as it has been a while, just make sure you allow ample time to get back to the airport as the traffic can be mental.

[Japonica]

LOL. Yeah, I'm nervous about missing the flight. We'll probably go first thing in the morning and get back to the airport mid-afternoon...still well ahead of check in time...

[Seaweed]

It was pretty hairy. We got into the airport literally as they were last calling us for the flight. I would probably not have been so freaked if the kids were with me & I was not gonna get stuck in Auckland. Maybe ask the taxi driver before you go wherever you are going what time they recommend you leave to get back in time as they will probably have a fair idea of traffic times.

[Japonica]

Thanks! That's a good idea. If Auckland's freeways are like Perth's during peak hours (everything comes to a standstill on the best of days) then we'll have to plan for that as well.

[Sarah]

I would suggest as a backup plan, the Auckland Museum, if the weather is C R A P. Last thing you want is soaking wet kids on a flight ! There is a part of the museum just for kids. My girls and I always love going there, and if the weather fines up there is the Wintergardens (indoor greenhouses), and lovely parks and lakes all in walking distance from the museum. Anyway just another idea.

[Japonica]

Thanks Sarah! I'm going to check out the museum online today and see what I can find out. Good idea with the plan B (duh--I should have thought of that!). :) Being in Perth has spoiled me. We didn't get any rain all summer...we're just seeing it now...finally...