Term 3 wraps up and the spring school holidays run from Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11
October 2026, with kids back at school on Monday 12 October. Two-and-a-bit weeks is a long stretch to fill, so we've pulled together what's on around Palmy this holidays, plus our list of always-reliable spots
for a good day out with preschoolers and school-age kids (up to about 10).
What's on these holidays
A few of our regular local haunts run dedicated holiday programmes.
Te Manawa Museum (326 Main Street) is the standout this holidays: it's your last chance to catch the Air Playground exhibition, closing Sunday 11 October. It's a hands-on exhibition all about the science of air and aerodynamics – ten interactive exhibits including floating objects in mid-air, paper plane design, an "aircade" game, and Squish, a bouncy inflatable sculpture (for kids 3–18, over 100cm and under 100kg). Customer feedback we've heard has been that it's genuinely great fun for a range of ages, not just the science-curious ones. Note this one's ticketed rather than general admission.
Alongside the exhibition, Te Manawa's free drop-in holiday sessions include - Botanical Drawing, Fantastic Faces & Water Room. Check them out here
Palmerston North City Library (across the road from us on George Street) also has free holiday sessions on across its branches, including - Craft session: It's Not a Box, Stories and Craft with Kind Hearts, Make a Porotiti & Zappo the Magician More details here
The Council's free Palmy Play: Wild Explorers nature play session is on at Ahimate Reserve, Thursdays 1st & 8th October, 10am–1pm (details) – think fire-pit damper bread, wood whittling, nature bingo, rock painting and the willow huts.
Walls Alive is a lovely one for an evening out with the kids: large-scale art, animation and storytelling projected onto central Palmy buildings after dark. It's free, runs Monday 5 to Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm–10pm each night, with viewing spots at the Central Library (George Street) and Te Marae o Hine/The Square. This year's story follows Orea, an elder longfin tuna from Te Awa o Manawatu. The artwork was created by local school students and artist Belle Chadwick. A good one for slightly later bedtimes and a rug or two to sit on Details here
Victoria Esplanade - is a great place for kids to burn off some energy. There's the miniature railway for a fun train riding experience. The rose gardens with a spacious grassed area thats good for a picnic. Mini golf and a paddling pool in summer. The wildlife recovery centre is a great place to see native birds up close (but check if currently open to the public while the bird flu pandemic is here) and the nearby river pathway for scooter and bike expeditions.
So when you need to escape the house for a bit there are both indoor and outdoor places to explore locally. Holidays at home make for a great opportunity to explore what's here on your doorstep.