Gizzy Local's Spring School Holidays Guide
- Gizzy Community
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 17
Check out the offerings by these fine, local, activity providers who will have the young ones entertained and engaged during the long and free days of summer.
Tōnui Collab
STEMM Workshops: Across the first week of school holidays, Tōnui Collab offer 4, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at their location at 466 Childers Road. Their workshops encourage children to explore the diversity of STEMM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori through the experimentation and creation of animation, engineering, game development, robotics, coding, virtual reality and more!
Bring a lunch, morning tea and drink bottle and they have the rest covered for a creative and inspiring day! For a description of all the courses offered, follow the link to their website (below).
Caters to ages 7-13
Cost is $60 per day.
Information and to book online, https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops
Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com or 0800 8 TŌNUI
Week 1: Tuesday 23 September - Friday 26 September
Tuesday 23 September - Virtual Reality
Wednesday 24 September - Animation
Thursday 25 September - Game Development
Friday 26 September - Robotics
BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days
This 25 & 26 Sept, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on two indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Event Centre. Enjoy bouncy castles and fun play for all ages, with an under 5’s and soft play areas, as well as ponies. Book your tickets in advance online for your 2.5 hour window of fun (there are no door sales).
Cost are free for under 6 months, $15 for 6 months - 12 years, $10 for 13+ and adults
Book your tickets and find more info here.
The Y Oscar Spring Holiday Programme
The YMCA OSCAR Spring Holiday Programme is the place to be for the Holidays. Offering a variety of fun activities every day including Kiwa Pools, Odeon Theatre, Skate Park, Sports days and Amazing Race.
22 Sept - 3 Oct. Monday through Friday.
For ages 5-13 (three age groups)
Bookings are available from 7:30am to 5:45pm at YMCA Oscar House, 155 Disraeli Street.
Cost is $60 for a full day (7:30 am - 3:45pm and includes breakfast till 8:30am).
You can add on afternoon care for $20 per day (3:45pm - 5:45pm).
To enrol, register at YMCA Gisborne - Holiday Program
Contact them with questions by emailing oscar@ymcagisborne.nz or ringing 867 9259 EXT 3
Pinehollow Equestrian
Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Monday - Friday, 22 Sept - 3 Oct from 9:15 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road. If you require transport, they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tudor Park Motel. Pick-up is at 8:50 am and drop-off is at 4 pm. If you require the minivan please note that at the time of booking.
Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes) and dress to the conditions.
Caters to ages 5-18. Cost is $65 for the day.
Email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com to register. Payments are via bank transfer (acct: Pine Hollow 06-0637-0264724-00). For more info, including booking and cancellation policy, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message the team on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks
H.B. Williams Library
The Gisborne Library have all sorts of activities to keep your little ones learning and happy this school holiday break. All the events are located at their beautiful space at 34 Bright St, are FREE, and are open to all – just turn up. All activities run from 10.00am – 11.30am except the first one that is open during library hours.
Starts Saturday September 20 | Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori Scavenger Hunt
Open during Library Hours, Saturday 20 Sept - Saturday 4 Oct
Search for the taniwha hidden around the library to find the clues to crack their secret message. Once you have cracked the code, fill in your details and submit your entry to a librarian.
Suitable for ages 5+
Week 1
Monday 22 Sept | Crafts
We’re making wheku masks, paper kākahu and more.
For ages 5+
Tuesday 23 Sept | Pasta Art
We’re making art with pasta. Get creative and have fun turning pasta into art!
Suitable for ages 5+
Wednesday 24 Sept | Crafts
Make a potaka (spinning top), porotiti (spinning instrument), whai (string game) and more.
Suitable for ages 5+
Thursday 25 Sept | Tukutuku
Get creative with māori patterns on our DIY tukutuku boards and make a set of tītītōrea to take home.
Suitable for ages 5+
Friday 26 Sept | Storytime
Following on from Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori we’ll be having storytime, learning waiata.
Suitable for all ages.
Week 2
Monday 29 Sept | Totem Sculpture
We’re upcycling and turning things around the house into fun totem sculptures.
Suitable for ages 6+
Tuesday 30 Sept | Book holder
With string and jenga pieces we’re making book holders. Easy craft for kids.
Suitable for ages 5+
Wednesday 1 Oct | Spring Crafts
Spring is in the air, decorate a mini seed planter & make a little spring basket to take home.
Suitable for ages 5+
Thursday 2 Oct | Tākaro Māori
Come and learn some fun māori games for all the whānau to play.
Suitable for ages 8+
Friday 3 Oct | Felt Crafts
We’ve got a stack of felt ready to create some cute little felt plushies.
Suitable for ages 5+
Events 4 All
The team at Events 4 All have heaps of activities that will keep your tamariki safe and having fun throughout both weeks of the school holidays. They operate Monday through Friday, 22 Sept - 3 Oct, from 7.30am till 5.30pm. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities to keep the young ones entertained and to make sure there’s something for everyone. You provide a bag lunch and a drink and they have breakfast, morning and afternoon teas sorted. Weather-appropriate clothing is a must on outing days.
Caters for ages 5+.
Cost is $60 per day.
Book at this link: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/258-Events-4-All-September-2025-Holiday-Programme-
For more information, reach out to Colleen at 027 531 5756.
Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes
Whether just starting out or improving technique, Comet has just the thing for you. You can book in for Week 1 and/or 2. They have two locations, at Elgin School Pool and Kiwa Pools. Cost is for all 5 daily 30min lessons for the week. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water.
Caters to 3+ years.
Cost is $60 per week.
To book, login to the portal at https://www.cometswimmingclub.co.nz. Email questions to Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com
Eastwoodhill Arboretum
The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum (2392 Wharekopae Rd, Ngatapa) have two options to entertain and inspire the kiddies this school holidays.
Pot Planting Activity with Tairawhiti Museum
Tuesday 23rd September
10am - 2pm (3 Sessions)
Tairāwhiti Museum will be hosting a hands-on potted plant session from 10am to 1pm! Create your own leafy masterpiece and explore nature-themed interactive worksheets — perfect for curious kids and creative grown-ups! It’s a fun, relaxing way to connect with nature — and take a little green friend home with you!
Caters to ages 5-13 years.
Cost: Normal entry fees apply but the activity is free of charge
Fun Filled Family Day
Tuesday 30th September
10am - 3pm
Get crafty with arts & crafts, go exploring with the Find & Go Seek family packs, and don’t miss a fascinating talk from GDC’s Glenn Brown on water and pest control at 10am. Chill out with a picnic lunch or grab a café combo or sausage sizzle — then settle in for interactive storytelling with Chris Sommerton in costume! And we have also have a big kids ‘Rogaine’ – find the secret spots around the park’.
Caters to the whole family.
Cost: Normal entry fees apply but the activity is free of charge
For both of these events, enrol via their website: https://www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/events/
Contact Rose at rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz or 06 863 9003 with any questions.
Gisborne Gymnastics Club Open Gym
During Week 1 of the school holidays, the Gisborne Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play sessions and more. The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road).
Week 1:
Open Gym Monday - Thursday
9am - 12pm and 12pm - 3pm OPEN gym, $25
Preschool Gym Friday (only)
9.30am - 11am, $10
Classes Monday - Friday
see timetable for Silks, Parkour, Tumbling and Cheer, $15
Caters to ages: 5-14
Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program