Experience Rainy Day Activities…

Even when the sun is not shining, there is still plenty to keep everyone happy.

Must dos on a
Rainy Day…

• Enjoy the rainbows!
• Stay dry at the Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre.
• Watch a movie at Matakana Cinemas.
• Visit craft shops, art galleries, vineyards and breweries!

Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre

160 Goat Island Road, Leigh

At this great facility run by the University of Auckland, you can get up close to New Zealand’s marine life, without getting wet or sea sick! The high definition videos, interactive displays, sound corridor and tidal touch tank brings our region’s marine diversity to all ages in a fun and entertaining way. Something for the whole family.

Open weekends, public & school holidays in winter, every day in summer.  www.goatislandmarine.co.nz

Libraries

A great place to fill in a few hours on a wet day.
Warkworth and Mahurangi East Library are linked to Auckland Council and have free internet service.

Leigh Library – 15 Cumberland Street
Tues 4pm – 6pm, Wed 2pm – 4pm, Sat 9:30am – Midday

Warkworth Library – 2 Baxter Street Warkworth
Mon -Thur 9.00am – 5.00pm, Fri 9.00am – 7.00pm, Sat 9.00am – 1.00pm

Mahurangi East Library – 21 Hamatana Road, Snells Beach
Mon – Fri 9.30am – 5.00pm, Sat 9.30am – 12.30pm, Sun 9.30am -12.30pm

Puhoi Town Library – opposite the General Store
Wed 12pm – 4pm. Sat 12pm – 2pm, Sun 10am – 2pm

Museums

Puhoi Bohemian Museum

Open daily from Christmas to Easter and every weekend, the museum documents the heritage of this ethnic settlement, including an impressive scale model of the village as it was in 1900. After this, be sure to check out the Puhoi Pub. One of the last iconic historical pubs left in New Zealand full of interesting old items. Great hamburgers too! For more information, visit the Puhoi Historical Society website.

Warkworth District Museum

A magnificent display of colonial history situated in Parry Kauri Park on Tudor Collins Drive, Warkworth. Featuring the giant McKinney and Simpson Kauri, the largest trees of their kind to be seen on the east coast of New Zealand.
Summer hours 10am – 4pm, Winter hours 10am – 3pm. For more information, visit the website.

Sculptureum

40 Omaha Flats Road, Matakana

A few minutes drive from Matakana village lies Sculptureum, where three art-filled gardens, six galleries, a vineyard, a function centre and Rothko – the site’s restaurant and bar – flow over 25 acres. The owners have spent 12 years developing the project and longer still collecting the hundreds of works that fill it.

For more information, see their website

Matakana

Matakana Village

A great spot for retail therapy including fashion, art, furnishings, books and more. Relax after with a coffee, wine or meal in one of the restaurants or bars. Open 7 days. The Saturday Farmers’ Market is a showcase of artisan producers, growers and farmers, held in all weather.

Matakana Cinemas

Three luxurious boutique cinemas make this a must on a wet day! Take in a wine from the Vintry or a delicious gelato and you’ll be well entertained in comfort and style. Open 7 days a week at 1 Matakana Valley Road. For more information and movie times, visit their website or phone 09 422 9833

Morris & James Pottery

Established in 1977 (New Zealand’s golden age of handmade pottery) Morris and James has kept pace with design and trends while keeping its original flair and craftsmanship. Beautiful art pieces, pots and domestic ware are available and tours run daily. You can even take the Morris and James Experience and have fun throwing a pot and glazing your own platter.
Open 9am-5pm 7 days, except Public holidays and Thursday before Annual Sale.
48 Tongue Farm Road, Matakana. For more information, visit their website or Freephone 0508 768 8379 

Matakana Wine Trail

Numerous vineyards in the area offer wine-tasting in everything from refurbished cowsheds to modern purpose built rooms. Set amongst rolling hills, market gardens and sea views, this is a delightful way to spend a wet afternoon. Many serve platters and delicious restaurant food. If driving isn’t your thing, then make for The Vintry in the Matakana Cinema complex where local wines are showcased. Pick up a Matakana Wine Trail map at the Information Centre, Matakana Valley Road.www.matakanawine.co.nz

Matakana Collectibles Trail

A perfect way to spend a wet day rummaging among the treasures in these interesting shops. An array of vintage, modern and eccentric delights are waiting to be uncovered, with coffee and gelato on the way!

The base hours for the trail are as follows, but each shop’s hours are slightly different so check out their websites for more details.
Hours:

Summer: Labour Weekend to Easter Weekend, Fri – Mon 10am to 4pm.
Winter:    Saturday and Sunday 10am to 3pm.

For more information and links to the websites for each shop visit www.collectablestrail.co.nz

Sheepworld

New Zealand’s sheep and wool centre.
An interactive and fun show highlighting the rounding up, sorting and shearing of sheep. Experienced presenters (and sheep dogs) give visitors an insight into to what happens on a real sheep station. Shows are indoors twice daily.

See also the “Wonder Wool” multimedia exhibition that shows how wool is used in New Zealand to create internationally sought after products, many of which are on offer at the Ecowool store on site. Sheepworld is located 4 Km north of Warkworth on SH 1. For more information visit www.sheepworldfarm.co.nz