Discover Manukau

Manukau offers something for a wide range of holiday experiences: rides and activities for children sit alongside whitewater activities and a theatre with a permanent stage. Families can choose between playful experiences and water sports, for example, while culture enthusiasts will find another highlight at the BNZ Theatre. With such variety, it makes sense to first consider which experiences you want to shape your stay when choosing a holiday rental.

Rides, games and activities for children

Rainbow's End has more than 20 rides and attractions. This means a wide selection of experiences within the park is at the heart of the offer. Another leisure option is Rainbow Playlab at Rainbow's End, with Hologate virtual reality, virtual sword fighting, e-sports, escape rooms and arcade games. The range therefore extends from digital and playful formats to puzzle and arcade activities.

For younger children, Kidz Kingdom at Rainbow's End is a dedicated attraction. This family entertainment centre is fully covered and caters to children up to and including eight years of age. This age limit helps you assess the activities for your travel group: Kidz Kingdom is specifically described as being for younger children, while Rainbow's End also offers a broader range of leisure activities with its more than 20 rides and attractions.

Whitewater and water sports at Wero Whitewater Park

The whitewater activities described at Wero Whitewater Park differ considerably. The Tamariki River offers 200 metres of gentle whitewater rafting for beginners, children and families. River Rush, by contrast, features bigger waves, wilder currents and more excitement. If you are travelling with different age groups or looking for a particular activity level, you can take these differences into account when planning without treating the two experiences as the same.

Wero Whitewater Park also offers kayak hire and lessons, as well as stand-up paddleboard hire. There are 9,000 square metres of clear water to explore. The water sports offering therefore includes both equipment hire and lessons for kayakers. Rafting on the Tamariki River and the more varied River Rush are separate options, each with its own focus.

Theatre and events

The BNZ Theatre at the Due Drop Events Centre has 600 seats and a permanent proscenium stage. This specific theatre setup makes the venue interesting for travellers who want to plan a stage performance alongside leisure and water activities. The Due Drop Events Centre is an events venue in Manukau; a large share of its events are run by community groups and non-profit organisations.

For a stay with a cultural focus, the theatre is therefore a different kind of experience from the attractions at Rainbow's End or the activities at Wero Whitewater Park. These offerings give families and other travellers different themes to consider when planning their trip, without requiring them all to follow the same daily itinerary.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

Manukau is accessible by train and bus. When looking for a holiday rental in Manukau, you can first decide whether rides and activities for children, water sports or theatre are particularly important for your trip. If you are travelling with children, you can take the age limit for Kidz Kingdom and the family-friendly Tamariki rafting into account; other groups may prioritise River Rush, kayaking or the BNZ Theatre. This way, your choice of accommodation is guided by the experiences you actually want to include in your trip.

Other places: Riverhead, Mauku, Pohuehue, Waimauku, Kumeu, Epsom, Onetangi, Newmarket.

For the main travel overview: Auckland.