Haumarutanga rori - pakeke

Road safety - adults

The Travel Safe team work in the community to reduce accidents and improve road safety.

Young Driver Workshop

Free young driver workshops are aimed at road users aged between 16 and 24, who hold a current learner or restricted driver licence. Participants will leave with improved knowledge, confidence, and skills.

Each workshop includes:

A 60-minute one-on-one driving lesson with a certified instructor
Waka Kotahi NZTA roadworthy vehicle check (what to check to ensure your vehicle is safe and roadworthy)
Driver behaviour awareness (speed, impairment, restraints, distraction, and fatigue
Awareness session on sharing the road with heavy vehicles

Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to attend but it’s not compulsory. The four-hour workshops are held during school term holidays, usually between 9am and 1pm.

Drive has everything you need to prepare for your learner, restricted and full licence tests.

Visit the Drive website

Young driver workshop

Car Restraints

Looking for support around car seat restraints? Contact one of our local car seat technicians at travelsafeschools@tauranga.govt.nz. We offer free car seat installations, checks, and will help answer any questions or concerns regarding your car restraint.

Carseat installation

Parking behaviour

Drop off and pick up are busy times that pose a safety risk at the school gate. Travel Safe help schools to communicate things like parking time limits, drop off and pick up zones, parking over the kerb and other safety risks at the school gate. We deliver an in-school parking and safety programme named Peaceful Parker, and partner with council parking officers to do school visits when requested by schools or the community.

Blindzone Workshops

Blindzone workshops allow people to see the world from a truck driver’s point of view. Through a series of practical scenarios, participants will learn where to place themselves so they are visible to truck drivers and will leave with more awareness and confidence on the road.

For more on Blindzone and cycling around heavy vehicles visit Share the Road.

Blindzone workshop

Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen

This winter visibility programme reminds cyclists, walkers, runners, and scooter riders to have lights, bright clothing, and reflective gear if they are out and about during early mornings, evenings, and at other times of low light and poor visibility.

Whether commuting to work or school, being active for fun or fitness, or popping down to the local shops, people should take extra care and keep safe by being fully visible on roads and paths.

All cyclists are encouraged to wear high-visibility clothing and ensure their front light, rear light and rear red reflector are all working correctly and are clean.

View the official New Zealand code for cycling for more information.

Dazzlehands and Dinosaurs - there’s something for everyone these April school holidays

From dazzling ballet and dinosaur discoveries to basketball on the waterfront and the return of the Great Tauranga Duck Race, Tauranga is packed with family-friendly fun these April school holidays.

Whether you’re chasing creative workshops, live shows, outdoor adventures or something a little different, there’s no shortage of ways to keep tamariki entertained across the city.

The Historic Village

Two children painting — The Incubator Creative Hub, Hunter Studios.

Market & Main Village Hunt
Tamariki can explore The Historic Village with this fun, self-guided hunt. Pick up a clue sheet and follow the trail to uncover answers and enjoy a tasty reward at the end.
Thu 3 – Fri 18 Apr | The Historic Village

Village Cinema movies
Stroll through boutique shops, grab a bite to eat, and settle in for a family-friendly movie at the Village Cinema. Catch favourites like:

Wild Robot – Tue 7 Apr
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Storytime with Claire Delaney! – Thu 9 Apr
Smurfs – Tue 14 Apr
The Secret Life of Pets – Thu 16 Apr

The Incubator creative workshops
Make it, sew it, paint it, or stitch it! Choose from an exciting range of hands-on workshops including:

Tween Ceramics Workshop – Tue 7 Apr
Just Peachy with Claire Delaney McLeary – Thu 9 Apr
Moonlit Tigers with Emma Prill – Tue 14 Apr
Circles in Bloom with Emma Prill – Tue 14 Apr
DIY Patches with Sarah Sew Love – Thu 16 Apr

Tauranga Libraries – Te Ao Mārama
Get ready for creativity, imagination and hands on fun at Tauranga’s libraries. From cupcake decorating, storytelling and sensory play, to upcycling workshops, arcade builds and creative crafts, there’s something on for tamariki of all ages. Find your local library events here: whatsontauranga.co.nz/school-holidays.

Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Dazzlehands
The much loved children’s story, Dazzlehands, comes to life in this joyful, high energy performance by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. With playful narration, original music and colourful costumes, it’s a delightful introduction to ballet for young audiences and their grownups.
Sun 12 Apr | Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

KPOP LIVE!
Get ready for a high energy concert experience with KPOP LIVE! Bursting with colourful costumes, exciting choreography and all the biggest KPop hits, this fast-paced show is packed with music, dance and smiles - perfect for kids, teens and the whole whānau.
Wed 15 – Thu 16 Apr | Baycourt Community & Arts Centre

Central Tauranga

Children playing basketball — Hoops on the Waterfront with Whai Basketball, photo supplied.

The Amazing Dinosaur Discovery
Step back in time with this interactive dinosaur walkthrough experience, bringing prehistoric creatures to life. Discover more than 30 lifelike dinosaurs - from the towering Brachiosaurus to the crowd favourite TRex and robotic raptors that move and roar. With hands-on activities including fossil digs, a dinomite playground and creative zones.
Sat 4 – Sun 5 Apr | Memorial Park

Easter Extravaganza
Head to Masonic Park for a morning of free, family friendly fun these school holidays. Spot the Easter Bunny riding through on his unicycle, enjoy face painting, meet junior bunny performers on bouncing stilts, and jump into a circus workshop where kids can try tightrope walking and other circus skills.
Tue 7 Apr | Masonic Park

School Holiday Pottery Fun – Create, Play and Get Messy
Get hands-on with clay in these relaxed, family friendly pottery workshops. Perfect for kids, parents and visiting whānau, these sessions invite everyone to get creative together, try something new and enjoy some messy, hands-on fun.
Tue 7 – Sat 18 Apr | The Pottery Studio

Bark in the Park 2026
Bring the whānau (and the dog) along to this free, dog friendly event hosted by Tauranga City Council’s Animal Services team. Enjoy live music, food trucks, local dog businesses, giveaways and more in a relaxed park setting. Make a day of it by heading to Pooch in the Pool at Memorial Pools afterwards for the ultimate “dog day out”.
Sat 11 Apr | Memorial Park

Hoops on the Waterfront with Whai Basketball
Whai Basketball returns to the Tauranga waterfront for a free, accessible community hoop session. Meet the team, shoot hoops with the pros, pick up tips and tricks, and soak up the good vibes with DJ Double D and MC Francis Kora. With prizes up for grabs including Whai merch and game tickets, it’s a slam dunk for all ages.
Wed 15 Apr | Tauranga waterfront

The Great Tauranga Duck Race
Rubber ducks take to the water at The Strand Waterfront in this much-loved community fundraiser. With numbered ducklings sold by local schools, the race raises vital funds for participating schools, Life Education Trust, and Tauranga Te Papa Rotary.
Sun 19 Apr | Tauranga waterfront

Mount Maunganui and beyond

Speedway cars — Baypark Speedway, The Write Angle.

School Holidays at The Cave
Step into a whole new reality at The Cave Pāpāmoa. From high octane racing simulators and cutting edge VR experiences to a high-spec gaming lounge, this immersive venue delivers next level fun.
Fri 3 – Sun 19 Apr | The Cave Pāpāmoa

Easter School Holidays at Classic Flyers
Take off to Classic Flyers Aviation Museum these school holidays for an Easter-themed family adventure. Join the Merlin the Moggy Treasure Hunt, enjoy rides on Flick the Fire Truck, and get creative in the Easter colouring competition with prizes to be won.
Sat 4 – Sun 19 Apr | Classic Flyers

Baypark Speedway – Demo DerBAY
Enjoy a high energy night of speedway action as Demo DerBAY returns to Baypark. Watch a full lineup of racing classes take to the clay before the evening wraps up with a crowd favourite demolition derby finale. Expect plenty of action, big moments and an entertaining atmosphere for motorsport fans of all ages.
Sat 4 Apr | Mercury Baypark Stadium

Rocktopia Climb and Craft Holiday Programme
Rocktopia’s popular Climb and Craft programme is back, combining active fun with creativity. Designed for children aged 6–14, each session includes climbing adventures in the morning followed by a relaxed craft workshop in the afternoon - the perfect mix of movement and making.
Tue 7, Thu 9, Tue 14 & Thu 16 Apr | Rocktopia

Megaland
Get ready for the ultimate inflatable adventure as Megaland returns to Mercury Baypark. Take on a massive 345metre course packed with 43 obstacles and six megaslides - from tunnels and giant waves to beach balls and rugby style challenges, all finishing with a thrilling mega slide.
Fri 10 – Wed 15 Apr | Mercury Baypark Arena

MAGIC v MYSTICS
Netball returns for an exciting ANZ Premiership showdown as the AVIS Magic take on the Mystics. Expect fast-paced action, elite athletes and a buzzing atmosphere in this family-friendly clash, perfect for a fun night out these school holidays.
Sat 18 Apr | Mercury Baypark Arena

There’s so much goodness happening in Tauranga these April school holidays! For full event details and even more activities, visit What’s On Tauranga.

Image caption

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Dazzlehands, photo supplied.

Posted: Mar 31, 2026,