Spring into life at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary these school holidays

The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in a hidden valley just minutes from the Wellington City centre. An 8.6km long predator-proof fence surrounds 252 ha of regenerating native forest providing a safe haven for some of New Zealand’s rare native wildlife such as the little spotted kiwi, saddleback and kaka. There is also considerable physical history including two dams, historical buildings and a 19th Century goldmine to explore.

There’s plenty happening at the Sanctuary these school holidays for everyone. To start the holidays off there is a creative art day - Spring Sketching - on Saturday 18 September. If you like to draw or paint then come along and be inspired by the Sanctuary’s special surroundings. Sketch a kaka or paint a watercolour of a weka. Anyone of any age can take part and it doesn’t matter whether you’re an art expert or just a beginner. There’ll be workshops between 11am and 3pm to get you started with ideas on what and how to draw. The best entries will win prizes!

Also during the school holidays younger visitors to the Sanctuary can pick up a Spring Explorer Pack - a fun trail map designed to help them find their way around the Sanctuary, discovering the secrets of spring, while completing a series of activities. The focus is on children getting into the environment, doing, thinking and discovering while having fun. Activities will include colouring in, detective work and using their powers of observation to uncover just some of the uniqueness of our amazing environment.

"It’s a great opportunity for children to enjoy being in a natural environment while taking away not just memories, but knowledge and ideas," says Sanctuary Educator Maree Limpus.

The Spring Explorer Pack includes a trail map, activities, stickers, postcard, a pen and a sweet and is suitable for children of all ages with or without parent help – however, please remember children aged under 14 need adult supervision in the Sanctuary. Packs cost just $2 in addition to the normal entry fee and will be available for the duration of the school holiday period. It’ll take approximately an hour and a half to complete the trail.

Then to end the holidays on a high come along to Bat Day on Friday 1 October. It’ll be a great family day out with lots of fun activities and the best dressed bat will win a prize. It’s a great chance for kids (that’s big kids too) to learn all about the Sanctuary’s newly discovered native resident - the long-tailed bat and there’ll be fun and activities between 11am – 2pm.

The Sanctuary’s Visitor Centre is located at the end of Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington (first left after the Karori Tunnel). Open every day from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays. Entry fees: $7 adult, $3 child (school age), $17 a family of two adults and three children. Sanctuary members and pre-school children no charge for entry. Check out the website www.sanctuary.org.nz for more details.

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