Family-friendly ways to spend New Year's Eve

  • 27/12/2017

New Year's Eve is a time of rowdy celebration for many New Zealanders, but those with children are often looking for a more chilled-out way to spend the evening.

Whether the kids will be up until midnight or snoring well before then, here are some events across the country that the whole family can take part in:

Auckland

The circus at Silverdale

Taking the family to the circus on New Year's Eve could be a novel way to spend the night. Zirka Circus will perform its 'Send in the Clowns' show from Boxing Day until January 7, including New Year's Eve. Tickets are available online for the shows at Stella Maris Catholic School in Silverdale.

New Year's Eve at Wynyard Quarter, Sky Tower fireworks

From 5pm onwards, there will be kids games and activities, food trucks, fish and chips, and Kapiti ice cream at Karanga Plaza at Wynyard Quarter. It could be a relaxed, low-key way to spend the evening, with the option of staying out to watch the fireworks at the Sky Tower.

The Sky Tower will have fireworks at midnight, while a street party below will feature street performers, DJs and bands.

Wondergarden festival

Wondergarden is an all-ages New Year's Eve festival, where visitors can enjoy art installations, live music and street food at Silo Park, near Wynyard Quarter.

Performers include Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Nadia Reid and The Ruby Suns.

There will be a kids area with games, workshops, and entertainers. A limited number of tickets (3500) are available.

Hamilton

Bowl and Party New Year's Eve party

For a fun New Year's family activity, Bowl and Social at Skycity will be open until 8pm, with a special kids' New Year's countdown at 7pm.

There'll be a DJ and free popcorn for kids. Booking is recommended.

Rotorua

Glo Festival, featuring Elemeno P

Bring a blanket and a picnic basket down to the Glo Festival at Rotorua's Lakefront Village Green, a popular event for kids and parents.

There will be an outdoor movie screening, a live music line-up featuring Elemeno P, rides and inflatables, and a fireworks display at midnight.

There will be a smaller fireworks display at 9:15pm.

Taupō big bang

There'll be an outdoor movie screening at Tongariro South Domain, as well as a lolly scramble and light-sabre giveaways.

The first fireworks display will be at the lakefront at 10pm, followed by live music, until the big bang at midnight to welcome in 2018.

Wellington

Fireworks, food, music at Frank Kitts Park Lagoon

Families in Wellington can enjoy free music from the Julie Lamb Band and Orchestra Wellington at Frank Kitts Park Lagoon on New Year's Eve.

There will be a special fireworks show at 9pm for kids who can't stay up too late and more fireworks at midnight.

There will also be food trucks close by at Odlins Plaza.

Christchurch

Family entertainment, 'kids midnight' countdown at Hagley Park

There'll be family entertainment from Natural Magic and The Christchurch Faerie Circle at Hagley Park on New Year's Eve.

There will also be a special kids DJ and a 'kids midnight' countdown from 8:30pm, for those who can't stay up for the official New Year's Eve countdown and fireworks display.

Queenstown

At the Queenstown lakefront at Earnslaw Park, families can welcome in the New Year with a line-up of live music across two stages and a fireworks display at midnight.

Newshub.