Kia Ora Sumaiya,

With young children I would find it hard going staying in Auckland for 4 days without a car. There are car rental companies dotted around the CBD. Nearest to the Hilton Hotel are Avis and Hertz along the Hobson Street ridge.

Many places for a day trip. Piha or Muriwai have been suggested, Combine Piha with the Arataki visitors centre in the Waitakere Ranges.

Drive along Tamaki Drive to Kelly Tarlton's for the Antartica Experience and tunnels full of fishlife, followed by a walk along Mission Bay beach and a meal at one of the cafes there.

Devonport by ferry from Pier 1 gives you a foreshore walk to North Head and the navy museum.

Cornwall Park is a working farm, so too is Ambury regional park.

Skytower is always interesting including when it is raining. Weta workshop Unleashed is on Federal Street for a rainy day activity.

The Auckland museum located in Auckland Domain gives you an under-cover Maori concert, and fantastic exhibits including hands-on displays in the kids zone.

Near the Hilton Hotel at the entrance to the Viaduct harbour is the Auckland Maritime/Voyager museum. Auckland has long been known for its sailing vessels, and there are some interesting exhibits. Again an under-cover rainy day activity.

Of all the places we took our kids as youngsters nothing excited our youngest ( 10 at time) like Kelly Tarltons! More than a Queensland theme park.

Now 30, he still talks about it. It did cost an extra T shirt and poster!

Nobody knows what the weather will be like a week in advance in NZ! We don't even know what it will like tomorrow.

We went out hiking today - 5hr tramp, wether forecast said "light showers, clearing in the afternoon". 15 min into the walk (at 9 am), we were saturated. Raincoats went off & on several times and we all ended up looking like drowned rats, but we still enjoyed our tramp; the bush is more beautiful in the rain, it wasn't cold & we came home to hot showers. The key is wearing the right clothing.

Ditto above info - your trip is 10 days away - our forecasts are not at all accurate more than 3days in advance... even then the weather can change quickly.

I wouldn't rent a car - most of the suggested places are accessible by public.

Definitely bring raincoats - most kids love a bit of a run around in the rain - and there are always hot showers and hot chocolate to enjoy after.

As above - recommended activities with kids include...

Kelly Tarltons Aquarium

Auckland Museum (oh, Peter the T-rex is still visiting too)

Ferry ride/ cruise on the harbour. Ferry over to Devonport - the navy museum at Torpedo Bay is pretty great

#5 and #4 agree. We are an island in the ocean and our weather forecasts are not accurate a week out. 3 days out is generally the most reliable. But they can even be wrong the day before.

I wouldnt be setting my plans on a weather forecast a week out. We travel by camper and check the weather forecasts two days before maximum.

It shows rain 90% tomorrow. :(

Kelly Tarltons is closed tomorrow.

Do the Museum tomorrow - See the dinosaurs & the Maori Cultural performance. If the rain stops as it is forecast too around 3pm, go to Mission Bay or take a ferry ride to Devonport.

Thanks