Don’t turn Inside Out, things to do in Auckland during the School Holidays

It is July in Auckland, what some would say is the most beautiful month of the year in the best city in the world.  When else to you get to sit with friends over long meals and a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire or rug up in layers of clothes, using all your fabulous accessories to their best advantage?

Okay okay we get it though, with the rug-rats on the school holidays, the rain pouring down and a vicious chill in the air can be rough!  But whether July brings out your best or worst we can all agree it is a unique time in the city, so wrap the kids up warm, buckle their seat-belts because it is time to enjoy all the school holiday events Auckland has on offer.

Natty Navy Knotters

At only $3.00 this is a bargain!  Catch the ferry to the Navy Museum, Torpedo Bay in Devonport (a event all of its own) and learn how to make you own Natty Navy Knotter.  Kids will learn to use the reef, half-hitch and thumb knot to make a cool Natty Navy Knotter to hang from their bag.  Afterwards they can explore the Museum and North Head.  

Be a Captain for a Day

Still in the nautical them, visit the Maritime Museum (Free for NZ citizens and residents) and become a Captain for a day.  Follow the Jack Tar trail and uncover the greatest sea captains from New Zealand's maritime history.  Gather round to hear the tall tales and create your very own Captains hat and seaworthy vessel.  For an additional charge you can also go sailing like a real Captain too!  Since you are in the city you can wander over into Silo Square and explore all the nooks and crannies for kids, the cool converted storage containers and Mum or Dad can have a well deserved coffee.

For the Science Lovers

Motat has the Science Roadshow holiday experience on, with two great live shows and over 60 interactive exhibits.  In the Discovery Dome there is so much to learn about electricity and the one I am most excited about, you and the kids can get hands-on with OZOBOTS, a brand new hi-tech robot toy, teaching the kids all about static electricity.  

And remember .... the Zoo is just down the road

The Zoo has so many experiences on these holidays one of the best in my view being a day where the kids can book in to learn how to be a Junior Keeper for a day.

For more great things to do

One of our favourite sites is Auckland for Kids which has events on every day of the holidays whether you are West, South, East or North of the Harbour Bridge.  

Arataki Visitor Centre in the Waitakere Ranges, West Auckland will provide you with a wealth of things to do for the whole school holidays as well.

What ever you do, the best part about School Holidays has to be the extra time you have to kiss, cuddle and laugh with your kids and just love them.

How to effectively pack a storage unit

When I pack a storage unit I think of it like packing a moving truck. My main aim is to ultilise the maximum available space and keep my possessions damage free. I very quickly came to the realisation that to do it well and get the most bang for my buck a well executed plan goes a long way.

1. Create an inventory

Before you begin to pack, make a detailed list of everything that will go into the storage unit. This makes it easy when you need to access your storage unit to remember what is in your unit and where it is packed. It is also great to have on hand if you need to make a insurance claim in case of disasters such as fires or flooding.

2. Clean EVERYTHING before storing

Opening a fridge or washing machine after a few months in storage that hasn't been cleaned first can have some pretty nasty consequences, empty all food, waste water etc. out of electrical items and ensure nothing perishable is packed into boxes. I have also found using damp-rid silicon packets in my boxes can soak up any excess moisture as can vacuum packing.

3. Box and cover everything

Utilising all available space and preventing damage are always my two primary goals when packing my storage unit. To achieve this whenever possible I use uniformly sized boxes to pack all the items and mattress and furniture covers to protect large items.  By using boxes that are strong, have flat, non-slippery surfaces and can be stacked high I can use all the available vertical space. Old banana boxes may seem great at the time, but they do have a tendency to cause some pretty major unwanted damage.

4. Pack your items tightly

Leave no space unused! By packing possessions tightly inside your boxes it prevents breakages and sunken boxes.

5. Label the boxes

Don't forget what you have in your boxes. I am really specific when I label my boxes, everything is itemised on the outside and a different colour permanent marker is used for each room in the house so I know immediately which room they belong to when I move them back into my house. Once in my storage unit I face all the labels towards the door and/or the aisle so I can identify them easily.  I love the smart-move tapes below to make my life easier.

6. Leave room for easy access

Sometimes my items end up in storage much longer than I originally anticipated. So when moving my possessions into a storage unit I draw a plan with an aisle creating an access way and ensure all boxes I need that I may need to access are on the aisle or at the front.

7.  Stack the heaviest items at the back

Mattresses, fridges and washing machines can cause damage both to you and smaller items if they happen to fall. I stack them against the wall at the back with other heavy items between them and put the lighter small boxes on top.