Capital E: Ignite your children’s creative spark

Taking play to new levels of fun and creativity, tamariki are at the heart of Capital E.

Capital E puts kids at the centre of everything it does. It has spaces, experiences, and events designed to inspire, entertain and educate. The next generation of artists, scientists, explorers, makers, and doers will find inspiration here.

Described as the intersection of creativity and play, Capital E ignites and fuels the creative spark in children. It offers workshops, interactive play areas, and immersive digital education experiences.

The front of the Capital E building in TSB Arena, with bright colour sign writing along glass windows.

PlayHQ, the free interactive play area, is a fun, safe environment for children under five to draw, dance, crawl and create. The colourful indoor playground is often reimagined to offer new and exciting ways for tamariki to explore their budding creativity.

Accompanying the imaginative play space are free workshops with a different one held each day. Stretch, move, and wiggle every Monday with Yoga for Kids. Join Lala for Music on Tuesday to celebrate sounds from around the world. On Wednesdays get crafty with Little Creators. Fill your kete of knowledge with Professor Inventus at his Thursday Science Jam. And put on your dancing shoes for Friday’s Spin Around with Adventure Adam.

Young children at a bright orange table at Capital E, glueing paper leaves onto pieces of paper.

Explore more

Wellington’s Film Festival lineup

From the New Zealand International Film Festival to Māoriland, Doc Edge, and Terror-fi. Wellington has an amazing selection of film festivals. Every movie fan and film fanatic is catered for.

16 people paddle a waka in the Wellington Harbour.

Te Wharewaka o Pōneke

Wellington’s cultural background is revealed with a series of walking tours and a waka experience on the water. All tours leave from Te Wharewaka o Pōneke.

Adrenalin Forest

Adrenalin Forest in Porirua is an epic aerial obstacle course with a range of levels designed to challenge you physically and mentally.

Young children pointing up at the Earth projected onto the digital planetarium and Space Place.

Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place

In the hills of Wellington, you’ll find Space Place and the Carter Observatory. A full-dome planetarium that tells the stories of New Zealand’s skies.

Pātaka Art + Museum

Pātaka Art + Museum is a world-leading gallery dedicated to Māori and Pacific art in central Porirua.

Wellington Ice Rink

Experience a winter wonderland on Wellington’s waterfront. Enjoy ice skating, music, and family-friendly fun from 20 June to 19 July.

Star Safari

Explore the wonders of the universe from deep within a Dark Sky Reserve with high-tech telescopes, expert guides and a cup of warm cocoa.

The forecourt outside Aratoi. There is a large archway with carved Māori figures and motifs in the middle of the forecourt. A family of three are walking through it. The Aratoi buildings are in the background.

Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History

Aratoi Museum of Art and History acts as a vibrant cultural focal point for the Wairarapa. Located in Masterton, it showcases the best art, historical artifacts, and local taonga Māori.

3 people outside Wētā workshops, poking swords at a hill troll from Lord of the Rings.

Wētā Workshop Experiences & Wētā Cave

Wellington’s Wētā Workshop crafts special effects and props for films and TV shows. Visit and take a tour that goes behind the scenes of movie-making magic.

A family walks towards the Dowse Museum in Lower Hutt.

The Dowse Art Museum

The Dowse Art Museum is a contemporary art gallery in Lower Hutt. It has found its niche in the applied arts with a collection of more than 3,500 objects.