There will be (free) hands-on biodiversity activities for all ages. Lots of opportunities for all the family.
Every hour or so, there will be a special ‘field trip’ … a short guided walk with an expert biologist. The after dark field trips … light-trapping for moths, and searching for nocturnal insects and spiders are especially popular (you’d be surprised what comes out to feed once the sun goes down). Apart from the Behind-the-Scenes tours of the Museum, there is no need to book … just turn up (but bring stout footwear, suitable clothes and a torch). Kids must be supervised by an adult.
Note: please check thet imetable on the day. If there is a lot of interest in events, we will try to stagger slightly to enable people to take part in as many field trips as possible.
Saturday 17th April
- 10 am Official opening in the Atrium
- On-going: Hands on activities and displays will be in the Atrium and the marquee immediately outside the Atrium.
- Bird watching (regularly throughout the day)
- 11 am Looking for spiders ’field trip’
- 12 pm Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s entomology department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 12 pm Looking for fungi ‘field trip’
- 1 pm Radio-tracking demonstration by DOC and ARC – how researchers follow elusive wild animals animals. (Repeated later at 4pm)
- 1 pm Electro-fishing demonstration. Observers MUST keep back from the water’s edge. (Repeated again at 3 pm)
- 2 pm Botanic Garden history walk
- 2 pm Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s land vertebrates department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 3 pm A creepy crawly walk
- 3 pm Electro-fishing demonstration. Observers MUST keep back from the water’s edge.
- 4 pm Weeds in the lawn (an unusual tour of the Domain’s lawns)
- 4 pm Radio-tracking demonstration by DOC and ARC – how researchers follow elusive wild animals animals.
- 5 pm Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s marine department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 5 pm Looking for spiders ‘field trip’
- 7– 10 pm Light trapping moths Note: children need to be supervised by an adult. Torches required to get to / from the light trapping site.
- 8 pm Night walk with torches to look for spiders and nocturnal insects (e.g., weta). Note: children need to be supervised by an adult. Torches required to get to / from the light trapping site. Sensible footwear and warm jacket recommended.
Sunday 18th April
- On-going: Hands on activities and displays will be in the Atrium and the marquee immediately outside the Atrium.
- Bird watching (regularly throughout the day)
- 9 am Looking for spiders ‘field trip’. (Repeated again at 1 pm)
- 9 am Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s botany department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 10 am Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s marine department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 11 am A creepy crawly walk
- 11 am What tree is this? Guided walk in the Domain.
- 12 pm Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s marine department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 12 pm Looking for fungi ‘field trip’
- 1 pm Radio-tracking demonstration by DOC and ARC – how researchers follow elusive wild animals animals.
- 1 pm Looking for spiders ‘field trip’
- 2 pm Botanic Garden history walk
- 2 pm Behind the scenes tour of Auckland Museum’s land vertebrates department (book at information desk as limited places)
- 3 pm Closing & announcement of the final tally
