Does your child love the outdoors? Does your child love learning and exploring native New Zealand animals, plants, and habitats? Does your child want to learn more about how to be a kaitiaki for our repo (wetlands)? Is your child aged 7-13? If yes, then Matuku Link’s holiday programme is the holiday programme for you!

Led by our experienced educators and our incredible volunteers, our holiday programme offers children the chance to explore and learn from and about our incredible wetlands. We keep our days flexible to allow children to follow their interests and discover more about the parts of wetlands that they are excited about! Activities include but are not limited to: scavenger hunts, hut building, eel feeding, insect and minibeast hunting, bird watching (with and without binoculars), water testing, macroinvertebrate identifying, harakeke weaving, nature crafting, kawakawa tea tasting, seed collecting and planting, and general exploring. Each day will be different, with plenty of areas to explore and learn about!

Each holiday programme day runs from 9am – 3pm at Matuku Link.

By paying through our shop, you confirm your child's space in the holiday programme. You will be sent a confirmation email with a link to our health and safety / child information form and more information about what to bring and how to get to Matuku Link.

To book in for a session starting within the next 24 hours please email schools@matukulink.org.nz

Spaces are limited and bookings close 24 hours before the holiday programme day begins. We understand that illness and other circumstances mean that sometimes cancellations are necessary however cancellations within 24 hours of the holiday programme commencing will not be refunded as we will be unable to book another child in your spot. 

VIP Kayak Day - Saturday, 18th April 2026

Once a year only - so as not to disturb the wildlife too much - and with access generously granted by our neighbouring properties, our VIP Kayak Day is back!

Experience Te Henga wetland from the best possible perspective and raise funds for its protection at the same time. The navigable part of Waitākere River is accessible only from private land. On this one day, access will be allowed for our biggest fundraiser of the year - a two hour paddle in small groups on kayaks. Drift along the Waitakere River, which flows through Matuku Link, through to Te Henga wetland.

Tickets are $80 each, with all equipment (kayaks, paddles, life vests, etc.) and training provided. Minimum age is 12 years. For enquiries about younger participants or other questions, please contact us at hello@matukulink.org.nz.

All proceeds go directly to Matuku Link, a community conservation and education project in Bethells/Te Henga. Your support helps us restore the wetland with plants from our nursery, protect wildlife through pest control, and provide wetland education programs for local primary schools at our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre.