Autistics and Activities in Wellington Porirua Hutt

SOME CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES IN THE HUTT/PETONE/WELLINGTON/PORIRUA REGION

1. Libraries are a good starting place, along with requesting staff help, following your childs leads, and looking at what non-book resources they offer, programs and opportunities that might suit like books being read-aloud if your child can sit still/listen in their own type of attentive way.

Porirua, Tawa, Petone (soothing environment), Hutt, Moera, Naenae, Maungaraki, Johnsonville (knowledgeable staff) - maybe start with the smaller and quieter ones.

2. Museums/Galleries such as the Dowse (low-echo) and Petone Settlers Museum (high-echo - some of us love that, others are triggered by it) are places that are of interest to many, but autistics may take quite a different interest in, "be into them, but in a different interactive way from most other folk".
https://dowse.org.nz/
https://www.huttcity.govt.nz/arts-and-culture/museums/petone-settlers-museum

3. Space Place at Carter Observatory, and make sure to connect with their Planetarium and the Telescope areas.  It is above Wellington's Botanical Garden. Near the top of the Cable Car.  Every second of the journey to and from can be learning - happening our way, not necessarily learning as you'd expect with most others.
https://www.museumswellington.org.nz/space-place/

4. Along the way ( https://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/ ) you will be next to the Cable Car Museum at the top of the ride.
https://www.museumswellington.org.nz/cable-car-museum/

5. I also loved the fountains and duck pond in the Botanical Gardens.  Bring bird seed for the ducks -not bread. Or use the kibbled corn duck food that is available at the pond, or at the Treehouse. There is no charge, but a suggested koha of $2 is appreciated.

6. About that Treehouse Visitor centre I just mentioned, also in the Botanical Gardens. It is currently closed on weekends & public holidays. But open 9 till 4 on weekdays. Ring 04 499 1400 beforehand if you need info.
https://wellingtongardens.nz/

7. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/
Child Activities there:
https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/learn/kids-and-families

8. Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café
https://www.staglands.co.nz/

9. Moving water matters to many autistics - a gentler-edge access to Hutt River is at Sladden Park, behind Memorial Park, near the Ava Rail Bridge.
https://www.familyaction.co.nz/activity/sladden-park-petone

10. Wellington Museum near the railway station on the wharf.  Make sure you include the top floor where you can see an amazing Māori legend told using a "Pepper's Ghost" display that just blew my mind.
https://www.museumswellington.org.nz/wellington-museum/

11. Capital E Children's science and amusement centre:
https://www.capitale.org.nz/

12. Chipmunks Playland and Café Tawa: Costs a bit.
https://chipmunksplayland.co.nz/tawa/

13. If he can cope with a bit of a scare: New Zealand's spookiest mini golf course
https://www.thewitchinghour.co.nz/

14: Smells and Sights, watching people fish at Queens Wharf near the Wellington Railway Station.  Move slowly.  Take hydration.:
https://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/outdoors/beaches-and-coast/marinas-and-boatramps/queens-wharf

15: For those who elope ('run off'), and for those who need tactile ('felt') input:
Walter Mildenhall Park is next to the new Te Ngaengae Pool + Fitness Centre in Naenae
https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=177205

16: A peaceful easy sub 2km walk to the abandoned dam at Birchville:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/wellington/birchville-dam-track