At Queenstown Lakes Libraries, our children’s services are all about welcoming families into our spaces, surrounding them with stories, and sparking a lifelong love of reading.

We have a comprehensive timetable of regular events that take place throughout term time and are aimed at children of various ages.

In the school holidays, we take a break from our regular events to bring you School Holiday programmes and our Summer Reading Challenge. The themes for these programmes change every time we run them - we’re always dreaming up new ideas to keep things fun, engaging, and meaningful!

Please remember to check our event listings for any changes to our schedule or cancellations. Due to space limitations in our libraries, we may ask for bookings in some branches and may need to limit numbers. A guardian or caregiver must be present at all times, as per our 'Unaccompanied Child Guidelines'.

Regular term time events

Find our next Wriggle & Rhyme session

Wriggle & Rhyme

Wriggle & Rhyme is a music-based active movement session for children aged 0–2 and their parents. It is great for your baby's development and encourages movement and the love of music from an early age in a fun, supportive environment. It’s also a wonderful way for parents and caregivers to meet others in their community.

Wriggle & Rhyme is offered at Arrowtown, Frankton, Hāwea and Wānaka library branches.

Find our next Storytime session

Storytime

Many of our libraries host weekly Storytime sessions for our pre-schoolers, usually aged 2–5. We share fun, engaging picture books to foster a lifelong love of reading, and some branches offer a simple craft activity to keep little hands busy.

Storytime is offered at Arrowtown, Frankton, Queenstown, and Wānaka library branches.

We also offer a Te Reo Māori storytime at the end of the month at Queenstown and Frankton Libraries.

Find our next Reading to Dogs session

Reading to Dogs

Reading aloud can feel intimidating for new readers. Reading to Dogs provides a gentle, non-judgemental space where children can practise their oral literacy skills, build confidence, and enjoy the company of a calm therapy dog. Some children come purely for the furry cuddles, while others benefit from a safe, supportive reading experience free from pressure or criticism.
This free programme is delivered at several branches by Outreach Therapy Pets, supported by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and St John New Zealand.

Reading to Dogs is offered at Arrowtown, Frankton, Queenstown, and Wānaka library branches.

We also offer a special monthly Purrs and Pages event at Frankton Library, for children who prefer to read to cats.

Find our next LEGO™ Club session

LEGO™ Club

One of our most popular after-school activities, LEGO™ Club is aimed at primary school-aged children. Kids are encouraged to explore, build, and collaborate, with occasional challenges and LEGO™ book inspiration provided by librarians. It’s a fun social space where children learn to share resources, solve problems, and work together creatively.

LEGO™ Club is offered at Arrowtown, Frankton, Hāwea, Queenstown, and Wānaka library branches.

Find our next Video Games Club session

Video Games Club

Gaming is a fantastic way to learn new digital skills, practice problem-solving, and enjoy collaborative play. This trial programme is part of our broader digital inclusion strategy, with all games rated for General audiences (G) or with Parental Guidance (PG). Players under 14 years old must have a guardian present in the library. To learn more about tākaro | gaming and its place in libraries, visit: Gaming with the National Library.

No gaming experience is required.

Please note that video games club is suited to ages 10-18 years old. Anyone under 14 years old must have a guardian present.

LEGO™ Club is offered at Arrowtown and Hāwea library branches.