Te Tumu – Under 5s Play Space

Te Tumu is a dedicated under fives play space inside MOTAT's Te Puawānanga science and technology centre at Western Springs, an indoor, screen free environment built around Māori concepts of the natural world rather than the usual swing and slide layout.

Equipment

Children can ride a waka and count tuna swimming beneath it, sort and harvest kumara, work a flax weaving wall, and climb and slide through a structure themed on Tāne Māhuta, the great kauri, with soft play and rounded corners throughout. The Māori name Te Tumu translates to Under 5s Play Space.

Practical Info

Under fives visit MOTAT free of charge, with Te Tumu included in general admission for paying adults, so it's worth budgeting for an adult ticket even though the play space itself costs nothing extra for young children. Caregiver seating, a nearby parenting room and toilets support longer visits, and MOTAT's wider transport and technology galleries give older siblings plenty to do at the same time.