Night at Auckland Museum: Top Secret

Two rival professors set the scene for Night at Auckland Museum: Top Secret, a school-holiday event that transforms the museum into a torchlit adventure across three floors. The story pits the brilliant Professor Maven Sage — who has discovered a formula that awakens museum objects — against the scheming Professor Erroneous Fussbucket, who wants to steal it. Families are recruited to help protect the secrets, collecting magical symbols in a Mission Passport at each encounter along the way.

The route winds through galleries filled with live performers, hands-on activities and traditional skills to try — helping prepare for a Pacific voyage, learning traditional fishing, making a talisman inspired by ancient Greek gods, and testing stealth skills among them. Life-size dinosaurs appear in a special theatre show in the Grand Foyer. Costumes are optional, though spot prizes are awarded for favourite creations on the night.

Recommended for ages 6–12; children three and under are free. Families are asked to bring their own torch, as none are provided. A public dress rehearsal offers a reduced-audience, relaxed-welcome option, and one session features New Zealand Sign Language interpretation.