Hokitika A childcare centre your family will love

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Nestled in the heart of the residential zone, Active Explorers Hokitika has a dedicated team of teachers who are passionate about providing quality care for our whanau and community. Our warm and welcoming daycare centre has vibrant spaces that nurture and engage, with separate rooms specially designed for each age and stage.

Big on sustainability, we are on a journey to becoming an award-winning Enviroschool, and love the meaningful learning experiences this provides for our tamariki. If you are looking for the ultimate start for your child, come and visit us at Active Explorers Hokitika.

Learning Through Play Week

We have a week of fun filled activities your little one will love all centred around play - why you ask? Because we know children learn best that way!
Book a tour and see what makes our centre special!

Location

180 Hampden Street, Hokitika 7810

Daycare Centre Hours:

Monday to Friday: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Half day/full Day options
Closed Saturday, Sunday & public holidays

Ages Catered For:

3 months – 5 years

Enviroschools

  

ERO Report

Read our ERO Report

Nursery
3 Rooms
20 Hours Free ECE
Excursions
Purpose Built
Extended Hours
large outdoor area

I've been impressed with the care our daughter has received since joining the centre. The team in there do a great job.

Brendon

The carers are wonderful and my daughter has settled in well. Great peace of mind to know she is well looked after and I can trust that she is ok.

Felicity Jensen

Staff at my son's Evolve centre in Hokitika are kind, caring and listen to any concerns or questions. They create a safe, fun space for the kids to play and learn.

Caitlin Wilson

Exceptional! The staff provide excellent care, support, and endless fun experiences. My daughter started at 6mths old and I credit these teachers as part of the village that helps to raise her! Active Explorers Hokitika are incredibly invested in the positive growth of every child. If you are looking for childcare on the West Coast go in and meet Caitlin and the dedicated team, you're sure to be impressed!

Jess S

I am full of admiration for all of the teachers at Active Explorers! Thanks for making our children feel so safe and for creating such enriching experiences for them all.

Jade

I am so happy to have my girls come to Active Explorers and am forever grateful for the amazing job you all do and for wearing the multiple hats while i am not there too! Sure makes heading off to work far easier to know they are receiving great care at the same time, so thank you all so much.

Kim Baker

They have made my child's first week very easy by providing them with a calm, happy and secure environment and making sure us parents are informed of any events or incidents that may occur.

Kathryn Ogilvie

News

Our First Excursion for 2025!

Kia ora whānau, On Friday, we embarked on our long-awaited first excursion to the beautiful patch of bush just around the corner from us at Preston Bush. What an adventure it turned out to be! As we wandered through the forest, we were busy observing the tiny trees growing into towering giants, discovering intricate spider webs, and lifting logs to uncover what was hidden beneath. We were using all our senses to explore the world around us, trying to find out what creatures call this place home. Then, just as we were deep in our investigations, the rain began to fall. No worries though— the trees provided a natural canopy, keeping us sheltered as we continued on our journey. Our next discovery was an inviting low branch, perfect for climbing and playing on. Just as we were about to enjoy it, one of our youngest adventurers set off on their own exploration of what seemed to be a lovely clearing of soft leaf matter on the ground. Our Kaiako, however, quickly realised that this spot might not be the best choice for exploring—it was wet and muddy. And before we knew it, our little explorer had gotten stuck in the bog! 😬 Soon, one by one, another half dozen curious children ventured into the boggy mess, each discovering the same thing: the further they went, the muddier it got. Each one ended up needing a helping hand from our Kaiako to escape! Wet, muddy, and a bit flustered, we eventually managed to free ourselves and found a drier, less boggy path to sit and enjoy our morning tea. By the time we returned to the Toddler Room, we were covered in mud but filled with exciting stories to share. Although it was a messy adventure, we can’t wait to visit again—next time, perhaps with fewer little ones and with some of our older friends from the Rimu room, who can help us identify the safer spots to explore without getting stuck in the mud! Here are a few snapshots from our adventure. They might be few due to the rain and excitement, but they offer a glimpse of the fun we had. We can’t wait for more!

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Childcare Assistance Update

Effective 1 April 2023, more people will be eligible for subsidy and the hourly subsidy rates will increase.

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