The simple threat of rain is enough to send shivers down the spine of a parent on school holidays, an outdoors man or woman set for an adventure weekend or, indeed, anyone with plans outside the house on any given Sunday.

But it needn’t be that way; Auckland has an endless supply of rainy day alternatives.

On average Auckland receives 1240mm of rain each year and the city of Auckland is well known for experiencing four seasons in one day, where the weather can turn from brilliant sunshine to showers within minutes, as such the city is built with an array of indoor options and rainy day alternatives.

The treasure trove that is Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Auckland Domain is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Inside the historic building you can experience daily Maori cultural performances and learn the story of New Zealand and its people. The museum is home to millions of objects, is a war memorial for the province and has one of the top three heritage libraries in the country. Visiting exhibitions constantly change, meaning you can revisit the museum incessantly without ever getting bored.

There is also the Auckland Art Gallery on the corner of Wellesly and Lorne streers and several smaller galleries in various suburbs across Auckland to feed your artistic appetite. Meanwhile, another rainy day favourite for families is Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. Kelly Tarlton’s is built completely underground and can be found on Tamaki Drive and gives visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with many sea creatures, including sharks, without getting wet.

MOTAT is also popular with kids and is New Zealand’s biggest transport and technology museum. Occupying 40 acres visitors will discover and interactive journey of the technological achievements to shape this country.

For the culture vultures among us, don’t forget about Highwic House in Epsom and Alberton in Mt Albert, both of which are open for tours and exploration. Highwic House once belonged to Alfred Buckland, one of Auckland’s most substantial land owners, while Alberton was famous in the 19th century for its balls, hunts, garden parties and music.

Snowplanet is an all-year round indoor snow resort where visitors can experience the thrill of snow sports and the atmosphere of a snow village, close to Auckland. Snowplanet's giant snowhall features 50cm of real powder snow, three lifts, a terrain park and seperate learner area - for a fun day out no matter the weather.

Enter the Stardome Observatory—an all-sky 360º panoramic theatre—and you’ll enjoy a multimedia experience featuring 3,500 brilliant stars, delivered via special effects projectors linked with stunning digital surround sound. Be prepared to be whisked away on a space journey to explore other galaxies. The furthest reaches of the universe may be 14 billion light-years away, but the Stardome team can take you there in five minutes.

And if you are looking for more great ideas on what to do with kids when it rains in Auckland - check out these links;