Joining is easy! You can sign up in person during our opening hours or complete the online registration form on our website. After you join online, please allow 48–72 hours for us to process your membership before it becomes active.
Membership fees can be paid online via bank transfer.
When you visit for the first time, please bring a valid photo ID and proof of payment (a screenshot will do) to borrow toys. A team member will be happy to help you get started!
We offer a range of membership options to suit different needs and levels of involvement. Please refer to our Membership Page
We use bank transfers for our membership and Party Hire payment type, and we accept cash for bonds only.
Yes! We welcome visitors to join with a Holiday Membership, perfect for short stays. This membership is valid for two weeks and allows you to borrow 4 toys, 2 puzzles, and 1 costume.
The cost is $25, plus a $50 cash bond (refundable when toys are returned in good condition). Please bring a valid photo ID when you sign up.
Note: A small number of toys are reserved for full members only.
Yes! We offer a Grandparents Membership for $40 for 6 months. This lets you borrow up to 4 toys, 2 puzzles, and 1 dress-up costume for 3 weeks at a time—perfect for when your grandkids come to visit.
Unfortunately, our memberships can’t be paused, refunded, or transferred. If you’re looking for more flexibility, you might like our Holiday Membership or a 6-month membership, which can better suit shorter-term needs.
Yes! Gift the joy of play with a Wakatipu Toy Library voucher. Vouchers can be purchased for a specific membership type or a chosen dollar amount and are valid for 12 months from the date of redemption.
To arrange a gift voucher, simply email us at wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com — we’ll be delighted to help!
Yes, you can join using our membership tiers, if you’d like more toys you can purchase multiple memberships.
Absolutely! You’re very welcome to pop in during opening hours, explore our collection, and ask any questions before becoming a member.
Our opening hours are:
Classic Members can borrow up to:
Premium Members can borrow up to:
The standard loan period is three weeks. Most toys can be renewed once, giving you up to six weeks of play. Please note that popular items, such as Tonie Boxes, cannot be renewed so that everyone gets a chance to enjoy them.
You can renew your toys on our website in ‘My Library’ or you can email us at wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com
Sorry, we don’t have the space to hold or reserve toys. However, you can browse our full catalogue online to see what’s currently available or on loan. You can also use the wishlist feature to save toys you’re interested in, making it easy to check back and borrow them when they’re next available. It’s a great way to plan your visit and find something fun every time you come in!
Most toys can be renewed once, giving you up to six weeks of play. Please note that popular items, such as Tonie Boxes, cannot be renewed so that everyone gets a chance to enjoy them. You can renew your toys on our website or you can email us at wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com
If you lose, damage, or return a toy dirty or incomplete, please let us know as soon as possible. Missing pieces or dirty toys will be renewed for up to 3 weeks while you locate or clean them. If damaged, dirty or incomplete toys are returned without notification, your borrowing allowance will be reduced until the issue is resolved. Replacement or repair fees will apply if items or pieces can’t be returned or fixed.
Please see our terms and conditions for more info.
We kindly ask members to let us know if you’ll be returning toys late due to being on holiday, unwell, or short on time. You can self renew in the ‘My Library’ tab in your membership login, alternatively a quick email helps us manage our collection and ensures other members can enjoy the toys too.
We provide toys and activities suitable for children aged 6 months to 7 years.
Yes! We sure do! We offer a fantastic range of party hire options to make your celebration fun, affordable, and sustainable.
Our Party Packs are grouped by age and interest, with optional add-ons like bubble machines and cake tins. Here’s what you can choose from:
Whether you’re planning a birthday party, community event, or family get-together, we’ve got awesome play options that keep waste low and fun levels high. You can also browse our full catalogue for more details.
Yes, all toys are checked for safety and quality each time they are returned. We also encourage members to let us know about any damage or safety concerns so we can make sure the toys remain safe for children to enjoy.
A Helping Membership involves a commitment to assist a toy librarian for a two hour session every six months. Activities may include checking returned toys, counting pieces, tidying toys and the premises, and occasionally helping with our annual stocktake or fundraising events.
If you can’t complete your sessions, you can pay the difference to upgrade to a full membership.
Yes, a family member can complete the session on your behalf.
Using the Toy Library helps your wallet and the planet.
Quality toys can be expensive, and children often lose interest once a toy’s play value has been explored. By borrowing new play materials every few weeks, families can save money while offering their children variety and stimulating learning through different kinds of play.
From a sustainability perspective, the benefits are even greater. Borrowing instead of buying reduces demand for new toys — meaning fewer raw materials are extracted, fewer emissions are generated from manufacturing and shipping, and less waste ends up in landfill when toys and their packaging are discarded.
Toys are also often difficult or impossible to recycle, so extending their life through sharing is an effective way to reduce their environmental footprint.
Borrowing also helps shift our culture from consumption to connection. It encourages families to value access over ownership, and to participate in a local sharing network where resources are cared for collectively rather than consumed individually. This simple act of borrowing instead of buying helps normalise low-waste living and teaches children the importance of resourcefulness and community responsibility.
Together, our members make a real impact — hundreds of toys are shared, enjoyed, and returned each year, keeping play affordable and sustainable.
We’re always looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to join the team as Facilitators. As a Facilitator, you’ll support toy collection and maintenance, engage with members, and help keep the library welcoming and organised. Full training is provided.
Why volunteer?
Flexible shifts are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Not a perfect fit for the role?
We’d love to hear about your skills! Whether you’re a marketing whiz, a tinkerer, or have another talent, let’s chat and see how you can best contribute to the library.
Get in touch with us at wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com
As a small charity, we rely on grants, fundraising, and community generosity to keep the library running. Every donation helps cover essential costs like rent, insurance, and utilities, and allows us to refresh and grow our toy collection.
You can make a donation through our Givealittle page: givealittle.co.nz/org/wakatipu-toy-library
If you’re interested in a long-term partnership, please get in touch to learn more about our partnership packages (starting from $1,500).
Your support helps local families save money, access quality play resources, and stay connected through play.
Yes! We gratefully accept donations of clean, good-quality toys that are suitable for sharing. Before you drop off your toys, please get in touch with us at wakatiputoylibrary@gmail.com so we can check a few things: we want to make sure we don’t already have too many of that type of toy, that it’s popular with our members, and that it meets our quality criteria.
Circulating toys keeps play fresh and gives children access to a variety of experiences that match their changing ages, interests, and stages of development. By providing new play materials regularly, parents or carers can help their children stay engaged and challenged, significantly contributing to their development and learning.
Play is a serious part of childhood — it’s how tamariki learn, grow, and make sense of the world around them. Toys are the tools of play, helping children develop social awareness, imagination, coordination, and thinking skills.
Different types of play support different areas of learning and development:
At the toy library, we provide toys that inspire all kinds of play — helping children learn through fun, discovery, and connection with their whānau.
A toy library works just like a book library — but with toys! Families or carers can borrow a variety of quality, educational, and fun toys, puzzles and games to enjoy at home, then return them for others to use.
Toy libraries give children access to new play experiences that support their learning, creativity, and development, while helping families save money and reduce waste.
By sharing toys within the community, we promote a circular economy — where resources are reused and enjoyed by many — while making play more accessible for everyone.
Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soapy water.
Do not soak or submerge in water (wood can warp or crack).
Dry immediately with a clean towel.
For a deeper clean, use a vinegar-and-water mix (1:1).
Avoid harsh chemicals or disinfectant sprays directly on the wood.
Wash in warm, soapy water.
Rinse well and air-dry completely.
Most solid plastic toys can be wiped with disinfectant wipes or a diluted bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach to 1 litre water).
Avoid soaking toys with batteries or moving mechanisms.
Use warm, soapy water and shake water through the inside if possible.
Rinse thoroughly and leave to dry with air flowing through.
Avoid submerging toys with hidden compartments or electronic parts.
Wash with warm, soapy water.
Silicone toys can often be boiled for 2–3 minutes or placed on the top rack of the dishwasher (check item first).
Dry fully before returning.
Spot clean with warm, soapy water.
If machine-washable, use a gentle cycle inside a laundry bag.
Air-dry only — no dryers as items may melt or lose shape.
Ensure they are fully dry to prevent mould.
Spot clean or handwash in cold water with gentle detergent.
Hang to air-dry.
Do not use bleach or dryers.
Wipe pieces gently with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
Do not soak or spray directly.
Dry completely before packing away.
Hose down with warm, soapy water.
Use a soft brush for dirt or grime.
Rinse well and dry in the sun.
Avoid prolonged direct sunlight for wooden components.
Ensure the toy is switched off and batteries are removed.
Wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
Do not submerge or allow moisture inside.
Use a cotton bud for small crevices.