Bumblebees Whitford

Bumblebees Whitford We are an early learning centre in the heart of Whitford Village. Designed with purpose, love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder.

Bumblebees Whitford is in the heart of Whitford Village in a thoughtfully renovated villa, maintaining its beautiful character and history. Adorned with natural light, our generous indoor play spaces were created with purpose and love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder. Our beautiful Atelier, art space, in our cottage, inspires our children to share ideas and indulge in self-expression. Designed with adventure in mind, our three spacious outdoor areas include natural grass, huts, sandpits, mud, natural obstacle courses, and vegetable gardens, empowering the children to connect with nature and nourish every facet of their being. Our indoor and outdoor learning environments serve as an invitation to play, and our loving teaching team gently guides our children with respectful and caring teaching practices. With nutritionist approved and deliciously cooked meals prepared by our in-house cook, our children have full bellies and are ready for a fun filled day of learning and laughter. We offer environments filled with love curiosity and wonder for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our centre is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through to Friday

Welcoming the Lunar New Year with creativity, curiosity, and respect 🧧✨ Our Centre has come alive with vibrant red and g...
14/02/2026

Welcoming the Lunar New Year with creativity, curiosity, and respect 🧧✨

Our Centre has come alive with vibrant red and gold as the children started celebrating Chinese New Year through meaningful, hands-on experiences. The children are creating their own lanterns, exploring traditional symbols, and engaging in stories and books that share the rich culture and traditions behind this special celebration.

Through art, conversation, and sensory learning, the children are discovering the importance of family, good fortune, gratitude, and new beginnings. These experiences help foster cultural awareness, inclusion, and respect for the diverse communities around us.

We are grateful to learn and celebrate together and we look forward to more celebration and learning throughout this Chinese New Year period.

Wishing all families who celebrate a joyful and prosperous New Year! ✨




Since the very first days of summer, our centre has been alive with the unmistakable song of cicadas echoing through the...
14/02/2026

Since the very first days of summer, our centre has been alive with the unmistakable song of cicadas echoing through the shrubs and trees around us. The children were instantly captivated, wondering where the sound comes from and what creature can be that loud.

Curiosity was buzzing just as loudly as the cicadas themselves!

Our incredible Bluebells teachers embraced this moment of wonder. They collected real cicada shells and created a hands-on learning provocation to bring the mystery to life. The discovery of the delicate shells sparked awe, excitement, and endless questions.
Through rich discussions, close observation, and exploration, the children investigated the cicadas shells and how such a small creature can make such a powerful sound.

What began as a simple summer soundtrack transformed into a meaningful learning journey. One driven by curiosity, discovery, and the joy of exploring the natural world together.





🌞🍓🐝 Summer days at Bumblebees are full of sunshine, little hands, and nature’s sweetest treats 💛Our children have been b...
08/02/2026

🌞🍓🐝 Summer days at Bumblebees are full of sunshine, little hands, and nature’s sweetest treats 💛
Our children have been busy harvesting delicious plums, wonderful bright red strawberries and delectable (maybe a little tart) blackberries. 🙂

There’s so much excitement as they carefully pick the fruit and proudly carry it up to Fasmina, our Centre Cook.

The fresh harvest is enjoyed in so many ways; served fresh to the children, baked into yummy afternoon tea treats, and even turned into homemade jams by our amazing centre cook 🍰🍯

A beautiful way to learn where food comes from, build independence, and enjoy the flavours of the season together.

At Bumblebees Whitford, learning happens through hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations. 💛🐝Recently, the chil...
09/01/2026

At Bumblebees Whitford, learning happens through hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations. 💛🐝

Recently, the children explored our woodworking resources by hammering small pieces of wood onto a larger base. What began as a simple learning experience quickly turned into a collaborative project when the children decided they were building “a house for the bugs.” 🐛

Through discussion, problem-solving, and creativity, the children agreed the bug house should live in our garden so it could be explored and enjoyed by nature. ☘️

Yesterday, excitement continued when we discovered a ladybug resting on a leaf. The children carefully placed it into the bug house, hoping more of its friends might come to visit. 🐞

Moments like these show how our resources, tools, natural materials, and outdoor spaces, support curiosity, imagination, and a deeper connection to the environment every day. We are fortunate to have wonderful teachers who are flexible with their thinking and who passionately support children in their learning. 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫




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08/01/2026

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Our learning at Bumblebees has always been inspired by nature. On this morning inspiration came from a story about the i...
08/01/2026

Our learning at Bumblebees has always been inspired by nature. On this morning inspiration came from a story about the important role of bees and bumblebees, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers brought in by Tash. As we read together, children shared ideas, asked questions, and explored how bees help flowers grow and support our natural environment.

The flowers became a hands-on provocation, inspiring children to closely observe and draw the different textures, shapes, and colours they noticed. Through mark making and drawing, children represented their ideas using lines, patterns, and symbols.

In line with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, this is seen as a powerful language of children and a meaningful way to express thinking, creativity, and emotions.

Through these experiences, children were investigating, making connections, and deepening their understanding of the natural world. Nature became the classroom, and children’s curiosity guided the learning, nurturing self-expression and wonder.

Just another wonderful day of learning, collaboration and fun at Bumblebees Whitford 🥰💛🐝





As we welcome the start of a brand new year, our centre is buzzing with excitement, possibility, and promise. Just like ...
08/01/2026

As we welcome the start of a brand new year, our centre is buzzing with excitement, possibility, and promise. Just like the beautiful fruit trees in our Centre gardens, now bursting with ripe, colourful fruit, this season is all about growth, nourishment, and new beginnings 🍎🍊🌳

Each child is like a young tree, rooted in care and nurtured with love, curiosity, and learning. Over time, with patience and guidance, they blossom, developing new skills, confidence, and friendships. This year brings fresh opportunities to explore, discover, and grow together.

We can’t wait to see the fruits of learning that this year will bring as we journey alongside our children, families, and educators. Here’s to a year filled with wonder, learning, and plenty of joyful moments.

Happy New Year from all of us! 🎉



From all of us at Bumblebees Whitford, we wish our children, families, and wonderful followers a joyful and festive Chri...
24/12/2025

From all of us at Bumblebees Whitford, we wish our children, families, and wonderful followers a joyful and festive Christmas season. 🎄💛

To our families and friends, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful gifts for our amazing teaching team. They are truly appreciated.

May your Christmas be safe, happy, and filled with love, laughter, and magical moments. 🎁✨

This Christmas season, Bumblebees families came together to share kindness, generosity, and a little bit of magic by sup...
23/12/2025

This Christmas season, Bumblebees families came together to share kindness, generosity, and a little bit of magic by supporting the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, proudly run in partnership with The Salvation Army.

Each thoughtfully chosen gift represents more than just a present. It carries hope, love, and joy, helping to brighten Christmas morning for families who need it most. 💛

Thank you to every family who contributed and helped make this beautiful act of giving possible. The gifts have now been delivered, and word has it that Santa has already begun loading them onto his sleigh, getting ready for a very special Christmas delivery! 🎅

What a wonderful reminder that when we come together, we can make the season truly magical. 💫🎁





We had an exciting visit at Bumblebees recently from our local Community Constable, and the children absolutely loved it...
23/12/2025

We had an exciting visit at Bumblebees recently from our local Community Constable, and the children absolutely loved it!

He talked with the children about what police officers do including how they talk to people and help keep everyone safe. The children learned the emergency number to call if they ever need help, and we also chatted about bike safety, especially the importance of wearing a helmet 🚲🪖.

One of the biggest highlights was exploring the constable’s police vest! He showed the children the different pockets and explained the tools inside and what they’re used for. Lots of curious questions and wide eyes all around! Exploring the inside of the police car was another highlight!

A big thank you to our community constable for taking the time to visit and help our children learn about safety in such a fun and engaging way 💙👮‍♂️

Bumblebees is full of festive joy as our tamariki embrace all things Christmas! 🎄✨ They’ve been creating beautiful Chris...
09/12/2025

Bumblebees is full of festive joy as our tamariki embrace all things Christmas! 🎄✨

They’ve been creating beautiful Christmas-themed artwork, including bright pōhutukawa blossom drawings, exploring magical seasonal set-ups, and writing the sweetest letters to Santa. 💌

These activities spark creativity, grow confidence, and fill our space with excitement and wonder. Christmas spirit is truly alive here at the centre! ❤️✨

✨ People matter. Children matter. And every child deserves a gift. ✨Every year, we’re honoured to support a beautiful lo...
09/12/2025

✨ People matter. Children matter. And every child deserves a gift. ✨

Every year, we’re honoured to support a beautiful local initiative called Boxes of Love. This Christmas, we lovingly put together four school packs to help four amazing children start their learning journey with confidence and joy. 🎒💛

If you’d like to spread a little magic and make a real difference in the life of a child, we’d love for you to join the initiative for next year!

Simply visit the Boxes of Love page to find out how you can get involved.

Together, let’s make sure every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated. 🎁✨

Address

9 Whitford-Maraetai Road
Whitford
2571

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

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Our Story

Bumblebees Whitford is in the heart of Whitford Village in a thoughtfully renovated villa, maintaining its beautiful character and history. Adorned with natural light, our generous indoor play spaces were created with purpose and love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder. Our beautiful Atelier, art space, in our cottage, inspires our children to share ideas and indulge in self-expression. Designed with adventure in mind, our three spacious outdoor areas include natural grass, huts, sandpits, mud, natural obstacle courses, and vegetable gardens, empowering the children to connect with nature and nourish every facet of their being. Our indoor and outdoor learning environments serve as an invitation to play, and our loving teaching team gently guides our children with respectful and caring teaching practices. With nutritionist approved and deliciously cooked meals prepared by our in-house cook, our children have full bellies and are ready for a fun filled day of learning and laughter. We offer environments filled with love curiosity and wonder for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our centre is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through to Friday