ANZAC Day on 25 April is a time to remember those who served, and the sacrifices made in conflicts such as the Gallipoli campaign.

To help families explore this history in a way that’s accessible for kids, the Jackson Street Programme has created an ANZAC Hopscotch trail with different hopscotch designs placed along Jackson Street. Each hopscotch tells a different story, turning a simple walk into a chance to learn together.

What is the ANZAC Hopscotch trail?

As you wander along Jackson Street, keep an eye out for the hopscotch courts. Each one features a different theme from WWI and WWII, with quick facts you can read as you go. It’s designed as a school holiday-friendly activity that still respects the meaning behind ANZAC Day.

Why hopscotch?

Hopscotch has a surprisingly fitting origin story. It began in ancient Britain during Roman times, when soldiers used long courses to train balance and strength while wearing heavy armour. Over time, children copied the idea, created smaller courts, and turned it into the game we know today.

The stories you’ll spot along the way

Battles that shaped history

Some hopscotch designs highlight key battles involving New Zealand forces, including:

• Gallipoli (1915), the campaign, is commemorated on ANZAC Day.
• Arras (1916), where the New Zealand Tunnelling Company dug tunnels under enemy lines.
• Messines (1917) and Passchendaele (1917), both significant battles for New Zealand, with Passchendaele marking New Zealand’s highest one-day casualties since 1840.
• Crete (1941) and Monte Cassino (1944) were two major WWII campaigns involving New Zealand troops.

Planes of WWI and WWII

Another set focuses on aircraft and how quickly aviation changed during the two World Wars. You’ll see names like:

• Sopwith Camel, a famous WWI fighter aircraft, is credited with 1,294 enemy planes shot down.
• WWII aircraft such as the Curtiss Kittyhawk and Bristol Beaufighter, which played key roles in air combat and defence.

Tanks and engineering

Some hopscotch designs cover tanks and wartime engineering, including a strong local connection:

• The Schofield Tank, a New Zealand WWII design created by Ernest Schofield, who worked for General Motors in Petone.
• The Bob Semple Tank, an improvised New Zealand design built from a tractor due to limited resources.

Hospital ships and saving lives

War history is not only about battles, but it’s also about the people and systems that saved lives. The hospital ship hopscotch highlights vessels such as:

• SS Maheno, a New Zealand ship converted into a WWI hospital ship with wards and operating rooms.
• TSS Marama, which carried sick and wounded soldiers, including ANZAC troops, back to New Zealand and Australia.
• HMHS Britannic, the Titanic’s sister ship, which served as a hospital ship and sank after hitting a mine in 1916.

Who fought alongside New Zealand?

Another theme looks at the scale of the British Empire during WWI and the countries that contributed people, resources, and support. More than 2.5 million men joined the war effort from across the empire, including countries like India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.

How to do the hopscotch trail

1. Start anywhere on Jackson Street and look for the hopscotch designs along the footpath.
2. Read the story on each hopscotch, then have a go at the hopscotch itself.
3. Take your time. You can do one or two hopscotch designs, or make a full day of it with a café stop, browsing local shops, and a stroll toward the waterfront.

A small moment of reflection

This trail is designed to be family-friendly, but it also carries an important message. As you explore, take a moment to pause, read, and reflect on the people behind the stories.