BEST things to do in Christchurch with Kids
Discover the best activities and things to do in Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region on your next South Island family holiday. If you are like us, you’re always on the lookout for activities that will put smiles on your children’s faces when you go on holiday. Christchurch | Ōtautahi , with its vibrant city centre, scenic beauty, and a host of family-friendly attractions, is a must-visit destination to visit in New Zealand with your kids. We will share with you our favourite places to go from fantastic playgrounds, to captivating outdoor activities to make sure your visit to Christchurch is one you won’t easily forget!
1. Margaret Mahy Playground
The Margaret Mahy Playground was the first playground we visited on our visit to Christchurch and is one of our favourite South Island Playgrounds. The large city-wide family playground was built after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake for families to be able to enjoy together and was named in honour of New Zealand’s children’s author Margaret Mahy.
This destination playground has something for everyone of all ages, there are giant towers and slides, climbing nets, flying foxes, inground mini tramps, younger children’s play area and a splash pad water play area in summer.
For parents, there are lots of seats around the park and also a free electric BBQs in the covered picnic area between the park and the Avon river. And if you plan on spending the day here with the kids, don’t worry there are toilets and changing rooms at the playground too!
If you are getting hungry there is a good cafe just across the road on Manchester Street called Child Sister which serves both good coffee and food. And don’t miss the Giant Swings and pump track right next to the playground too!
2. Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Our whole family liked the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, which even has a playground and an outdoor paddling pool for the kids and families to enjoy in summer. The kids enjoyed exploring the greenhouses in the Botanic Gardens and checking out the exhibitions in the Visitor Centre. Inside the Visitors Centre you can find the Ilex cafe and gift shop too!
The Tupuna Te Kuru children’s playground is located within in the Botanic Gardens and is an inclusive and sensory-rich play experience for kids. It has a water play area, a treehouse, swings, and sculptures that engage children’s imaginations. The paddling pool is open from mid November until the end of March each summer.
Kids and adults can also ride the FREE Peace Train in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens on Sundays from September to April and leaves behind the kiosk in the gardens and follows the loop pathway around the playground following the Ōtākaro-Avon River.
Parking is readily available in Hadley Park which is connected by a foot bridge to the Botanic Gardens and the gardens are also next to the city and border the Canterbury Museum.
3. International Antarctic Centre
Both the kids and the adults in our family enjoyed our visit to the International Antarctic Centre to learn about the world’s iciest and most remote continent. Although it is expensive we think a visit is good value as it includes seeing the little blue penguins. Husky dog zone, rides on the Hagglund, 4D cinema shows and lots of hands on exhibits for the kids to play with and enjoy.
Watching the little blue penguins at feeding time was a higlight. We especially liked that the penguins had all been rescued and were not just there to entertain the public but needed to be looked after as they could no longer survive in the wild by themselves. We were lucky to have seen the beautiful husky dogs, which was the highlight of our South Island holiday for one of our children.
The indoor Antarctic Storm Room was a hit with our family, but remember to wear or bring some warm clothes if you want to do this. The snow room is at -8 degrees and then it goes down to -18 degrees to become a storm room when they turn on the wind. If you find the room get’s too cold don’t worry, you can leave at any time. The kids liked playing in the igloo, sitting on the jet skis and playing with the snow. The 4D cinema is also included in your entries and there were two films on the day we visited that you could watch that are set in the Antarctic.
The Hagglund ride in the all-terrain amphibious vehicle that scientists use in Antarctica was fun and covered a bigger area than I though it was going to when it left from the area at the front of the building. There is a course that goes around behind the building to show you all the different types of surfaces it can traverse. Just remember to hang on tight during the ride.
The International Antartic Centre is located at the Christchurch International Airport, and is the main departure point for science expeditions to Antartica.
4. Christchurch Tramway
Hop aboard the Christchurch Tramway for a delightful tour of the city. Kids will love the vintage tramcars, and you can hop on and off at various stops to explore key attractions. Your ticket last for the day and you can hop on and hop off as many times as you like which is perfect for little tired legs. We stayed on the tram for the full loop to hear the history about the buildings on the ride form the experienced tram driver and guide. The trams have been running in Christchurch since the twentieth century and the kids loves being help to move the cable when the tram changed directions.
5. Canterbury Earthquake Museum
Explore the earthquake history of Christchurch at Quake City. This museum provides insight into the seismic events that have shaped the city, making it an educational yet engaging experience for your children. There are plenty of interactive exhibits and informative displays to help kids understand the science behind earthquakes whilst having fun. Our family really enjoyed visiting this museum and it suited the adults and the kids equally which is not easily done.
6. Punting on the Avon River
Enjoy being guided along the Avon River on an Edwardian style punting tour. The handcrafted flat-bottomed boats are poled along by the Punter and give you a different perspective of the Christchurch and it’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. The tours provide informative guides who can share interesting facts about the area. You can get punting tours from the Antigua Boat sheds in Cambridge Terrace.
7. Hagley Park
Hadley Park is a large green open space with duck ponds, a playground and woodlands in the heart of Christchurch. Hadley Park is 165 hectares, and is the largest urban open space in Christchurch. The wide flat footpaths make Hagley Park a perfect spot to the take the kids for a scooter ride or bike ride and teens can hire an electric scooter to ride in the park too (just don’t take it into the nearby Botanic Gardens which is out of the rideable zone).
If you are lucky enough to be visiting in Spring, around mid-September you can enjoy seeing the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming in Hagley Park North and the yellow daffodil lawns at the Hadley Park Woodland.
8. Canterbury Museum
Take a step back in time at the Canterbury Museum, where your little historians can explore artifacts and exhibits that showcase the rich history of Christchurch and New Zealand. The engaging displays and interactive activities will make learning fun for your kids.
Note: Currently the Rolleston Avenue site is closed while it is being redeveloped but you can visit their cool new pop-up Museum at 66 Gloucester Street.
9. Street Art
Christchurch has lots of fantastic street art on walls that weren’t seen before the earthquake. We suggest keeping an eye out for the art while you walk around the city centre with the kids, or if you prefer there are more formal tours you can join if you don’t want to miss any.
Some of our favourites include the giant penguin Antarctic scene in Cathedral Square, the Birds and Bunnies mural by Flox, the Ballerina . You can find all of these and more on this Christchurch street art map.
10. Imagination Station
The giant LEGO and Duplo Imagination Station on the Level 1 of the Tūranga Christchurch City Library is perfect for a rainy day to entertain younger children.
11. Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
The Christchurch Art Gallery has a large public art collection and put on some superb local and international art exhibitions. There are free art activities for kids at selected times and their is a table set up with games and art books for families to enjoy under the giant staircase. And if you aren’t an art fan, then we think it is still worth visiting the Art Gallery just to admire the building.
12. Orana Wildlife Park
For a safari-like adventure, visit the Orana Wildlife Park in Harewood, where your family can encounter exotic animals from all over the world in an open-range zoo. Feed the giraffes, watch cheetahs sprint, admire the large gorillas and observe New Zealand’s native creatures in their natural habitats. There is a playground for the kids with a fun flying fox and trampoline too.
13. Historic New Regent Street
Enjoy seeing the pastel-coloured buildings and getting an ice cream at the historic New Regent spanish styled pedestrian shopping street.
14. Cardboard Cathedral
The Christchurch Cathedral was damaged during the earthquake and the Cardboard Transitional Cathedral was built in it’s place. The cathedral is open every day until 4pm and if you don’t want to pray or reflect you are still welcome to pop in to see the building.
15. Jellie Park Recreation and Sport Centre
Jellie Park has a heated outdoor leisure pool with a beach-style entry, water play equipment, diving boards and a splash pad. Indoors, you’ll find a lap pool, hydroslides, and a dedicated toddler pool with interactive play features. The park surrounding the center is also a lovely place for picnics and relaxation.
16. Christchurch Gondolas
Go on a Christchurch Gondola ride with your family and enjoy the stunning panoramic views over the city, Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour and over the Canterbury Plains from the summit station at the top Mount Cavendish in the Port Hills of Christchurch.
17. Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Does your child have a fascination with airplanes and military history? The Air Force Museum of New Zealand offers a captivating experience for aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Explore a wide range of aircraft, interactive exhibits, and even sit in the cockpit of a real fighter jet! Located in Wigram, just outside of Christchurch, this museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history of aviation in New Zealand.
18. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
The Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s native wildlife. It’s an excellent place to see native birds like kiwi, tuatara, and more. They also offer guided night tours to see nocturnal creatures.
19. Playing the giant street video games
In Christchurch City Centre opposite the One.NZ building there is a giant free video game. The joy stick is taller than lots of children, but you can hold it down lower. The buttons are giant too, so you need to jump on them to get it to work. The kids love playing on this and would have stayed for hours if we let them.
20. Riccarton Bush and Deans Cottage
For a dose of nature and history combined, visit Riccarton Bush. This ancient forest, with its towering Kahikatea trees, offers tranquil walking paths, birdwatching opportunities, and a glimpse into New Zealand’s past. Nearby, you can explore Deans Cottage, one of the city’s oldest buildings, which provides insight into early European settlement.
21. Dine out at one of the Christchurch's family friendly eateries
There are lots of kid-friendly restaurants and cafes in Christchurch to discover.
We like Riverside Market (pictured below) and Little High Street Eatery which both have lots of eateries onsite, so your family don’t need to all choose the same food but you can still enjoy your meal together.
Child Sister is just across the road from the Margaret Mahy playground and perfect spot to take a break from your play for lunch or a snack with the kids and a coffee.
Ally & Sid has great food and coffee plus a cute play corner for little kids at the back of the cafe. It’s housed in what was once a rubber mouldings factory and has a green roller door at the front!
Check out Dux Din restaurant in the cute historic villa which was once home to the Station Master of Riccarton Railway on Riccarton Road. There is a large outdoor couryard out the back and a kids brunch, lunch and dinner menu.
In New Brighton on Carnaby Lane is Switch cafe with lot’s of cabinet food, all day breakfast menu and great coffee. There are lot’s of vegan and vegetarian options too. Plus it has a fun kids corner and lot’s of outdoor seating making it the perfect spot to eat out with the family.
The Burger Joint makes all it’s patties by hand from quality ingredients and is the perfect place to go for a relaxed family meal out. There are highchairs available for your little kids too.
22. Visit Sumner Beach and Scarborough Park
We loved Sumner Beach and the playground at Scarborough Park close to the Clock Tower and Paddling pool end of the Sumner Beach . There is a giant rope swing, regular swings, slides, climbing towers and more things to play on at this popular park. If the kids want to go swimming or surfing at the beach we recommend bringing a wetsuit as we found that the sea water was too cold for us even on a hot summers day. The promenade is a fun place for the kids to ride their scooters and there are lots of cafes and restaurants on the main street which is just set back from the promenade.
23. Adrenalin Forest
If your family craves adventure, head to Adrenalin Forest, an outdoor obstacle course set high in the treetops. With various levels of difficulty, it’s suitable for both kids and adults. This thrilling activity combines physical challenges with a scenic forest environment, promising a memorable experience.
24. Quail Island
A short ferry ride from Lyttelton, Quail Island is a great spot for a family day out. You can explore the island’s walking trails, swim at the beach, and learn about its history as a quarantine station.
25. Ferrymead Heritage Park
This living museum re-creates a historic town and offers a glimpse into New Zealand’s past. Kids can explore old buildings, ride on a steam train, and even pan for gold at Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch.
26. Taiora QEII Park Recreation and Sport Centre
The indoor aquatic centre at Taiora QEII Park offers a range of water attractions for kids, including hydroslides, a lazy river, and a wave pool. There’s a dedicated children’s play area with water toys and a shallow pool for toddlers. The outdoor hydroslides add an extra element of excitement.
27. The New Zealand Museum of Toys and Collectibles
The New Zealand Museum of Toys and Collectibles is an enchanting museum is a journey through time, offering a captivating blend of nostalgia and entertainment for kids of all ages. With a diverse collection of toys dating back to the 1920s and spanning all the way to contemporary favourites, it’s an opportunity for both you and your children to relive your childhood memories together.
The museum’s maze-like layout ensures that every corner holds a delightful surprise, from miniature train tracks to thousands of meticulously crafted diecast models. The dedicated play area and crawl-through space provide endless fun for the little ones, making it a perfect family outing. The museum’s gift shop offers an extensive selection of toys, allowing you to take a piece of the magic home with you.
28. The Groynes Park
The Gryones park has a large lake with safe swimming areas, picnic spots, fishing spots and lots of walking trails. It’s a tranquil place for a family outing, and you might spot some birdlife around the lake. Children will love the playgrounds scattered throughout Groynes Park, featuring swings, slides, and climbing structures to keep them entertained for hours. There’s also a flying fox for a bit of excitement. But our kids favourite was going out on the lake in the pedal boats and aqua bikes we hired.
29. Lyttleton
A short drive from Christchurch, you can find the picturesque port town of Lyttelton. Start your visit with a stroll along the historic Lyttelton Harbour Wharf, where you can take in the scenic views and perhaps spot some local wildlife.
For a dose of maritime history, consider a visit to the Lyttelton Timeball Station, where you can learn about the role this historic building played in assisting ships’ navigation.
Don’t miss the Lyttelton Farmers’ Market if you happen to be in town on a Saturday morning. It’s a great place to pick up fresh produce and artisanal treats. Lyttelton also boasts some delightful cafes and eateries where you can savour local cuisine while enjoying the harbour views. Read our guide to a Family Day Out in Lyttleton with Kids.
Kids will love the pirate ship, castle and dinosaur slide at the playground perfect for the kids to play games of make-believe. Pitts Park also has a bike track and skate park nearby for older kids.
30. New Brighton Beach, Pier and Playground
The New Brighton Pier stretches 300 meters from New Brighton Beach out to the sea. It is the perfect place to go for a family walk or scooter ride at sunset with the kids.
The New Brighton Beach Playground has wet and dry play areas. There is a fun giant waka for the kids to climb and play inside, pirate ship, water cannons, splash pad and paddling pool with a giant concrete whale. And as the playground is right next to the beach, of course there is the beach to play at and the sea to swim in too!
And if the kids still have energy after playing here you can visit the New Brighton Library/Te Kete Wānanga o Karoro which is right next door.
31. New Brighton Hot Pools
Soak in the warm He Puna Taimoana | New Brighton Hot Pools which has five heated pools and saunas with stunning views over New Brighton Beach.
32. Spencer Park
The kids loved exploring this fun natural children’s playground and tennis courts and there is a paddling pool for little kids in summer. Younger children will enjoy bird spotting on the wetland walk which goes to the Wetland Pond or seeing the animals at the animal park. There are activites for older kids at Spencer Park too, such as the high ropes course at Adrenalin Forest or the mountain biking trails.
33. Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre
Pioneer is known for its fantastic aquatic facilities, including a leisure pool with a lazy river, wave pool, water slides, and interactive water features. It’s a great place for kids to have a blast while staying cool. There’s also a dedicated toddler pool for younger children.
34. Hamner Springs
While technically not in Christchurch, Hamner Springs is a 2-hour drive north but offers a fantastic water park worth a day trip from Christchurch.
This charming alpine village is nestled in a stunning valley and boasts one of the South Island’s most famous attractions: the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. Families can unwind in a range of natural thermal pools, waterslides, and a lazy river. After soaking in the soothing mineral waters, explore the village with its cafes, boutique shops, and picturesque scenery.
Christchurch is a city filled with exciting and educational activities for families with children and teens. Whether your kids are nature lovers, history buffs, or thrill-seekers, this vibrant South Island city has something to offer everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for an amazing family adventure in Christchurch, where fun and learning go hand in hand!
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