Many parents in Christchurch are unsure of what exciting activities will make their kids’ holiday and weekend fun-filled. You do not need to be confused as we have collated the best kid-friendly and exciting activities that will be worthwhile, educative, and create lasting memories for your kids.

Exploring Christchurch: A Guide to 10 Fun Activities for Kids

#1:- Visit Orana Wildlife Park

Some children are frightened by wildlife animals, but I bet many other kids are entertained by the animals they see at Orana Zoo. The wildlife is an open-range 80-hectare zoo (including a farmyard for domestic animals). It houses over 1000 animals of 90 species, including endangered exotic and native species.

Hence, the kids can only see gorillas and orangutans all over New Zealand at this park. There are even other animals that will fascinate them, like the gibbons, porcupines, monkeys, lemurs, meerkats (always in action), native reptiles, birds, kiwis, and Rothschild giraffe, which they can even play with. In particular, kids like queuing, feeding with leaves, and playing with these giraffes.

There is no issue of where the kids will start from as they can join a tour led by knowledgeable staff or volunteers or even join the free 40 minutes shuttle bus within the zoo, which will take them around, including seeing the lion, cheetah, and other cats, or play at the children’s adventure playground.

The kids can also relax and refill at the cafe, and two large picnic spots are available at the park. They can also buy gifts for loved ones at the gift shop. Getting to Orana from Christchurch CBD and the airport takes 20 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively, by car. Little ones can also watch the animals from the park live here.

• Operating session: 10 am – 5 pm daily
• Animal Handfeeding: Available for free
• Location: 793 McLeans Island Road, Harewood
• Wheelchair friendly: Yes

Check for more information on their website.

#2:- Go to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Willowbank is an exciting place for your kids to visit to see various birds and baby animals. It is known for the conservation of endangered species and entertainment. The Willis family owns the park, which has been in operation for over 50 years and has New Zealand’s Big 5 with the Kiwi, the ancient tuatara, the cheeky Kea, the bush parrot, the Kaka, and the very rare Takahe.

This 60-hectare wildlife reserve combines a wildlife park and nature reserve and has a relatively tamed farmyard, zoo/exotics, and New Zealand animal sections with many native and rare species. Kids are particularly delighted about feeding the eels, birds, and small animals, and guarantee viewing of the kiwis (most extensive collection of kiwis, up to 4 different species) in their natural and open dark enclosure – anytime from 10.30 am. You only need to purchase feeding meals at the entry counter, like a farmyard, bird, eel, and fish, at NZD 4 or NZD 5 per bag or cup.

They might also like to see monkeys, capybara, wallabies, and sheep. Entrance into the reserve is free for kids under five years of age, and Kids below 16 are to come in the company of adults. And do not allow the kids to chase, litter, or throw stones at the animal. Here are also some kids-friendly programs organized for kids. They can also go on an encounter or a 45-minute guided tour with passionate and super knowledgeable staff from 2 pm.

There are cafes, highchairs, picnic areas, toilets, umbrellas, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and storage facilities within the wildlife reserve to make your tour memorable. You can drive to the reserve 5 minutes from the airport or 20 minutes from Christchurch CBD. Or by boarding the CHC shuttle to the wildlife park. There are free off-street parking within a 100 – 110 space car park and four other accessible car parks near the main building. The reserve has fantastic boardwalks and paths and a beautiful design and environment.

The reserve has a 4.7/5 rating; visitors claim the staff is super friendly and helpful, the signage is prominent, and the Kiwi enclosure is the best in the country. Also, the car park is small, but you can park across the road. The park also has a garden, showcasing the cultural setting of the south island Maoris before the Europeans arrived.

• Operating session: 9.30 am – 5 pm daily
• Animal Handfeeding: Available (free); Purchase food at the counter
• Location: 60 Hussey Road, Northwood
• Wheelchair friendly: Yes

Check out their website.

#3:- Explore the International Antarctic Center

The International Antarctic Centre offers your kids a worthwhile attraction by providing them with a simulated experience and lots of learning about what the Antarctic region looks and feels like. Some experiences they can enjoy include the storm dome, where they experience the harsh Antarctic climate with temperatures as low as -8°C and chilling winds. Also, they can view cute little penguins and watch how they are fed. An all-terrain vehicle tour ride during a Hägglund field trip is also available. They can also experience an Antarctic exploration cruise in a 4D theatre

For convenience, there are toilets available. There are also parking spaces at the entrance, along with other amenities. The centre is a 15-minute drive via Memorial Avenue, or you can take bus 8 or the CHC shuttle, which drops you in front of the centre. The kids can also get to IAC within 5 minutes from the Christchurch airport. You can also enrol in their holiday program that teaches kids about Antarctica or host birthday parties there.

• Operating Hours: 9 am to 4.30 pm daily
• Location: 38 Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport
• Accessibility: Wheelchair friendly and a 4D exit

Check out their website for more information.

 #4:- Visit Jurassic Adventure

Jurassic adventure offers fun and amusement for many kids in and around Christchurch. It has Christchurch’s best mini golf course, fully wheelchair accessible, allowing kids to challenge themselves to 18 holes amongst the dinosaurs. Interestingly, there is more your kids can enjoy in this Jurassic world.

They can hunt and dig up dinosaur fossils from pits and identify which fossil species you have discovered. They can also enjoy rides on T-rex or the Raptor Run (the first fully themed Maze in the city), where the kids look for the 5 Raptors trapped in the Maze.

And even more, the Jurassic Jeep rides for kids with some driving skills, racing through the jungle track in mini jeeps to outrun a T-Rex. All the dinosaurs are life-size and animated with motion and sounds; three raptors, a 12-meter Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex), and triceratops are imported from China.

The environment is neat, and the staff is friendly in case of any challenge. There is also a lot of parking space. Do not worry; there is a cafe in case the kids want to refill their drinks with snacks or light meals, and there is a toilet at the park entrance. It is also wheelchair accessible and has sliding doors for convenience.

It’s the perfect spot for your kid’s party. The adventure park has a 4.5 rating, and it’s a 10-minute drive via state highway 76 from Christchurch CBD. All these are possible thanks to the Co-owner and designer of Jurassic Adventure, Aaron Keown, and his business partner, Peter Gatonyi.

• Operating Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (Friday 10 am – 8 pm )
• Location: 239A Opawa Road, Hillsborough

Check out their website.

#5:- Christchurch Gondola

The Gondola is also a world-class attraction spot that will offer your kids a 360° panoramic view of Christchurch and its surroundings, including the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Southern Alps at the height of 500m above sea level and on a horizontal 862-meter cableway in an enclosed cable car.

Apart from the view from the high altitude, the kids can also take a lovely walk up on the port hills tracks. Up on the Cavendish mountain summit station is a Red Rock cafe where you can buy snacks and light meals. There are also gifts and souvenirs available in the gift shop. The kids can also learn more about the area’s history, which has been around for millions of years, by visiting the Discovery time tunnel ride.

You can also host birthday parties for your kids there. However, the kids must wear windproof clothes and proper shoes when walking on the steep hiking trail. Remember to capture the moments with the kids. The Gondola location is just a 15-minute drive from the Christchurch centre. More information on how to get there can be found on their website.

• Operating Hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm(September – March) 10.00 am – 4.00 pm (April – August)
• Accessibility: Wheelchair and stroller friendly, but must not exceed 60 cm to fit the gondola bin. (Gandola also has a wide chair to borrow if your wheelchair does not fit the cabin.
• Boarding Fee: 5-15 years – 22 NZD, adults – 42 NZD, family (2 adults and 3 children) – 117 NZD.
• Location: the Heathcote Valley

Check out their website.

#6:- Take a Tram Journey

Take a tram journey to show your kids some incredible historical views of the Garden City’s heritage on a dedicated track without traffic issues. For instance, you and your kids can take board the Christchurch all day hop in and hop out tram operated by Christchurch tourist attraction. Thus, you can hop out at different stops to check some iconic places and get back in using your ticket.

However, going at a stretch, this electric-powered vehicle runs a circuit for 50 minutes across 18 stops at different places in the city, and the tram run interval throughout the town is 15 to 25 minutes(so there is less waiting). Interestingly, there is more – as the tram drivers, who are also very knowledgeable, give historic live commentary about the different iconic places and major attractions during the tour.

Some stops your kids can jump off to explore are Riverside Market, High Street, Margaret Mahy Playground, the art centre, the botanical garden, and the beautiful new Reagent Street. The circuit begins at the Cathedral junction and then passes through the Cathedral Square, Avon River, Canterbury Museum, Hagley Park, Cranmer Square, and Victoria Square.

For safety reasons, adults are required to accompany their child or kids. At the time of writing, it has a 4.6/5 rating, and you can book your ticket at 109 Worcester Street, Christchurch Central City.

Check out their website.

• Operating Hours: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm(September – March) 10.00 am – 4.00 pm (April – August)
• Accessibility: Wheelchair and stroller friendly
• Boarding Fee: Free for kids below 15 years old (3 kids free per adult); NZD 0 per adult.

Extra Tip: You can buy a tram and gondola combo ticket, which is a cheaper option.

#7:- Visit Christchurch Adventure Park

This adventure park is a good alternative to the Gondola adventure. Here, your little ones find the longest and first chairlift (1.8 kilometres long), taking people interested in sightseeing or bike riders and their bikes to the summit of Port Hills, where you can have great views of Christchurch and its surroundings.

One can pass through the walking track for free, though, and coming down is free even on the chairlift. At the summit, the kids can walk through over 20 gravity-assisted mountain tracks with different challenge levels ranging from the green track (beginner) to the double black diamond track (pro) in the Southern Hemisphere.

There are proper signages on the tracks. They can also race on any of the four dual ziplines through the valley (including the longest and highest zipline circuit, 150 meters above ground level and 1.1 kilometres long). There is also a village and a cafe near the chairlift base in the pine forest where you can have a light meal, coffee, and snacks. The adventure park is 20 minutes from the City CBD via Colombo Road.

• Operating Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
• Location: 50 McVicar Drive, Cracroft

 Check out their website.

#8:- Sherlin Alpaca

Sherlin Alpaca is a good place to visit if your kids love animals. They will enjoy the vast open space of nature, hand-feeding and cuddling the beautiful, gentle, and friendly Alpacas. Sherlin Alpacas farm owners Sheryl and Lindsay have been running the farm beautifully, and tourists who visit the 55-acre farm say the owners are very friendly, insightful, and knowledgeable and care for the animals diligently. The farm tour they take you through is also insightful and impressive. Hence, it is no wonder the farm scooped so many awards and is actively part of the Alpaca Association of New Zealand.

They have 120 Alpacas with a wide range of colours, mainly the Huacaya and Suri (rare) Alpacas: older, junior, and pregnant ones. You will see the Alpaca babies if you are fortunate enough to go from December to February. You can also ask to see the sheering process.

The farm is just a 20-minute drive from the city airport and 24 24-minute drive from Christchurch CBD via state highway 76. The farm is wheelchair-friendly, and walker frames are accepted. Before leaving, buy the 100% alpaca hand-knitted clothing, products, and accessories. When the weather is unfavourable, there is an undercover shelter for your kids to hide under. Bringing a camera along is also advisable to assist your kids in capturing beautiful moments. The farm has a 4.7/5 rating at the moment.

• Farm Tour Operating Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily (No booking necessary)
• Animal Handfeeding: Available (free)
• Entry fee: $30 per person and $10 for Children under 10
• Location: 43 Lawford Road, West Melton

Check out their website.

#9:- Fruit Picking (During Summer Months Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry)

Fruit picking outdoor adventure and eating yummy and tasty fruits excite kids. Several farms allow kids to pick tasty and yummy fruits like cherries, strawberries, and blueberries. Some farms even offer more activities like ice cream sales apart from fruit picking, keeping them open all year. All these berries are available during the summer months in New Zealand between November and January.

Therefore, you can take them to a PYO farm in Christchurch to pick their fruits. Below are some top fruit-picking farms in Christchurch your kids should try out.

If you are in Auckland, you can check out the list of top PYO strawberry farms where your kids can pick fruits.

But be sure to equip them with gloves, boots, long socks, water bottles, baby wipes, a bucket, and natural sunscreen. It’s essential you also stay close to them while picking fruits.

#10:- Explore the Beaches (Sumner Beach, New Brighton Beach, Tailors Mistake Beach)

Beaches are the perfect spots for your kids to unwind, especially during holidays and weekends. Kids can play with other kids on sand or colourful beach water, sunbathe or swim under your guidance, see peaceful rolling waves, see the ambience of scenic views, and play with nature or have picnics. These beaches with over 4/5 ratings will create beautiful memories for your kids:

Sumner Beach

It’s just a 20-minute drive from Christchurch CBD. You can also join the Purple Line metro bus; there are marked bus stops. The beach starts from the cave rock and goes to the other side of the rock, where Scarborough Park and the beach are. That’s a 1.5 km distance between them. You can stroll with your kids along the flat footpath promenade, allow your older kids to swim through the beach flags and the younger ones to play with the sands, or even have beautiful ocean views. If you have more time to spend with the kids, they can also move further to play and have some fun at the large playground or splash at Scarborough Park.

New Brighton Beach

It’s a sandy beach that stretches 18 km right from the Waimakairi River mouth in the north to its spit in the south. One fascinating thing your kids will enjoy is fishermen fishing and having beautiful beach views when they stroll across the 30-meter-long pier. You can also have more fun with kids at the Puna hot pools beside the beach. The beach is a 15-minute drive from Christchurch CBD via Gloucester Street and Pages Road. He Puna Taimoana: New Brighton hot pool near the beach is also child friendly and also a recommended activity in Christchurch.

Tailors Mistake Beach

Here is another beach where your kids can visit and swim. It is also safe as there are surf lifeguards patrolling and volunteers around the beach. The walking track starts from Te Onepoto-Taylors Mistake/Taylors Mistake Surf Club, climbs a cliff, and finishes opposite Nicholson Park. It’s a 2.1 km distance. However, dogs must be on leash. The toilet is at Taylor Mistake Beach car park. You can drive via the main road and get there within 27 minutes.

Conclusion

Your kids will have a fun-filled holiday and memories when they visit these places for exciting activities. Let us know in the comment section your take locations and if there are other exciting places you think kids can see in Christchurch.