There is also Friends Cafe and play - www.friendscafeplay.co.nz (I think), also the various libraries around.

Maybe we should write you a BIG letter to your boss!!!  you should come down for the experience, as not far away is places like hanmer, or Arthurs Pass, lots of snow etc as well......

Looking forward to seeing the finish of this!

Um I might mention that the Tuhoi is REALLY run down now, and to be honest I wouldnt dend my dog on it much less me and my kids. We looked at it for part of our wedding, but she creaks and groans, and is so dank and dingy now that it could easily frighten little kiddies. Needs a major revamp.

Lyttelton is always fun, you can take a boat trip accross the harbour to Quail Island which used to be a lepper colony but is now a sanctuary island for native birds. No playground, but some nice beaches, and you can circumference the island in a couple of hours. Probably best for kiddies that stay in the pushchair, or latched onto  a parent, the track can go quite close to the cliff edge.

Sumner beach is a nice one in the summer months, nice beach and a few walking tracks to do. Great playground too. New brighton and the Pier are another good one, even on the winter side of things, its nice to have a wander on the pier, then maybe a cuppa at the cafe before venturing into the massive Brighton Library to have a look around, Im pretty sure they have readings for kiddies during the week, and there are miltimural activities if memory serves me right.

I second the museum that people above mentioned, and the discovery section is great value for money $2 for as long as you like. Great activites like digging up 'fossils' with paint brushes and things.

I know that some of the major movie theatres have Mums n Bubs days, where Mums n Bubs/wee kiddies can go and watch a movie without worrying if they start to cry, as all the patrons are in the same boat. doesnt cost anymore than usual if memory serves, and you are free to breastfeed etc with at least a modicum of privacy as they are all parents. Neat idea.

Ferrymead, Orana Park, and Willowbank are all great too. Plus the Antarctic centre is great as well, which is out near the airport. A free activity that my nannied kids enjoyed was just going to the airport and sitting on the viewing deck and watching the planes take off and land, and making up stories about where they were going and what they would see.

Mini golf is always a popular choice, with littlies you neednt keep score, just hit a few balls and have fun, plus it teaches them a little hand eye co-ordination in the process.

Lollipops and playdayz are both good, same as chipmunks. Great if you just need a bit of time to sit down and have a cuppa to yourself while they play. Can be interactive too tho.

Bad nanny of me, but Time Out was always a hit of you needed to kill half an hour before a movie or something, a few coins can go a long way.

QEII swimming park is great fun, but as ever you have to be vigilant around the water with little ones, it can get so busy there on the weekends that it would be easy to lose a wee tot in the crowd. Fully reccommend putting a name and contact detail tag around childs wrist in case they get lost, or if they are old enough, they are allowed to play with friends away from you, then worst case scenario and they get lost they can buzz you over the loudspeaker. We took my 5yr old niece on the hydroslides, she went down on our laps, and she had a great time. And she was quite a timid wee las at the time. So can fully reccommend that, but be warned, there are a LOT of stairs (3 flights) to get to the top.

The botanical gardens are lovely, and have a great playground for the wee ones, plus if you take a walk thru the gardens, and around the river perhaps, the boatshed cafe is one of the best in the city (in my opinion) and very scenic. Feeding the ducks at the river near the BoatShed Cafe are some of my happiest memories as a child.

A hop, skip, and a jump from there is the Arts Centre, which, on a weekend has a great market, which often has a few street performers and the such, which never fail to please. The selection of arts and crafts on sale, and the shops are great, and there is the best Fudge/Candy Cottage ever in that Centre. They also run tours thru the factory where all the fudge and candy is made. Yum!

The Cookie Time Factory is another canterbury favourite. You get to have a tour thru the factory, and taste some of their lesser known cookies and bars. Nearly every canterbury kid I know has been thru there as part of a school trip.

Im sure I have more, but running out of time in the Uni Library, will change rooms, then be right back!

Oooh, this is fun! Making me miss Christchurch!