ATTN: Christchurch parents!

Here are my top outing places

Willowbank (zoo)- Ive brought a year pass for $27 i think it was and kids under 5 are free so we go there all the time, its great place to kill an hour or so.

Orana Park (bigger zoo more expensive, not so hands on)

Chipmunks - for preschoolers i recommend going during school hours because when the older kids get there they can be a bit rough

Lollipops - same as above

Playdayz

Discovery part of the museum. Entry to musuem is free and also a great outing but you can pay $2 and go into the discovery part which is very hands on for kids, all nature and discovery stuff. the kids love it.

QEII swimming

There is also a place called the sensory centre there which used to be only for disabled children but they have opened it up to everyone now. Havent been there myself but heard its excellent for little ones. Uses all the senses.

thats all i can think of for now


Edited by my2angels

Oh there is also things like the gondola if the kids would like that and out in kaiapoi they have this big boat/ship called the tuhoi (not sure if thats correct spelling) it sails every week I think and its only a short boat ride around the river. We used to go all the time.

Botanical gardens is awesome and right next to the museum. There is a great kids play area and big paddling pool. Oh and there is canoeing down the avon too but you would want the kids to be close to the 5yr old age for that.

my2angels wrote: Emma maybe you should come to chch for a research weekend!

Loving it! I've never been to the South Island, would love to come visit!

But maybe after my boss has recovered from the shock of how much the Mega Meet up is costing

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!

The southern encounter Aquarium, have just been there with Jaydens school and there were heaps of pre schoolers there and they were loving it. Right in the middle of town.

The Antartic centre.. not sure how much it costs though, gardens = free, beaches, willowbank, Hmmmm I think most of the others are covered!