Attractions in the south island???

I've done a few trips to the South Island, I've been most places.
Animals - recommend Kaikoura and swimming with dolphins that was an amazing experience.
Marlborough Sounds cruise to one of the many conservation islands, seeing black robins so tame that sat on someones foot, and anyone of the many walks.
Blenheim - vineyards and wineries nothing else to say.
Nelson - walked up to the half way part of NZ.
Able Tasman national park.

Have you thought of hiring a camper van, then you can stop by the side of the road if you wish, and see everything at your own pace.   Also means if the kids get tired they've got somewhere to rest.

Other places to go. - Chch loads to see, and lots to do. Orana Park is worth a visit.

Arrowtown, Te Anau - take a boat trip out onto the fiords is fun.

Some neat places for kids...

Puzzling World - Wanaka
Orana Park, Antarctic Centre - Chch
Cadbury Factory, Otago Museum - Dunedin

Akaroa is a beautiful place to be during the summer ( and winter too). Not far form CHCH and is beside the sea so you can play on the beach, lots of lovely cafes along the beach front, good playground. You could go fishing off the wharf, take walks around the tracks around akaroa. Take a cruise out to the head of the harbour on the Black Cat boat. Swim with the dolphins or there is another boat type thing as well. There are kayaks etc for hire. It is a lovely place to go. We took Charlotte for her first birthday ( have been heaps of other times tto but without kids!) and had a brilliant time. We took a day trip to LeBons BAy which is a beautiful beach over the hill and basically chilled out strolling about the place. A good thing to do is hire a house which is pretty reasonable and you have the whole place to yourselves ( great idea with kids). Will find the link to the houses for you later. Though depends if you want to see as much as you can of the South Island or are happy to stay in one place.

Think I have just convinced myself it is time to go back actually!

It is close to CHCH so you could pop over for the day and do touristy CHCH stuff or vice versa, stay in CHCH and day trip to Akaroa (assuming you will have a car?)

Other than that the places others have mentioned are great. Hanmer is also a cool place to go even in the summer, they have houses to hire there too.

Even tripping down the West Coast is beautiful, stopping in at Lake Kanarie (sp) and other spots along the way.

So much to do and see down here, you will love it!!

Good luck deciding

i was going to say us (the lovey ohbaby mums)

awsome thanks ladies!!

DH only has a week off so we are only going to a few things. We are going to take our car over on the interislander.

My mother took my sister and i around the south island for 4 weeks, years ago but i remember VERY LITTLE about it!

so far i love the sound of kaikora or the dolphins, seals etc, chch for orana park and i definately want to go back to shanty town but wasnt sure if it was still there!?

and tehehe im sure there are alot of ohbaby attractions around the south island

oh and another question - is there anywhere that DH can go on a hunting trip for the day????

i love nz such a beautiful place with lots to do have been all around the south island and just adore the scenery.

Maybe you could google hunting to find somewhere for hubby to hunt for the day, I'm sure there would be places.

All the best for your upcoming trip.

Oh yes Akaroa is nice, I had forgotten about it. Akaroa and Hanmer are good day trips from Christchurch if you're staying in chch for a couple of days.