Choose your adventure

There's heaps to love about Kaikōura!

You may want to ride the Coastal Pacific train to get there. A great experience for everyone to see the stunning scenery. The train runs from Christchurch to Piction, stopping in Kaikōura on the way.  

• And then when you're there:
  Check out the Ohau Point Seal Colony and Peninsula Seal Colony and watch the beautiful seals play, sleep and explore.
• If the budget stretches, head off with Whale Watch Kaikōura to explore the deep seas with a guided tour to see dolphins, seals, sperm whales.
• Play mini golf or complete an escape room, and be sure to grab a drink and some snacks all at the The Emporium. 

There's plenty to do on this side of town:

• Park up in the New Brighton carpark to enjoy time at the newly developed beachside water-play park. No trip to Brighton is complete without checking out the Whale Pool! 
• Book a session at the newly opened He Puna Taimoana hotpools.
• Take a stroll along the New Brighton Pier and chat to the local fishermen.
• Peruse the books at the New Brighton Library, then pitch up on the beach for a read on the New Brighton beach.

Or head a bit further up the road to Waimairi Beach:

• Set yourselves up in front of the Waimairi Beach Surf Life Saving Club. They mark and man the flags throughout the summer, so a great place to take the family. They also have 24/7 beach webcams so you can check how the waves are faring, and where the tide is at before you head out. 
• Enjoy an hour or two wandering around Waitākiri/Bottle Lake Forest Park - either for a stroll or on your bikes.
• Take in some lunch or a hot drink at The Beach Cafe directly behind the beach
• Let the kids run free at the Broad Park Playground (on Beach Road) directly behind the surf club.

A fantastic day out at the seaside!

If you like to wander, discover old treasures, taste new foods, and support local - organise a trip around the markets.

There are plenty around the city to choose from: from central city Riverside Markets, to bric-a-brac, artisan or second-hand stalls in the suburbs:

Lyttelton Farmers Market - Saturdays. Stallholders offering fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs, bread, meat, fish, cheese, juices, herbs and plants sell at the market every week. There are also treats and creative stuff too.

Christchurch Riverside Market - every day, inner-city. Offering a range of eateries, enjoy perusing a huge number of indoor and outdoor eateries which cater for all tastebuds - and they make great coffee here too! Browse the stalls and grab some groceries for the week - local merchants offer meats, bread, seafood, eggs, salamis, cookies, kombucha, fresh vegetables (some amazing avocadoes!), sweets, and even beer to take home! A great one-stop option if you want to give your family a real treat. If you want to dine al fresco, sit at the tables outside the market, or wander down to the Avon Riverside terraces.

Riccarton Market - Sundays, Riccarton Racecourse. Peruse and pick up up bric-a-brac, memorabilia, repurposed clothing and this community market. An idea for kids when they have saved up some pocket money, and an opportunity to show them how to get value for money on recycled and repurposed goods.

Christchurch Farmers Market - Saturdays, Riccarton Bush. Enjoy brunch at one of the many food-stalls throughout the market; enjoy the opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown produce and baked goods.

Mt Pleasant Farmers Market - Saturdays. Offering vegetables, berries, herbs, mushrooms, honey, milk & cream, The Weekend Press, meats, organic food, gluten-free baking, pastries, breads, cheeses and more.

Opawa Farmers Market - Sundays. This market prides itself on having the best selection of fresh local produce in Christchurch, including a large organic range from well-known and trusted local growers. Top up your vege shop with fresh artisan bread, French-style pastries, free-range eggs, locally made Italian cheeses, seasonal fruits and much more.

The Works Market, Waterloo - Sundays, 9am-2pm. Welcoming families, friends, dogs on leads...anyone!  Offering quality produce, baked goods (including a good range of gluten-free and coeliac friendly options from FOG Food), coffee, art, other creations and entertainment for the children. Plenty of off-street parking and toilet facilities. 400 Waterloo Road, Islington Christchurch.

Such a great way to see the city and support local!

Just over the hill from Christchurch, a day of adventure in Governors Bay awaits! Plenty of things to do here:

• Park at the bottom of the jetty then set off to wander along the foreshore walking and cycling track.
• Have lunch at the iconic Governors Bay Hotel.
• Return to Christchurch via the coastal ride and take a ride home through the Lyttelton Road tunnel (though, you’re no longer allowed to beep your horn!!).

You could spend an entire day at in Halswell and in the surrounding hills:

• Enjoy a stroll through the Halswell Quarry and discover the wonderful installations and outdoor displays. There are some great bike tracks up there too - so throw your bikes and helmets in the car, just in case.
• Head to the Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre and Library for a browse of their book collection and enjoy a hot chocolate in their cafe.
• Depending on the weather, pack your togs and visit the Te Hāpua Halswell Summer Pool - offering a toddler pool, 33.3m lane pool, and a great hydroslide - lots of options!

There is so much to do in this lovely port suburb, just over the hill from Christchurch:

• Stroll down the new marina where you can buy the yummiest dumplings and coffee - some say the best in Christchurch! 
• Walk to Magazine Bay and stroll along the coastal path - a happy place to take dogs!
• Find something historic to explore – The Lyttelton Timeball, where the jail used to be (hint:school), Holy Trinity Church, Grubb Cottage - one of the oldest surviving houses in Canterbury.
• Walk the streets – there’s plenty of interesting houses, historic walls and shops.

Make a day of it - pack the car, pack a picnic, pack your shoes and go exploring! 

We're loving Methven, there's:

• Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa - sit back and relax in the adult-exclusive Tranquility Pools or check out the Discovery Pools for all ages - they have an Aqua Play Zone including a “crazy river” & “leap of faith” plunge pool.
• Watch a movie and eat some popcorn at Cinema Paradiso Methven.
• In winter, head up to Mt Hutt ski field - even just play in the snow.
• And don't forget to include the playground, though watch that wheel of doom (our kids have had accidents)!
• Head via Rakaia on the way home for another cool playground experience.

Bring back the Sunday Drive! Oxford is a 45-minute drive north from Christchurch - nestled near the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Oxford has heaps of things to do:

• Go walking - choose from two great conservation areas (Oxford and Mt Thomas) 
• Explore the great number of bike tracks on offer
• The township is also really enjoyable - we’d totally recommend heading out for lunch or dinner at the Cruisy Days Diner: take a step back in time and enjoy fun at a 1950s themed diner. 

Take part in their wonderful community events:

• Sunday Farmers Market, (9am-12pm), and
• Craft Market (the 1st Sunday of every month).

Hit up Google before you head out there and search for "what’s going on in Oxford today?"

So much to do in this little piece of seaside paradise!

• Spend an afternoon beachside - if low tide, clamber up and around Cave Rock, peer into rock pools, make sandcastles and bulldoze them down again.
• If you want to explore the caves, pack your gumboots in case the tide is coming in.
• Pack a picnic, sample some locally made gelato or grab an ice-cream from the dairy, and enjoy it on the beach.
• There is a designated Dog-Area near Scarborough, so take your furry friend.
• Scarborough Park Playground is pretty amazing - newly upgraded, this playground caters for all age groups.
• If the weather is cold, head to the Sumner Hollywood Cinema and take in a movie.
• On colder days, put on a warm coat, pack a blanket, grab a coffee and sit on the beach wall and watch the waves roll in.

Walk barefoot along the beach, feel the sand between your toes, and the splash of the water on your feet.

There’s plenty of options in the city right now!

• Put on some sturdy shoes and be local tourists for the day.
• Pack a picnic, sit on the steps of the Avon River and soak up the atmosphere of the newly developed CBD.
• Have lunch at one of the many eateries in the newly developed Riverside Market.
• Grab a $2 coin, your phone, find the Dance-o-mat in the city centre (across from the Tūranga Library) and have a boogie!
• Grab an ice-cream at Rollickin Gelato - based in several locations around the city. A real treat after a good blat at the playground, or if you have been hiking the streets!
• Spend an afternoon at Margaret Mahy playground.
• Take your scooter to the pump track on Manchester St. Take your basketball too, and shoot some hoops.
• Walk through the iconic Cathedral Square and watch progress being made on the restoration of the ChristChurch Cathedral.
• Take in a spot of shopping in The Crossing or one of the many shops and mini-centres in Cashel Street Mall.
• Simply stroll around the city and marvel at the development taking place, what was, and what is yet to come! 

Otherwise, just wander around and soak up what's going on - there's always something new and exciting being built or developed. Plus, there are loads of coffee and ice cream options in the city. Sorted!

Easy to spend an afternoon on this side of town!

• Head to what is otherwise known as The Elephant Park (actually Bishopdale Park) where there are a number of adventures for all ages.
• Enjoy the flying fox, monster slide, obstacle course and pack your scooter and skateboards for the skate zone area.
• Then take a drive to the designated parking zone at the end of the Christchurch Airport runway (on Aviation Drive) and watch planes land and take off directly above you. Pack a thermos and enjoy a hot drink while you're at it.

This is a great option if it's raining, you've cabin fever or you simply need a change of scenery.

A one-hour drive from Christchurch, this is a wonderful option for a day out.

Nestled in the midst of a working sheep, cattle and deer farm, Washpen Falls offers breath-taking views of the Canterbury Plains.

• Kick-off your trek at the Old Washpen Woolshed and journey through an ancient Volcanic Canyon filled with lush native bush.
• Mid-way through the looping track you will stumble across the spectacular Washpen Falls. Quick, get the camera out!
• Allow 2 hours to walk the track, moderate fitness is recommended. 
• A fee is charged which includes a track guide and use of walking sticks.
• $10 per adult, $5 per child (under 15).

Take sturdy shoes, plenty of snacks and water, wet weather gear, and dry clothes for when you get back to the car.

The perfect place to get your buzz on - Adrenalin Forest - only a 15-minute drive north of Christchurch.

• A great adventure to do with older kids and a way for parents to support the kids with safe risk-taking (as well as show off their adventurous side!). 
• You have 3-hours from the start of your briefing time to complete as much of the course as you can.
• A great option for a birthday party, or school holiday activity. 
• Children under 16 years must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian (over 18 years) and minimum height is 140cm.

High excitement and a great confidence builder!

There are loads of apps offering audiobooks at the mo - here's a list of the good ones to save you time! Snuggle in with an audiobook - easy!

• Audible - offering a range of audio books for all ages. Offers a one-month free trial, and some free books too! Great way to give the kids some quiet time.
• Christchurch City Libraries - download e-books and audiobooks for free, and then access them through the libary app Borrow Box. To do this, you must have an active Christchurch City Libraries membership.
• RNZ Storytime - offering access to a range of free songs, stories and fun! Good chance to let the kids chose their own stories, sit back and enjoy!
• Storyline Online- streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.
• "Elevenses" - as part of the wonderful series of free audio stories by the wonderful David Walliams.

An awesome option for a rainy day, or download to keep everyone entertained on a long, car trip!

Why not make a date with your cousins, good family friends, and set up a night to go camping in their backyard?

Such an easy and great last-minute option: throw the tent, sleeping bags and a picnic into the car, and off you go! 

Here are some great ideas from DOC to help get you motivated! 

A great way to feel like you are getting away, but without too much fuss. 

Only a 1.5 hour drive from Christchurch, Akaroa is a great option for a day trip. 

Fish n chips on the beach, a hike in the hills, or a stroll around the township is a great way to spend the day.

If you've extra time, (and spending money), you could add to the experience by booking:

• Blackcat Cruises - a wonderful way to see the area, and spot some dolphins.
• Swim with the dolphins in Akaroa Harbour - seasonal, so call them to see when they run.
• The Giants House - iconic tourist destination, recently acclaimed as an"Garden of Internataional Significance". A fun afternoon out!  

There's plenty of accommodation options available too - although we recommend you book in advance, especially in summer.

Only a 45-minute drive north from Christchurch, Ashley Gorge is a great option for either a day trip, or an overnight stay.

• There's a fun swimming river, a good swimming hole (although kids need to be supervised at all times) and a rocky shore to explore.
• If you decide to stay, you can either tent or stay in a cabin at the Ashley Gorge Motor Camp (although pack plenty of insect-repellant, as mozzy's can invade at night!).
• Pack your shoes in case you feel like a stroll too: there are plenty of short walks in and around the Oxford area.

Take a picnic, sunscreen, hat & togs, and enjoy an ice-cream on the way home!

Castle Hill Village is located in the Canterbury high country 100km west of Christchurch (one hours' car travel on State Highway 73),then 33km west from Springfield (over Porters Pass). The Village is a great place to base yourself if you want to go:

• Skiing - there are four ski fields located along the Craigieburn Range near the village. The Craigieburn Range also offers extensive ski touring.
• Caving at Cave Stream Reserve - one of the most outstanding natural features in the Canterbury region (although this is more for older children, not for little ones).
• Mountain biking, especially with the recent development of the Hogs Back Track. Further rides are also located in the Craigieburn Forest Park, with other mountain bike tracks proposed for the future.
• Exploring - apart from the walking tracks and climbing routes in the adjacent Craigieburn Forest Park, a range of walks, tramps and climbs are possible in the Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park.
• There are a number of walks on the way to Arthurs Pass, so be sure to pack the boot with some sturdy shoes, picnic blankets, plenty of food and drink and a change of close, in case you find some waterfalls!

The main cost here will be petrol. However, once you are out there, you can spend hours clambering over the most magnificent boulders, and enjoying the wide-open expanse of this truly magical place.

A 2-hour drive south of Christchurch and nestled in the foothills of the Southern Alps, this  South Canterbury town is a breath of fresh air.

• Head to Talbot Forest or Peel Forest for long or short native bush walks
• Feed (or stay with!) the animals at Geraldine Farmyard
• Rangitata Rafts, Horse Trekking and Big Rock Canyoning will fill all the needs of adrenaline seekers
• Or hit the quaint Main Street (Talbot Street) for NZ products, food and great coffee. Remember Geraldine is the home of Barkers - delicious cordials, jams and chutneys (which all make great gifts!)

Check out their range of accomodation options to suit all budgets. 

Taken either as a day-trip or school holiday adventure, this alpine town has plenty to offer!

• Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa- although famous for its "Hot Pools", this remains a great all-year-round option. Offering a warm, lap pool, lazy river, a great play/swim area for kids, hydroslides, and the Conical Thrill ride, you can easily while away a day at this place. They also offer relaxing treatments in their on-site spa. Plus, sign up for a "Pools Plus" loyalty card to enjoy regular discounts on entry as 10% of treatments at the extensive menu at the Tea Kiosk.
• Pitch and Putt Mini Golf - an 8-min walk from the centre of town, families can enjoy the course with time out in our picnic areas, offeirng A BBQ for an after match meal.
• Alpine Crazy Putt & Village Cruisers - located in the centre of the village, you can also hire family bikes to cruise around the streets in. A great family activity.
• Bike Riding - if you don't bring your own, you can hire a bike in the central village. There are so many bike tracks to chose from - great, flat options within Hanmer Forest, through to the gruntier, and challenging hill rides. Make sure to pick up a map and talk to the locals about what suits best.
• Walk Conical Hill and surrounding tracks - a must-do for your stay. Hike up this (relatively) easy switch-back track and be rewarded with stunning views. Once at the top, there are a number of tracks you can take, which lead you back to the Village. Be sure to grab a map though, as you don't want to get stuck on the wrong one! Mind also that you stick to the walking tracks and try not to walk on the bike tracks... especially when heading downhill!
• Visit Hanmer Heritage Forest - either by foot, or by bike. Look out for the cool "Art in the Forest" art installations - look out for the dog at the entrance, and can you spot the possums? And look out for who's peeking around the corner? Lots of fun as you amble through this beautiful, enchanted forest.
• A picnic on the Village Green - a great option on warm summer days. 
• Skiing - use Hanmer as an overnight base if you fancy a spot of skiing at Mt Lyford.
• Hanmer Springs Adventures - this company offers a load of adrenaline-inducing attractions, including Jet Boating, Rafting, Bungee Jumping & Quad Biking.

Less than 2-hours drive from Christchurch, there are plenty of accomodation options, including Air BnB, Hanmer Holiday Homes, Bookabach or the famous Top 10 Campground.

With so many winter and summer options, this is a great place to spend your weekend or school holidays!

About a 4.5 hours drive south of Canterbury, you will land yourself in the Otago region. 

There is plenty to see and do in this "Scarfy Town", so a few days down this way will fly by!

• The city is steeped in English history, and is home to one of New Zealand's largest universities, Lanarch Castle. 
• A must-see is its cleverly designed Octagonal-shaped city-centre.
• It is also famous for Baldwin Street - arguably the steepest street in the world - and its annual jaffa-race.
• Visiting the Moeraki Boulders is aways a hit. This attraction is known as one of the most fascinating and popular places in the South Island. They say the Boulders originally started forming in ancient seafloor sediments around 60 million years ago, and the largest boulders are estimated to have taken about 4-million years to get to their current size. Wow! A great photo opp to be had here, as well as a good chance to stretch the legs, and learn more on the geography and quirky landscapes in this area.
• If you are traveling down in the summer months, Duntroon Elephant Rocks (in North Otago), comes highly recommended. There are a number of great places to stay down here, including the wonderful Duntroon camping ground. 

Dunedin is a great base to spend a few days, especially if you wish to travel further south, eg, down to the Wanaka Lakes or Queenstown.

There are plenty of things to do and see in this gorgeous lakeside town:

• Skiing at Roundhill Field - a great field for beginners and young families. You can set up a carboot picnic and ski right up to the car. 
• Water - Lake Tekapo offers plenty of options for summertime swimming, kayaking and boating. 
• Photography - Church of the Good Shepherd offers the quintessential South Island scenery shot.
• Walking - enjoy a stroll up Mt John or around the Tekapo Town Tracks.
• Scenery - Omarama Clay Cliffs.
• Science - enjoy the Dark-Sky project experience at the Tekapo Observatory. 
• Action at Tekapo Springs - offering ice-skating, snow-tubing, hot-pools, star gazing, steam and sauna.

Be sure to check-in at the local Tourist Office for the latest deals, or search for great discounts on the likes of Bookme or Grabone. 

If you are up for an adventurous, and action-packed holiday, then this part of the world is a great visit. Renowned for its beautiful beaches, national walks, glorious waterways - there is so much to chose in the far north of the South Island.

We suggest doing your own research, but as a starter, here are a few ideas:

• Nelson - touted as the sunniest city in New Zealand. A wonderful destination in itself and acts as a great base in order to further explore this bountiful region.
• A 1.5-hour drive from Nelson (towards the East Coast) and you find yourself in the Marlborough region - perhaps New Zealand's most famous wine region. Offering a myriad of activities, this is a not-to-be-missed place on your visit to the top of the south.
• Cable Bay Adventure Park - hang out with 5-time Coast-to-Coast winner, Richard Usher, as he guides you on a number of experiences, including the Skywire experience (think massive flying fox!), quad bike tours, paintball, and options for mountain and e-biking tours. 
• Kaiteriteri Beach - is world-famous in New Zealand for its gorgeous climate and golden sands. A must-visit, of not an overnight stay.
• Abel Tasman National Park- Abel Tasman National Park is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its world-famous coast track. There are a range of guided and supported walks on this famous national track! Make sure to look around to figure out what different companies, compare quotes, and get all the details before you commit. 

Accomodation

There are plenty of Air BnB and holiday park options:

• Highly recommended is Marehau's “Old McDonald’s” Farm Holiday Park. A great option all year around, however, you need to ensure you book as it fills up fast.
• Tahunanui Beach Holiday Park is popular in Nelson, but again, is very popular in peak season, so be sure to book ahead.

Be sure to check-in at the local Tourist Office for the latest deals, or search for great discounts on the likes of Bookme or Grabone.

Located on the West Coast of the South Island (funny that!), there is so much to see and do in this rugged part of the world. Just under a 4-hour drive from Christchurch, it is renowned for its iffy weather, so pack your jackets.

We recommend you do your own research, however, a few things that have come recommended to us include:

• Hokitika - this self-titled "cool little town" offers so much to locals and tourists alike. Try your luck panning for gold (in Ross), or enjoy a long walk in the gorge, and experience the swing bridge. Or just hang out on the famous Hokitika beach and marvel at the powerful force of the Tasman sea hitting the shoreline.
• Charleston - 20 mins south of Westport, this place is set up for adventure, offering a range of fun things to do at Underworld Adventures (minimum age 10-years). Activities include cave Rafting, glow-worm cave tour, adventure caving, and a rainforest train. Pack extra warm and dry clothes and hold onto your hats!
• Shantytown Heritage Park - just out of Greymouth - take a step back in time and visit the days of old. A recreation of an old mining town set up the 19th century when the Gold Rush was rife in these parts of the world. A great lesson in history and how harsh conditions used to be. Offering steam train rides, gold panning and historic reenactments. You can even dress up in olden-day clothes and get your photo taken!  
• Buller Gorge Swingbridge - 30-mins north of Westport you can find the longest swingbridge in New Zealand (if you are brave enough!). They also offer their comet-line (zipline) experience. Thrill-seekers love this place! And they offer tandem rides, which is a great option for parents to do with children.

Be sure to check-in at the local Tourist Office for the latest deals, or search for great discounts on the likes of Bookme or Grabone. 

Suitable for all age groups - to do together, to supervise, or to leave your kids to it! Here are a few ideas to get you motivated:

• Buy the ingredients for a tasty cake you’ve always wanted to bake (you know the one they always stop at in your recipe book!).
• Get out the recipe books and let the kids to choose something new to bake.
• Check out the Kidspot baking pages for some top-tips, easy, yummy, and kid-friendly recipe ideas. Fork Biscuits are always a fail-safe, fun & easy option.
• Buy a plain cake and some special decorations from the shop and decorate it together. 
• We’re big fans of making it easy (think, Betty Crocker and Edmonds packet cakes) - so make this your option if you are pressed for time, ingredients, or confidence!
• Cupcakes are always a hit and great for freezing for the lunchboxes.
• While the goodies are baking, wash the dishes together and guide them with the cleaning up.
• If you have the energy, make it fancy!  Get out your best plates, cups & saucers, and enjoy an afternoon tea party.

Note for parents – be patient and recognise it won’t be perfect - it's more about the process, than the outcome. Just have fun!

If you have a child that loves art – here’s a nice "outing and activity":

• Set up to paint the scene of an iconic Christchurch building, such as the Canterbury Museum, Arts Centre, or the peacock fountain at the Botanic Gardens.  
• If you run out of time/daylight - take a picture on your phone and work on it at home.
  
• If you don’t already have a canvas and paints, you can buy them on special from the likes of Spotlight, The Warehouse or K-mart (and they make good presents too).

A great school holiday out-and-about option, which you can complete on a Chillin' at Home, or rainy day! 

Collect as many Kiwi Guardian medals as you can!

A programme established by the Department of Conservation, this activity programme encourages kids to learn about nature, earn cool rewards and go on epic family adventures.

• It supports families to get out and about to explore and learn about their local environment. It encourages kids to become conservation and eco-warriors and understand the impact that our actions today, might have on our future tomorrow.
• And it’s fun! You can either do “at-home” eco activities, and earn your own medal from home or head out and about to designated locations and go searching to find a signpost and special code.
• Once you find a special Kiwi Guardian signpost and discover its unique code, then logon to the DOC website to be awarded your very own Guardian Medal.
• There are ten locations in Canterbury where you can find these signposts and codes, including:

• Riccarton Bush
• Godley Heads  
• Travis Wetlands
• Otukaikino Wetlands  
• The Packhorse Hut
• Little River
• Quail Island
• Ōtepatotu

So get your walking shoes on, pack your backpack, and start collecting!

This wonderful initiative is not just limited to Canterbury - there are Kiwi Guardian signposts and codes all around New Zealand, so you can take this activity on holiday with you. 

Dig out your old Twister game and teach your kids how to play.

If you don’t have the actual Twister game, make your own! Cut out and colour 24 circles, (6-each red, blue, green and yellow), tape them to your floor, create a simple spinner, and limber up to get bendy!

This makes for a great birthday or Christmas present - check The Warehouse or Whitcoulls, or even Trade Me for a pre-loved version!

Many memories have been made playing family board game favourites!

• Whatever’s in the cupboard, discover it together.
• Figure out the rules if it’s never been used (or break the ones you already know and make up some new ones).
• As with any board game – kids younger than 8 might find it tricky if they don't win, so maybe pair with them, or simply don't play to win. 
• Oh, and a wee note – the way you behave will determine if they ever want to play with you again (and perhaps how they might play with their friends or future family… just sayin'!).

Check out your local bookstore for specials, and board games make great birthday gifts! 

Download the interactive Mural Map called Plain Sight - which brings Christchurch’s street art and murals to life through augmented reality.

Delivering an innovative and interactive experience, it’s a modern and fun way to look around our ever-developing city.

A great option to do with your older teens - let them show you around the city!

Build a hut in the living room big enough for you all to sit in and watch a movie together.

• Drape blankets over the back of dining room chairs to create a canopy, grab your pillows, make some snacks and snuggle in.
• Perhaps set them up in their sleeping bags for the night. Why not have an indoor camp-out?
• Lay an old rug on the floor so that food crumbs can be easily dealt with – simply fold the rug up and shake it outside when done. Voila! Clean up done.

A great way to create connection and great memories.

When the weather's iffy, or if you just feel like chilling out, why not catch a movie?

A good place to start and to see what's on, visit www.flicks.co.nz - a directory of cinemas and screenings around Canterbury. To save time:

• Register an account online and choose your favourite cinemas throughout Canterbury.
• Chose your movie, buy your tickets & snacks online and collect when you arrive.
• Pack a backpack of your own snacks but, as a bit of a treat, let the kids choose one item from the candy-bar. Otherwise, offer to get an ice-cream from the dairy on the way home.
• Pack a picnic if you are heading to a cinema across town and make a day of it, eg, head to The Hollywood Cinema in Sumner, have lunch on the beach beforehand, or plan to get dinner afterwards. 
• In summer, throw in some togs and towels, a blanket, some tomato sauce (and handee towels) and grab fish 'n chips for dinner on the beach - super easy.

Check out the Christchurch Art Gallery, located in the heart of Christchurch city.

• Home to one of New Zealand's most important public art collections, and yet entrance is totally free.
• Go online and check out their latest exhibitions. Check ahead in case you need to book a spot for a family activity.
• Take a sketchbook for the little ones, or encourage older kids to bring their own pens and pencils, and see if they can draw any of the art-work they see? 
• A great way to visit art galleries is for everyone to identify the piece they’d buy if they had lots of money!
• Enjoy a coffee and snack at Universo Bar - a nice way to unwind, compare notes and chat about the art you've seen, what you liked (or didn’t!).

Jump in the car and head out to some beautiful waterfalls and walks around Canterbury. We’re lucky to have some good ones pretty close, and here are a few of our favourites:

• Washpen Falls - just over an hours' drive from Christchurch and is one of the most popular waterfalls near Christchurch. The Falls are reached via a gorgeous 2-hour loop walk.
• Ryde Falls - Oxford - a 50-minute drive from Christchurch, with great walking and mountain biking tracks. Dogs are allowed, but to be kept under control at all times. These falls are hidden in the heart of Oxford forest. The falls can be accessed from a number of walking tracks in the area, including the Wharfedale Track, View Hill and Coopers Creek.
• Avalanche Creek Falls - a 2-hour drive from Christchurch, then a short 5-minute walk to the falls. Three waterfalls (totalling 80-metres in height) is what’s in store when you arrive. The lower fall can be seen from the bridge, while the middle fall is visible from the lookout platform at the end of the track. To see the upper waterfall, cross the road and follow Devils Punchbowl Waterfall track. After 2-5 minutes, look back and marvel at the view!
• Anne's Falls - Port Hills - a 45-minute drive from Christchurch, nestled in the Port Hills. A 2-hour return, moderate walking track. Once you’ve reached the stream on Rhodes Track, a quick 3-minute stroll will reveal the base of the falls – easy as that! Make sure you’re wearing appropriate footwear – the track is steep in some places.
• Bridal Veils Falls - located in the heart of Arthur's Pass National Park and a 2-hour drive from Christchurch. Although you can see the waterfall from the highway, it’s better to trek up to the waterfall lookout via the relatively easy, pleasant track.

You can discover other waterfalls in the Canterbury region by visiting the New Zealand Waterfalls website.

Great for fitness, confidence, and fun for all the family.

Uprising Bouldering

• Offering climbing, yoga, fitness classes, kids classes & a good cafe.
• Bouldering is a fab way to gain movement skills and build strength and confidence.
• From beginners to advanced - this is a great option for everyone in the family.

YMCA Adventure Centre

Offering a range of adventures for all age groups!

• YMCA Clip 'n Climb - hugely popular for all aged kids – there is no minimum or maximum age.  In all, there are 38 different climbs, and automatic belay devices on every climb. Just clip onto your harness and away you go.

The YMCA has an incredible offer for Real Parents followers - simply add in the code "realparents" to any online booking to receive a generous 2-4-1 deal on a "Clip 'n Climb" activity *  - even throughout the holidays!  How's that for a good reason to call a friend and arrange a catch-up!

Make your booking here!*

• YMCA Climbing Wall - for more experienced, or older kids. They also have a dedicated bouldering area full of interesting challenges.
• YMCA Climbing Courses - offering a wide range of courses for climbers of all ages and abilities, from absolute beginners to intermediate and advanced levels.

* this offer is only valid for online bookings for Clip 'n Climb and for school age and pre-school entries only. This offer will not be available for walk-in bookings.

Apparently New Zealand is one of the last places that still allows children to climb trees, and we'd hate to see it no longer available. Of course there's safety as a number one factor, but if you're there, they'll be okay. 

General rules are to use branches that are the same width as your wrist (they will hold you) and stay close to the trunk of the tree where things are much more sturdy. 

But look for some trees you could support your kids to climb - at home, in the neighbourhood or while on holiday. 

There are so many great cafes in Christchurch which welcome families and young children. We know there are plenty of them out there, so please do touch base and let us know where you recommend and why.

Some recommended cafes when you have kids in tow include:

• C1 Espresso - These guys are famous for their curly fries, and pneumatic slider menu. A Christchurch cafe institution!
• The Beach Cafe - Waimairi Beach - one-stop shop for playground and beach fun, and then coffee and kai afterwards at their family-friendly cafe. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating (and a small outdoor play area), so great options if you have a sleeping baby in a pram, and need the toddler entertained while you have your coffee!
• Ilex Cafe - in the heart of the Botanic Gardens, a good option after a stroll around Hagley Park
• Coffee Culture - offering 6 cafes across the wider Canterbury region, this is a strong, local, community business. They offer a huge range of hot and cold coffees, teas, steamers, chai, kids' fluffies and cabinet food. They have even set up a Charitable Foundation to support young people in the community to achieve their full potential.
• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve - Harewood. These guys offer a range of cabinet food and menu options. Their hot chips, muffins and strong coffees  are always a favorite for hungry kids after a big wander around the reserve.
• Joe’s Garage - two locations across the city - in Wigram and Sumner. Offering an extensive menu, yummy pizza and frequently run great family specials (eg, 2-4-1 pizzas on Sunday night). A great spot to grab a coffee and scone on your way out to the beach, or to unwind after a session in the surf.
• Little Poms - located just 2km east of the inner city, Little Poms offer up delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch options. Best of all, their meals are made from  free-range seasonal food, locally sourced from artisan producers. Quality food, gluten free and vegetarian options, great coffee and lovely atmosphere. They have a covered outdoor, seating area - a great spot anyone who’s pram-walking and needing a pit-stop for good nosh and coffee.
• Kōwhai Café at Barrington Oderings Garden Centre - this wonderful garden centre has an outdoor playground with a trampoline, and an aviary with cockatiels, budgies and parrots to keep the kids entertained. They offer clean change facilities, comfy seating, buggy space, parking right outside, children’s menus (mainly mini versions of adult meals), cater for allergy options, including gluten-free and vegan. A fun experience to boot!
• Kidd's Cakes and Bakery - Cranford Street. This place is well known for its sweet treats and is a popular lunchtime spot. It also has a great mostly enclosed play area out the back, meaning you can enjoy your coffee at leisure
• Utopia Ice in Sumner. This one is a bit different - the focus is on ice cream, not coffee! Offering comfy seats, space for buggies and allergy options too.
• Black & White Coffee Cartel, locations dotted around the city. But a good option if heading to the city centre, this central cafe has buggy space, a toy area, and comfy couches. Oh, and good coffee too!
• Switch Cafe, New Brighton. This is a funky and child-welcoming cafe. They have a dedicated kids-space/toy area, where kids can sit at their own table to enjoy their own fluffy (made with non-dairy milk if need be). But, be sure to watch the exits, as they have 3 doors that lead out to a pretty busy carpark. But it's worth a visit for their amazing coffee.
• Christchurch Adventure Park Cafe, Port Hills. Lots of space both inside and outside for the kids to run around in. The cafe has an indoor play area /toy box and outside there's a trampoline, mini bike track and duck boards.
• The Good Home, Pegasus. Great for a day out of the city. Option to walk around the lake, have a play in the playground, then finish off with quality food and coffee.
• The Air Force Museum of New Zealand Café, Wigram. After a good session wandering around the museum, park up at the cafe and enjoy a hot cuppa. Plenty of on-site parking and buggy friendly.
• Urban Corner, Parklands. Offers a large enclosed outdoor area with separate tables for children and adults alike. Vast range of food, good coffee, offering all day platters, and selling pantry fillers and condiments.
• The Front Room, Mt Pleasant Community Centre. With views across the estuary, this community centre hosts a variety of toddler classes as well as a casual playgroup. Plenty of parking, and a nice play park just outside too. Note however, that the outdoor area is not fenced from the busy Esplanade road, so remain vigilant if dining outside.
• Ocean Cafe and Bar - Sumner. Located right on the edge of the beach, at the end of the esplanade, make this your coffee/ice-cream stop after a good scramble up and around Cave Rock, a blat on the playground and/or a dip in the sea. It can get very busy on a beautiful day, especially on the weekend, but we think it’s worth it anyway!  
• 79 Impresso Cafe, Woodend. This cafe comes highly recommended. It has a playground/outside area as well as indoor seating and has extensive offerings on an all-day menu, including specific “kids” options.
• Raewood Fresh Cafe, Harewood. Offering heaps of options out of the cabinet, and a wide and varied menu, they also do great coffee, have plenty of seating and a popular outdoor play area. Combine this with a shopping excursion and grab some groceries while you’re there. If you don’t have the time (or energy) to dine in, grab some takeaways, jump back in car and drive a short way to designated 'plane-spotting' patch on Aviation Drive and watch the planes fly in!
• The Craft Room Cafe, Heathcote - Enjoy homemade fresh food and fairtrade coffee inside or on the lovely deck.  View some locally sourced craft and art.
• Rollickin' Dessert Cafe, Inner City. A dessert cafe full of organic espresso, gelato & sorbet yum!  Offering dairy-free fruit sorbets made with a hefty kilo & a half of real fruit. Tick!
• The Catnap Café - Book your place, and enjoy an hour sipping coffee and petting cats. You might even be able to organise to adopt a moggy and take it home!

Look out for offers! First Table offers great deals for early-bird diners, where you pay $10 up-front to receive 50% off the cost of your meal and selected restaurants.  

Your local Entertainment Book offers 2-4-1 and 25% off a range of takeaway, cafe, bistro and contemporary dining choices.

If you don't know about Creative Junk, well now's a great time to head down and choose some awesome pieces to create something cool. It's a magical place filled with all sort of incredible artwork and project materials that come from the off-cuts from factories and printers...

This kind of fun will support your kids' imaginations, creativity, can-do attitudes, sense of curiosity - all the good stuff!

And next time you go to throw away the cereal box or egg carton - rethink it!

Unleash the creative flair! 

• Dust off the sewing machine and show off your seamline skills, or invest in a new machine (some great second-hand options out there) and challenge yourself to a new hobby!
• Teens love creating outfits - they may have some really good ideas to create something new or up-cycle some of the things that aren’t quite right.
• You’ll need to let them have a crack at it, and there’ll be some disasters – but let it go. It’s all in the learning and who knows what this time may inspire.
• Worst case – upgrade your cushion covers! Surely that’s easy (ish) – need be, sew them all the way – nobody needs the zip!

Plus, it's a lot of fun! 

Nestled in Arthur's Pass National Park, the Devils Punchbowl is a magical outing. 

• a 2-hour drive from Christchurch
• a 1-hour return walk (2km) via a moderate walking track.
• moderate fitness is required.

The track climbs up to the base-lookout, offering truly unforgettable views. During the winter season, brave the chill and enjoy the beautiful sight of the falls, especially beautiful when it's been snowing. Some say it's one of the best short walks in the area.

Take plenty of snacks and water, and some sturdy shoes and a warm coat if you venture out in the colder months!

A great way to spend any day and suitable for all age groups:

• Visit the Canterbury Museum website to check if there are any new exhibitions on display. But let’s face it - the museum is good anytime!
• Take advantage of up to three hours free parking inside the Christchurch Botanic Gardens - which is an approximate 10 minute stroll to the Museum. 
• Plan to have lunch at the Museum Cafe, located on the top floor of the museum.  Enjoy the great views over the gardens and spy some of the wonderful art on display, as you sip on a hot drink coffee, while kids can have fun in the play area.  

A great way to understand our city, culture, people and heritage.

Why not challenge yourself, and your friends, to an hour of fun, teamwork & problem-solving? Head to an escape room, where the challenge is to work together to solve the puzzles and escape the room in the nick of time.

There are a couple of options in Christchurch:

• Escape Artists - centrally located escape rooms in Christchurch, and offering experiences to teams of 2 - 6 people. Can cater for groups of up to 24.
• Codebreakers - offering adventures from art heists through to being lost in Antarctica. A great challenge for all age-groups.

A great option for a birthday party, work event, or end of year Christmas function. 

There are so many tracks and trails up in the Port Hills — it’s just knowing how to find them.

Check out this map of tracks listed around the city, otherwise, here are some of our favourites:

• The Bridle Path - you will need some fitness for this one, but the view and disused road at the top are worth all the puffing and moaning!
• Ōtepatotu Scenic Reserve Walk - from Christchurch follow the Akaroa Highway to Hilltop, then turn left. Ōtepatotu is located along the Summit Road midway between Okains and Le Bons Bays. Look out for the Guardian Medal signpost and find the codeword to claim your medal!
• Park at Sign of the Takahe, walk through Victoria Park (their playground has the best slide) and up the Harry Ell Walkway. Take in the views either side of Summit Road. Gaze over to Diamond Harbour and see if you can spot Ōtamahua/Quail Island. Then reward your efforts with coffee and kai from the newly refurbished Sign of the Takahe cafe; 
• Park in the Sign of the Kiwi carpark – walk up Mitchell’s Track and complete the SugarLoaf Circuit, to complete the loop down Gilpins Track. Enjoy a post adventure ice-cream, scone or coffee at the Sign of the Kiwi cafe.
• The Christchurch Adventure Park – park in the carpark and follow the signs to the beginning of a 6km trek ending at the top of the chairlift. For your efforts, you are rewarded with a free ride down.
• Awaroa/Godley Head Loop Track - this makes for a fantastic day out. Combine your walk with a picnic on the beach, and a stroll around Sumner village and to the Scarborough Park playground to finish.

There are so many options to chose from in the Port Hills - just ensure you pack some sturdy shoes, hat & sunscreen in the summer, snacks and plenty of water.

It’s a lovely idea to feed the ducks around the city, but it’s important to feed them correctly and avoid polluting our waterways.

• People often assume that leftover bread crusts are OK, however, feeding ducks bread is actually really bad their digestive system.
• If you can, feed them other foods you can find in your freezer and pantry, including grains, oats, rice, birdseed, cut grapes, chopped lettuce, and peas and corn (you can use defrosted frozen veges).

Some of the best places around Christchurch to find and feed these little guys seem to be:

• In the Avon River, by the Bridge of Remembrance
• In the river by the Margaret Mahy playground
• Various bridges spanning Avon River within the Christchurch Botanic Gardens

To keep our native bird and wildlife flourishing, why not make a donation to the Wildlife Veterinary Trust, founded in 2007 to treat and rehabilitate sick and injured wild and native birds.

Go feed some eels

Some fun facts:

• Eels are actually meat-eating machines, so despite popular belief, bread is not good for them.
• It can be hard to gather the right sort of foods to feed eels, as they feast on "live" food, such as snails, bugs, insect larvae, worms and water snails.
• When they get bigger, they begin to feed on fish.
• If you want to feed eels and see them up close and personal then head out to Willowbank Wildlife Centre, where you can buy proper pottles of eel food and feed them in the ponds.
• You can read up about these creatures on the DOC website, or otherwise, discover the history of our pre-historic, national treasures here.

Depending on the weather, the best places around Christchurch to watch these slippery guys in action seem to be:

• under the Bridge of Remembrance
• by the ramp at the Margaret Mahy Playground
• outside Riccarton House
• around various bridges spanning the Avon River, especially in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Be mindful of your fingers when feeding them though, as they have pretty sharp teeth!

Great for fun, and fitness!

• MoveX - Bromley - offering bounce sessions and ice skating! They have it all! - preschool play groups, birthday parties, event hire, and even Ninja classes!  They have a cafe - bonus!
• MegaAir - Hornby - offering bounce sessions, Dodge Ball and even "Club Bounce" classes for the high school kids - for those who love to bounce to some DJ beats!
• Launch Pad - Papanui - offering bounce sessions, dodge ball, foam pits, Olympic trampoline, tiny tots area and a special preschool only time, balance bikes and scooter track, group booking, birthday parties and cafe.

Ask the grandparents or other family members who love you, for an annual pass, so you can pop out any time you like.

Make or buy a kite and head to the park to try it out! It really is that easy!

We liked these instructions for three simple kites: everything looks to be available from Bunnings or Mitre 10.

As kids get older stunt kites can be a real hit - one to offer up to the grandparents or aunts/uncles for gift ideas.

Other ideas for future projects might include a bird-feeder, sand-pit or -- if you’re feeling confident -- a playhouse. 

Handy Hint: many hardware stores have a fenced-off play area & cafe, which gives you time to enjoy a hot cuppa while the kids are kept entertained. Once they’re done, roam the aisles for your home-made DIY supplies.

There is so much fun to be had in the garden! Bunnings, Go Gardening NZ and Tui all have great ideas and inspiration. We also think it's fun to:

• Buy and plant some bulbs in a lovely pot - this makes for a great gift! 
• Spend a morning at your local garden centre - buy seasonal vegetables or flowers; cultivate seedlings and plan to see them through to planting in the garden. 
• Wander around the plant sections, discover what you like, plan a project and buy seeds for both indoor and outdoor plants.
• Start planning your vege garden in winter - this is the best time to sow your seeds.

Many garden centres have an indoor cafe and playground, so why not take the kids and let them play while you enjoy morning tea and some downtime. A great option on a rainy day!

Grab a bunch of mates and have a game of tennis, basketball, hit the BMX tracks or skatepark, play petanque, go fishing. 

Make use of the many good reasons why we pay rates and tick off this extensive list of activities set up by the Christchurch City Council which shows you where to find free sports courts and bike tracks around the city.

Why not grab the bus and hit the pools on the other side of town? Or meet in Hagley Park for a hit of tennis?

Colouring-in is awesome any time - for both kids and adults. It’s actually really good for us because we often move into a "flow" state when we’re doing it!

If you don't have any books or materials, you can download and print pictures at home, or scribble on a page and colour the spaces. There are so many resources online ー google and check what you want, a few good sites include:

For younger kids:

• Hello Kids
• Crayola for Kids
• Twinkl

For older kids and adults:

• Mandala colouring
• Art is Fun
• Crayola for Adults

Or look out for great deals in the bargain bins at places like The Warehouse, Whitcoulls, or even the supermarket.

Just spend time colouring together, or you could always test your skills in the 3 marker challenge! Close your eyes, choose 3 colours and that's what you have to complete your picture!

Buy books and felts/pens/pencils/crayons when they’re on special and stash them away for a rainy day or reward for awesome behaviour.

There are so many things you can craft at home, and this is such a good option for a rainy or at-home day. 

Chat with your kids about what they would like to create; get out existing materials and see what’s possible.

As a starting point, you only need a stash of paper, crayons, pencils & a black pen to get creative. Let them lead the process of planning, deciding colours, materials and design.

• Shadow drawings: on a sunny day, get out your 3d-shaped animals and use their shadow to create pictures. Stand the animal on a piece of paper, let the shadow fall on the paper and trace around it, then colour-in or paint. We used marker pen and painted with a light paint ‘wash’ and they came out so well!
• Homemade art gallery: draw a picture a day and make bunting - create the artwork on triangle ‘flags’ or cut them to shapes. Add them to your wall, across the bedroom or if the weather is good, tape them to your fence to share with passers-by.
• Write a folding story: depending on how old your children are, give everyone an A4 piece of paper:

• Ask them to write a sentence starting: "Once upon a time... ".
• Give them two-minutes to write their thing which should finish with "and then..."
• Fold and pass to the next person... and so on.
• Do however many rounds you feel like, then unfold and read each story out loud.
• It makes for some very funny stories!

Online Activities: there are so many ideas online demonstrating art and craft ideas. Check out Youtube and social media pages for inspiration. Here are some of our faves:

• Cat Corner - Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) Activities for Children - a UK website, CAT Corner was created by four creative arts therapists who work together as a team of external therapists serving the Gipsy Hill Federation in South London. During the coronavirus epidemic of 2020, they came together (virtually!) to make some online resources for the children they were working with, children at home in lockdown, and those attending the school hubs for key-workers. Check it out!
• Origami it up with easy origami crane instructions.

• The art of paper folding: the goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.
• Tricky, but do-able, and requires patience, dexterity and imagination.
• This is your opportunity to praise persistence and trying.
• Check out Origami Fun, a creative tutorial on how to step-by-step create some beautiful images.

Some tips to get your craft journey started:

• Buy a few storage boxes (or pick up some sturdy cardboard boxes from the supermarket) and fill with art and craft supplies.
• Spread the cost by buying your felts, pens, glues, paper, stickers, scissors across the year and buy when you see them on special.
• If people ask for birthday or Christmas gift ideas, suggest generic art-and-craft supplies. They never go off!

Kmart, The Warehouse, Farmers, Warehouse Stationery, Spotlight have in-store and online specials. Address the parcel to your child, for an extra special surprise!

Google some easy lego creations, and see what you can make out of existing pieces. Search the internet for some cool lego challenges, including:

• Make a noughts and crosses board
• Create a stack of towers, and use as targets to throw hoops over
• Build some book ends
• Build a replica model of your bedroom
• Build a person with moving arms and legs
• Build a pyramid
• Build a car, truck, or box with an opening lid

Lego is an awesome birthday present - put it to the grandparents as a gift idea. Or search Trade Me for some second hand options: you will often find someone having a clear out! 

Arion Farm Park is especially good for the younger kids, who love and want to interact with farmyard animals.

Located 15 minutes from the airport (at 890 McLeans' Island Road, close to Orana Wildlife Park), they offer the opportunity to:

• feed the animals
• have a pony ride 
• host a birthday party
• bring a picnic lunch

Glenlothian Farm - another great day out! Feed, pet and interact with the animals, as well as learn things about rare breeds they have. They've also got a craft shop, craft classes and host birthday parties.

Sometimes it works really well when families have shared goals – saving money to towards something, spending more time together, getting the house or garden sorted... and then there’s getting fit together! We’ve selected a few ways you can do this in healthy ways:

• Take a class together – yoga, zumba, any kind of dancing.
• Play a sport – badminton, squash, tennis, touch, netball, basketball.
• Get on your bikes
• Go for regular walk together - perhaps every Tuesday after dinner?

Or there are a number of apps you can download for an indoor/at-home experience:

• Couch to 5K app – this actually really works (in our experience, anyway!).
• Adventure 2 Learning - curated by a team of teachers and medical experts, these programmes provide an opportunity to work fitness into the school day with fun and easy videos.
• Just Dance for Kids - popular online dance videos for kids to groove along to. Great way to start the day!
• Kids Zumba - tutorials for kids to learn how to Zumba!
• Kidz Bop - a youtube tutorial to teach kids dance moves and routines.
• Les Mills Born to Move - now offering free, online kids classes.
• Les Mills On Demand - currently offering a free trial to access a wide range of classes, for both adults and kids.
• Move it Mama - an online resource that offers workouts for parents, in the comfort of our own home. Offers a range of challenging classes to suit a range of fitness levels.
• PE With Joe - 30 min workout from UK personal trainer, Joe, who provides free content for people to exercise from home. Especially created for children, inspiring young children to exercise, and everyone of all ages to join in, and move.

Keep it fun, keep it about "fitness" and health – rather than weight. If you’re doing this – you’re doing some great role modelling! Go you!

There are a quite a few good options for getting your horsey fix!

Most companies run lessons throughout the school term, as well as offer school holiday programmes. Check in with them to see what's on offer. These places have been recommended to us:

Heathcote Valley Riding School

• This wonderful school has been operating for over 30 what was originally an old dairy farm site. The Riding School has various sized horses and ponies, with various levels of skills therefore suitable for anyone, whether just wanting to start with a farm ride and begin to learn the skills of riding, to then be able to join in regular group lessons; through to more experienced, and also private lessons.
• Oh, and they also have a great coffee shop - Upshot - offering awesome views of the horses and hills.
• Make a day of it and head for a stroll around the lake at Ferrymead and the surrounds in the Valley.
• Or if you have time, you might want to check out Ferrymead Heritage Park.

Mairehau Riding Centre

• A family owned and operated business just on the outskirts of the city. Enjoy walking, trotting, cantering and jumping depending on your ability.
• You don’t always need to book, just turn up during open hours and you can go for a ride.
• The riding centre has been teaching generations of adults and children and specialise in safe horses and ponies, providing lessons to children from the age of six.
• They cater for complete beginners as well as more established riders.
• A 30-min riding lesson is $6; 60-mins of riding is $12 and 90-mins is $18. Riding helmets are provided.
• They also offer to host birthday parties, and organise longer horse treks for larger groups.

Waimak River Riding Centre

• A bit further out of town, but worth the drive. They are located alongside the Waimakariri River on the Northern boundary of the Christchurch City limit, just 15 minutes from the central city
• They offer horse trekking, riding school, holiday programmes and leasing options.

Send us a message if you know of any others.

It's never too early to get your kids helping out in the kitchen! Why not host a Mini Masterchef?

• If need be, team up with an adult to get it done.
• Nominate a day for each person in the household when they have to plan, prepare, cook and present the evening meal.
• If you want, create a feedback panel to give points based on originality, presentation, taste & cost. Only rule is that all feedback MUST be positive!
• A great way to share the load, cater for everyone's tastes, and spend time!

Head to 'The Practical Stuff' section for more tips around getting kids to help around the house.

Visit some of the best art galleries, zoos & museums in the world - virtually - and from the comfort of your own sofa. From Paris to New York, Amsterdam to Cincinnati, and even up to Mars! Let your kids can observe awesome animals, peruse to priceless works of art & then explore the universe.  

Our fave zoos are:

• San Diego Zoo USA
• Edinburgh Zoo - Panda Cam
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - check our their Home Safari Resources
• Smithsonian’s National Zoo USA
• Monterey Bay Aquarium USA
• Georgia Aquarium USA
• Melbourne Zoo

Our fave art galleries and museums are:

• Google Arts and Culture
• Te Papa Museum, Wellington
• Louvre Museum, Paris
• The British Museum, London
• National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
• Uffizi Gallery, Florence Italy
• Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Beyond this there are virtual tours around the world, as well as some other educational resources:

• Yellowstone National Park, USA
• Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover.
• The Great Wall of China
• Kids National Geographic - offering a range of information relating to animals, science, geography and history, and a bunch of quizzes and games to extend and test their knowledge.

Let us know of any other cool learning sites?

We’re so lucky to have super cool libraries, with super cool librarians in our city! Our fave libraries are:

• Tūranga Library - full of fun and interactive displays for all age groups! This is a great place to come and spend the day - make a 3D creation; challenge your friends to a dance-off with the latest "Just Dance" release; enjoy a game of chess; peruse the extensive range of books; enjoy a hot drink in one of their two cafes; enjoy the views over the city... so many options!
• South Library - coffee available and just so relaxed this is a great place to bring the kids and chill for an hour or two.
• Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre Library - rebuilt with a calm vibe. Plonk on the beanbags and let the kids find books for you to read them - in between a magazine or anything else that interests you.
• New Brighton Library - an oldie but a splendid goodie - on the edge of the sea! This is a wonderful place to sit still for a while with the kids. Check out the He Puna Taimoana HotPools while you are there?
• Linwood Library - above Eastgate Mall, so easy to pair this with a bite to eat or grocery shopping. Remember - shopping first AND THEN the library (but go easy on the frozen goods)!

Different libraries offer different activities each day, all set up to be for to be age and stage appropriate:

• Babytimes (suitable for babies and under 2)
• StoryTimes (suitable for children aged 2 and over)
• Fourth Friday Whānau Fun night (an evening of fun and stories, for children aged 5-12)
• Other classes and programmes - a wide range of classes and programmes offered in libraries and learning centres, options for babies through to seniors. 

Here is a list of library locations throughout Christchurch - check out if there are any activities online that you can plan to attend. Gather a group of friends and enjoy an outing together?

Kids are never too young to start with card games. Not only are games like these good for their brain and dexterity, but it’s also fun for them to challenge (and sometimes beat) their parents.

A simple deck of cards is a good starting point for children. Think of games like:

• Go-Fish
• Last Card
• Memory
• Patience / Solitaire
• Uno and
• Monopoly Deal 

These are all good value option, and great suggestions to friends and family for birthday or Christmas presents.

We love chalk! It's so easy & old school, a great way to send some cool messages and a reason to be out in Autumn or Winter for a bit.

• Use your fence or footpath for messages - change it up and see if anyone leaves a message back!
• Walk the streets and leave kindness messages. 
• Draw hopscotch or 4-square.
• Create some beautiful photo opps e.g. draw a flowing cape and get your kids to lie on it, like it’s swirling behind them – lie on their side with their arms out – see they're superboy or girl!
• Or draw raindrops and an umbrella, get your kid to lie on the concrete like they’re holding the umbrella! Huge fun!
• Draw around your bodies and fill in your socks, shoes, trousers, skirt, add a hat…

Oh yeah... if you have run out of hard-chalk, you can make your own squidgy, liquidy version that you can squeeze out of old sauce bottles (or just paint with):

You'll need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid
• 5-10 drops food colouring or washable paint.

In a large mixing bowl:

• Stir together the flour & water until there are no lumps.
• Add dishwashing liquid into the flour mixture.
• Add food colouring.
• Pour the mixture into your squeeze bottle or use with a paintbrush.
  

Get creative and have fun!

Kids might like to do this in the bath, or grab the washing basket (if it doesn’t have holes) or a clean bucket and fill with warm, bubbly water.  

Allow your child to add their toys and give them (possibly a much needed!) bath. 

It's a great outside activity too!

Prepare for this to turn into an imaginative game in which you must take part!

A great number of things can come from this: an opportunity to teach children about online technology, marketing, the value of money, being charitable, recycling and re-purposing what you no longer need.

• Go through your wardrobes, garage and cupboards and find any good quality clothing, toys and "things" that you no longer want or use.
• Take them to a Red Cross charity shop, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, or local charity shop.
• List them on Trade Me and offer to donate any proceeds to your local charity of choice.
• Encourage kids to save any profits to put towards a family goal, for example, a "Splashing Out" Adventure.

The International Antarctic Centre is a great place to hang out - especially on a rainy day - and they have a great cafe too! Situated approximately 15-minutes drive from Christchurch central city or a 5-minute walk across the road from the Christchurch Airport terminal.

There's heaps to see here:

• learn about their penguins, (and watch them being fed)
• cuddle and get a selfie with a husky
• challenge yourself in their Storm Dome
• get as far off-road as possible on a Haggland ATV Antarctic Vehicle
• check out a 4D movie
• be enthralled in the HD theatre and learn all about the explorers that have gone before us and about the current research and science happening on the ice
• They also host birthday parties, school holiday programmes, and even an Antarctic Academy Programme.

Head to their website to check out their ticket pricing, as they often have specials deals available.

Nothing like heading to the bowling alley on a wet and rainy day!

• A great game for the whole family - they have chutes for the kids to help them get their strike.
• Also offering arcade games for those who want that little bit of extra, old-school fun, as well as laser tag for those looking for a bit more competition.
• Try out Christchurch's Zone Bowling - they offer great options for birthday parties and other events.

Check out the Entertainment Book, Treat Me, BookMe, or GrabOne in case they are running any promos or discount offers.

Christchurch has our very own Monarch Butterfly Queen – who knew!?

Maria Romero has established The Butterfly Musketeers - dedicated to raising awareness of the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly and sharing her knowledge of how to best care for them, and how to establish butterfly-friendly environments. 

In Autumn, especially around ANZAC Day, look for monarchs, particularly in:

• Burnside Park – in the big gum trees
• St James’ Park, Papanui – above the wooden blue slide, high up in the Elm tree, also Sweet Chestnut tree to the left. 
• Risingholme Park, Opawa – in the conifer trees.
• Abberley Park, St Albans – Look for tree with Silver Band around to the right of the building near the entrance. 
• Pioneer Recreation Centre – the tall trees next to the river near the playground.
• Redwood Park – behind the tennis courts above the path. Type of Willow tree. 
• Woodham Park – Linwood, near the playground. Look for the tree with the plaque on it that reads Ginko "Maidenhair" tree. 
• Bishopdale Park – in the big gum trees near the flying fox & also near the Scouts den. 
• Victoria Park in Rangiora - look for the conifer trees.
• Larch Reserve – Casebrook – as you enter from Larch place they are in the large tree towards the back entrance of the park. 10 metres away from the playground. 
• Ernle Clarke Reserve 
• Kaiapoi Domain
• Denton Park – Hornby Gum trees.
• NorthWood Park Willow trees.
• Liffey Domain Lincoln – Gum Trees by the river between Kildare & Leinster Terraces
• Perie Park – Richmond, in the Cypress Tree.

Maria also offers butterfly-themed birthday parties or events - a real treat for the butterfly enthusiast in your life!

Geo-caching is looking for hidden "caches" which are could be tins or jars or boxes hidden all around the world actually. 

But what exactly is it? In sum: it’s a little bit of code-cracking, a little bit of scavenger hunting and quite a lot of anticipatory excitement. 

This article is good at explaining it because, to be honest, the associated websites that talk about geo-caching can be a little confusing for the novice geo-cacher. 

How to geo-cache:

• Download the app – you’ll need a smart phone
• Ensure your have a pen or pencil with you
• Pick a suburb you haven’t been to before or never spent much time in, and find 'em
• Some families leave a tiny surprise in the cache for others to discover – tiny plastic animals, coins, buttons – but you don’t have to.
• Most importantly: have fun! 

This is a great ongoing activity for the whole family – it’s a 'lil bit addictive and every outing may start to include finding a geo-cache!

Go Go Karting for a dose of adrenaline, and high octane fun.

Whether you are an expert adrenaline junkie go karting driver, or just learning to drive - have a go! Might as well!

Great option for birthday party or school holiday activity.

Christchurch is a city with a lot of recent history.

Take some time to explore the memorials in Christchurch – a great way to talk about our history and some of the tougher topics we get questioned around, such as, the Christchurch earthquakes and Mosque attacks.

But it's also a great way to "do something" if kids are curious about their city. Where possible, why not take some flowers or make art to leave at the sites.

185 Empty Chairs

• Peter Majendie's Reflection of Loss of Lives, Livelihoods and Living in Neighbourhood installation, is now on the site of St Paul's Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church. The white chairs symbolise those who lost their lives in the earthquake on 22 February 2011. The individuality of each chair pays tribute to the uniqueness of each person represented. The installation includes armchairs, dining room chairs, a wheelchair and even a baby capsule. The 185 square metres of grass that the chairs sit on represents new growth and regeneration. This is a great place for contemplation, reflection and a chance to talk about the events and losses that happened on February 22nd, 2011.

51 Flowers Mural

• Artist Paul Walsh has painted this mural featuring "51 Flowers" on a wall in the central city to remember the 51 victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings. This vibrant bouquet of white tulips, roses, lilies hibiscus and clematis follow a Persian Mandala pattern – a motif widely used in Iranian and Islamic arts and architecture. This could be a great opportunity to reflect on what happened that day, talk about how that might have affected you, and your children, and think and feel about the effect and implications of the wider community.

Canterbury Earthquake Memorial

• Situated alongside the banks of the Christchurch Avon River, the memorial is a place to reflect on the 2010/2011 earthquakes that changed Greater Christchurch forever. It pays respect to those who lost their lives, those who were seriously injured and survivors. The memorial also acknowledges the shared trauma and the support received during the response and recovery that followed.

These are some of the more longstanding and permanent memorials in Christchurch, however, keep an eye out for the occasional, temporary tributes.

Some of our favourite places to dine on more substantial fare, eg, breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, desserts...include:

• Grater Goods - The vegan food experience at Grater Goods is super cool for the young and old, vegan or not. Here, kids go crazy for popcorn fricken, burgers and other yummy vegan bites. Their seitan chicken is made by hand using local wheat and chickpeas to create the same hot, crunchy, juicy goodness that kids (and parents) love when it comes to fried chicken but without the icky grease and fat. 
• Joe's Garage - with 6 locations in Canterbury (Christchurch central, Cranford St, Riccarton, Sumner, Wigram and Rangiora), Joe's offers a wide-ranging, kid-friendly, hearty menu. They cater for dietary requirements, do good coffee and offer a loyalty membership for "Regular Joes". Bonus!  
• Burger Burger - in the inner city. Burger Burger offers a dining experience that caters to all ages and stages with a kids’ burger menu, tasty yet healthy sides like their signature broccoli, and pint sized shakes complete with sprinkles. They have a play kitchen, with high chairs and colouring supplies if needed. And to make things even more family friendly, staff will work hard to ensure kids are served first - making the dining experience that little bit easier for everyone! 
  
• Cobb & Co, Redwood. Yes, it’s back! Bring the experience of Traffic lights, Pink Panthers and Cobb Crunchies (taties) to your little ones! They have a great set menus to suit the whole family, colouring activities to keep them entertained at the table and lots of room to spread out.
  
• Winnie Bagoes - two locations around Christchurch, one in Rangiora. These guys offer great pizza, pasta & salads. They also cater for dietary requirements. Their town location is just up the road from Margaret Mahy Park, so you can set up an afternoon of play, followed by a family pizza night!
  
• Riverside Market - inner city. Offering a huge number of eateries to cater for all taste buds - and they make great coffee too! Loads of local merchants offer a variety of meats, bread, seafood, fresh eggs, salamis, cookies, kombucha, fresh vegetables (amazing avocadoes!), sweets, and even beer to take home! A great one-stop option if you want to give your family a real treat. And if you would prefer to dine al fresco, there are tables outside the market, or you can take your food down and eat riverside. 
  
• Little High Eatery - inner city. Another cool area of town that offers a range of food to satisfy the entire family. Can get coffee and beer here too!
  
• Dennys Family Restaurant - Moorhouse Ave. Open 24/7 (and birthday kids dine for free on their birthday!) this is a quick and easy option any time of the day (literally!).
  
• Drexels, Riccarton. An American-style diner offering a range of meals. They can cater for gluten-free preferences, offer bottomless filter coffee, endless toast for the table (great for hungry teenagers) and their menu is flexible too, so you can pick-and-choose to create your own bespoke dish (Their waffles and hash browns are delicious).
  
• Nandos, Riccarton- A popular restaurant, easy and quick if you're with the kids. Portugese chicken themed, with lots of healthy options. Separate menu for under 10s along with a very extensive main menu with three size options, as well as Family Feasts to share. 
  
• Lonestar Restaurant - with locations around the city. This family favourite is open from noon until late. A Christchurch institution, this offers a good kids' menu, provides, highchairs, toys and colouring things for the kids - a great birthday party spot and cool atmosphere for everyone. 
  
• Northlands Mall Food Court /Langdons Quarter - Papanui. Recently revamped and which is anchored by four restaurants, Lone Star, Nando’s, Sal’s Pizza and The Coffee Club, has 15 food outlets – a mix of grab-n-go, casual and licensed – that surround a central dining area. Great if you have to cater for a range of different palettes, offering sushi, Indian, Asian-fusion, and Mexican options. Cool too for a movie and meal combo afternoon. 
  
• The Bush Inn Centre - Upper Riccarton. Offering over 45 specialty retailers, you can find a range of restaurants, food outlets, takeaway meals in this one spot. Eateries include: Lonestar Restaurant, Corianders, Burgerfuel, Carl’s Jnr, New York Deli, Coffee Cartel, Dubba Dubba (Morrocan Cuisine), Tuk Tuk Thai, Kebab Inn, Pizza Hutt, Hachi Hachi, Coffee Culture, Noodle Canteen. You’re definitely not short on choice here, and with ample parking, it makes for a very easy, family option. 
  
• Hachi Hachi - several locations around the city. Offering fresh, healthy, Japanese food. 
• Stranges Lane, city centre. Home to an eclectic and exciting host of bars and restaurants - the famous Orleans Chicken Waffles, and Mr Moustache Milk & Cookie Shop. A great option if you are looking for new place to eat or some evening music and dance shows. 
• Rollickin Gelato - several locations around the city. A real treat after a good blat at the playground, or if you have been hiking the streets!

First Table can offer great deals for early-bird diners, where you pay $10 upfront and get 50% off your final bill. Your local Entertainment Book offers 2-4-1 and 25% off a range of takeaway, cafe, bistro and contemporary dining choices. 

Great for larger families, early eaters, and those who have big appetites!

Rock it up with "Christchurch Rocks" - an awesome way to spend an at-home day, rainy day, or a perfect activity for the school holidays. 

• Find and paint rocks, and then hide them at local playgrounds and parks around the city.
• Take photos of where you have hidden the rocks and share with the Christchurch-Rock-Sharing community on the “Christchurch Rocks” facebook page.  
• Check in to the page regularly to see if anyone has found your rocks and posted a picture of them. Show this to your kids, and marvel at how far they can travel!

You can stretch this project out to last several days — great to add to the school holiday calendar:

• Visit your local river to collect a bucket of suitably sized stones (why not have a picnic while you're out there?).
• Stop in at your local hardware store on the way home and buy some paint, brushes and sealer.
• Spend an afternoon painting and sealing your rocks, then make plans to hide them at your local park.
• Store them in a shoebox in the back of the car - when you're next in the car doing jobs and travelling to different parts of the city, ask the kids to look out for new places to stop and hide their rocks. One good way to make an otherwise boring car trip entertaining!

Remember to take and upload photos of where you have hidden your rocks!

There are so many cool virtual spaces offering insights, experiments and loads of fun! Head to some of these websites for some inspiration:

• Smithsonian Learning Lab: this website brings your child everything from live videos of zoos and beyond.
• This NASA initiative covers a wide range of topics including weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants and animals. 
• Everyday Earth: Interactive video earth science based curriculum supplement.
• Club SciKidz: Daily free science or cooking experiment to do at home.
• Maker Stations: designed to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet.
• Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover  
• Innerbody: offering interactive models and detailed explanations, learn more about the internal mechanics of the amazing human body. 

Otherwise, why not create a DIY science kit, and jot down your experiments in a notebook? Homemade volcanoes are always fun (vinegar, baking soda and maybe food colouring). These go great in the sandpit! 

Why not make some science-y presents – a homemade bath-bomb is a goodie (and a great birthday or Christmas present option!)

Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat yourselves around the city! Place yourself in the most iconic and recognisable spots in Christchurch:

• New Brighton Pier at sunrise or sunset
• ChristChurch Cathedral
• Bridge of Remembrance
• Riverside Markets
• The autumn leaves in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens

then make creative works of art and take it to the 'gram: (#ExploreChC is trending well!)

Let us know of any other cool spots to take some pics!

Mini Golf is an interesting family adventure - some love it, some hate it! But it’s always worth a go.

There are a couple of places around the city where you can enjoy a putt:

• City Putt and Cruise - in the heart of Christchurch city, this is a great option to tag in with Margaret Mahy Playground. 
• Ferrymead Golf - check out their family and seasonal deals. Enjoy mini putt, driving range, paintball, kids' birthday parties, and enjoy some post-play snacks and drinks at the Still Rock Cafe. 
• Holey Moley Golfing Club - mini golf (of course!) and they do parties.
• Alice in Putterland - indoor mini golf which explores Alice’s journey to Wonderland.
  Jurassic Adventure - mini golf complete with giant dinosaurs and wheelchair access to all 18 holes. Dino dig - where you spend an hour or so uncovering an entire dinosaur fossil. Then there's rides and a maze!

Depending on the age of your kids - take the competition completely out of it. With teens - competition could keep it fun, but go easy.

Let them raid your wardrobe and see what combos they can fashion out of your clothes - use it as an opportunity to figure out what you no longer wear and might want to donate to charity?

Funnier still - have them mimic you! Don't forget to grab some snaps too, as will be fun to look back on in years to come!

Warning - this can be a bit of an eye-opener!

There are so many online platforms for connection these days.

Organise a time to catch up with a friend, and schedule an online play-date - either voice or video chat.

There are a number of free apps you can download to make this happen, and which can host a number of people on the same chat. You just need to have a strong wifi or data connection:

• Zoom - great for "meetings" as it allows many people to connect at the same time. Can choose either voice or video chat.Great for school friend catch-ups! You don't need to exchange telephone numbers to access this, so can be set up on a PC.
• Facebook Messenger - face to face or voice chat. You don't need to exchange telephone numbers to access this, so can be set up on a PC.
• Whatsapp - for voice or video messaging and create group chats. The connection is created by sharing your mobile phone numbers, so you can only connect with someone who has downloaded the app and who has a mobile phone connection.
• Facetime - if you have an Apple device, this is simply an option when you call Apple-to-Apple iphone.

Otherwise, an old-fashioned chat on the telephone works well too!

They don't call Christchurch the Garden City for nothing! Parks we love in Christchurch include:

• Victoria Park – the main way into the park is from Sign of the Takahe, the main Victoria Park car park, and Sign of the Kiwi. It’s pretty expansive with a huge variety of walks and tracks – from buggy-friendly to not-buggy-friendly! Check out the website link above for the complete lowdown.
• Halswell Quarry – the car park is 1km along Kennedy’s bush road – it feels like an escape from the city – but isn’t too far! A couple of walking tracks, or bike tracks or just meander – there is the Sister City Gardens located there showcasing Chch’s sister cities Adelaide, Christchurch (England), Gansu Province (China), Kurashiki (Japan) Seattle (USA), Songpa-Gu (Korea) – who knew?!
• The Botanic Gardens - explore right in the centre of the city there is a myriad of paths throughout the garden – take the balance bikes or scooters for little ones. One great idea is to try and find something different each time – the Japanese gardens, the café (hehe), the rose gardens, the playground. Start from a new entrance each time.
• Brownlee Reserve – Located in Sumner, this is a great place to take the kids, even it’s just for the super cool playground here including ropes in the trees and flying fox. It’s a great place for an adventure!
• Heathcote Domain – A great run-around playground with a flying fox and magic-roundabout (which are not easy to find these days!) It’s also a great place to explore for little ones, but also hide-and-seek for older kids is a goodie here too.
• Ouruhuia Domain – out in The Styx, is a biggie with lots to explore. Another adventurous playground. Read the signs and do whatever you and the kids need – a run-around, a game, or time on the swings. It’s all there.
• Spencer Park – lots to do at Spencer park – just 14 km from the city. There’s actually a small animal park there, plus a playground, paddling pool, walks suitable for kids, fishing spots and if you’re up for it, you can camp!
• The Groynes – Just outside of the city, the Groynes is huge, so plenty of walking to be done. We love just heading off and along the way finding the playgrounds or bridges for pooh sticks, small lakes. Take half the day and a picnic.
• St James Park – out Papanui way, St James is a big run-around, great rose garden, playground, and in Autumn, plenty of monarchs to be found!
• Abberly Park – St Albans way, a sweet park with cool playground, paddling pool & in autumn PILES of leaves to roll in. If you’re super lucky, butterflies can be found.
• Bottle Lake - great for either biking or walking and dog friendly too! Plus, there are fairy doors galore to explore!
• Halswell Quarry - a great option for a walk, mountain bike, or a place to let the dogs run.
• Westburn Reserve Bike Park -  located on Westburn Terrace in Avonhead, this park has a lovely playground and a cool mini-bike track, complete with road markings and signs. Great for toddlers and learner-bikers!
• Ernle Clark Reserve – in Cashmere, near Princess Margaret Hospital - this a pretty walk that runs along the Heathcote River between Barrington Street and Colombo Street. Look out for the feisty swans!  
• Foster Park, Broadlands, Rolleston - a vibrant and creative playground that has a flying fox, mouse wheel, tunnel slide and 4-metre metal slide, merry-go-round, swings, and more! Nice landscaping to create a natural feel. Also offers extensive bike tracks, and plenty of parking. Worth the trip if you are keen to have a look outside of Christchurch city! 
• Bishopdale "Elephant" Park - Harewood Road - a great option for all ages, with playgrounds for toddlers, through to challenging older kids. Great flying fox and climbing wall, as well as skate-park, basketball courts and an obstacle course. Famous for its long slide, and smaller Elephant slide, this is a great option to while away an hour or two!
• Edgar Macintosh Park - Don’t forget to pack togs! Edgar MacIntosh Park’s paddling pool is perfect on a hot day. It’s shallow, so it’s ideal for pre-schoolers to splash about. The neighbouring playground has a roundabout, see-saw, swings and a slide. There’s also plenty of green space to run around, and if you’re planning on staying for a while it’s a great spot for a picnic.
• Woodham Park - Linwood - offering a children’s playground sitting amongst a backdrop of mature trees, providing much-needed shelter on hot, sunny days. Key features include a multi-play structure, sea saws and swings. There's also a bird aviary on site, giving this playground a point of difference.  Don't forget to bring togs for the paddling pool. If the kids are getting a little cranky in the heat, it’s a great place to take them to cool off!
• Barrington Park Playground - make sure you add Barrington Park Playground to your staycation itinerary. This impressive play space features a sandpit with a crane and conveyer belt. It’s perfect for messy play and a great way for your child to engage their senses. The playground underwent a major upgrade in 2018. The ramps are wheelchair friendly. They’re also big enough for you to join in on the fun, so it’s great for younger toddlers who need a little extra supervision. There’s also swings, a sea-saw and heaps of climbing opportunities, including a big boulder with a cave through the middle.
• Children's Sensory Garden - Rawhiti Domain, New Brighton -This sensory garden has a musical path and all kinds of exciting sensory items. The brainchild of SmileDial, the garden will give children, including those with special needs, the chance to explore their senses through interaction with nature.
• Rawhiti Domain - also located in New Brighton, offering mainly a sports park (lots of people playing touch rugby down here!) with multi-play structure, see-saw & swings.

Here’s a link to the Christchurch City Council website with loads of other ideas of where to find a good walk, parks & other cool places to explore.

Christchurch is full of fun, safe & adventurous playgrounds, so it's a great option to simply drive, walk, bike or scoot to your local park. This is a great way to explore your neighbourhood, as well as others further afield. There are loads of options across the city, but here are a few of the more interactive ones we know of:

• Westburn Reserve Bike Park - Westburn Terrace, Avonhead - this park has a lovely playground and a cool mini-bike track, complete with road markings and signs. Great for toddlers and learner-bikers!
• Ernle Clark Reserve – Cashmere, near Princess Margaret Hospital - this a pretty walk that runs along the Heathcote River between Barrington Street and Colombo Street. Look out for the feisty swans!  
• Foster Park, Broadlands - Rolleston - a vibrant and creative playground that has a flying fox, mouse wheel, tunnel slide and 4-metre metal slide, merry-go-round, swings, and more! Nice landscaping to create a natural feel. Also offers extensive bike tracks, and plenty of parking. Worth the trip if you are keen to have a look outside of Christchurch city! 
• Bishopdale "Elephant" Park - Harewood Road - a great option for all ages, with playgrounds for toddlers, through to challenging older kids. Great flying fox and climbing wall, as well as skate-park, basketball courts and an obstacle course. Famous for its long slide, and smaller Elephant slide, this is a great option to while away an hour or two!
• Edgar Macintosh Park - Papanui - don’t forget to pack togs! Edgar MacIntosh Park’s paddling pool is perfect on a hot day. It’s shallow, so it’s ideal for pre-schoolers to splash about. The neighbouring playground has a roundabout, see-saw, swings and a slide. There’s also plenty of green space to run around, and if you’re planning on staying for a while it’s a great spot for a picnic.
• Woodham Park- Linwood - offering a children’s playground sitting amongst a backdrop of mature trees, providing much-needed shelter on hot, sunny days. Key features include a multi-play structure, sea saws and swings. There's also a bird aviary on site, giving this playground a point of difference.  Don't forget to bring togs for the paddling pool. If the kids are getting a little cranky in the heat, it’s a great place to take them to cool off! Plus, a great park for spotting monarchs!
• Barrington Park Playground - make sure you add Barrington Park Playground to your staycation itinerary. This impressive play space features a sandpit with a crane and conveyer belt. It’s perfect for messy play and a great way for your child to engage their senses. The playground underwent a major upgrade in 2018. The ramps are wheelchair friendly. They’re also big enough for you to join in on the fun, so it’s great for younger toddlers who need a little extra supervision. There’s also swings, a sea-saw and heaps of climbing opportunities, including a big boulder with a cave through the middle.
• Redwood Springs - Redwood - a great modern children's playground and park based in the Redwood Springs subdivision. Offers a double flying-fox, so kids can face each other! 
• Abberley Park - St Albans - this stalwart park offers two playgrounds, one on the East Lawn and another on the West Lawn, along with a fenced paddling pool. It has multi-play structures, a roundabout, see-saw, slides and swings. Loads of big trees offering great shade in the warmer months. Also, great for monarch spotting come autumn!
• Children's Sensory Garden - Rawhiti Domain, New Brighton - this sensory garden has a musical path and all kinds of exciting sensory items. The brainchild of SmileDial, the garden will give children, including those with special needs, the chance to explore their senses through interaction with nature.
• Rawhiti Domain - New Brighton - offering mainly a sports park (lots of people playing touch rugby down here!) with multi-play structure, see-saw & swings.
• Scarborough Park and Playground - Sumner, at the end of the Esplanade and just back from the beach - this is a must-do on this side of town.  Offering multi-play and climbing structures with soft landing mats, a horse, cool paddling pool, roundabout,see-saw, slide and swings, this is a very cool playground. And only a 20m walk away is an awesome cafe, offering yummy coffees, an ice-cream window and an all day menu. An easy way to while away the day!

If you have older children, use this map of where you can find parks with playgrounds, and let them lead the way using their navigation skills.

Make a day of it by arranging to meet a friend at a new park, on the other side of the city - pack a picnic, extra clothes and head away for the day.

A change of scene can be as good as a holiday!

Rainy days often attract birdlife to the wetlands, so see how many birds you can spot (and name!).

If it's a bit chilly: pack a thermos, a few towels, a change of clothes, gumboots and a jacket. Once parked up, let the kids go wild, jumping in puddles as they race around the tracks. 

• Ōruapaeroa/Travis Wetlands - this is a great option in the autumn and winter months to burn some energy!  This is the last large freshwater wetland in Christchurch - an important habitat for native wetland plants and birds. A circuit track with entrances off Beach Road, Mairehau Road, and Travis Country Road. The best place to start is off Beach Road because of the dedicated carpark.
• Ōtukaikino Wetland - located on the outskirts of Christchurch City, by the northern suburb of Belfast. The entrance is off Main North Road, between Chaneys Corner and the Belfast end of the Northern Motorway.

Once done, head back to the car, dry off, turn the car heater on and enjoy a hot chocolate together.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve - located in Harewood, this Christchurch institution is a five-minute drive from Christchurch Airport and about a 20-min drive from Christchurch's city centre.

Offering a great day out, there are so many choices:

• Feed the eels, pat the llamas, check out the chickens, feed the ducks, swing on the rope, visit the kiwis, watch the gibbons, marvel at the lemurs ...
• The Willowbank Cafe offers a range of lunch, brunch, hot drinks, and awesome value cabinet food. It's cosy by the fire on a cold winter's day, and equally as nice sitting outside throughout the summer months.
• Enjoy a BYO lunch in their picnic area, where you can eat amongst roaming (and friendly!) barn-yard animals.
• Grab an ice-cream at their barn store, then go for a donkey ride (note, this is only open at certain times of year).
• Book a night out to enjoy their Ko Tāne Māori Cultural Performance and Hāngī dinner. A great option for work or birthday functions.
• They also cater for birthday parties and offer school holiday programmes - why not take up the chance to be a zoo-keeper for a day?

Handy hint - If you have young children, ask the grandparents (or any family member who loves you!), for an annual pass as a Christmas or birthday surprise? 

A super easy day out - take a bucket & spade! 

Find the best family-friendly beaches in Christchurch, and which ones you might need to be wary of. Try and find a beach that is patrolled throughout the summer months and be sure to keep your children in sight and swimming between the flags at all times.

Some of the more popular beaches in Canterbury seem to be:

• Sumner and Scarborough Beach - the ice-creams, sand and walks are fun, but be mindful of the water and the areas renowned for rips.
• Corsair Bay - why not stop in Lyttelton on the way through for a coffee, then grab fish and chips for dinner on the way home?
• Taylors Mistake Beach and Godley Heads Walk - this is a great beach to catch a few waves on, but be mindful of the little ones, as the currents can get quite strong here. But there’s so much more to do than just swim on this side of the hill! Check out the rock-pools and look for star-fish; explore the rocky shore and head around the coastline.
• Perhaps for families with older and more adventurous kids: plan to walk the Godley Head Loop coastal track, and see if you can make it to the Gun Emplacements at the top? Lots of military history to see and discover, including the historic WWII coastal defence battery. An option to improve both fitness and knowledge!
• New Brighton - Waimairi Beach - a popular family beach that stretches along the coastline. There’s a playground, public toilets and showers, and a great cafe just behind the surf club. An awesome place to spend the day!
• Waikuku Beach - about a 30-minute drive north of Christchurch, you could easily spend a day adventuring out here. There's a playground and seasonal shops in the heart of the Waikuku settlement, just a short stroll from the beach.
• Woodend Beach - another good day trip option. Pack some food, swimwear and a change of clothes and go searching for shells, driftwood, and beach treasures. The best place to swim is in front of the surf club, however, be mindful of the conditions, and always swim between the flags (which are only put up and patrolled during the summer months).
• Kaikoura Beach - if you have the time for a day trip, or even an overnight stay -this is definitely worth the trip! Discover the newly formed coastline and the impact that the recent earthquakes have had on the local environment. Take the train up for the day - wander around the rocky shoreline, look for seals (don’t get too close!) or simply sit on the shoreline and see if you can spot any dolphins. Swimming is an option, but be mindful of the conditions, as it can become very rough and choppy. The beach is not patrolled by a surf life-saving club, so always swim with others.
• Tumbledown Bay - on the way over to Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, this is a lovely place to spend the afternoon, especially after ice creams at Little River. It can be muddy, so be sure to pack gumboots or another pair of shoes.
• Birdlings Flat - go hunting for polished, coloured stones.
• Governors Bay - just over the hill from Christchurch, a day of adventure awaits! Park at the bottom of the jetty then set off to wander along the foreshore walking and cycling track. You can return to Christchurch via the coastal ride and take a ride through Lyttelton Road tunnel on your way home (though, you’re no longer allowed to beep your horn!).

Find the best family-friendly beaches in Christchurch, and which ones you might need to be wary of. Try and find a beach that is patrolled throughout the summer month and be sure to keep your children always in sight, and swimming between the flags.

Make a list of things you need and give yourselves a budget (maybe get this out in cash and leave the eftpos card at home). There are so many op-shops and Save-Marts to choose from around the city and beyond.

Do a bit of homework with an avid op-shopper and ask for their faves – it’s likely they’ll want to come too, which will add to the fun.

It doesn’t have to be clothes though: second-hand furniture for a bedroom makeover, books, kitchen things… there are loads to choose from.

Oh, the treasures to be found!

Whether you’ve never been on a ski field before, or have been loads of times, it’s an exhilarating time - even for the views, squelch of your boots in the fresh snow, or enjoying coffee as you watch the kids in a lesson. It really is a great day away.

To snowboard or ski for the day our local choices are plentiful:

• Mt Hutt - Mt Hutt has four freestyle terrain parks, which are hugely popular with older kids and young adults; there’s an on-mountain, fully-licenced early childhood centre for babies and toddlers and children 10 and under ski for free.
• Porter Heights - Porters offers the nearest skiing to Christchurch (the turn-off is just an hour’s drive), which means less time on the road and more on the snow.
• Mt Cheeseman - Cheeseman is a friendly ski area that promotes a fun, family environment in an alpine setting and is open to the public. They are the closest club ski area to Christchurch, being just 90 minutes drive or approximately 99km.
• Mt Dobson - Mt Dobson Ski Area is an owner-operated ski area with a relaxed atmosphere and dramatic vistas punctuated with piercingly blue ice-fed lakes. With regular snowfalls and wide-open slopes, it has good skiing and snowboarding conditions for families, beginners and intermediates.
• Mt Lyford Ski Area is family-friendly as it is family owned and operated, which is 100 percent.
• Hanmer Springs Ski Area offers a truly affordable, grassroots snow experience. Despite being a small operation, it has a fantastic beginner area – an easy walk from the warm day lodge, which is serviced by a fixed-grip learners’ rope tow.

Remember to pack plenty of snacks, a full thermos & a change of warm, dry clothes for the ride home! 

The ultimate adventure experience - go rafting or jetboating!

If you have the budget this is a great idea for a birthday or special occasion - head out to raft the Rangitata Gorge or jetboat down the Waimakariri or Hurunui Rivers.

There are a large number of Christchurch based companies that offer tours, so best to research and find the most suitable for your ability and budget. 

Check the Entertainment Book, TreatMe or GrabOne before you go, as they sometimes offer deals and discounts.

Try out the Sensory Room at The Southern Centre at Pioneer Recreation Centre. 

Here you will find a multi-sensory recreational environment that uses innovative lighting and sound technology; where you can feel vibrations, touch different textures, change lighting effects and experience different smells.

And did you know there’s a Children's Sensory Gardens (in New Brighton) too? It has a musical path and all kinds of exciting sensory items to give children, including those with special needs, the chance to explore their senses through interaction with nature.

How cool is that?

Many of our adventures are home learning opportunities, but this is more specific in helping with actual school-learning.  

Your school will probably send you some info and links, and we reckon it's best to work within their guidelines and expectations for learning at this time.

Our advice is to take each day as it comes, follow your children’s interests and keep it fun.

• Learning from Home - a New Zealand Ministry of Education website that contains advice and resources for parents and whānau, teachers, and leaders spanning early learning through to senior secondary to support learning at home. The resources include activities that parents can use with their children and young people alongside what teachers provide.
• Support for Parents -  support ideas provided by the Ministry of Education to support learning at home.
• Sparklers at Home  - An online resource created to provide parents and whānau with some simple wellbeing activities that bring calm and fun beyond the classroom.
• Kiwi Kids News Website - local, national & international news presented JUST FOR KIDS. It delivers the information, but without the sensationalism, and edited to suit younger readers.
• TedEd - offering daily lesson plans that span all subjects and age groups.
• National Geographic Kids - offering a range of activities, information & presentations on a wide range of subjects.
• Te Papa - free, downloadable books.
• Khan Academy Kids - a free, fun, educational program designed to inspire young children to become learners for life.
• Maths Prototec - Basic Facts Maths Practice, and offering free printable basic facts and times table worksheets with instant feedback and certificates.
• Cool Math Games - a free, online resource for a range of ages and stages.
• Matific - currently offering free access to a maths educational platform.
• Twinkl - a range of New Zealand teaching resources to help kaiako teach and tamariki learn. Offering resources for ECE, Year 0-3,  Year 4-6, Years 7-8 and focus on the New Zealand curriculum.
• Get Epic - register for free access (for one-month) to 35,000 of books, learning videos, quizzes & more.
• Scholastic - My Big World - classroom magazines and a great range of resources.
• Science Kids NZ - homegrown, science fun!
• Timestables - use phonics, games and activities to learn times tables.
• Seusseville - games and learning inspiration from Dr Seuss!

Let us know of any other useful websites or resources?

Try your skills at homemade mini-golf. This is an awesome game for encouraging creativity and developing hand/eye co-ordination:

• Set out an area (use chalk or tape), lay out some toys and fashion a "hole" (turn a bucket or container on it's side?) or use the dust pan.
• Your golf club can be: an actual golf club, hockey stick, tennis racket, fly swat or spatula.
• Your ball can be: a ping-pong, tennis or golf ball.

If inside – keep the swings low!

Taking it back in time. Introducing a classic game the whole family can play, either indoors or out.

Great for creativity, movement and fitness, counting, and just a whole lot of fun:

• Indoor Hopscotch - use masking tape to make your own hopscotch on a hard-floor surface inside the house or garage.
• Outdoor Hopscotch - grab a stone, some chalk and get drawing! 

Freeze small toys in a bowl of water or place one toy in each individual cube of the ice tray. Give your kids things to help them free their toys - spoons or things that will scrape the ice. Place the on a tray and slide the ice around - watch it melt over the course of the day, and come back to it to try free more of the toys.

We've seen this done with an Elsa figurine or doll sitting on top of the frozen toys - Elsa froze your toys… you need to free them!

Bring the picnic rug or some towels to the lounge floor and set up a picnic for lunch, dinner or even just some snacks for afternoon kai. Maybe invite some favourite doll friends, superhero figures - whoever you can see that might want to get in on the fun!

A quick google search will bring up your nearest toy library. Take your kids along while you join. Let them pick some toys for the next few weeks (that' s the best bit - it saves you money and the toys won't clutter your come forever). 

Toy libraries are also a great place to connect with other parents in your area. 

Here’s to all the times that we’re at home, and when getting outside would do us the world of good. Here’s some fairly low energy ways of doing it:

• Get onto the lawn and blow some bubbles. 
• Nature scavenger hunt: there's loads of ideas out there right now - we like searching for crispy, colourful, autumnal leaves which you can use for art later on.
• Lie on the grass (once it's dry!) and look at the clouds - immediate mindfulness because we do this so rarely we notice the feel of grass on our bodies, sun on our skin...
• Kick or throw a ball around
• Try yoga on the lawn
• Play hop-scotch in your PJs
• Let the kids climb the tree!
• Throwing stones into water
• Use a magnifying and explore the garden
• Use boogie boards and slide down a grass hill
• Build a hut - under the trampoline, in the garage...
• Water-paint the driveway, the fence – all you need is a bucket and a brush!

Whatever you choose – take your time, be in the moment and enjoy. Simple things like this are our gentle reminder to be kind to you too.

It's fair to say we live in busy times, so it's important to make some time for yourself.

If you can, set aside 10-minutes in your day to meditate - it will have oodles of benefits. 

Here are a few well-known mediation apps to get you started:

• Sparklers at Home - a free resource, created by the great people at All Right? offering a range of mindfulness and wellbeing activities such as Hikitia te Hā, Tummy Breathing and Body Scan.
• Smiling Mind - This app has great body scan meditations to help children develop the awareness of what’s happening in their bodies. Learning about what’s happening in your body is one of the first steps of authentic mindfulness practice.
• Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal - This app is simple and easy-to-use, helping children focus on the positive and recognising what has gone well in their day (even if it’s hard to identify!)  For ages 6 and up, children list three things daily that went well, which begins to train their mind to look for things to appreciate and begin a gratitude habit.
• Insight Timer - offering a wide range of free, guided and timed meditation options. This app is free with meditations for parents and children. 
• Calm - free app offering guided sessions ranging in time from 3 to 25 minutes
• M3 - Mindfulness for children through yoga - a kiwi creation to get kids moving, thinking and relaxed, beginning with a karakia to start the journey. It uses Māori storytelling and simple movement to teach early childhood and primary school children simple mindfulness tools like breath and visualisation.

Remember: there’s no right or wrong way to meditate - just give it a go and see what happens!

Hit the water and go kayaking in and around Christchurch - either by river or sea. There are plenty of options to get out on the water around Christchurch:

• Christchurch Sea Kayaking - from the heart of the city, take you on a journey down Christchurch's  Avon River and see what adventures nature has in store for you.
• Akaroa Adventure Centre - the sheltered volcanic harbour and marine reserve provides the perfect setting to enjoy the local wildlife and landscapes. There are many different options to suit from beginners to experienced.
• Canterbury Kayaking - Canterbury Kayaking's unique three-stage plan will help you gain the skills and experience you need for success on the river.

Make sure to pack an extra set of dry clothes for when you get back to the car! 

Great for car trips or ‘screen-free’ downtime. Some of our faves include:

• Big Life Journal podcast - helps kids develop a growth mindset!
• Brains On! - looks at everything from robots, dinosaurs, Frankenstein, & how animals breathe underwater.
• Fierce Girls - for fierce girls!
• Fun Kids Science Weekly - all things science!
• KiDNuZ - created by 4 Emmy winning journalists, KidNuz is a daily 5-minute news podcast made with kids in mind. It provides briefings on the day’s top stories that are appropriate for kids ages 8-14. 
• Story Pirates - a captivating audio show by real actors, comedians, and entertainers who tell stories that have been written by kids (note, on iTunes only!).
• What If World - this clever podcast was designed to ease the burden for parents who get asked hard-hitting questions like, "What if cars could talk?", "What if it rained lollies all day?" 
• Sesame Street - of course there's a Sesame Street podcast! And it features the usual adorable characters (on iTunes only). 
• Wow in the World - this series will help kids discover worldly things, how things work, why things are the way they are, and so much more.

If you are not sure how to access podcasts, then read this guide first. Happy listening!

A great way to while away an afternoon is search the park, or even hunt around your back yard, for dropped leaves and petals. Look for different shapes, sizes and colours, and orgnaise them into patterns, groups or picture ideas.

Then either buy a flower-press, make one yourself or check out this tutorial - it's pretty straight forward!

Press the leaves/petals for however long you need to, and once ready, glue them on paper to make pictures, or make cards for friends and family. You could even use whole flowers, leaves, seeds and to make potpourri! 

As a stage-by-stage project, this is something to keep kids potentially occupied for weeks (and is a great rainy day activity too).

Anything home-made is always a great gift option - and it doesn't need to cost much either! 

There's never a better time to start learning Te Reo Māori.

There are heaps of online resources that can get you started: 

• The home-base of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week.  Offering a huge amount of information and inspiration. Rawe! 
• Māori Language Net - this website was started in 2007 with some funding by Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) through their Mā Te Reo fund.  It’s aim is to be a base for the basics of Māori Language.
• Pepeha - A kaupapa initiated and lead by Māori, this beautifully crafted website was designed to help all New Zealanders introduce themselves in Te Reo Māori, through Pepeha.
• The Te Reo Māori Classroom - this pae tukutuku (website) is to tautoko those many kaiako who are both teaching and learning te reo (at the same time).
• Te Whanake - a website offering a set of textbooks, study guides, CDs, teachers' manuals and a dictionary for learning and teaching Māori language. This website also provides access to a further range of associated free online resources for independent learning and interaction.
• He Reo Tupu, He Reo Ora - He Reo Tupu, He Reo Ora is "a growing language is a living language". The title signifies the way languages grow and evolve, and the importance of learning and using languages to keep them alive and dynamic.
• Wai Ako - Wai Ako is a new and innovative online programme for teachers in English medium primary schools to deliver the te reo Māori curriculum. It has been created for English medium primary school teachers with limited or basic knowledge of Māori language and pronunciation.
• Twinkl - offering a wide selection of Te Reo Māori teaching resources for children in Year 1, Year 2 & Year 3, including worksheets and flashcards.

Please let us know of any other resources you can recommend.

This can be a great thing to do with your kids – especially if you all love the water.

It’s also great role modelling – they get to see you learning too.

Surf schools are located in Sumner and Waikuku, and offer all-year-around lessons (if you are keen enough to brave the winter cold!). 

Look out for great deals and packages on offer and snap them up for birthday and Christmas gifts. And make sure to pack plenty of warm clothes and snacks for when you get out!

There are so many great campsites in and around Canterbury. 

This is a great, cost-effective way to go on holiday. Even if you found a campground on the other side of town - a simple change of scene is always fun, no matter how close to home you end up.

Whether you are a rugged outdoors camper who likes to be surrounded only by nature, or you would prefer to comforts of electricity and running water - there are plenty of options to chose from.

There is a fantastic range of free and bookable campsites around the region. Check out:

• Staying at a Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite - they manage more than 200 campsites throughout New Zealand. Some are free, and some need to be booked and paid for, so check out their fees and rates.
• A Top Ten Holiday Park - a good number of locations around the country, and often offer good specials and rates to members.
• Holiday Parks NZ - info on a great number of camping sites around the region. 
• Freedom Camping - If you're not staying at a campsite, you can choose to freedom camp. Freedom camping is to camp on public land other than at a campsite. If you plan to freedom camp on public conservation land, you need to follow certain rules, especially in regard to camping in conservation areas. Be sure to read up on what is, and what is not allowed, when on your camping adventures.

Remember: be tidy camping kiwis. Take only photos, and leave only footprints!

Whether rain or shine, the pools are always a great option! There are a range of pools around Christchurch:

Indoor Pools

• Jellie Park – Burnside. A great indoor and outdoor hydroslide with separate toddler pool.
• Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre – Spreydon. Has a fun wavepool.
• Taiora / QEII – Parklands. New facility, number of pools, and has a great indoor hydroslide! 
• Wharenui Swimming Pool - Riccarton. Great lap pool and good for swimming lessons.
• Selwyn Aquatic Centre – Rolleston - number of pools here: 25m pool with eight lanes, hydrotherapy pool, spa pool, and leisure pool with a lazy river and toddlers area.
• Dudley Park Aquatic Centre - Rangiora- make a day of it and head out of the city for a swim, and check out the Rangiora cafe scene.
• Graham Condon Recreation Centre - Papanui - offers a toddler area, inflatable obstacle courses (last Sunday of each month), spa, and the gym next door offers Tumbletimes a couple of times each week.

Outdoor Pools (open for the summer months)

• Jellie Park - Burnside - offering a 50m pool and water play area for younger ones, and diving pool.
• Te Hapua Halswell Aquatic Centre - Halswell - offers hydroslide and is right next to the library.
• Norman Kirk Memorial Pool - Lyttelton - six-lane, 25-metre outdoor pool, plus toddler pool.
• Templeton Outdoor Pool – Templeton - 6 lane, 25m pool, with toddler pool.
• Waltham Lido Pool – Waltham - 9 lane, 33m pool, toddler pool, hydroslide, and BBQs for hire. A great summer option!

Outdoor Paddling Pools (managed by the Christchurch City Council)

Check out this link for a map of where to find your nearest paddling pools and water-play areas. Pools are open mid-November to early March. Some of our favourites include:

• Edgar Macintosh Park - Condell Ave, Papanui
• New Brighton Foreshore - The Whale Pool, which has a great wet and dry area, right next to the beach
• Botanic Garden - in the centre of the Botanic Gardens, by the playground
• Avebury Park - Richmond
• Spencer Park - Heyders Road, Spencerville
• Woodham Park - Woodham Road
• Margaret Mahy Playground - fountain fun (but no actual paddling pools )
• Abberley Park - great playground and lots of space to play too
• Scarborough Park - the Esplanade, Sumner.

These paddling pools are not supervised by lifeguards, so please keep an eye out at all times!

We love Trees for Canterbury and all they stand for. We collaborate with Trees for Canterbury by giving the parents we've worked with a small native tree to end our time together which acts a pretty cool kind of symbolism.

If you're keen to get your kids into gardening, you can't go past natives and Trees for Canterbury is certainly the place to get them. They're located in Ferrymead, so there's plenty to explore in the nearby Charlesworth Reserve, as well as playgrounds, AND get natives for your garden!

The other thing we love is Trees for Canterbury is their planting days. Generally twice a month they arrange a community reserve planting, re-planting and rejuvenating Christchurch with native trees. It's such a great thing to do and model for your kids. Here's all you need to know for details and dates of their planting days.

All you need is 1 cup of uncooked rice, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and food colouring. Place all the ingredients in a snap-lock bag, seal and mix (shake) together.

Once mixed together, spread out rice onto a sheet of baking paper on baking tray and allow to dry. Repeat to make additional colours. Pour rice into a large container and add small toys for imaginary play or a great sensory experience. 

Don't worry about the mess - your kids will love the satisfaction of the noise it makes when being vacuumed up. 

Who doesn't love the idea of the museum and toys combo?!

The New Zealand Museum of Toys and Collectibles will be as much fun for you as it is for your kids. Your toys will stand out, evoke the memories and start the endless conversation our kids love hearing about - what life was like when you were a child.

A great activity for cold or rainy days. Located in the heart of the city, you'll find hot chocolates for afterwards not too far away, or another adventure!

This is a great activity for tired parents! If it's a warm day, take it outside, provide bowls of water and add in stone, leaves, petals, small pieces of bark or wood. If you're indoors and your pantry has some food colouring, you could add some - mix colours, get the spoons or whisk out.

Often this activity outside will turn into an incredible imaginative game - be sure to play along!

Water balloons don’t always have to end in a 'war'’!

While sometimes that's fun, it can also end in tears and man, can it use up a tonne of balloons!

Here’s some other fun ideas for reducing the number of balloons used, and the need for competition:

• Play catch: start 50cm apart, and throw to each other. Then each person take one step back, and throw again. Take another step back, and so on. How far apart can you get before it drops?!
• Water balloon toss: work in pairs with a towel each and around 5 – 10 balloons. Add balloons on top of the towel, each person grabs the end of the towel, toss the balloons up (on the towel) and try catch them again (with the towel).
• Musical 'chairs' (but not really): played exactly like musical chairs & using your phone for music. Mark out 'sitting places' with chalk, leaves or teatowels. Put waterballoons on each of these places (ensuring enough places for everyone be able to sit). When the music stops, find your sitting spot, fast!
• Basket catch: can work with four players, working in pairs. Each pair needs a bucket or washing basket. One player hold this on their head, the other stands 5 steps back and has to get as many balloons in the basket as possible…!

Keep a towel handy, and prepare to get wet!

There's loads of fun to be had once the sun goes down!

• Play spotlight: map out the boundaries during the daytime to find good hiding places, ensuring they are safe and debris free (and not a pocket of the garden that’s full of prickles). Set the rules from the outset: set a time in which they must be found, get out the torches (or use the light on your phone) and go!
• Explore the stars: there are plenty of apps that allow you to point your phone to the sky and figure out the constellations. 
• Camp outside: in a tent, on the trampoline, or simply under the stars. Grab some mattresses, blankets & pillows, lie on the grass, makeup stories, and marvel at the moon and stars. 

An awesome way to create connections and make memories!

Obstacle courses are great for creativity, agility, thinking about safety and engineering. And then, of course, teaching kids how important it is to clean up and put everything back once you’re done.

Inside courses - work with what you have inside the house:

• Decide which furniture is ok to jump on and considered safe, then get creative!
• Push the sofas back, put the cushions on the floor, line up the dining room chairs and create an obstacle course from the kitchen to the bedrooms (or whatever best works for house layout).
• Play "the floor is lava": set a timer and when the first person yells, "The floor is lava!" all other players must get to the "safe" spot before the timer runs out.

Outside course – create an obstacle around the back yard:

• Use a broom, bucket, balls... anything you can find that people have to dodge, jump, run around. Throw in hopscotch, hopping, or a skipping element!
• A great way to get some fitness and creativity into the day.
• Do the same, except make it bigger and use as a bike or scooter track.

Remember: it's a team effort to set up, and a team effort to clean up!

Take it old-school and hit the pin-ball machines & arcades. Check out: 

• Arcadia Retro Arcade - offering retro gaming, parties, and even karaoke!
• Timezone Christchurch - can cater for birthday parties, events, and often offers gaming deals and specials.

Why not hit the op-shops first and find some classic '80s clothes to complete the occasion?

Despite the weather, it's always good to get out on your bike. Whether it's riding into the city, around your local park, in the forest, or up in the hills... there are plenty of tracks to choose from.

From home:

• Find your closest bike path and see if you can bike towards and around Hagley Park - once there, you can choose from a good number of paved cycleways and tracks, suitable for all the family.
• Get on your bike and simply cycle around the city - be a tourist in your own town! Check out Christchurch City Council’s cycling maps, which details over 40km of separated cycleways, many of which link through to the central city. 

Use your bike rack:

• Christchurch Adventure Park - a great place to while away a day! You can hire a mountain bike not far from the park in Prebbleton. The Adventure Park has tracks to suit all ages and abilities, and it's a great day out for the whole family! There's also a great cafe where you can hang out, have a break or simply enjoy watching the riders coming down the hill. They have a free kids loop trail as well as walking trails suitable for all ages.
• Waitākiri/Bottle Lake Forest Park - this extensive pine plantation runs alongside the coast in the north-east of the city and offers a myriad of tracks for mountain-biking, horse-riding, and walking. A great option for all ages and stages. 
• McLeans’ Forest - just a 15-minute drive from Christchurch, McLeans Forest has three mountain bike loops (totalling 17-kilometres ) and caters for cyclists of all ages and abilities. It also offers 11-kilometres of walking/running tracks.  
• BMX tracks around Christchurch - there are a good number of tracks around the city. Pick and chose which works best for everyone's ability.
• Westburn Reserve Bike Park -  located on Westburn Terrace in Avonhead, this park has a lovely playground and a cool mini-bike track, complete with road markings and signs. Great for toddlers and learner-bikers!
• Scenic Coastal Pathway - Ideal for newer cyclists, this seaside pathway hugs the coastline for 6.5km offering stunning views over the water from Ferrymead to Scarborough Beach. It’s perfect for all ages and abilities as there are access points and facilities dotted along the way. Cycle to Redcliffs for ice-cream and coffee, then head to Sumner beach!
• The River Promenade - Follow the wide shared zone that runs beside the Ōtākaro Avon River from Christchurch Hospital, past the National Earthquake Memorial and alongside The Terrace with its cafes and restaurants, through Victoria Square to the famous Margaret Mahy Playground. This 2km ride can be done in reverse and extended by connecting to the shared use paths in Hagley Park. 

If you don’t have a bike at home, visit any of these local bike-hire shops to hire one. Let us know of any other great tracks around the city!

Orton Bradley Park is a private 650ha rural property situated on the southern shores of Lyttelton Harbour, open 365 days a year.

• They have a family-friendly campground, run a great cafe, offer over 25km of both walking tracks and mountain bike tracks, fantastic sunsets, and beautiful park-like settings.
• There is a small entrance fee to enter the park - this helps to maintain the tracks, buildings and other attractions.
• For one-off visits, the entrance fee is $5 per adult, $1 per child, to a maximum of $10 per car load. However, they offer a "Friend of the Park" subscription for $35 per year, providing a family unlimited entry to the Park, a 6 monthly newsletter, and concessions to special events. 
• The Park operates as a charitable trust, is open from 8am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week, and is a dog-free zone - so keep your pooch at home for this trip!  

A fun-filled day out for the whole family!

Spend some time together painting each other’s nails, applying a face mask or make-up or experimenting with some new hair styles. 

This time can be really connecting with kids - it's close, it's concentrated and a great way to listen to what they've got to tell you. 

Party games aren’t just for parties – these are nice ideas for any time your family could do with a bit of fun and movement. Why not play:

• Musical chairs: place a couple of chairs back to back and turn on some fun music. Players move around the chairs and when the music stops, the last one not sitting in a chair is out.
• Musical squares: cut out some old cardboard boxes into squares. Spread over the ground, and put down one less than the number of people playing. Turn up the music and the last one not on a square is out. Take this game to the park, and use your phone for music.
• Pass the parcel - wrap up notes, stickers, pencils, pens, and the odd sweet!
• Egg & spoon race (or you can substitute the eggs for golf balls)
• Duck, duck, goose
• Simon Says
• Tag
• Tug of War
• Memory (with a pack of cards)

Share your faves with us?

You don’t have to be looking for a new family pet to visit the pet store. But be warned you may end up with one!  Kids love cruising around your local pet store and getting mesmerised by the wonderful array of fish on display!

Otherwise, there are a number of petstores around the city where you can watch/purchase some fish! Check out:

• Animates - number of locations around the city
• The Feed Shack - Bishopdale and Rangiora
• Petstock - Northwood
• Redwood Aquatics - focussed especially on tropical goldfish, fish and plants.

Note that many pet-stores, including Animates, no longer have cats, dogs or other furry animals on display. They felt that the overall experience was not that great for their little mates, and so if you do wish to add a fur-baby to your whanau, then check out the Christchurch SPCA. 

Remember, a pet is for life, so be sure that you're sure!

Did you know that the Christchurch City Council has planted 6846 fruit and nut-producing trees around the city - and now invite Christchurch locals to help themselves to the produce!

Offering plums, apples, walnuts, apricots, almonds, quince, pears, chestnuts and many. How's that for awesome! 

Check out this interactive map and organise to forage for some treats!

A great idea for an afternoon tea outing! 

There is no shortage of beautiful picnic spots in Christchurch where you can pack a chilly-bin of food, grab a rug and head out for the day. Some of these spots allow you to take your own BBQ too. Check some of these places out:

• Head out to The Groynes and be sure to take your walking shoes - there are a good number of walking tracks out there.
• Taylors Mistake Beach - it’s only over the hill from Sumner, but it feels like you’re a world away. Eat on the beach, amble around the Port Hill tracks and enjoy the sea views. 
• Spencer Park - If you're looking for a sheltered, relaxing picnic spot with easy vehicle access and close to the beach, this is a great option. There are a number of great picnic spots and free barbeques in the park. You can book a picnic space – each area can accommodate up to 50 people.
• Waitākiri/Bottle Lake Forest - Roam through the tall trees, wander the sandy tracks, and see if you can find the pond? A great spot to picnic beside.
• Sunset Picnic - Head up into the Port Hills for a sunset dinner. There are a number of places you can park and enjoy views over the city, or to watch the sunset: Victoria Park, Summit Road Carpark.
• Christchurch Adventure Park - If possible, reverse the car, open the boot door and use the back seats as a picnic table.
• Drive around to the designated parking zone at the end for the Christchurch Airport runway on Aviation Drive and watch as planes land and take off and approach landing, directly above you. Having a picnic from the boot of the car is a cool bonus.
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens - park in one of the many carparking spots in the park, and find a spot under a leafy willow tree. There are a number of Council BBQs dotted throughout the park too - great for getting large groups of family and friends together.

Remember to be a tidy kiwi: take only photos, and leave only footprints. 

This can be quite a fun way for older kids to play with play dough again - or engage with their younger siblings play.

You know how this goes - make something and the other has to guess what it is!

Focus on the fun, not the artistic ability!

Puzzles are good for us – they allow us to get into a flow state (kind of calm, happy place) which boosts our well-being:

• Throw a 1000-piece puzzle on the kitchen or dining room table and see what happens.
• Get all the puzzles out – if you’ve older kids, get several boxes out, mix them up and throw them on the table.
• Check out your local charity shop or Trade Me for pre-loved puzzles and games.

Not just puzzles, but also colouring-in, practicing musical instruments, singing - all creative activities can bring calm and flow.

Stay in your PJs all day - something the kids probably wouldn't expect, but they’ll remember as a "best day"!

Explain it’s a relaxing day – invite the kids to your bed as a family island and spend as much of the day there as you can. Guilt-free.

And while in you PJ’s try some of our other Chillin' at Home activities (in case boredom creeps in!).

Coz why not?!

This will potentially take a whole weekend and include either a list-to-do, several outings to the DIY, paint shops & fabric stores and watching youtube clips of bedroom makeovers (which you can neither afford, or want to be part of your home!).

So, there’ll be negotiating to be done! But the journey and process is a goodie for getting rid of clutter, organising, and giving quality goods to The Red Cross.

And once it’s done, they’ll have a happy haven (for a while, at least).

Set your boundaries from the outset, and let  everyone knows what’s do-able (new curtains, a paint job, new duvet cover are not possible, but you will help them shift the bed!). Good luck!

Kids love riding the bus! An easy way to see the city, visit new areas and while away a few hours. Just need a bit of planning and you're good to go: 

• To save on costs, get a Metro Card and make sure it's topped up before you go.
• Visit the Bus Metro Info Website and get some ideas of where you might like to go.
• Check out the current cost of bus fares so there are no surprises.
• Make sure you have some snacks, water, a backpack, and cash (in case you need it for the fare or head to the dairy for an ice-cream).
• Walk to your closest bus-stop, then hop on the first bus that comes by.
• Kids decide the directions, when to hop off, who gets to push the button. Jump off wherever you fancy!
• Get on the next bus going whichever direction you want too - see where you end up! 
• Or, to keep things simple, just use the Orbiter and cruise around the city and stop off somewhere you have never been before.
• Come late afternoon, find the next bus towards home or ring a friend or family member for a pick-up.
• One more idea - catch the bus to the other side of town and create an “I-Spy” list of things you need to find along the way

Plan ahead: put the slow cooker on so that dinner's done by the time you get home.   

You can either do this at home, inside, outside, or when out & about.

First, decide where you want the hunt to be.

At home:

• Outdoor nature hunt: Find a bunch of different coloured leaves, a feather, a heart-shaped stone, items reflecting a certain colour. Use a numbers challenge, eg, 1 stone, 2 leaves, 3 blades of grass, 4 twigs...
• Indoor hunt: create your own list together (knowing what's in the house!) eg, find something that is blue, has a nose on it, you can sit on, you can write with, is squishy, smells yummy, tastes good, sinks, you can wear, you can see through, is made of metal... whatever you can think of! 

Out and about:

• Have a chat with everyone and agree on a place or park that you’d be happy to visit. If it's within walking/scooting distance, even better!
• Write a list of what you think you might be able to find there, then grab a bag and go, e.g. if it’s Autumn, look for big oak trees and dropped acorns; search for a red leaf, dry leaf, green leaf, try to spot a monarch butterfly, find a blue flower, 2 birds, an item smaller than your thumb, a flat rock, a beetle, a clover...
• Be a tidy kiwi - take a bag with you and collect any rubbish that you might find along the way.

Get the scrap-booking of old photos and keepsakes underway! Kids will love going through their old photos and keepsakes, and will happily help you display their treasures (as long as you let go of it having to be perfect)!

Otherwise, take it online: create a photo book (with extra effects and text), and get them pro-printed. Some good online bookmakers include:

• Snapfish
• Fotofinish
• Kroma
• Milkbooks
• Diamond Photo Books

Photobooks also make Christmas and birthday gifts for grandparents, friends, and family! 

Turn the music up and dance (start off solo, and it’s likely the kids will join in)!

We love:

• Just Dance for Kids - popular online dance videos for kids to groove along to. Great way to start the day!
• Kids Zumba - tutorials for kids to learn how to Zumba.
• Kidz Bop - a youtube tutorial to teach kids dance moves and routines.
• Jump Jam is fun and energetic!
• Go Noodle - for animated dance, action, sing-a-long fun!
• Supermovers - a UK website offering loads of online dance routines, activities mixed in to create an active learning resource.
• Karaoke - lookup websites and find your favourite singers and just sing along! 
• Play charades – more acting than dancing and singing, but we love to mix things up!

Try making up a dance routine to your favourite song and put on a show for the family – we’re seeing this all the time on social media!

A great way to connect, move your body, and have fun!

Kids and teens love staying up with you! Here are some cool ideas: 

• Promise a midnight feast - create a budget, write a list and buy your goodies at the shops together!  
• Go outside to see the stars – on a warm night use the tramp or lawn, lie on your backs and see what you can see! Download a star-gazing app, if you really want to figure out the constellations.
• Toast marshmallows over a brazier or make "s'mores". An easy kiwi version of this is to squash a marshmallow in between 2 x chocolate wheaten biscuits, and toast over the fire. Delish! 
• Take turns at telling stories, play games watch movies, aim to see the sunrise!

Oh – by the way: do this when you have nothing planned for the two days after!

Nothing like picking your own fruit! There are plenty of orchards and berry-farms around the city that invite you out to pick your own:

• Tram Road Fruit Farm, Swannanoa - raspberries and cherries
• Willowbank Raspberries - Harewood
• Blueberry Bliss - Broadfield BerryFruit - Prebbleton
• Pataka Berries - Marshlands
• Berries Direct - Templeton - 528 Jones Road Templeton

Best to call head and check the berry farms are open before hopping in the car - they're not always available. And check the best way to make payment - some are cash-only.

Sometimes your little legends need water to settle and calm. We love an afternoon 'play' bath which is all about play, rather than part of the daily routine.

Run the bath, add bubbles if you have some, then get creative with what you put in there to support play - duplo people, the plastic tea set, honey sticks bath drops, bath crayons, plastic animals... it's up to you. Blowing bubbles in the bath with straws can be fun (though you know we'll say to limit the amount of bathwater a child drinks!).

Once the play bath is done, snuggle in and read a book together.

Taking a ride on the Christchurch Gondola is a great way to see the city!

• Explore around the Port Hills once you hit the top, find a nice spot to spread your picnic blanket and enjoy the views over the city.
• Pack your walking shoes - get ready to hit the tracks! If you're feeling energetic, you could try walking back to the car via the Bridle Path track.
• Check out the food and drinks at the gondola cafe (remember to pack your keep-cup for a take-away coffee option too!), and enjoy a lunch out.

If you plan to head up frequently, look to invest in an annual pass ー perhaps ask the grandparents if they would like to contribute to this, as part of a birthday or other big present?

A ride on The Christchurch Tram is a great way to explore inner-city Christchurch and experience being a tourist for the day.

• Enjoy a guided tour as the conductor points out our historical sites and tells the history of the Garden City.
• You can get on and off as you please - stopping at the most iconic places in Christchurch, including the Riverside Markets, The Canterbury Museum, Cathedral Junction and the beautiful New Regent Street.

If you plan to ride the tram frequently, look to invest in an annual pass ー perhaps ask the grandparents if they would like to contribute to this, as part of a birthday present?

Riccarton Bush  (once known as Dean’s Bush) is located in the grounds of Riccarton House and a magical place to explore.

Enjoy a stroll through the tranquil grove of tall kahikatea trees in this ancient native forest. A lovely way to spend some time, simply exploring, talking, discovering...

• Look up - see how many nests you can spot?
• Sit in silence -- how many birds can you hear?
• Stare at a tree -- what can you see moving in your peripheral vision? A great way to enjoy and experience nature together.
• Talk about the predator fence that runs around the outside of the forest, discuss why it is there and how important it is to keep our native birds safe.
• Pack a thermos and enjoy a hot/cold drink on the large wooden seats, sheltered under the canopy of  incredible 600-year old trees.
• There are a number of sturdy pathways, and a strong, leafy canopy, making this is a great rainy day option, so pack your jacket and gumboots!

On the way out, enjoy a picnic along the banks of the Avon River and see if you can spot any ducks or eels? But please don't feed them bread - it's really not that good for them! 

The theatre isn’t a place we often think to take kids, but The Christchurch Court Theatre produces amazing shows and has a dedicated kid’s show every holidays.

A fab way to support the local arts (and an excuse to get dressed up for the occasion!). 

And a great option for a rainy day or school holiday activity. 

Watch a movie or favourite programme together – and don’t feel guilty about it!

Decide the night before whether you are going to have a morning or afternoon session, and balance this out with some outdoor activities or exercise, either before or after.

Quite simply, Netflix 'n Chill is a great way to spend any time of day!

Take advantage of 3-hours of free car-parking in the main carpark and enjoy strolling around Hagley Park Botanic Gardens:

• Divide your time between the playground, paddling pool (in summer), scones & coffee at the Ilex cafe, take in the beauty of the many famous flower gardens or check out the expansive art installations dotted throughout the park.
• Head to the Canterbury Museum if it's wet, or if you simply feel like taking in bit of culture.
• If it's wet, pack your gumboots and enjoy jumping in the puddles and feeding the ducks (though don't feed them bread!).
• Once you’re done, you’re only a short walk to the inner-city where you can find some cool art installations, and dine out at a number of locally owned cafés and restaurants. 

Plenty of options here, rain or shine! 

A great way to spend an afternoon, at one of Christchurch's ice-skating rink, Alpine Ice or MoveX.

• Be sure to rug up warm though - often forgotten on a sunny day!
• Sometimes it can be hard for parents to join in on, but if you're willing to take a risk and have a good laugh - here’s your chance!
• Check out their websites for school holiday schedules, lessons, birthday party and group event options.

They both have cafes on-site for when you want to take a break from the cold.

The lawn is a magic place we can:

• Learn to handstand and cartwheel and put on gymnastics or dance shows
• Make an obstacle course
• Get the ball out
• Make potions
• Make a hut
• Play in leaves
• Roly poly
• Play with the hose
• Climb a tree
• Pick flowers 
• Lay in the shade 
• Get on the tramp

All things that support our wellbeing!

Check out the amazing LAWA website that updates the quality of the water, and accessibility, of your local river.

Results are updated throughout the day, so you can see the latest water quality information to decide where to swim or paddle. Then:

• Pack a picnic, grab your togs, and go!
• Spend a day discovering and swimming in your local river.
• Enjoy a spot of fishing.
• Take your walking shoes and explore the river banks.

Be careful though! Canterbury rivers are unmonitored and can be dangerous. Keep near your kids or stay in the water with them and leave the inflatable pool toys at home - rapids pull them away fast!

The trampoline is so much more than a bouncy thing taking over the backyard or the thing you move to mow the lawn. If your kids are over their tramp – get on it and make it fun. We love:

• Setting up camping and planning to sleep overnight (check the weather forecast!)
• Head out on a clear night, and stargaze
• Jump around, and add in some toys, a ball (or even water balloons!)
• Get the kids to teach you their games – apparently there are hundreds: Stop, Drop, Roll, Zombie, Don’t Drop the Soap…

Try some of the youtube tricks – but be careful of your back!

Take off to the Air Force Museum - perfect on a rainy day!

With free entry, you can easily spend a few hours here exploring, learning and having fun!

• Take pens and paper and see if the kids can write down the names of as many different planes as possible.
• Take some photos and later on (a rainy day perhaps?), get the kids to try and draw the different planes.
• They also offer school holiday programmes, museum hunts, have a venue for birthday parties, have a pram-friendly and good-coffee at the Contact Cafe!

An awesome day out for the budding aviator in your life! 

A good option for when you're chilling at home, or heading out & about for the day.

• Give your kids your phone/camera and let them capture the moment. Allow them to be creative, take charge, and direct you within the photoshoot.
• For older kids, work with them to create a video/movie on your phone.
• Prepare yourself to be the star of headstand/jump/funny face shots!
• It might feel a little silly, but your kids will love seeing you show your silly-self, and you won’t regret looking back on your snaps later in life. Plus, you can never have too many photos to send to relatives!

Save these photos to your phone, or upload to the cloud and save for a day when you have time to make an online photo album.

There are some great options in the Garden City if you want to get out onto the water:

• Antigua Boat Sheds - spend an hour kayaking or paddling up the Avon River, then enjoy a picnic on the banks afterwards. 
• Punting down the Avon - be guided up the Avon River and through the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Be sure to keep your kids from standing up! Just sayin'!
• Ōtamahua/Quail Island - this might take a bit more organising but it’s worth it! Book the Black Cat Ferry in advance and prepare for a day of beautiful beaches, kid-friendly walks and incredible nature.
• If you are really keen, pack the PJs and sleeping bags, and book the Ōtamahua DOC Hut for an overnight stay. An unforgettable adventure right in our own backyard!
• For a cheaper option, use the Black Cat Ferry to head to Diamond Harbour for the day using your metrocard.

Be sure to pack some dry clothes and plenty of snacks for when you get back to the car.

Get the kids involved in throwing a small party – a surprise party, a get-together, a celebration – we don’t have to wait for birthdays!

Let them create the theme, come up with the design, agree on a workable budget, invite the guests, decorate, choose the food and have loads of fun! 

A great school holiday, rainy day or just-coz activity!

Step on board a classic open top double-decker for a one-hour bus tour around central Christchurch on the Christchurch City Sightseeing Tour. Great for if you have family and friends in town, and you're looking to show off our great city!

Your guide will tell you about the history of the city from its pioneering days to the present day. You will view some of the areas affected by the earthquakes, see how Christchurch is preserving some of its iconic heritage buildings and learn about the latest plans for restoration of the inner city.

A great way to discover your own backyard!

Dedicate a magical afternoon trying to track down the iconic Archwizard of Canterbury – often found chatting with locals in New Regent Street.

Head to Tūranga Library across the road for a magic book of some kind. Perhaps download a Harry Potter audiobook for the car ride home, or plan to watch a movie once you get home?

Simply magic!

Feel like getting right up close & personal with some wildlife, or experiencing the ultimate animal adventure?  

• Spend a day at Orana Wildlife Park - set in 80 hectares within 15-minutes’ drive from Christchurch Airport.
• Imagine hand feeding a majestic giraffe; eye balling the magnificent white rhino; meeting New Zealand’s national icon, the kiwi, meeting New Zealand's only gorillas or travelling through the Lion Reserve.
• It's pram friendly and due to the sheer size of the park, offers a good stretch of the legs. But if it's all too much, they offer free shuttle service to get you around the main attractions.
• A great way to burn energy and offer animal education, all in one hit! 

Ask the grandparents or other family members who love you, for an annual pass, so you can pop out any time you like.

This is a great inside game:

• Use a balloon as your ball and either a fly swat, kitchen spatula, badminton, tennis or squash racquet - mix it up!  
• Use dining room chairs, or sofas, as a "net" or just hit the balloon backward and forwards to each other.

Great hand-eye coordination for wee ones!

Tumbletimes is a casual session designed for babies and preschoolers to explore their capabilities at their own pace in a fun, safe and social environment. Drop-in, as there is no need to book.

Offered in several locations around the city - including:

• Cowles Stadium (Aranui)
• Graham Condon Centre (Papanui) 
• Pioneer Stadium (Spreydon).

A great way for kids to burn energy, and for you to meet other parents.

It's amazing what fun can be had with a tyre! Kids can fit in the big ones, they can be cars again with only the aid of a good imagination, or another creation! You can plant in them or hang them as a swing!

We've witnessed and been part of literally hours of play with an old tyre!

Do you have an old family friend, ex-neighbour, or elderly relative that you don't often get to see? Then school holidays are a great time to arrange a catch up:

• Call in advance and lock in a time to drop in with some afternoon tea.
• If they don’t have children, make sure to pack some fun stuff for your kids to play with while you sit and chat -- think balls for outside, colouring books, lego.
• If they have a great back yard, let your child use your phone-camera to take interesting photos, and can talk about them once you get home.
• Bake or make something with the kids to take over - check out the Kidspot baking pages for some top-tips and easy, yummy, and kid-friendly baking and recipe ideas. Fork Biscuits are always a fail-safe, fun and easy option.

This can easily turn into an all-day activity, so pack some extra snacks in case you end up staying longer!

Give some love to animals! 

• Spend an hour at Catnap Cafe - where you can sip coffee and pat cats! How awesome is that? (they have allocated times, so it's best to check their website and book ahead).
• Spend a few hours at the SPCA or an Animal Rescue Centre and enjoy a cuddle with a kitten, or pat with a puppy, or see if you or your kids can become volunteers?
• There are a number of ways that the whole family, can help. You could even become a foster-family and offer an animal a temporary home while they recover?
• Visiting an animal shelter is a  great way to figure out whether your family can actually cope with the logistics of having a permanent addition to the family (or not!).  

Contact the Christchurch SPCA for opening hours or to have a chat to see what you can do.

Sometimes we forget that our neighbourhood is a destination! Heading outside is so good for our wellbeing - it's where we notice things, enjoy nature, take in the weather, chat, connect with neighbours and feel good.

It's also the best way to stop any niggles that might be bubbling between any members of the family - just getting outside will change the mood. Even just call it - "right I'm off to walk the block, I'd love you to join me" - even if it takes a bit of a nag! We bet they will.

On the lawn or at the park, anyone will join in a ball game as long as it looks fun:

• Kick it, pass it, shoot hoops, shoot goals, play a soccer, netball, touch rugby... there are so many options.
• If you want to go old school – four square is an all-round favourite outdoor game.
• If it's raining, set up a game of indoor tenpin bowling - using just a tennis ball and a line-up of 6 soft-toys.

Keep it fun and remember competitions are best for ages 8-years old and up.

Yoga is great for all ages and is known to improve physical, mental and emotional health. And it's fun too!

You can either do yoga in the comfort of your own home, or head out to your local yoga studio. Here are a few of our faves:

At home

• Cosmic Kids Yoga with Jaime ー it's fun, educational and entertaining! A great way to spend time with your kids. Take off your shoes, open up Cosmic Kids Yoga on your phone (stream it to your TV if possible?) and find a good amount of space to get your yoga on! Awesome way to connect, get exercise and have fun together!
• Yoga with Adriene - a free, online yoga class. Although aimed at adults, set up your space and get the kids involved! Yoga knows no age barriers!
• Gaia - first month is free! This is an online app, offering not only yoga but a range of information around mindfulness and meditation. Great for parents who also need some downtime.

Out and about

• Stretch Me - supporting the overall physical and mental well-being of kids, Tania offers movement, stories, games and breathing techniques. Sessions are age-appropriate and can be targeted to specific requirements. She has also provided some free online classes too.
• Uprising - Bouldering - offers not only yoga, but also climbing, fitness, kids classes and parties. Plus it has a good cafe!

Yoga is a great option for all ages, and fun when you do it with someone else. So grab a yoga-mate and get upsidedown together!