The Best Things To Do in Christchurch With Kids

Happy, healthy, and bursting with nature, Christchurch is an idyllic city catering to all members of the family.
 

There are a month of Sundays' worth of things to do in Christchurch with kids, this is a city that caters for all ages so well that it's often tapped as one of the happiest cities in the world for its ever-approachable lifestyle, pick-me-up vibrancy, edge-to-edge natural beauty.
 

And while it's the second largest city in all of New Zealand, there's always that small town warmth following you and the family around, leaving no guesses as to why this South Island staple consistently strikes high on the gorgeous liveability index. 

Massive playgrounds, seaside villages, and island adventures makes it seem like Christchurch has always been custom-built for the many nuances of family travel. You never have to look hard to find kid-friendly Christchurch attractions, but we've made it extra easy.

Established in 1863, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens spread across 76 acres in the heart of the city, connecting North and South Hagley Park. This is very much a symbol of Christchurch's slow and measured lifestyle, presenting a picture of flower gardens, pools and playgrounds spun together by innovative design and distinctive themed gardens. 
 

A picnic by the sparkling Avon River, that runs through a large section of the park and out into the city, is idyllic but the best way to experience this tranquil waterway is by taking a punting tour. You'll leave the historic Antigua Boat Sheds on a classic Edwardian punt, floating along the regal gardens that sit on each side. Christchurch has been called the “Venice of the South”, owing to the pinch-yourself pleasantness of slowly navigating this waterway while New Zealand's characteristic beauty slowly passes by.

The wider Hagley Park opens you up to 407 acres of diverse landscapes, with the southern end more popular for walks amongst English-style gardens and mature woodlands. Give the family a selfie quota, so you're not constantly stopping and starting, and set out along the marked paths to find out just why Christchurch locals are always so friendly and relaxed. 
 

Locals love: Stick towards the gardens' Armagh Street car park entrance and you'll find a large children's playground and paddling pool. The various swings, slides, and climbing towers are just some of the ways the city has filled these gardens with ways for children to engage with nature.

Acclaimed New Zealand children's writer Margaret Mahy lends her name to what's often cited as the  biggest playground in the Southern Hemisphere. It's hardly a surprise that Christchurch lays such a claim, with this perfect $40 million example of family-friendly urban design fixing a large scope of play for every member of the family (even teenagers).
 

While parents tend to one of many communal BBQs located around the park, kids can focus their energy on the small water playpark, or the large slides and flying foxes. Sandpits, splash pads, giant trampolines and climbing tunnels in bright, distinctive colors help provide plenty of ways for kids to engage and find different ways to interact.
 

Weekends are generally too busy for the playground (think hundreds of kids all shouting at different decibels) so the best time to visit when you're in town is on a weekday during lunchtime, when all the local kids are at school. Given the central location, the playground also opens you up to plenty of post-play treats with various cafes and ice cream shops found along New Regent Street. 
 

Locals love: Because of Christchurch's relatively modest skyline, the 10-metre-tall climbing tower in the centre of the park offers great views that stretch beyond the city. Time for your visit just before sunset and get the family to the top for the ultimate Christchurch selfie. 

If your visit falls on a weekend and you might find most places in Christchurch feel much too quiet throughout the day on Fridays and Saturdays. That's because most locals have packed off to the  Cathedral Square Markets , which are most popular on Friday when they kick off at 11am and run through at 9pm. You'll find the best of Christchurch's food scene here, from bratwurst at The Little German Kitchen to dumplings to Transylvanian Delight kürtős kalács (chimney cake), so it's an awesome way to pick and mix the city's best flavors before setting up a picnic at the nearby Hagley Park.

The Christchurch gondola brings you up over the valleys to the top of Mt Cavendish so you're surrounded by the region's show-stopping natural frame, from the city on one side and the seemingly endless Corsair Bay on the other. Grab some lunch for the family at the summit's cafe for sky-high dining after tackling the several marked walking tracks that spread across the summit, each punctuated by a new perspective of Christchurch's impactful visuals. 

Grab an all-day pass for the Christchurch Tram, which zips around to 18 different stops around the city. Not only are these historic cars always a hit with kids, but they squeeze through some of Christchurch's most narrow streets and are a great way to sightsee. Depending on your route, you'll pass all the major points of interest for families, including the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Margaret Mahy Playground and New Regent Street. 

While Christchurch is a very outdoorsy city, you've still got plenty to do indoors for when the weather isn't behaving. The famous International Aquatic Centre is a surprising way to zip on over to the world's here's continent without the expensive cruise. 
 

The magic of Antarctica's landscape is brilliantly channeled through several family-friendly experiences including the Hagglunds Field Trip, which takes you through an outdoor adventure course in an all-terrain amphibious vehicle so you can experience what it's like for scientists to travel in Antarctica.
 

A specialized all-ages Storm Dome recreates what it's like to experience an Antarctic storm and even offers a polar plunge challenge so families can get a better idea of ​​what it's like to float in the world's chilliest waters. Or for something a little less intensive, you can take the kids to observe New Zealand's largest colony of rescued little blue penguins.
 

Locals love: If following Christchurch's more relaxed pace is a bit too slow for the family, pick up the speed at Christchurch Adventure Park. Located south of the city in Port Hills, the park is taken up mostly by its mountain bike trails, popular with experienced riders, but you'll find just as many families up here enjoying the view with tandem ziplining and New Zealand's longest chairlift.

The 154-room  Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square opens up into the city's most central communal space and is only an easy 15-minute walk from Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Being so well-connected to the rest of town means you'll have less logistics to worry about, clawing back some precious hours so you can pour it into family time instead.
 

Executive rooms are located on the higher floors, making them better suited for families, as they are constant reminders of Christchurch's natural beauty. You'll have views poking directly out to the Southern Alps to keep the kids connected to nature at all hours of the day and get them excited about exploring the region.