Broad Park

One of the best parks around. next to the beach and surf club, with toilets, showers and water available. Loads of free parking. Cafe opposite. Ice cream van usually parks up in the car park. The start of the Pegasus Bay track (walking/ cycling) which takes you through the plantation and to the head of the Waimak - if you choose to go that far.

The park has swings, slides, roundabout, flying fox (harder to manage for the little kids as it has a ladder on one side), horse, and wooden climbing fort area. Picnic tables about. Loads of grassy space.

The libraries

There are so many libraries around Chch. Some have cafes. Most of them offer story times for 3-5 year olds (for free) and toddler times (1-3 year olds). Some even have outdoor space for running around. There are computers and games and puzzles during the kidzone sessions. They are the perfect place to meet up with friends (especially in the cooler months) and pick up info on community issues.

Oh - and you can borrow books too.

Godley Head

On a beautiful clear morning this can't be beaten with wide sweeping views over pegasus Bay and the plains and the Alps... It's easy to get to along the road - with ample parking at the end - and toilets and water available too! From there you can choose from various walks - some more strenuous than others. The WW2 remains are great for scrambling over and exploring and add some excitement to the trip - especially if you descend into the hillside via the really steep steps and head into the gloomy rooms beneath. Challenging for littlies! It is basically flat and without drop offs so you can let your preschoolers have some freedom for the most part.

There's other longer walks - which are good - but this one is just great! And of course - it's free!

Glentui Falls

Further afield. Past Oxford (don't miss the turn off) up the gravel track and park at the end. There is a toilet (though be nice and take some spare toilet roll). The flies can be nasty - so take insect repellent. Lovely walk to the falls (use top track) to get there quickly or do the loop (about an hour or so). There are a couple of drop offs so probably not for younger than 4 years old.

Stop in Oxford for ices, or at Jo Seagars cafe or cafe 51 on the way back.

Willowbank

Perfect place to visit the animals - a 'must see ' for tourists, but a well attended place by all the locals - the annual pass is a bargain. Buy your food for feeding the animals on entry. Get up close to the deer (they'll feed from your hand usually), the sheep, ducks, geese, llamas, goats, donkeys, horse, pigs... See the kea and stay as long as you like in the kiwi house. Cafe is okay - free water available. Toilets in the main entrance area.

Wonderful place to while away an hour or an afternoon - particularly in hot weather - due to lots of shade.

Don't be put off by bus loads of tourists - it really is worth the visit. Go late afternoon if you want it quieter and the animals to be more lively.

Thomson Park

A big park area on Marine Parade. Don't be put off by its graffiti - its a skate park too - and a well attended one at that! Big grassy area. Smaller park for the little ones. The 'big' park is that - with taller than normal climbing apparatus, wide slides and a high but easily accessed flying fox.

Worth a go.

Christchurch Museum

Wonderful Canterbury museum. Plenty to interest most ages. Cafe is reasonable with a good choice of food and has a lovely new play area suitable for ages 1-4. High chairs available.

Easiest to park in the botanic gardens and walk through - no charge for parking there! The museum is free - though a donation is greatfully accepted!

Spencer Park

Fantastic place for all ages. It is my nearly four year old's favourite place! You can walk in the forest, or bike through on the tracks, go to the beach, BBQ, play volleyball, take a ball (lots of grassy areas), padfle in the pool, wander over the road to see the animals (pigs, various birds, sheep, rabbits...), buy ice cream from the camp shop, hire clubs for the mini golf - but the best part is the playground. There's a large sandpit area with waterpump for making channels, a fossil to excavate, things to play on, ropes to scramble, flying foxes (great for younger kids as they are low to the ground), as well as swings a tall 'rope mountain' and climbing poles. We have seen loads of birthday parties going on here, teenagers having a blast racing up the rope mountain, and theer is heaps for the littlies to do.

Scores very highly on the list of things to do in our family. Water available. Toilets (clean). Parking easy. Food to buy at camp shop. Take all rubbish home.

About us

I live with my husband and two children in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is a wonderful place to bring up kids and is very family friendly. My hope is that anyone visiting with kids can look up what to do and where to go. There are so many cheap and free wonderful things here. We get a lot of tourists. You need to know when to pack togs or a towel, where the toilets are (and in what state), where the locals eat, and if you can take a stroller with you!

My two girls are currently nearly four, and 16 months. We go to parks, beaches, museums, shops and do the sorts of things that visitors might want to do. Not everywhere has high chairs. Not all places are family friendly. All parks appeal to a different age group.

There are heaps of festivals and free concerts on annually. You can find out here.