It might seem strange to head to a Garden Centre for entertainment but Wals is a plant shop with a difference! The Fun Land and cafe make it a popular family destination with miniature golf and trains (running from September to April) both being very popular. There are 18 holes that…
This modern museum tracks the history of people settling into the Dunedin and the wider Otago area from the first Maori, to the Scottish and the Chinese settlers during the gold rush period, right up to the modern day. There are lots of different areas within the museum so you’re…
Leaving from the old central Dunedin train station, the trains that travel along the Taieri Gorge track are a mix of old and modern carriages pulled by diesel electric engines. The route climbs up through the gorge which provides for stunning scenery over Taieri Gorge River (only seen from a…
About 25km north of Dunedin this makes for a great day trip to escape the city! In the inlet itself, you can dig for cockles (known locally as southern clams) at low tide – watch out for crabs that might try to nip you! It’s also a popular place for…
With 5 different pools, this is the best place to come for a family swim in the Dunedin area. If you want to swim laps, there’s a pool for you (heated to 28 degrees). If you’re after a rapid river, waves and a play, the leisure pool is for you (heated…
While this cafe is suitable for all ages of kids because it’s light and spacious and has toys, those with little ones might be particularly interested in the indoor play area. This is a very family friendly cafe that should keep preschoolers happy within a fenced area and older kids…
Set behind the beach and locally referred to as the ‘Dino park’ this is a great destination playground to visit as a half or full day trip. For younger kids some of the playground equipment is themed around dinosaurs (a stegosaurus slide, diplodocus swings etc) There are also more traditional…
The playground within Memorial Gardens, in the western suburb of Mosgiel (en route from the airport to the city centre if you’re coming in that way) has a separate fenced and gated area for preschoolers as well as a section for older kids. Equipment includes a large spacenet, a wooden fort…
Otago Museum has many areas that will entertain adults and kids for at least half a day if not a full day. One area that comes highly recommended by locals is the Tuhura Science Centre, home to lots of interactive science displays and experiments, as well as an indoor tropical…
This chain of indoor inflatable playgrounds are a great place to release excess energy when the weather isn’t great outside. There are several Inflatable Worlds operating in cities throughout New Zealand generally in big indoor sports arenas. Equipment can change but there are usually big inflatable slides, bungees, climbing areas with big…
