Activity Category: Outside

Margaret Mahy Family Playground, Christchurch

This is the largest playground in the Southern Hemisphere so there has to be something for everyone! There’s lots of different equipment for all age groups – sliding, swinging, balancing, climbing, jumping – your kids will only be limited by their imaginations. There’s a separate toddler area as well as…

Whiti Farm Park, Coromandel

Friendly animals in a park setting with over 50 species of farmyard & domesticated animals, birds and reptiles. Hand feed the animals as you go round the farm trail (food available for $1 at the entrance). There’s also a trampoline, pirate ship and old fire truck for climbing on, a treehouse and…

Ngatea Water Gardens, Coromandel

Two hectares of beautiful gardens with water features, picnic areas and a play area. Humour is injected into the gardens at various points and there’s a quiz that kids can do as they go round.

Driving Creek Railway and Potteries, Coromandel

This place is famous for its train but there’s a lot more to it than this! Bush, recycled treasures, hidden pieces of humour and great views of the surrounding Coromandel are also up for grabs on a visit here. Take a picnic if you’re there over lunchtime or stop off…

Feed the pigs, Coromandel

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Approximately 3km along the 309 Rd, near The Waterworks, Stuart has over 100 wild pigs on his property that are happy to eat anything that you’ve got to give them, so take some food, pull over and the pigs will come and find you! If Stuart is around, he’ll usually…

The Waterworks, Coromandel

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This is a theme park of sorts but the attractions are generally made out of recycled materials powered by water. Kids and adults alike can enjoy seeing how each activity works while for instance, swinging or zooming down the flying fox. There’s also a water hole for swimming on hot days and…

Whangapoua Beach, Coromandel

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Whangapoua Beach is a long, white-sand beach that is good for swimming but being on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsular, it’s also good for boogie boarding and surfing. There are no life guards on duty so you’ll need to look out for rips and supervise kids at all…

Waitete Bay, Coromandel

Long, white sand beach which is great for buckets and spades. The sea is relatively calm so great for swimming but there are no life guards on duty so you’ll need to look out for rips and supervise kids at all times. This beach is on the west coast of…

Walk up Conical Hill, Hanmer Springs

This is a relatively easy walk to the local viewpoint which can be enjoyed even by relatively young kids, although it is a steady uphill climb. The summit sits at 550m and the most direct route zigzags up through open parkland, past ponds and then through forest, from Hanmer township. It…

Weekend Market, Hanmer Springs

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A weekend market runs every Saturday during the summer from Labour Day weekend to Anzac Day weekend. It’s a small market but has stalls that change frequently and a focus on those selling homemade NZ products from the local community. There are lots of treasures for slightly older kids to look…