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While the museum offers quite a lot that will keep kids happily entertained, this recommendation from a local Mum is specifically for ‘Discovery’ on the 3rd floor. The theme for this area is natural history and it includes a fossil dig. Models of animals such as a giraffe and meerkat are…
This place comes highly recommended as a real gem if you’re needing a break on the road to or from Hawkes Bay! Run entirely by volunteers (known as The Cave Dwellers), the opening hours are unfortunately very restricted, so it pays to check out their Facebook page before you promise…
Puke Ariki is home to a museum, library, tourist info and community rooms. This recommendation is for the museum which has been renovated in 2015/2016 becoming more hands on and interactive for kids. There are numerous galleries housing everything from dinosaur skeletons to a history of the first settlers, lots of taonga…
The area around Takaka is known for its limestone rock formations and this one is easily accessible to anyone who can walk (narrow paths through the rocks mean it’s not suitable for buggies, wheelchairs or at times, even backpacks). It’s a natural maze and kids seem to enjoy getting lost…
This cafe is a bit of a Christchurch institution although after the earthquakes it had to relocate to the old Post Office building. A lot of care has gone into the redesign, making this cafe an intriguing and fascinating place to take kids. From the food arriving at high speed…
Like all activities where there’s a significant outlay for entrance, some visitors will always decide that it’s over priced for what it is. However, for most families visiting the Antarctic Centre, the general consensus is that it’s a great half (or longer) day out. And there are some tips to make…
This chain of indoor inflatable playgrounds are a great place to release excess energy when the weather isn’t great outside. They generally operate in big indoor sports arenas. Equipment can change but there are usually big inflatable slides, bungees, climbing areas with high jumps from the top and inflatable obstacle courses. There’s a…
Imagine being locked in a room with your friends or family and having to work together to get out within a set time. This is the scenario at the Escape Artists! There are currently 3 rooms to escape from, all with different themes. Groups of friends or families are ‘locked’…
Indoor pools including 2 x 25 metre pools and a separate gated toddler pool with water features. There is often bubble time. The indoor hydroslide is currently closed until further notice. In fact there are no indoor hydroslides currently operating in Christchurch. Outdoor pool and hydroslides open in the summer…
Both girls and boys (and adults) love Laser Strike. The setting is a futuristic city, the lights are dimmed and there’s fake fog/smoke in the air. Everyone participating in a game wears a special vest and has a laser gun. Teams ‘battle it out’ to shoot each other and special…
