Family fun in Ōtautahi Christchurch this spring
Explore the great outdoors with giant swings, playgrounds, shipwrecks and gardens.
Seasonal
25 March 2025
Top family activities
Spring is finally here! Get the whānau out and about with fun ideas to enjoy the city in full bloom!
Breakfast at The Margaret Mahy playground
Pack a picnic breakfast the night before and surprise the kids with breakfast at the Margaret Mahy Playground. Make use of the free electrical BBQs and picnic area to cook your pancakes and enjoy the playground to yourself before the crowds amble in!
There's plenty of top coffee options nearby for the adults too, from mobile coffee carts in the playground to Child Sister just across the road.
Swoop on a giant swing
Right next to Margaret Mahy Playground, you'll find the Gap Filler giant swings bringing squeals of joy to kids big and little.
The swing is part of Gap Filler's work to deliver creative and experimental installations. The pump track next to the swing is their work too. Grab a scooter or bike and zoom through the course, or relax with a coffee in hand as the kids wear themselves out.
See the shipwrecks at Quail Island
There's nothing like an adventure to see island shipwrecks. Discover Quail Island's unique history; a former leper colony, a training ground for Antarctic explorers, a ship graveyard, and now a pest-free ecological reserve.
The island is accessible by multiple tracks, and you can complete the island loop in 2 1/2 hours. Be sure to bring walking shoes, a picnic, and your togs in warm weather. Get to Quail Island on the Black Cat Ferry from Lyttelton.
Cruise the city on the Christchurch Tram
Always popular with the kids, the Christchurch Tram is a perfect way to see the city if tired legs (both big and small!) can’t keep up. The all-day hop-on hop-off tickets allow you to visit the best of the central city at your own pace.
The drivers are always super friendly and knowledgeable about the city. Enjoy a mini-history lesson about all the key sights and locations. If you're lucky, you can even ring the tram bell!
Scoot through the Botanic Gardens
No list of spring activities would be complete without a trip to the city’s crowning jewel – the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Awash with magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, and blossoms there’s nowhere more beautiful to spend a lazy spring afternoon.
Grab the kids' scooters (bikes not allowed) and explore the gardens but please leave any electric scooters at the garden's entrance. Grab an ice cream or bite at Lucky Duck and let the kids burn off some energy at the kids' playground.
Take in the sights
An unmissable Christchurch experience and one the whole family will love, the Christchurch Gondola offers stunning 360-degree views of the city, Lyttelton Harbour and beyond! Explore the many walking tracks amid fresh spring air, learn about the history of the area on a Christchurch Discovery Ride ride (free with your Christchurch Gondola ticket or Annual Pass) and enjoy a coffee, hot chocolate and tasty treat form the Red Rock Cafe at the top.
Meet some animal friends
Christchurch has many options for animal lovers to spend some time up close and personal with exotic creatures and local species. Spend a spring afternoon wandering Willowbank and get to know some of the incredible creatures.
If you fancy spending a day stretching the legs, Orana Wildlife Park is another great option. With 80 hectares of park space, you can get up close and personal with incredible wildlife, including white rhino, giraffes, lions and New Zealand’s only gorillas!
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