Top family activities

Keep the family entertained as Christchurch comes alive in spring. Discover outdoor adventures, giant playgrounds, wildlife encounters, beautiful gardens and hidden treasures across the city.

Children playing among the Cherry Blossoms at the Botanic Gardens

Family fun in Ōtautahi Christchurch this spring

Spring is the perfect season for family activities in Christchurch. With colourful gardens, iconic attractions and endless opportunities to get outdoors, there’s something for all ages to enjoy. Whether you're planning a low-cost day out, seeking school holiday inspiration, exploring nature trails or enjoying a picnic in the sunshine, Christchurch offers unforgettable spring experiences.

Hydroslides and pools at Parakiore

Looking for the perfect family day out that won't break the bank? Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre has just the thing!

Home to New Zealand’s only trap door hydro slide - not for the faint-hearted! If that's not for you, grab a mate and enjoy the thrills of the tube slide with wide open turns and swirling bends. With a splash deck, water adventure playground, and a large variety of pools, why not make a day of it!

Good for:

Keeping the family entertained on cold wet days.
Central city location - make a day of it and combine with other activities around the city.
Multiple aquatic activities and indoor recreation spaces.

Explore Parakiore

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.

Good for:

A free family day out.
Activities suitable for the whole family, including climbing towers, large slides and flying foxes.
Water play, perfect for warm days including water cannons and splash pads.

Explore Margaret Mahy

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!

Good for:

Transportation around the city in a fun way, combine with other city attractions for a great day out.
Learn fun facts about the city from knowledgeable tram drivers.
Experience multiple tram types with the hop on hop off system.

Visit Christchurch Tram

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 2.5 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.

Good for:

Seeing Lyttelton Harbour from a different vantage point.
Great family day out. Pack a picnic and make the most of it.
A soft sandy beach, suitable for swimming and launching small water craft.

Discover Quail Island

Take in the sights at the Christchurch Gondola

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.

Good for:

Spectacular 360 degree views of Christchurch city and surrounds.
For those that want to be more active, walk the tracks at the top.
A unique place to take the family for a bite to eat and a hot choccy.

Visit Christchurch Gondola

People with a Kea at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Meet animals at Willowbank & Orana Wildlife Park

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!

Good for:

Wholesome family fun, that is also educational.
Hand feeding a cute range of animals.
Wide walking paths suitable for prams and buggies.

View Willowbank View Orana Wildlife Park

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.

Good for:

Enjoy a family walk through the seasonal flower displays, followed by a picnic under the trees.
In the summer months the large paddling pool and playground is a must visit.
View the expansive tropical collections of plants in the conservatories, perfect for when the weather is a little cooler.

Discover the Botanic Gardens