Jo Moore, Marketing Manager at Willowbank Wildlife reserve, is a Canterbury girl (born and bred) and she's raised three kids here, so she knows exactly what to do to entertain the kids in Christchurch!
"Whatever your kids are into, you'll find something great to entertain them with in Christchurch. Here are just some of the places that I've brought my kids to over the years."
Cycleways – A great way to burn up your kids' energy! There are some great places to cycle around Christchurch but here's one I'd personally recommend – the McLeans Forest ride. The entrance to McLeans Forest is on McLeans Island Road just before Orana Park, and it's part of the Waimakariri River Regional Park. The loop track travels through pine forest over a fast smooth track with fun corners and rises.
Explore the Gardens – Christchurch Botanic Gardens are just beautiful. You really won't believe you're in the middle of a city when you visit them. It's a fantastic place to let the kids go running around, while you relax and read a book!
Plane Spotting – A great one for your little boys (including the dads)! The Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch holds the national collection of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
Ride to the Top - A fantastic option if you want to show the kids the views of Canterbury. On a good clear day, you can see right over Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean to Kaikoura; over Banks Peninsula, Lake Ellesmere and Lyttleton Harbour; and across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.
Check out the Animals – If your little one is into wildlife, then of course Willowbank is a great place to go. We've got fish, eels, turtles, otters, gibbons and much much more!
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