Christchurch with Kids

Family travel guide for parents planning with children

Christchurch is New Zealand’s most kid-friendly city: flat, compact, and rebuilt around play spaces since the earthquakes. Expect wide riverside paths for scooters, splash pads within every new park, and museums that encourage climbing and experiments. The downside is patchy shade in summer and a breezy winter that can nip small fingers; bring layers year-round. Best ages are 3–12, when the science exhibits and bike trails hit the sweet spot, but teenagers will still get a kick out of punting on the Avon River and the street-art scene. Overall, the vibe is relaxed—cafés have high-chairs as standard, strangers will help fold your pram on the bus, and no one minds a toddler meltdown in the Botanic Gardens. Christchurch weather can swing four seasons in a day, so always have a backup indoor activity and sunscreen in the same backpack.

Top Family Activities

The best things to do with kids in Christchurch.

Christchurch Gondola & Time Tunnel

A cable-car ride up Mt Cavendish delivers 360-degree views over the city and Lyttelton Harbour. The Time Tunnel ride is a gentle 6-minute motion experience kids love, and there’s a café with colouring sheets.

All ages $18 USD adult, $10 child (under 5 free) 2–3 hours including summit trails

Bring a baby carrier for the short summit walk; stroller parking is available inside the base station.

Orana Wildlife Park

NZ’s only open-range zoo lets you hand-feed giraffes and watch lions prowl right beside the safari bus. Wide gravel paths are stroller-friendly and there are five playgrounds for energy breaks.

All ages $24 USD adult, $8 child Half day

Arrive for the 11 am giraffe feeding—queues are shortest and animals are hungriest.

Margaret Mahy Playground

A 3-storey slide, flying fox, water cannons and giant climbing nets, all enclosed with fencing and free. Food trucks park on-site at lunch.

All ages, but toddlers need close supervision Free 1–2 hours

Change of clothes essential; the splash zone soaks even reluctant kids.

Canterbury Museum & Discovery Centre

Dinosaur skeletons, a Victorian Christchurch street to explore, and a hands-on science room where kids can build earthquake-proof towers. Backpacks welcome.

3–12 best By donation (Discovery Centre $6 USD extra) 2 hours

Borrow the free Explorer Backpacks from the desk; they include magnifying glasses and activity cards.

Punting on the Avon

Glide through the Botanic Gardens on a flat-bottomed boat pushed by a punter in Edwardian costume. Blankets provided on chilly days; under-5s sit on parents’ laps.

All ages $18 USD adult, $8 child 30 minutes

Book the 10 am slot—river is calmest and gardens are empty for photos.

Air Force Museum

Climb inside a WWII Lancaster bomber, fly a simulator, and crawl through an escape-room-style ‘Mission’ for older kids. Free entry with paid cockpit experiences.

5+ for simulators, younger kids still enjoy aircraft displays Free; simulators $5 USD 1.5–2 hours

Pick up the ‘Little Pilot’ trail sheet at reception to keep preschoolers busy.

TranzAlpine Train Day Trip

One of the world’s great train rides crosses the Southern Alps in panoramic carriages. Family booths have tables for cards and snacks; colouring packs handed out.

All ages $120 USD adult, $60 child return to Arthur’s Pass 9–11 hours

Board from the rear carriage—closest to toilets and snack cart.

Best Areas for Families

Where to base yourselves for the smoothest family trip.

Christchurch CBD & Riverside Market

Flat, rebuilt with wide footpaths and loads of free Wi-Fi. Everything is within 15 minutes’ walk and buses radiate from here.

Highlights: Margaret Mahy Playground, Canterbury Museum, indoor Riverside Market food hall with high-chairs and microwaves

Family rooms in 4-star hotels, serviced apartments with kitchenettes

Riccarton & Hagley Park

Green buffer zone for bike rides and Sunday farmers’ market; 10 minutes to city centre by bus.

Highlights: Hagley Park playgrounds, Westfield Mall (parents’ pharmacy/diaper stop), Riccarton House lawn for picnics

Motels with playgrounds, holiday parks with cabins

Sumner Beach Village

Safe patrolled beach, rock-pool exploring, and cafés that let sandy kids inside. Easy drive or bus #3 from CBD.

Highlights: Cave Rock climb, playground on the esplanade, gelato shops

Beach houses, B&Bs with family suites

Airport & Burnside

Handy for early flights and rental-car pick-up; still 20 minutes to city via fast bus (Orbiter).

Highlights: Airport playground before security, Antarctic Centre next door

Airport hotels with interconnecting rooms, motels with free parking

Family Dining

Where and how to eat with children.

Most Christchurch restaurants welcome children; high-chairs appear as soon as you walk in. Kids’ menus default to grilled chicken and fries, but many cafés now offer pikelets, babyccinos and free fruit. Water is always free and staff rarely grumble about split drinks. Weekend brunch is family prime-time—book or arrive before 9.30 am.

Dining Tips for Families

Look for ‘Kids Eat Free’ nights—usually Monday–Wednesday at pub bistros.
Riverside Market has communal tables and 20 food stalls—everyone can pick what they like.
BYO colouring books; crayons are provided almost everywhere.

Hip cafés in The Tannery or The Colombo

Open-plan spaces, toys in the corner, great coffee for parents

$8–$12 USD per child meal, $45 USD family total

Pub bistros (e.g., The Carlton, Pegasus Arms)

Large booths, kids’ play corners, early bird specials at 5.30 pm

$10–$15 USD kids’ roast dinner, $60 USD family total

Food-truck pods at Margaret Mahy Playground

Picnic tables inside the fenced playground; eat while kids run

$7–$10 USD per meal, grab-and-go style

Tips by Age Group

Tailored advice for every stage of childhood.

Toddlers (0-4)

Flat terrain and fenced playgrounds make Christchurch toddler heaven. Naptime is easy—Botanic Gardens rose garden is quiet and pram-friendly.

Challenges: Sudden wind gusts can knock toddlers over; many cafés lack change tables in male toilets.

Bring a clip-on high-chair harness—some hip cafés only have stools
Use parents’ room at Westfield Riccarton—microwave, cot, and free wipes

School Age (5-12)

Kids 5–12 get the most out of Christchurch’s interactive science exhibits and easy bike trails. Everything feels like an outdoor classroom.

Learning: Quake City explains plate tectonics with Lego; Cardboard Cathedral visit teaches earthquake resilience.

Buy the $5 Kids Explorer guidebook at the Canterbury Museum—it turns exhibits into a treasure hunt
Hire kids’ bikes from ‘The Bicycle Thief’—they include helmets and maps

Teenagers (13-17)

Street art tours and adrenaline sports keep teens engaged. Wi-Fi is everywhere so they can Insta-story the day.

Independence: Teens can safely roam the CBD pedestrian zone and Riverside Market solo during daylight; phone signal is excellent.

Book the VR earthquake experience at Quake City—teens rate it 10/10
Give them a Metro card and let them bus to Sumner Beach for fish & chips

Practical Logistics

The nuts and bolts of family travel.

Getting Around

City centre is flat and stroller-friendly; footpaths have curb cuts. Metro buses accept unfolded strollers off-peak; tag on with contactless card. Taxis and Uber can provide car seats for $5 NZD surcharge—book 30 min ahead. Car rentals offer forward-facing seats for kids 4+; bring your own rear-facing if possible.

Healthcare

Christchurch Hospital (24-hr) is 5 min drive from CBD. White Cross clinics in Riccarton and Moorhouse Ave handle minor injuries 8 am–10 pm. Chemist Warehouse and Countdown pharmacies stock diapers, formula, and baby Panadol.

Accommodation

Request ground-floor or lift access for strollers. Serviced apartments save on dining—look for ones near Countdown supermarket. Check if pool is heated; Christchurch nights get cool even in summer.

View Accommodation Guide →

Packing Essentials

Compact rain jacket for sudden southerlies
Sunhat and SPF50 even on cloudy days (UV is intense)
Lightweight merino layers for kids (temperature swings)
Re-usable swim nappies for splash pads

Budget Tips

Buy the Metro Day Pass ($4 USD) for unlimited bus travel—kids under 5 free.
Visit museums on late nights (usually Thursday) when many are by donation.
Pack supermarket sushi and fruit for playground lunches—saves $25–$30 per meal.

Family Safety

Keeping your family safe and healthy.

Sunburn happens fast—apply SPF every 2 hours, even under cloud cover.
Roads are left-hand drive; remind kids to look right before crossing—some intersections lack audible signals.
Tap water is safe to drink; carry refillable bottles to avoid single-use plastic.
Rivers and estuary currents are deceptive—only swim between flags at Sumner and New Brighton beaches.
Earthquake drills: teach kids ‘Drop, Cover, Hold’ before visiting Quake City.
Sandflies at Godley Head—pack insect repellent for coastal walks.