Family-Friendly Christchurch: 10 Must-Do Activities After the Rebuild

If there's one attraction that perfectly balances education with pure fun, it's the International Antarctic Centre. Located just five minutes from the airport (making it perfect for your arrival or departure day), this interactive museum offers a fascinating glimpse into Antarctic research and ecology.

The highlight for Maya was undoubtedly the penguin rescue center, where she spent nearly an hour watching the little blue penguins during feeding time. The staff's knowledge about each penguin's personality and rescue story captivated her completely. Meanwhile, I was thoroughly impressed by the authentic Antarctic Storm experience—a refrigerated room that drops to -8°C (18°F) where you can feel what it's like to face Antarctic conditions. They provide Antarctic jackets to wear during the experience, but I'd still recommend bringing your own gloves and beanie for maximum comfort.

What makes this center truly special is how it transforms complex scientific concepts into accessible experiences. The 4D theater brings Antarctic research to life with moving seats, water spray, and even snow effects that had Maya squealing with delight. As someone passionate about science education, I appreciated how the exhibits explained climate change impacts and conservation efforts in ways that even younger children could grasp.

The Hagglund Ride outside (an all-terrain Antarctic vehicle experience) was an unexpected thrill—bumping over obstacles and through water obstacles while learning about polar transportation. My advice: book this experience in advance as it fills up quickly, especially during school holidays.

Named after one of New Zealand's beloved children's authors, the Margaret Mahy Playground isn't just any park—it's a 2.5-acre wonderland that emerged from Christchurch's recovery plan, symbolizing the city's commitment to families and future generations. Located in the heart of the city along the Avon River, this playground represents everything I love about how Christchurch has rebuilt—with creativity, inclusivity, and an eye toward bringing joy back to urban spaces.

The playground features distinct zones inspired by local landscapes: forest, peninsula, plains, and wetlands. What impressed me most was how the design encourages different types of play and risk-taking appropriate for various ages. Maya spent nearly two hours challenging herself on the massive slide towers and flying fox ziplines, while younger children enjoyed the water play areas and musical instruments.

As parents, we appreciated the thoughtful layout that allowed us to easily keep an eye on our daughter while relaxing on the numerous benches scattered throughout. The playground is fully fenced with only two entry points, providing peace of mind. I'd recommend bringing a packable picnic blanket as the grassy areas are perfect for lunch breaks between play sessions.

What makes this playground truly special is its accessibility features. Children of all abilities can find equipment designed for their enjoyment—something Leila and I deeply value as educators committed to inclusive spaces. The playground designers clearly consulted with accessibility experts, resulting in wheelchair-accessible equipment and sensory play options.

Pro tip: While the playground itself is free, parking nearby can be challenging. We found it easiest to park at the Lichfield Street Parking Building about a 7-minute walk away and make a day of exploring both the playground and nearby Riverside Market for lunch options.

The 21-hectare Botanic Gardens provide a tranquil counterpoint to Christchurch's urban rebuild energy and offer families a perfect blend of nature exploration and gentle adventure. Dating back to 1863, these gardens miraculously survived the earthquakes relatively intact, providing much-needed continuity and natural beauty for a city in transition.

We started our visit at the impressive Visitor Centre, where interactive displays about plant science had Maya completely engaged. The conservatories house collections from different climate zones—the tropical house was especially welcome during our visit in New Zealand's early summer when mornings still carried a chill. As a former science teacher, I appreciated how the gardens incorporate educational elements throughout, from labeled medicinal plants to information about conservation efforts.

The absolute highlight, however, was punting on the Avon River. Dressed in traditional Edwardian attire, our punter shared stories about Christchurch's history as he skillfully navigated our flat-bottomed boat along the gentle river that winds through the gardens. Maya was enchanted by the experience, trailing her fingers in the water and spotting ducks and native birds along the banks. It felt like stepping into a storybook—a perfect contrast to the modern architecture we'd been exploring elsewhere in the city.

I recommend bringing a compact binoculars for bird watching and plant identification. The gardens are home to numerous native birds, and having binoculars turned our casual stroll into an impromptu wildlife safari that kept Maya engaged throughout our visit.

Time your punting experience for late morning when the sun has warmed the air but before the midday crowds arrive. The 30-minute journey provides a unique perspective of the gardens and offers a moment of reflection on how water has shaped this city—both in its original settlement and through the rebuilding process.

While vacationing families might hesitate to focus on disaster, I believe Christchurch's earthquake exhibits offer powerful learning opportunities about resilience, engineering, and community spirit. Quake City museum provides an age-appropriate yet honest look at the 2011 earthquake that transformed the city. The exhibits strike a perfect balance between acknowledging the tragedy while highlighting the incredible stories of survival and rebuilding.

My daughter was particularly moved by the display of everyday objects recovered from the rubble—a broken clock frozen at the exact moment of the quake, a crushed bicycle, and personal items that told human stories. The science behind earthquakes is explained through interactive displays that demonstrate plate tectonics and building technologies developed to withstand seismic forces. As someone passionate about making science accessible to young minds, I appreciated how these exhibits translated complex geological concepts into tangible experiences.

Just a short walk away stands the Transitional Cathedral (often called the Cardboard Cathedral), which answered Maya's initial question about cardboard construction. This remarkable building, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, uses 86 cardboard tubes as its structural components. It serves as both a functioning church and a symbol of innovative thinking in crisis. The cathedral staff welcomes visitors and offers excellent explanations about the sustainable materials and engineering principles used in its construction.

What makes these sites so valuable for families is how they transform a difficult chapter in Christchurch's history into an opportunity for discussions about community, problem-solving, and hope. Maya left with a deeper understanding of how cities can rebuild after disasters and how innovative thinking can create beauty from challenging circumstances.

I recommend visiting these sites mid-week when they're less crowded, allowing for meaningful conversations with staff members who often have personal connections to the earthquake events. Many carry pocket travel journals for children to record their thoughts and observations—something that helped Maya process the more emotional aspects of what she learned.

For families seeking close encounters with New Zealand's unique wildlife, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve offers an experience far more intimate than typical zoos. Located just 15 minutes from central Christchurch, this family-owned reserve focuses on conservation of native species while providing meaningful animal interactions.

The reserve is thoughtfully divided into three sections: Heritage Farm with domestic animals that children can feed and pet; Natural New Zealand featuring native birds and reptiles; and the highlight—the Kiwi House where we saw multiple kiwi birds foraging in a specially designed nocturnal habitat. Unlike many wildlife experiences where you might glimpse a kiwi from afar, Willowbank's custom-designed enclosures allowed us to observe these national icons up close as they used their distinctive bills to probe for food.

What sets Willowbank apart is its commitment to conservation education without being preachy. Throughout our visit, knowledgeable staff explained how predator control and breeding programs are helping endangered species recover. These conversations provided natural openings to discuss environmental responsibility with Maya in ways that felt hopeful rather than overwhelming.

The Ko Tāne Māori cultural experience offered at Willowbank was an unexpected highlight. We participated in a traditional welcome ceremony (pōwhiri), learned about indigenous connections to the land and animals, and enjoyed a cultural performance that had Maya attempting her own version of the haka by evening. The experience thoughtfully connected wildlife conservation with cultural preservation in ways that resonated with our family's values.

For optimal wildlife viewing, I recommend visiting in late afternoon when many animals are more active, then staying for the dusk kiwi spotting. Bring a headlamp for evening viewing in the Kiwi House—the red light setting won't disturb the birds but helps you navigate the darkened pathways.

A practical tip: while the café offers decent options, we found packing our own picnic allowed us to maximize our time with the animals rather than waiting for service during busy periods.

Christchurch Adventure Park delivers exactly what its name promises—adventure for the whole family, regardless of skill level. Located in the Port Hills just 15 minutes from downtown, this outdoor recreation center offers ziplines, mountain biking trails, and hiking options with spectacular views over the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.

As an avid snowboarder who's always seeking adrenaline rushes in the off-season, I was immediately drawn to the mountain biking trails. The park offers bike rentals and trails for all skill levels—from gentle green runs perfect for Maya's first off-road experience to advanced tracks that challenged even my experience. What impressed me most was the thoughtful progression of the trails, allowing families to build skills together at their own pace.

For those less interested in biking, the zipline tours provide equally thrilling experiences with minimal physical demands. The four-line tour takes about two hours and includes spectacular views across Christchurch and educational commentary about the post-earthquake forest regeneration. Children as young as 8 can participate, making it accessible for most families.

The café at the base of the park deserves special mention—not just for its excellent coffee and locally-sourced menu, but for its floor-to-ceiling windows that let parents relax while keeping an eye on children tackling the beginner skills area. This thoughtful design reflects the family-friendly ethos that runs throughout the park.

For families seeking a less structured outdoor experience, the surrounding Port Hills offer numerous hiking trails with panoramic views. The Bridle Path walk provides context for Christchurch's early European settlement and connects to the charming port town of Lyttelton—a perfect destination for lunch after working up an appetite.

Whether biking or hiking, I recommend bringing a hydration backpack to keep everyone properly hydrated, as the hills can be deceptively demanding and New Zealand's sun is particularly intense due to the thin ozone layer in this region.

The heart of post-earthquake Christchurch reveals itself through two complementary experiences: the vibrant Riverside Market and the historic tram tour that connects the city's past with its innovative future.

Riverside Market has quickly become Christchurch's culinary and social hub—a covered marketplace housing over 30 food vendors and artisan retailers. What makes this market special for families is how it showcases the cultural diversity that has contributed to the city's rebuild. Maya was delighted by the opportunity to sample foods from around the world, from authentic Japanese ramen to traditional Māori hangi-cooked meats. The open kitchen designs allowed her to watch chefs in action, turning lunch into an educational experience about food preparation and cultural traditions.

The market's riverside location creates natural connections to the city's heritage, with the Avon River flowing just outside. Street performers often entertain along the riverbank, adding to the festive atmosphere. For parents needing a break, the upstairs seating area offers excellent people-watching opportunities while children explore the various food stalls.

To put the market and surrounding innovations in context, I highly recommend taking the historic tram tour. Unlike many tourist trams that feel disconnected from local life, Christchurch's beautifully restored trams function as both practical transportation and moving history lessons. The all-day hop-on-hop-off tickets allowed us to use the tram as transportation between major attractions while enjoying commentary about both historic landmarks and post-earthquake architectural innovations.

Our tram driver, a Christchurch native who had lived through the earthquakes, shared personal stories that transformed our understanding of the city's journey. He pointed out subtle details we would have missed—like how certain preserved facades of historic buildings have been incorporated into modern structures, creating a visual dialogue between past and future.

For families with younger children who might get restless, I recommend downloading the Christchurch Explorer App which includes child-friendly scavenger hunts that can be completed while riding the tram route.

Located 15 minutes from the airport, Orana Wildlife Park offers a safari-style experience that stands apart from traditional zoos. As New Zealand's only open-range zoo, it provides close encounters with both native species and international wildlife in spacious, naturalistic habitats.

The park's design minimizes barriers between visitors and animals, creating more meaningful connections. The giraffe feeding station was Maya's absolute favorite—standing eye-to-eye with these gentle giants as they delicately took leaves from her hand created a moment of wonder I'll never forget. Her face transformed from nervous anticipation to pure joy as she made that direct animal connection.

What impressed me most about Orana was the conservation messaging that permeated every exhibit without feeling heavy-handed. Keeper talks focused not just on animal facts but on specific conservation actions visitors could take, from reducing plastic use to supporting habitat protection. These talks were timed throughout the day, allowing us to plan our visit around them and turning casual animal viewing into deeper learning experiences.

The absolute highlight—and an experience unique in New Zealand—is the Lion Encounter. For an additional fee, visitors can ride through the lion habitat in a specially modified vehicle with steel cages protecting passengers while lions climb on top during feeding time. While the extra cost gave me pause initially, watching Maya's expression as a full-grown male lion jumped onto our vehicle just feet away was absolutely priceless. It sparked conversations about predator conservation that continued throughout our trip.

Orana requires a full day to appreciate properly, so arrive early and bring plenty of water. The park is quite spread out, which creates wonderful natural habitats but means significant walking between exhibits. For families with younger children, I recommend bringing a compact stroller that's lightweight yet sturdy enough for the park's gravel paths.

A practical tip: while animal feeding experiences cost extra, they create the most memorable moments. Budget for at least 1-2 of these experiences per child to make your visit truly special.

If you had told me one of Maya's favorite Christchurch experiences would be visiting a library, I might have been skeptical—until I stepped into Tūranga. This isn't just any library; it's a five-story celebration of innovation, sustainability, and interactive learning that represents everything inspiring about Christchurch's rebuild philosophy.

Opened in 2018 as part of the city's recovery plan, Tūranga was designed with families in mind. The children's area on the ground floor features reading nooks inspired by native birds, interactive digital displays, and programming that changes regularly. During our visit, Maya participated in a robotics workshop where she programmed a small robot to navigate a maze—completely free of charge.

What makes Tūranga special is how it reimagines what a public space can be. The second floor houses a complete audio/video studio where teens were recording podcasts during our visit. The third floor features a computer lab with 3D printers and virtual reality stations that transport users to pre-earthquake Christchurch, allowing visitors to experience the city's heritage buildings in virtual form.

The top floor offers a café with panoramic views of the rebuilding city—perfect for parents needing a coffee break while older children explore independently. Throughout the building, displays highlight Christchurch's history alongside interactive exhibits about sustainability and innovation.

As someone passionate about educational experiences, I was impressed by how Tūranga makes learning feel like an adventure. The space encourages exploration, creativity, and collaboration—values at the heart of modern education. Even better, it's completely free to visit, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious families or a backup plan on rainy days.

If your children enjoy reading, consider purchasing a special book about New Zealand as a souvenir. The library shop offers beautiful locally-authored children's books that make meaningful mementos. We found a gorgeous picture book about kiwi conservation that Maya still treasures as her favorite souvenir from our trip.

Just 90 minutes from Christchurch lies the charming harbor town of Akaroa—a perfect day trip that combines French colonial history, marine wildlife encounters, and stunning Banks Peninsula landscapes. The scenic drive alone is worth the journey, winding through volcanic hills with panoramic views that had us pulling over multiple times for photos.

Akaroa's French heritage is evident in its architecture, street names, and excellent bakeries. We started our day with pain au chocolat from a local patisserie before wandering the historic streets, where Maya completed a self-guided heritage hunt using a brochure from the visitor center. This simple activity transformed our morning stroll into an engaging history lesson about New Zealand's early European settlement.

The highlight of our Akaroa visit was undoubtedly the harbor cruise to see Hector's dolphins—the world's smallest and rarest dolphin species. These dolphins are found only in New Zealand waters, with the largest population residing in Akaroa Harbor. Several companies offer dolphin-watching cruises, but we chose Black Cat Cruises for their conservation focus and dolphin protection policies.

The two-hour cruise provided not just dolphin sightings but comprehensive commentary about marine ecology and conservation efforts. Unlike many wildlife experiences that can feel exploitative, this tour emphasized respectful observation from a distance that protects the dolphins' natural behaviors. We were fortunate to see multiple dolphin pods, including mothers with calves, plus fur seals lounging on rocky outcrops and numerous seabird species.

For families with older children (8+ years), the option to swim with dolphins in their natural habitat is available. While Maya was too young for this experience, I noted it for a future visit as it's conducted with strict protocols to minimize wildlife impact.

After our cruise, we explored the Giant's House—a quirky artist's garden filled with mosaic sculptures and whimsical features that delighted Maya's imagination. The garden terraces offer excellent harbor views and plenty of hidden details that turn exploration into a treasure hunt.

I recommend bringing a waterproof phone case for the harbor cruise, as you'll want your phone accessible for dolphin photos but protected from sea spray.