Things to do in Christchurch with Kids - Christchurch, the second-largest city in New Zealand ranked after Auckland, is a wonderful holiday destination. The city is rich with natural beauty, from the gardens that spread all over the city, to the stunning view of the nearby Alps Mountains.

When you plan your holiday to Christchurch, you might wonder if the city is great for kids. The answer is: absolutely yes! You can have a lot of things to do in Christchurch with kids since the city is considered family friendly.

Why? Well, for instance, playgrounds are in almost every park, allowing you to enjoy the outdoor activities together. Plenty of attractions are family friendly and not only recreational, but educational too.

So, here’s the list of fun things to do in Christchurch with Kids:

Location: Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 24 Hours

You’ll be surprised that there’s a playground THIS great with no admission fee. Yup, Margaret Mahy Playground is a wonderful haven for everyone of all ages.

Both children and adults can play with so much playground equipment: from slides (of various heights), swings, spider webs, sand area, water play area, and more! This place will make your children extremely happy, especially with ice cream trucks around (mom and dad, relax, there’s a coffee stall too to keep you awake!).

Not to mention that this large park is surrounded by beautiful views that makes it more enjoyable to play outside. Located by the Avon River, the playground also offers numerous toilets that are so clean and an area for barbecue-ing.

With all those great facilities, now you know why you shouldn’t skip this one thing to do in Christchurch with your loved ones.

Location: Corner Roy Place and, Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8052, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 9 AM - 4.30 PM

The International Antarctic Centre is an award-winning destination, more than worth visiting! In fact, it is a must-try thing to do in Christchurch with kids, and create the memory that will last forever with your loved ones.

What to do here is plentiful, starting from the Storm Experience, where you can actually feel the Antarctic storm situation. The temperature inside is -8° C and the wind is -18° C. It’s going to be a thrilling experience in the middle of a cold.

There’s more, of course! Allow yourself to get in a ride with Hägglunds, the amphibius antarctic vehicle, strong enough to beat the rough terrain on the ice. This one is going to be an adrenaline-pumping experience. Children can also join as long as they are with their parents, but terms and conditions applied.

Well, not stopping there, this place will get you more and more in awe with the Penguin Rescue area, the Antarctic Gallery, and the 4D Theatre. Best experience of the lifetime, indeed!

Location: 60 Hussey Road, Northwood, Christchurch 8051, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 9.30 AM - 5 PM

You have discovered Antarctica, now we are moving on to the next great thing to do in Christchurch with kids: visiting Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Yup, it’s time to explore more of nature in a wildlife park. Here, you can meet a kea, an animal you won’t find anywhere else!

Of course, other than keas, you’ll meet other animals too, like lemurs, kangaroos, capybaras, deers, and even eels. You can get closer to them by feeding them too! Of course, when you’re here with the children, you should at least try feeding one of the animals once.

Walking in between the beautiful trees and all greenery in the reserve will be really refreshing. Indeed this is a must-visit place in Christchurch with the whole family.

Location: 10 Bridle Path Road, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM

There’s no best way to enjoy the city besides riding the Christchurch Gondola! Just make sure you, or someone else in your family, have the fear of heights!

Only by hopping on the Christchurch Gondola will you be able to admire the scenic view of Christchurch and its surroundings from the sky. The city will be seen so differently. There’s also Lyttelton Harbour, Pegasus Bay, and the snowy Southern Alps visible from when you sit on the gondola.

Well, not only chilling at the sky, the summit station here has so many things to explore, where there’s also the Christchurch Discovery Ride to know the interesting history about the area. You can walk at the walking track as well while still enjoying the view.

Need a break? Have a cup of joe in the cafe adjacent to the gift shop. The cafe is top notch too. Aside from serving the best coffee, they have tasty food to kill your hunger too.

Location: 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 9.30 AM - 4.30 PM

Got boys? And they love planes so much? This would be their heaven! The next thing to do in Christchurch with kids is visiting the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. While little kids can enjoy being so close to all kinds of planes, with various shapes and colors, older kids will enjoy taking information.

Also, this news will thrill your kids: you can also venture inside some of the planes and actually feel like you’re a pro pilot!

Enjoy the interactive exhibit and explore the historic aircraft that some were the military planes and helicopters in the early days of New Zealand’s aviation. Please take a guided tour of the museum for a more knowledgeable experience.

And FYI, the place this great, with plenty of majestic planes like this one is unbelievably has no admission fee! But, if possible, please make some donations!

So, what do you think? Do you think Christchurch is family-friendly enough for you? We think so, big time! With all those things to do in Christchurch with kids, you can plan your trip to Christchurch right away. Book your favorite hotel in Christchurch through Traveloka and get the best deal, also for flight and attraction tickets too!