Five ways to play in Christchurch this summer
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 16th January 2023
Spend some time with the kids in the sun and get outdoors this summer! Christchurch City Council Play Advocate Louise Van Tongeren has some ideas for the best ways to play in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
ONE: Spend some time in the water
Here are some ideal spots to play in and with water...
TWO: Get playful in our hills
The Port Hills are a playground, with lots of areas to explore and play in nature.
- Westmorland East Valley Reserve: Go for a walk, then explore and play in the creek.
- Mt Vernon Farm Park Reserve is a fantastic space for playing - accessed via a carpark at the end of Hillsborough Terrace. Tussocks to run through, a creek-bed to explore, grass to kick a ball and even a cave you can discover by walking up the hill, turning right at the fork.
- Halswell Quarry: Some of the best play spots here are accessed by the back carpark at Findlay’s Picnic Area. Look for hills to roll down, climbing spots, creeks to jump and space to run or play a game with a ball.
- Victoria Park: Beyond the playground with its well-loved long slide, there are excellent climbing opportunities on the cliffs and tree stumps and rocky areas to explore where you might even spot a lizard. Many of the walks are short, interesting and family friendly, such as the 1km Tawhairaunui Track starting by the Dog Park carpark.
THREE: Get curious about rock pools
Exploring rock pools and learning about the life inside of them is a fantastic way to engage children with nature and an opportunity to teach them about protecting our environment.
Here are some facts from the University of Otago Marine Studies Centre to help you before you head off!
- The rocky shoreline at Diamond Harbour: You could even take the ferry to get there.
- Governors Bay: Access is next to the jetty at the end of Jetty Rd. There are highly engaging nature play opportunities along the entire walkway, so it is a great place to visit and take your time to walk along the Foreshore Track (30 minutes one way – but allow time to stop and play!)
- Taylors Mistake Beach: Explore the rock pools along both edges of the beach.
FOUR: Get stuck into building
It is so fun to create something out of natural materials or recycled goods – building is an excellent opportunity to play together and develop creativity and problem solving skills.
FIVE: Get into the city to play
The centre of town is a lot of fun to explore, with multiple play opportunities that you will discover along your way.
- City Promenade: The Ōtākaro was named after the children who played games along the riverbanks as their elders gathered kai. Following the Ōtākaro/Avon River from the hospital, this walk finishes up at the Margaret Mahy Family Playground. Along the way, enjoy the many little places you can look for eels, fountains, street art, steps to race down, a slope to play on outside of Te Pae, bridges to cross, rocks to climb and even a band rotunda to explore. An easy and engaging play along the Ōtākaro for people of all ages.
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens: Full of surprises, little pathways, the most playful trees in Christchurch and a playground with a large paddling pool, you can’t go past a few hours playing at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
- Play at Tūranga: Our central library has multiple play opportunities, which change regularly. You can even get stuck into some Lego building at the Imagination Station on Level 1. The Libraries website is up to date with what is on.