Boredom-busting ideas for school holidays

Don’t panic if you’ve left it too late to book into popular KidsFest activities. Here’s our sanity-saving guide to entertainment in the school holidays.

Make a splash

If your kids are keen on swimming try Christchurch City Council pools at Jellie Park, Graham Condon or Pioneer. There are KidsFest Pool Parties on July 9 (Graham Condon), July 15 (Pioneer), and July 22 (Jellie Park) with inflatables, pool games and spot prizes. No bookings required but there are normal pool entry fees.

Canterbury Museum is a good option in wintry weather.

Explore a museum

Canterbury Museum is fun during the day even when it's not a KidsFest free Explorer Night at the Museum (on 11, 13, 18 and 20 of July, from 6pm until 8pm) and the tarantulas at Discovery are always a creepy hit.

The Air Force Museum at Wigram is another good indoor option with plenty of space in the hangars to run around and free admission every day.

Ferrymead Heritage Park is offering a winter special with half price admissions until the end of September. Many of its attractions are inside for a chilly day. Spend the afternoon riding the tram and enjoying some drop-in activities.

Take a ride

Kids ride free on the Christchurch Gondola during the school holidays, and the attraction is open from 10am to 5pm, at 10 Bridle Path Road. Or hop on the tram’s extended route for an informative Christchurch Tram City Tour. Even easier, jump on a bus and go for a trip somewhere different – maybe New Brighton, Sumner or Lyttelton.

Explore the new central city or take a ride on the tram.

Hit the slopes

If skiing is your family’s bag, Mt Hutt Ski Area, Porters Ski Area, Broken River, Mt Cheeseman, and Craigieburn Valley are open in the school holidays. Temple Basin Ski Area is set to open on July 14.

Go skating

Ice Skating in Cathedral Square is open every day of the school holidays and there’s a giant Snow Globe to step inside if you want to experience the white stuff. 

Build a Lego land

The ever popular Christchurch Brick Show is on Saturday July 15 and Sunday July 16 at the Horncastle Arena. Or try the Imagination Station in Cathedral Junction with a whole heap of Lego for creative kids. You can book online to guarantee entry during the holidays. 

Visit your local library

Christchurch City Libraries and learning centres offer a variety of safe and affordable activities for children aged from five to 15. There’s origami, beebots, knitting, Make a Space craft sessions and board games. Some sessions require a booking.

Go see some wildlife

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is open every day and it has a huge fire in the café area to warm up after visiting the farmyard and counting kiwis. The Antarctic Centre has penguin feeding and other attractions, and there are plenty of animals to pat at Arion Farm Education Park on McLeans Island Rd or watch the gorillas and big cats from a safe distance at Orana Wildlife Park.

Get back into the city

Take your family on a walk around the new developments in Cashel Mall and visit the heritage Arts Centre for a visit to Rutherford’s Den - during the school holidays you can buy one adult ticket and get a child’s ticket free. The Christchurch Art Gallery has plenty of kid-friendly activities on offer and at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens you can go to the playground, watch the ducks and have hot chocolates at the Ilex Café. For KidsFest there’s a Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Gardens Trail that features giant crocheted props from the classic picture book.

Visit Rutherford's Den for a burst of science and history.

Head to the theatre

The Court Theatre has family show Snow White, with a fun take on the classic fairytale, and Imagine Youth Theatre has Alice in Wonderland from July 11 to 22 at Elmwood Auditorium.

The Early, Early Late Show features frantic, improvised fun with the Court Jesters at the Christchurch Art Gallery's Philip Carter Auditorium from July 10 to July 22. Suitable for children eight and over. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is at the Isaac Theatre Royal on July 25 and July 26. Canterbury Children’s Theatre offers Rumpelstiltskin at The Malthouse and the Christchurch School of Music world percussion ensemble and dancers will bring the children's book, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes to life at the Charley Luney Auditorium, St Margarets College.