Parks to chill out in on a hot day

On a hot summer afternoon when the kids are getting cranky, a local park with a paddling pool is the perfect place to cool down.

Christchurch has several playgrounds with outdoor water play areas or paddling pools  that are ideal for a chilled out family picnic.

New Brighton Beachside Playground beside the New Brighton Library and pier opened in December 2017, and has water cannons, musical toys, slides, swings and a large waka that children can climb and play on.

Try cooling off at a park with a paddling pool this summer.

The splash pad play area is wheelchair-friendly and features a clone of the iconic New Brighton whale.

Edgar MacIntosh Park, on Condell Ave in Bryndwr, has a shallow paddling pool next to a children’s playground with roundabout, see saw, swings and slide. There’s also a large sports park and a block wall if the kids need more space to run around or kick a ball.

Spencer Park, north east of Christchurch, has a large paddling pool to cool off in in as well as an adventure playground, which features a flying fox, huge climbing net and a sandpit. There are lots of walks, Spencer Beach, and a free animal park nearby.

Other parks with paddling pools or water play are central city favourites, the Botanic Gardens and the Margaret Mahy Family Playground.

Margaret Mahy playground, on Manchester St, has water cannons and sprinklers along with a climbing tower, spiral slide, tunnels and swings.

The river bank and jetty area is in the shade and there are tame eels to feed.

The Botanic Gardens has large paddling pools near the children’s playground, and the best entrance is from the carpark off Armagh St.

There are also paddling pools at Avebury Park, Richmond, Woodham Park, Linwood, Scarborough Park, Sumner, and Abberley Park, St Albans.