Listings

From the DOC Visitor Centre turn right towards the waterfront, continue right until you reach Excelsior Road on your right. Excelsior Road is an uphill climb, watch for the Observation Rock track sign on your right at the summit of the hill, a short forest track leads you to the rock forming the lookout, with great views over Paterson Inlet, particularly at sunset. To return to Halfmoon Bay retrace steps to the road and continue right, down the hill towards Golden Bay Road. A right hand turn will bring you back to town past Traill Park. Look out for Tui, with the distinctive white feather, or ruff, below its beak.

The terrain is a series of rolling bowls with awesome runs to challenge all levels of snowboarders and skiers, beginner to expert. The surrounding basins provide superb untracked 'back country' terrain for the more adventurous. Broken River is administered by the Broken River Ski Club. It offers an alternative to skiers and snowboarders who are looking to experience back to basics fun in the snow. There are 2 learner tows and 3 high-speed tows. Everyone is welcome at Broken River, although some previous experience in the snow is an advantage. Accommodation available at the ski field. NOTE: The Broken River field is accessed by a 4 minute Tramway that carries you and your gear to the ticket office, or, you can also choose to walk-in (20-30 minutes) through gorgeous beech forest and have only your gear sent on the service lift.

An easy 40 min walk in Victoria Domain, past the historic ship ‘Echo’ moored on the Eastern side of the harbour. The walk to Bob's Bay is quite nice with two options - the upper or lower Bob's Bay track. It takes only 30 minutes to walk from Shelley Beach (just across the waterfront bridge and 10 mins from town) to Bob's Bay and there is a nice grassed area to have a play or picnic, plus good swimming beaches. The track can be quite slippery after rain or in winter.

At Willows we believe that developing positive reciprocal relationships with tamariki, family/whanau, caregivers and the wider community as essential to tamariki’s holistic development. As a team we aim to nurture and grow relationships that embrace respect
and open communication, the tamariki will develop trusting and respectful relationships with their teachers and the environment.

Established in 1863, these are New Zealand’s oldest botanic gardens, located at the corner of Great King Street and Opoho Road. Extensive grounds for exploring, right in the heart of the city. Kids will love the aviaries and duck feeding, and there’s a café and playground on-site. Toilets in both Upper and Lower Garden – those in the Upper Garden have baby changing tables. If you really want to keep the kids occupied, there are a variety of Botanic Gardens Education Kits you can download from www.cityofdunedin.com/city or purchase from the information centre at the gardens. Activity kits take around one hour each. The botanic garden tracks and paths are suitable for buggies.

Options for walking paths range from 5 minutes to 4 hours at the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve. Tracks will take you along side the river, to see the Elvy Waterfalls, through areas of podocarp, broadleaf and beech trees – and an ancient giant tōtara.

Kaipupu Point Sounds Wildlife Sanctuary has a 2.8 kilometre circular walk track, which starts from the jetty in Shakespeare Bay. Look and listen for fantail, kereru, weka, silvereye, grey warbler, tui, bellbird, and kingfisher, as you explore this predator free sanctuary. Kaipupu is a community run project, a short boat ride from Picton.

Between 20 and 30 families are enrolled at this playcentre which is located in a very quiet cul-de-sac and has an outdoor area for both dry and wet days. There is also a large sandpit and grassy patch ideal for obstacle courses or waterslides.

Whereever you're staying in Napier, you'll find yourself visiting Marine Parade. As well as a host of activities right on the waterfront (eg Aquarium, Mini Golf, Ocean Spa, Sk8 Park) there's a walkway that's completely flat, following the beach. Ideal for walking or biking, you can stroll for several kilometers south to the outskirts of town, or north towards Perfume Point, and Napier's best swimming beaches.

Waimarama Beach is a popular weekend and picnic venue. Its long stretches of sandy beach which are ideal for walking, searching for pipi and swimming are patrolled daily through the summer months. Rock pools are located at the southern end of the beach and Waimarama Domain has a large grassy area with shade, picnic tables and swings. A general store nearby offers snacks like fish and chips and ice cream.

This is one of Wellington’s most popular beaches. Close to the city centre it has excellent facilities including cafes and shops nearby. The bay is secluded and suitable for swimming or walking along the main promenade area.

Two crescent shaped coves form beautiful Matai Bay. With its fine sand and safe swimming, it is a very popular beach for families and is a great place for a picnic.

The gardens are situated right on the riverbank, with a large playground, toilets, picnic area, lots of grass to spread out, and Noddy Train rides for the littlies. The train runs year round, every Sunday, and costs just 50c a ride (adults or children) with proceeds going to the Lions Foundation.

This walk will take about 40 minutes return and starts near the village of Hahei. Take the signposted road to the lookout car park. The carpark can be full during summer months because this walk is so popular – you may wish to park at an alternative site from the northern end of the Beach car park but you should allow an extra 25 minutes each way.

You can’t visit Dunedin without tackling the world’s steepest street! The gradient is 1:2.86 – that means for every 2.86 metres travelled horizontally you climb (or descend) by 1 metre. There is a shop with memorabilia and information at the bottom and a bench and drinking fountain at the top! If you’re around in February, look out for the annual event “the Gutbuster’. Around 1000 competitors run up the street and down again. Meanwhile in July the annual, zany street entertainment on offer involves the rolling of around 10,000 jaffas (kiwi spherical red sweets – chocolate centre with a hard red coating) down the street. Each jaffa is sponsored by one person, with prizes to the owner of the winning sweets and proceeds to charity.

These short (2-15min)  forest walks lead to picnic areas, waterfalls and sandy beaches ideal for swimming - plenty to keep kids interested.  The beach at the end of Canoe Cove Walk and Dorothy Falls are spots for swimming. Dorothy Falls is refreshing but a little chilly!

Approximately 5 minutes drive from Bluff. Walking time approx 15 minutes one way. Access is signed left off SH1 immediately before Greenpoint cemetery. A peaceful setting for a shoreline walk and picnic with Bluff Harbour views. Suitable for buggies. At low tide it’s possible to walk along the beach. Interpretation panels explain the natural and historic features of this part of Bluff Harbour. At Greenpoint picnic area a viewing platform overlooks the ships’ graveyard and identifies some of Bluff Harbour’s historic landmarks. Visitors should be aware that the nearest public toilets are at Bluff. Note: The railway track is in regular use. Stop, look and listen before crossing.

Pukehina is a seaside village with two dairies, takeaways, restaurant and children’s playground and is fifteen minutes away from Te Puke. Pukehina Beach is a beautiful, 6km long white sandy beach suitable for swimming, boogie boarding and surfing. Shops and local restaurant/takeaway are nearby.

The kids will love walking to explore these staggering natural land forms; sharp pinnacles and ridges separated by narrow ravines. The Clay Cliffs are a geological wonder; sharp pinnacles and ridges separated by steep and narrow ravines. The Cliffs are relatively new, made up of layers of silt and gravel deposited by ancient glaciers over a million years ago. To get to the Clay Cliffs, turn onto Quailburn Rd off SH8 and then onto unsealed Henburn Rd. The cliffs are on private land, so please respect the property and obey all signage. Park a bit further back and make it more of walk.

Abundant native bush, ferns, watergardens and birds. Wander over bridges and take a bush walk to a cascading waterfall. The seasonal displays of native and exotic flowers are interspersed with garden art. Most of the Gardens are accessible by pushchair, except for the last part of the walk to the falls where there are long steps. It takes about 45 minutes to wander around the Gardens. Take a picnic - there are picnic tables in the car park and ducks and chickens waiting to be fed!

35 km from Gisborne, this unique forest and garden dating back to 1910, contains New Zealand’s largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees and shrubs. Set among hills, valleys and ponds there are easy walking tracks through the gardens. The Blue Walk which wanders through the Circus, Corner Park and Pear Park, is the flattest walk and takes about an hour. Eastwoodhill can also provide morning teas and lunches by prior arrangement.