Manawatu, Family Activities

Get the kids outside to have some FREE family fun connecting with nature at Toyota Kiwi Guardians sites nationwide.

Toyota Kiwi Guardians highlights family-friendly, treasure hunt style activities at specific Department of Conservation sites that encourage kids to engage with the outdoors and, ultimately, earn themselves a medal for their efforts.

The goal of the conservation programme is to turn Kiwi kids into guardians of the land and sea.

A total of 50 sites are operational nationwide. Families can get started on their adventure by downloading the appropriate “treasure hunt” map from: www.kiwiguardians.co.nz

Click on the area of New Zealand nearest to where you are to find the choices available closest to home.

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Daytona Indoor Raceway offers indoor racing suitable for all ages 7+ with a variety of different karts from our junior kadets, to intermediate and senior.  A great place to come that is fun for the whole family.  Also a host of private functions that includes kids birthday parties, where you get to have exclusive track hire and race against only your buddies.  Minimum height 1.2m.

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Experience New Zealand’s pioneering heritage and learn how your ancestors lived in the days before washing machines and running water! The museum at Murrayfield has lots of exhibits to teach the children how life used to be, including items from a general store, chemist and how people saw movies before the advent of videos and DVDs. The miniature town of Helenstown depicts a typical town around the early 1900s, complete with miniature train and water fountain. Meet the beautiful Clydesdale horses in the stables and stop at the café for light refreshments and a view of animals grazing in the green paddocks beneath the Tararua Ranges.

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Open 1 October – 30 April. Every Sunday, and daily during school and public holidays. Step back in time and experience the elegance and nostalgia of the 1920s. This fascinating miniature landscape covers 1/4 acre. Loco Miniature Railway and Gardens keep little ones entertained with a play area, trampoline, Petanque and backyard cricket while you can relax in the hammocks under the walnut tree.

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Check our their "Splash and Giggle", a perfect introduction to rafting for the whole family. This is a fun and bouncy float along Grade 2 rapids that start straight away and are intermingled with long flat pools ideal for that tempting swim on a hot summers day! Want more...they also offer a half day option giving you more family fun time on the water!

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Wind Warriors Kitesurf and SUP can give you a short lesson and rent you a Powerkite or 3 so the whole family can harness the power and have fun with the wind (choose from a 2 or 4 hour session).  Or you can choose to have a Stand Up Paddleboard lesson and rent enough SUP boards & paddles for the whole family (available rental by the hour, half or full day).

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The New Zealand Rugby Museum is a place where you can explore the rich history of the Nation’s game!  You'll get to see up close and personal some of the world’s rarest rugby artifacts, and learn about our rugby greats. Plus you can enjoy the ‘Have A Go’ area where you can tackle, scrum,  jump, sprint and kick just like the rugby legends!

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Indoor Play Centre with a three level playground maze, big slide, ball pits, jumping castle, merry go round, and a special area for the little ones.

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A great little family adventure ride on a miniature railway, the track is 2.2km long, and the ride 20 minutes in duration. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this outing. The loop takes makes its way to the children's playground and back again. Open on weekends and public holidays. 

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Bushy Park Reserve is a 100 hectare native forest sanctuary kept predator‑free for native birds and is ranked one of Australasia’s ‘Top 25’ Restoration Projects. There are 3.4km of easy all‑weather walking tracks throughout the forest and a huge variety of bird life and species of trees. Don’t miss ‘Ratanui’, believed to be the biggest northern rata, 43 metres high with a girth of more than 11 metres with an age of between 500 and 1000 years.  Free entry, daylight hours.
While you’re there, visit the 22 room 1906 Edwardian‑era homestead and enjoy a picnic.

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Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History is the cultural heart of a city that thrives on discovery – entertaining and inspiring young children and adults. There is always something happening through their events, exhibitions and education that families will enjoy. Including school holiday programmes, science and art classes for children. Admission is free.

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