South Canterbury, Family Activities

Enjoy a horseback ride through McKenzie Country seeing tussock grasslands, glacial lakes & forests.  Options include a 30 minute, one, two, 3 1/2 hour or a full day trek.  

Dive into our foam pits, fly high on the olympic tramp, play dodgeball or bounce on our huge main trampoline. There's also a kids trampoline area - perfect for parties! Flip Out caters for sporting groups, school & community groups and community events.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre's 126-seat custom-designed theatre is the world's only theatre with 2D, 3D and a Digital Dome Planetarium under one roof! Offering you 'Mount Cook Magic' an inspiring 3D cinematic experience unlike any other and The Digital Dome Planetarium, where science meets entertainment for an unrivalled 360 degree cinematic experience. The museum showcases the history of the Mount Cook region and where you can learn all about Sir Edmund Hillary himself.

The South Canterbury Museum is a great place for kids to explore! From fossils to fashions, you can see hundreds of fascinating things! Open drawers, do puzzles and lots more. School holidays are a really good time to visit the Museum, with a range of activities for kids in the galleries. See What's On to find out what current exhibits and programmes are happening or coming up soon. Contact us to join the Museum Explorers Club for primary school-aged students - it's free! All Explorers get a Museum Passport that is stamped every time they visit the Museum - get 5 stamps to earn a prize. Explorers also get sent our latest Explorers Club newsletters and information about our upcoming events for kids - including holiday programmes and special events like Museum in the Dark and more!

The Balmoral Farmyard and Shop is located next to Mt John Homestead. With a lovely range of farm animals which you can get close to, the kids will love this.  You can also purchase animal feed if you would like to feed the animals.

Take in a guided tour of the Hooker Valley, providing breathtaking views of some of NZ's highest and most enthralling peaks. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides will tell you all about the unique flora and fauna of the region and the local history as you trek through this amazing landscape. Departs and returns from The Hermitage and with the choice of a half or full day option. Minimum age 10 years.

The Centre boosts three indoor pools, 50M outdoor pool, two hydroslides, a children’s water play area, Rapid River, Bombing Tower and Chillax Area with Steam, Sauna and Spa. The gym is fully equipped with state of the art Cybex strength and cardio equipment. Plus two group fitness studios (including RPM) offering Les Mills group fitness classes. The centre is completed with a Wellness suite to include beauty therapy treatments and nutrition consultants and the Café serves freshly baked food and offers diners an outdoor courtyard. The facilities offer hours of enjoyment for the whole family, including the elite to recreational swimmer, children, and people with disabilities.

Gem Alpaca Stud offer farm visits to meet and greet our Alpaca, Llama and sheep.  Our farm visits allows you to get in the paddocks with the Alpaca and Llama and see very clearly the difference between the two species. At the right time of year you will also meet the cria (Baby Alpaca/Llama). Farm visits take 1 hour and are dependant on weather. Great for young and old.