Rocky Mountain Diamond Lake Hike in Wanaka

18 Fantastic Things To Do on the South Island of New Zealand with Kids

New Zealand has so much to offer and the perfect place for a family holiday. New Zealand has it all: spectacular scenery, glorious beaches, pristine natural landscapes and an abundance of adrenaline based activities. We were lucky enough to spend almost five weeks in this glorious country. We hired a camper van in Christchurch and drove firstly around the the South Island, before heading north. From here we travelled around the North Island, ending up in Auckland. Our time in New Zealand was amazing. Here we, along with some of our favourite family travel bloggers share the best things to do on the South island of New Zealand with kids.

READ ALSO: Bucket List New Zealand: 16 Amazing Things To Do on the North Island

AMAZING THINGS TO DO ON THE SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND WITH KIDS

HIKE THE ABEL TASMAN TRACK 

Head to the Abel Tasman National Park perched on the northern edge of the South Island for an epic 5 day trek along some of the most stunning coastline in New Zealand.

The Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is the easiest of the ‘Great Walks of New Zealand’, so is a great option for families. The track is maintained to a very high standard, there is no point higher than 200 metres and even heavy hiking boots are not necessary.

Closed to vehicles, access is limited to foot, water taxi or kayak. Accommodation is in either in DOC huts or one of the 20 campsites dotted along the trail. Huts are basic with only washing facilities, sleeping platforms and drinking water – no electricity. All food & equipment needs to be carried in. Provision up in Kaiteriteri, the gateway to the National Park.

Mix up your adventure by hiking, catching water taxis (from $25) or even kayak some stages ($65 per day, minimum age 8). Water taxis will even drop off & collect your kayak from different points along the trail.

Trail Length: The full trail is 51km (32 miles) finishing officially at Wainui, although many visitors cut the last section short and finish at beautiful Totaranui (38 kms/24 miles).

Tip: the trail can get choked up with summer crowds in January, particularly the first leg which is popular with day visitors. November is the perfect time.

Price: There is no permit required to complete a day walk or for entry into Abel Tasman National Park, however prices have doubled for international visitors from last year in a bid to combat overcrowding. This may make staying in huts (previously $32 a night) prohibitive for non NZ families where children, previously free, will now be charged $75, the same as adults. Campsite fees are now $30 each per night.

Abel Tasman National Park

By Mags at The Family Freestylers

WINE TASTING AT THE MARLBOROUGH WINERIES

You don’t need to be a wine expert to know that Marlborough in New Zealand is one of the premium wine regions of the world. It churns out 75% of New Zealand’s total wine production and if you are a white wine fan, you will be pleased to hear that 85% of this wine is sauvignon blanc.

People don’t often think of wine tasting as a family activity, but you can’t come to Marlborough and ignore the wineries! Luckily for us parents, the wineries in Marlborough are generally family-friendly, with plenty of space for the kids to run around while mum and dad taste the wine, and some even having toy boxes and garden games to keep the kids entertained.

Our favourite wineries we visited with our kids included Wairau River, which has a large outdoor lawn and garden games; the famous Cloudy Bay, with its huge garden with croquet, petanque and various bats and balls for the kids to play with; and Forrest Wines and Wither Hills, which both have grassy lawns and toy boxes in the tasting rooms.

Child friendly wine tasting in Marlborough in New Zealand!

By Marianne at Mum on the Move

SWIM WITH DOLPHINS IN KAIKOURA

Kaikoura is a location that must be included on any bucket list when traveling to New Zealand with kids. Kaikoura is a small town on the east coast of the South Island. To reach the area, it is a winding drive from Christchurch (180km).

The entire Kaikoura coastline is glorious. You have snow-capped mountains, endless clifftops, and divine coastlines. The region is home to an impressive array of sea and bird life. In short, it is impressive and perfect for showing children the beauty of the ocean. You can see many animals year-round. The most famous residents are dusky dolphins, sperm whales, fur seals, and the countless bird species. At certain times of the year Killer, Humpback and Blue whales, and Hectors Dolphins chill in the waters off Kaikoura.

The word Kaikoura means crayfish in Maori. Luckily it lives up to its namesake and is abundant with places to eat local crays. You can even catch the crayfish yourself.

If you want to get out onto the water, a real highlight is the wild dolphin swim (8+ years). Little tackers are not forgotten and can go on a dolphin watch tour (5+ years). The seawaters are icy cold, but you are supplied with a full wetsuit on. After the initial breath-taking plunge, you look down and are surrounded by hundreds of dolphins. It is as breath-taking as it is surreal.

If you do not have sea legs, you can easily see seals on the coastline via Point Kean, a short drive from the town of Kaikoura.

If you love beauty, dolphins, and whales, heck even if you don’t, you will still enjoy a visit to Kaikoura.

Seals in Kaikoura in New Zealand

By Alana at Family Bites Travel

WHALE WATCHING IN KAIKOURA

Kaikoura is an amazing place for kids, but one of our favourite things to do there was the incredible whale watch tour.

The boat trip is a little bumpy and people prone to seasickness will need to take sea-sickness tablets, but it’s still very worth it!

The trip takes around 2 hours. After a short safety briefing its out to sea. The tour allows people to get up close to whales (sperm whales, when we went!), fur seals, albatrosses, and dolphins! The crew is very knowledgeable and their work to protect those animals is a beautiful thing.

Kids must be 3 and over to join the ride, but depending on the sea conditions, they can deny entry to children under 5.

And, since you’re already in Kaikoura, stop around the shore to see the many fur seals sun bathing around. They’re adorable and fearless – just make sure you stay far enough away from them.

Whale watching in Kaikoura in New Zealand

By Thais at World Trip Diaries

SOAK IN THE POOLS AT HANMER SPRINGS

New Zealand is all about its natural environment and families will love a visit to Hanmer Springs, natural hot springs 90 minutes north of Christchurch.  Here you can soak in the mineral rich thermal pools, while enjoying the mountains and forest beyond.

Families are welcome at Hanmer Springs and you can use the thermal pools, hydro slides, lazy river or freshwater pools.  Our little people love any opportunity to spend time in the water and the warm waters were perfect on a cool fall day.  After lots of hiking and active adventures, the hot springs were a wonderful way to finish off our trip.

Best of all, at $63 NZ for a family day pass, it makes a very affordable activity.

Soaking in the hot pools at Hanmer Springs on the South Island

By Dawn at 5 Lost Together

MARVEL AT THE PANCAKE ROCKS, PUNAKAIKI

Located on the west coast of the South Island, Punakaiki is famous for its pancake shaped rocks and blowholes along its coastline. The incredible rocks are sliced horizontally along the rock face and resemble huge stacks of pancakes jutting above the water. In between the pancake rocks, blowholes send jets of salt water skywards. It’s one of the South Island’s most beautiful natural wonders and is well worth a spot on any New Zealand bucket list.

The rocks are best viewed from the designated boardwalk which follows the coastline. Kids will love the mesmerising display of nature as the ocean pounds the incredible pancake rocks and the blowholes shoot water vertically. On sunny days this often creates an instant rainbow which is beautiful to see.

The walk is short and the route is paved making it an easy activity for kids. For the most impressive blowhole action, it is best to visit at high tide. Try and avoid wearing flipflops as the walkway can be slippery.

Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki on the South Island

By Elaine at Show Them The Globe

WALK TO THE FRANZ JOSEPH GLACIER

Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast is approximately 14 miles north of the Fox Glacier and around 2.5 hours driving south of Greymouth.

The flat, easy walk to the glaciers terminal face – just three miles from the town of Franz Josef – makes this glacier accessible to all and, as a result, it is a great location to visit with kids. From the car park, an unpaved path winds around the top of the riverbank through trees and dense vegetation. Eventually the path descends gently to the valley floor and continues to the glacier past pretty waterfalls. The landscape becomes barren, rocky and very grey!

Due to unstable nature of the terminal face, you cannot get close to the glacier and must remain behind ropes about 50 metres away. Walking on the glacier is only possible by guided tour and these tours arrive on the glacier by helicopter. Nevertheless, Franz Josef Glacier is still an impressive sight. Descending from the Southern Alps, the glacier is 7 ½ miles long  and is in a cycle of advance and retreat. It advances much faster than most glaciers at an average of 50 centimetres a day!

I would recommend wearing sturdy walking shoes and as the glacier is a fair distance away, bring binoculars for the kids to use!

The Franz Joseph Glacier in New Zealand

By Sinead at Map Made Memories

HUNT FOR GLOW WORMS IN THE FORESTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

A super kid-friendly activity to do in New Zealand is hiking in the temperate rain forests. These can be found throughout New Zealand, but I found one area on South Island to be especially beautiful. On the west side of the island, on route 6, is the town of Franz Joseph. Here is where you’ll find the thick foliage and crystalline lakes that make this place special.

The area of the hike is covered by thick moss, in every imaginable shade of green. The humidity is almost 100% and exotic insects buzz about. The vegetation grows abundant and dense. Giant ferns towering several meters tall and other unusual plants create a canopy overhead. The entire scene seems like something out of a Jurassic Park movie set.

The hikes in this area are perfect to do during the day. They are well marked and go through some stunningly beautiful landscapes. At night it’s a different scenario. You would think that going on a forest hike at night is odd.  In fact, it is a unique experience. At night you can go on forest hikes to view the glow worms. Get a flashlight and walk into the forest on the trail. Once you are in a few meters, turn off the flashlight. You will soon see thousands of lightning bugs or glow worms sparkle and twinkle in the absolute darkness of the moonless night. It’s quite unforgetable.

Searching for glow worms in New Zealand

By Talek at Travels With Talek

CLIMB A WATERFALL WITH WILDWIRE WANAKA

The South Island in New Zealand is full of adventurous pursuits, but for something truly memorable, attempt the highest waterfall via ferrata in the world with Wildwire Wanaka!

Wildwire Wanaka can be found just outside the pretty lakeside town of Wanaka. This spectacular climb is done via ferrata style. Via ferrata is a series of metal rungs and wire cables drilled into the rock. Climbers secure themselves to the cable and climb using the iron rungs, pegs, bridges and ladders. This makes climbing much more accessible to those with no previous climbing experience.

There are three climbs on offer at Wildwire Wanaka up the mighty Twin Falls. The easiest climb, ‘Go Wild’, takes just over an hour and is perfect for families. The intermediate climb ‘Wild Thing’ is perfect for those looking for more adventure. This was the climb we did as a family, our youngest being just eight at the time and the youngest person at the time to climb ‘Wild Thing’! There is now a third climb ‘Lord of the Rungs’ which includes a helicopter descent!

The climbing is exhilarating and the views are incredible. The scariest part for me were the rope bridges, crossing from one rock face to another. You’ll dangle with nothing below you, with hundreds of metres drop to the valley floor below. Not for those with a fear of heights!

No climbing experience is necessary to enjoy via ferrata. The website states children should be 12+ but they are willing to take younger children as long as you call ahead to discuss. Our youngest was 8 at the time of climbing.

If you’re looking for an adventurous challenge, with the most amazing views, put Wildwire Wanaka on your list of things to do on the South Island! We loved it.

Wildwire Wanaka in New Zealand

By Nicky at Go Live Young

BUNGEE JUMPING IN QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown, New Zealand, isn’t known as the “adventure capital of the world” for nothing! This city offers more than 220+ adventure activities which appeal to both the young and young-at-heart. And the most adventurous activity of all, bungee (or bungy) jumping, originated in Queenstown on the Kawarau Bridge in 1988. Since then, more than 3,500,000 adventure junkies have earned the bragging rights that come from jumping, diving, or plunging off this bridge.

If your adventurous kids are begging to bungee jump on your trip to New Zealand, here are a few things you should know:

  • Minimum age of 10
  • Minimum weight 35 kg or 77 lb. (some kids may meet the minimum age requirement but still not weigh enough to participate)
  • Maximum weight 235 kg or 518 lb. (combined tandem weight)
  • Tandem jumping is allowed (weight restrictions apply)
  • Some medical conditions (like pregnancy and epilepsy) will disqualify people from participating. Other medical conditions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Want a bucket list family vacation to remember? Let your kids bungee jump. Not only will you be the coolest parent ever, you might just decide to take the plunge yourself!

To learn more about one family’s experience with bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge, read No Regrets! Bungee Jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Bungee jumping in Queenstown

By Kellie at 4 Worn Passports

PLAY FRISBEE GOLF IN QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown is a fantastic place for adventure and fun seekers. If bungee jumping is a little too extreme for you why not try playing frisbee golf in Queenstown Gardens?

Surrounded by gigantic Sequoia trees the gardens are a perfect place for a family day out. On the northern part of the gardens, right next to Park Street entrance you will find the first “launch pad” of what is the 18-hole frisbee golf course. The game is played much like golf but with a frisbee disc!

The rules are simple – the less throws you make to hit all 18 targets (chain baskets), the better. Whoever has the least amount of throws at the end of the course wins! Frisbee discs are available to rent for $5, although feel free to bring your own disc if you have one. The best part is that the game can be played by anyone, although children younger than 8 or 9 might struggle a little bit as distances between targets can be more than 100m or 300ft. Be warned though – once you start it gets very competitive really quickly!

If you ever get tired from playing just unpack your picnic basket and enjoy lunch in the gardens. In Queenstown Gardens a patch of green grass shaded by a hundred-year-old Sequoia tree is never too far away. Just don’t forget to complete the course!

Playing frisbee golf in Queenstown is such an amazing and fun activity. It is challenging and competitive, yet simple to understand and play. That is why it is one of the bucket list activities with kids in New Zealand.

Playing frisbee golf in Queenstown

By Andrius at Around the World Travel Blog

JET BOATING IN QUEENSTOWN

One of the best activities we did in the South Island of New Zealand, was jet boating. Perfect for kids and adults as well. It was such a fun and exhilarating experience. We spent the day in Queenstown, and heard about jet boating, and knew we had to try it out. We were so glad we did. You’ll be given a time for your ride when you book, and it can usually be booked the day of as well.

They will set you up with a full waterproof outfit, which we had no idea how handy these would become. Be sure to take your GoPro or waterproof camera! The captain takes you on a super fast ride throughout the lake, and surprises you with the craziest tight turns, which will get you wet! We were spinning around and around so many different times, in the best way. Us grown adults did not stop smiling from the minute we got onboard. The kids will absolutely love it as well!

Jet boating in Queenstown

By Our Kind of Crazy

RIDE THE LUGE IN QUEENSTOWN

Ride the Skyline Gondola up to the mountain peak in Queenstown. From here catch a chairlift higher still to the start of the luge. It’s then a race down the mountainside by luge. The luge is similar to a toboggan and runs down a concrete track. We all took to it immediately and loved racing down the track at speed.

The luge in Queenstown is suitable for all ages. There are two track options – the scenic luge track and the advanced luge track. Children are able to ride the luge unaccompanied from 6 years of age as long as they are 110cm in height. Children under the age of 6, or under the height restriction do not miss out as they can ride the luge in tandem with an adult.

You can control the speed of the luge so it is entirely up to you how fast you go. If you’re anything like us there will be a family competition to see who gets to the bottom first! Overtaking is allowed. If you want to go at a more leisurely pace you can just take in the amazing views of Queenstown as you luge down the track.

Riding the Queenstown luge in New Zealand

By Nicky at Go Live Young

CRUISE MILFORD SOUND

New Zealand is an amazing country to visit with kids, particularly the adventure packed South Island and action loving Queenstown. Milford Sound is is a fjord in the south west of the South Island and about a 4 hour drive from Queenstown. We left Queenstown and headed to Milford Sound in the afternoon. While I state it is a 4 hour drive, the drive down into the fjord can be a bit slow, especially if you are heading down in the dark and when its wet like we did!

There aren’t a lot of options for accommodation down in the fjord, there’s a hostel and an expensive 5 star hotel. We choose to book a 4 bed dorm in the hostel and the 5 of us stayed in there. Arriving late, about 10pm, we were doing a cruise on Milford Sound early the next morning, so we really only needed somewhere to put our head down for a few hours. We got up just after sunrise, threw on some clothes and walked over to our cruise at the Milford Sound dock.

There are many Milford Sound Experience cruises to choose from. We chose ours based on price and it included the cruise around the fiord and a light breakfast. The kids were young when we visited and they had fun exploring the ship. The views were breathtaking and the air was very chilly. The ship goes really close to one of the waterfalls and if you are standing near the front of the ship, you’ll feel the mist from the waterfall. We stopped off at the underwater observatory where you can see the famous black coral which strangely is white with a distinctive black skeleton.

We loved our cruise and I highly recommend this experience, i think the best time to visit is in spring when the surrounding mountains are all still snowcapped but its definitely beautiful all year round.

Cruising Milford Sound in New Zealand

By Sally at Our 3 Kids V The World

HIKE THE HOOKER VALLEY TRACK

If you can only do one walk in New Zealand, make it the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. This 3 hour return, flat walk, is nestled in the shadows of Mt Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain.  As you walk over one of three swing bridges, revel in the fact you are walking in Sir Edmund Hillary’s footsteps. Behind you is Mt Ollivier, the mountain Ed first summited, and ahead, the majestic Mt Cook, his practice ground for Everest.

The walk itself is gentle and young children will enjoy the boardwalks and bouncy swing bridges.  At approximately 10km return, weary little legs may need a shoulder carry or a backpack, but school aged kids would manage this walk.

Hiking the Hooker Valley Track in New Zealand

As the track weaves beside the river, look out for the world’s largest buttercup as well as the only alpine parrot, the Kea.  The climax of the track is the beautiful glacial Hooker Lake, often filled with icebergs, frozen in the shadows of Mt Cook. Take a dip if you dare!

Epic scenery of rivers, mountains and glaciers will run your camera battery low but the grandness of landscape will keep you flying high.

Top tip:  Start walking early in the day, this track can be popular!

Hiking the Hooker Valley Track in New Zealand

By Jen at  Backyard Travel Family

SPOT WILDLIFE IN AKAROA

The small town of Akaroa deserves to be on any wildlife bucket list because this place is a definite wildlife hotspot!

Akaroa is home to a variety of amazing wildlife including the world’s smallest dolphins, Hectors Dolphins, and the world’s smallest penguin.

When we were In Akaroa we took a small boat from the harbour pier out to find both. I’m happy to say that we were successful on both fronts! The dolphins were really curious and  got super close to the boat. It was breathtaking.

For those travelling with older children some excursions are offered to ethically swim with these wild dolphins.

Be sure not to miss it when on the South Island.

Spotting wildlife in Akaroa in New Zealand

By Leona at Wandermust Family

RIDE THE CHRISTCHURCH GONDOLA

Kids love gondola rides and the Christchurch gondola is one of the best out there! As it gently glides up the side Mount Cavendish in the Port Hills, the landscape around the city of Christchurch takes on a new dimension. And as you get higher, the Lyttelton Harbour reveals itself on the other side of the mountain. Once at the top, there’s an interactive ‘time tunnel’ ride to enjoy, a café serving up kiwi classics and plenty of walks to stretch your legs. Plus, the views are incredible!

If you’ve got older kids, why not try walking to the top and rewarding yourselves by taking the gondola back down. Also, if you’re planning on staying in Christchurch for a few days, you can buy the Christchurch Pass which allows you to combine your gondola trip with a tram ride through the city and a punt along the River Avon for a reduced price.

Riding the Christchurch Gondola in New Zealand

By Nadine at Le Long Weekend

VISIT THE INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC CENTRE IN CHRISTCHURCH

The International Antarctic Centre is an educational and fun attraction which should definitely be part of your family bucket list.

Located on the outskirts of the city of Christchurch, this is an easy attraction to visit while you are in this city. It’s very educational with a lot of information available while still being perfect for younger kids with plenty of things to touch, play with and climb on.

One of my favourite parts is the Antarctic Storm Experience.  You get to put on some extra layers (supplied) before going into a room that is -8 degrees Celcius and has wind to replicate a real storm. Temperatures plummet to -18 and it’s quite full on. My 5-year old found it too much and left during it but the other kids around us handled it fine.

There is also a 4D cinema with multiple movies showing and we were able to also take a ride on a Hagglund. It drives around a fun outside track which kids love.

Between all of this and the fact we also saw huskies and blue penguins and that this is also a great museum, this is really a top rate attraction the whole family will love. Give yourself a half day to do this.

International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch

By Sharon at Simpler and Smarter

Have you been to New Zealand? What are your favourite things to do with kids? Please let us know…

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Things to do on the South Island of New Zealand with Kids

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17 Comments.

  • I would love so many of these activities, especially the gondola! Pinning for future reference and to share with my parents, as they are visiting NZ in Feb! #fearlessfamtrav

  • Emma Raphael
    June 10, 2019 2:45 pm

    What a wonderful post. We will make it there one day, hopefully!! #fearlessfamilytravel

  • So many fun activities for kids. We’d love to visit New Zealand some day. #fearlessfamtrav

    • We loved New Zealand with our boys. We spent almost five weeks touring in a camper van with our three doing the North and South Islands. There are so many outdoor activities to try…

  • Kids of the Wild
    June 11, 2019 6:04 am

    There’s some excellent ideas here for family activities. We did a month in New Zealand 2 years before kids so it’s really interesting to see a lot of the things we did then are just as good with wildlings! I’m still too much of a chicken for bungee jumping though!! My sis set up a frisbee team in Queensland (we were visiting her and a friend in Wellington so did both islands in a camper). Thanks for hosting, I’ve only just discovered this linky. I’ve shared a post but not yet added your badge as I’m on my phone. I’ll get on it later. #fearlessfamtravel

    • We loved New Zealand with our boys. We spent almost five weeks touring in a camper van with our three doing the North and South Islands. The whole place is one giant outdoor playground! Thanks so much for linking up to.

  • This post so has me dreaming about a return trip to NZ. So many great places in this post! Thanks for including our submission:) #fearlessfamtrav

  • Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
    June 11, 2019 6:49 pm

    I’d love to visit NZ one day! so many sports/adrenaline activities:) #fearlessfamtrav

  • Travlebetter Dad
    June 12, 2019 9:51 am

    Such fantastic country to visit, we loved are time there pre-kids and we can’t wait to go back with the tribe in tow. #fearlessfamtrav

  • Cath - Passports and Adventures
    June 24, 2019 2:07 pm

    New Zealand is high on our bucket list and while we’d been thinking of concentrating on the North Island, I’m now torn. I’d love to see those fireflies most of all! #fearlessfamtrav

    • The North Island is fantastic…you won’t be disappointed! You can see fireflies in the North too. Do one island first and then you’ll have an excuse to go back!

  • I lived in New Zealand before my last two kids. Loved the place and people We are looking forward to going back.
    Just one question What did you do for you kids schooling both of my girls are in high school

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