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New Zealand: 4 Family-Friendly Experiences in Canterbury
- Zhi Zhi Loh
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
You may know Queenstown as the adventure capital of the world, but the experiences you can find in New Zealand's South Island are not limited to those seeking an adrenaline rush. Here are some of the experiences we love that are family-friendly or for interspersing your more physically demanding days up in the Canterbury region. All these were tried and tested by our young family of 4!
Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise
The Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise is a 2-hour experience on a 17-metre catamaran. It is one of the largest vessels in the harbour, so this is great for those who are prone to motion sickness. The waters are usually quite calm in this area. You can expect to see dramatic coastal cliffs and marine wildlife such as Hector's dolphins. During the summer months from October to February, you will also have the chance to see the rare White-Flippered Little Blue Penguin. If you are extra lucky, you might even spot Orcas or Humpback whales that visit the harbour on their migration paths. While in Akaroa, you can stroll in the quaint village and grab fish & chips at Kaimoana Takeaways.
Suitable for all ages
Glacier Explorers
We were blown away by how thrilling yet educational the only glacial boat tour in New Zealand was. Get to see (and maybe even touch!) icebergs as the excellent guides share about glaciers and the amazing geology of the national park as you zip across the ever changing landscape of the Tasman glacial lake.
Suitable for ages 4 and above; guests must be fit and able to walk 1.5km to / from the glacial lake edge in 25 minutes
Stargazing on Aoraki / Mt Cook
Explore the night sky in the largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserve in the world as astrology guides take you through 90 minutes of outdoor stargazing with high powered telescopes. See if you can point out the Southern Cross or other sky objects only visible in the Southern sky. Alternatively, for travellers who are not staying in the park, there are other operators in Tekapo and Twizel which offer earlier sessions and a shorter driving distance if you are staying in the MacKenzie area and not inside the national park.
Suitable for ages 8 and above; families with children from 5 and above can check out the indoor Planetarium experience instead.
Picnic Amongst The Peaks
This was easily the most surreal experience we had this trip to New Zealand, enjoying the breathtaking views of the national park by helicopter before landing high up on the Tasman Glacier for a private picnic lunch. Two weeks removed from this experience and our kids are still recollecting those moments daily.
Suitable for all ages, for groups of up to 6 persons on private basis only.
Get in touch with our Travel Designers on how to weave the above experiences into your bespoke exploration of the South Island, and how we can match these with the stunning accommodation options available.
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