Walks & Parks
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Banks Peninsula Walks
This awesome and easy to explore site lists all the walking and tramping tracks on beautiful Banks Peninsula near Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Includes Lyttelton, Akaroa, Governors Bay and Diamond Harbour.- Web: www.bankspeninsulawalks.co.nz/
- Location: Banks Peninsula, Canterbury
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Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Wander through this inner-city botanical wonderland to discover lakes, a zoo, historic tea house, playground and countless short walks, as well as a Fernery and Display Houses and a Japanese-inspired hillside.
read more- Location: Fillis Street, New Plymouth
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Whareroa Farm tracks
Enjoy regenerating shrubland, coastal views and kohekohe forest on these walks that are suitable for children. Walks range from 355 metres to 13.4km - there is something for everyone. Plus some great mountain bike tracks to play on, and even a horse riding track. Lots of room to play!
read more- Location: Whareroa Farm, Queen Elizabeth Park off-ramp about 3.5 km north of Paekakariki on SH1.
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Whinray Scenic Reserve
There a couple different options to custom fit this trail to your time frame. Either a 30 minute walk from the car park on Motu Falls Road or a 2.5 hour walk from Marumoko Road to the Motu Falls Car Park.
read more- Location: Motu 4092
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Barrett Domain and Lake Mangamahoe, New Plymouth
A good venue for a family day out - pack a picnic and hang out on the shores of Lake Mangamahoe. There are lots of walking and easy mountain bike tracks. It takes about 2 hours to walk the round the lake circuit, and there are some undulating sections so reasonable fitness is required. There are other walks that take 10-20 minutes, and a section of dedicated mountain bike trails.
read more- Location: nr Egmont Village, New Plymouth
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Matiu / Somes Island Loop Track
Island walking! The kids will love the ferry ride from Queens Wharf and this easy 40 min walking track has plenty to keep kids interested. This loop track around Matiu/Somes Island offers 360 degree views of Wellington harbour - with native wildlife, remnants from the world wars, historic quarantine buildings, and a lighthouse. The island is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. This track takes you around Matiu/Somes Island, offering spectacular views across Wellington Harbour to Wellington and Hutt cities. Pause along the way to check out the island’s historic and ecological attractions, including introduced wildlife which are thriving in native vegetation planted by Lower Hutt Forest and Bird since 1981.
read more- Location: Wellington Harbour
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Avalon Park
Avalon Park is a six hectare park has a great range of features, including the Avalon Park Playground which is open every day and is free. Aimed at preschoolers to 12-year-olds and designed to appeal to families. It has a mix of contemporary and traditional play equipment within a specially-designed landscape. Plus there are lots of other activities to keep the whole family entertained, including beginners’ cycle circuit with various intersections and surfaces, model train (charge applies), mini putt golf, skate park, model marine boating pond, public tennis court, sculptures and more. Make use of the free electric barbecues and picnic tables. Spend the day and play!
read more- Location: 61 Taita Dr, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5011
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Best Beaches :: Taranaki
Round up the family and head to one of the region's superb beaches! Great choices include Back Beach, Centennial Drive, East End Beach, Nobs Line, Fitzroy Beach, Beach St, Ngamotu Beach, Ocean View Parade, Oakura Beach, Jans Terrace, Oakura. East End, Fitzroy and Oakura are the only beaches in New Zealand to be awarded the Blue Flag eco-label for their environmental, education and safety status.
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Bason Botanic Gardens - Whanganui
Bason Botanic Garden is rated a “Garden of Significance” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. It includes one of the most extensive public garden orchid collections in New Zealand. Families enjoy their time here making use of the wide open spaces and free gas BBQ facilities.
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Location:
552 Rapanui Rd,
Westmere 4574
Whanganui
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Location:
552 Rapanui Rd,
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Makara Walkway
This loop walk climbs to vantage points with spectacular views - farmland, a beach and gun emplacements will keep kids interested.This 6km loop walk climbs to vantage points with spectacular views, and returning along the beach. The high cliffs and spectacular views for centuries have provided the people of the area with good vantage points for the defence of their land. A Ngati Ira pa site lies on the promontory at the western end of Fisherman's Bay, and gun emplacements at the top of the cliffs mark the position of Fort Opau, which was garrisoned by 100 soldiers during World War II.
- Location: 1099 Makara Rd, Makara Beach, Wellington 6972
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Colonial Knob Walk
Climb to the summit of this 468 m peak for views on clear day from the Inland Kaikoura Range in the south to Mt Taranaki in the north-west - it's a good option for older children. 3-5 hr return. You'll think you've sprouted wings when you reach the top of the 468 metre high hill rising to the west of Porirua City. From this lofty perch on a clear day you can view many other high points - from the Inland Kaikoura Range in the south to Mt Taranaki in the north-west.
read more- Location: Rangituhi
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Kauaeranga Valley hiking trails
The Kauaeranga Valley is located 15 minutes out of Thames and is a beautiful and historic location for the entire family. With walks/tramps that last from 10 minutes to a full day, a well informed visitors centre, camping, cottages, swimming holes, a café through summer and canyoning, there's activities to suit everyone.
read more- Location: Kauaeranga Valley, 15 minutes from Thames
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The Coastal Walkway, New Plymouth
This is an excellent, completely flat walkway that is also perfect for family bike rides. You can start the walk from the middle of New Plymouth, just in front of the iSite, and head alongside the Tasman Sea towards Bells Block. You will pass the famous, 45 metre Wind Wand sculpture along with a number of interesting stone carvings, before passing the popular surf beaches of Fitzroy and East End. There are plenty of good picnic spots and a playground enroute, before you arrive at the must-see Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. From the town centre, if you head in the other direction - west, the walkway winds past the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, Kawaroa Park and playground then heads to the marina at the port and Ngamotu Beach - a safe swimming beach for the family.
read more- Location: New Plymouth, Taranaki
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Mount Taranaki Walks
A must-visit of the region is the Egmont National Park and there are plenty of short walks around the foothills or sides of Mt Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont). During summer you can also tackle the all-day hike to the summit (very strenuous, 8-10 hours return, 2518m).
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The two 'starting off' points for day hikes are North Egmont Visitor Centre, nearest village Egmont Village, or Dawson Falls Visitor Centre on the southern side, nearest town, Stratford.
From here you can choose a walk or hike to suit your family's ability and fitness, from just a few minutes to 10 hours (Mt Taranaki summit climb). Some of the 3-4 hour walks are long enough to get you up high on the mountain with amazing views of the summit and right across flat farmland to the sea. They are short enough to be do-able for reasonably fit families. There are also overnight huts on the mountain and the most famous multi-day tramp is the Around the Mountain Circuit (4-5 dayas)- Location: Mt Taranaki National Park, nr New Plymouth
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Botanic Gardens
The Wellington Botanic Garden features 25 hectares of unique landscape, protected native forest, conifers, specialised plant collections, colourful floral displays, and views over Wellington city. The Botanic Gardens has a play area with a rocktopus, double-pipe tube slides, swings, slides and flying fox. There are also picnic tables, toilets and an enclosed area for small children. There are glow worms in the main garden, from the duck pond up to Glen Road; these are best spotted at night after rain and at full moon. The Picnic Cafe is also available in the heart of the Botanical Gardens serving up hearty breakfast and delicious lunches 7 days a week.
read more- Location: Near the Treehouse Visitor Centre, Botanic Gardens, Wellington
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Te Apiti Wind Farm - Palmerston North
The views from here are worth the visit, on clear days you can see as far as Mt Ruapehu, Mt Taranaki and out across the horizon. You can stand directly beneath a turbine and read all about how they work. With giant turbine blades whirring overhead, these surreal machines are quite a spectacle to behold.
read more- Location: Woodville 4999
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Rotorua - Boyes Beach
This is a popular destination during the summer months for swimming and picnicking. A short walkway connects the reserve to Steep Street Reserve. There are BBQs, picnic tables, toilets and a playground on the reserve.
read more- Location: Millar Road, Lake Okareka
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Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve
Peel Forest is located in the foothills of the Southern Alps; turn off SH 72, about 12 km north of Geraldine. Once at the forest, a wide variety of short and long tracks extend into the park but for littlies choose the beginning of the Big Tree Walk, which is suitable for prams and wheelchairs.Explore the largest reserve in the Geraldine area on a variety of tracks. Base yourself at the campsite and take your time.
read more- Location: Peel Forest is accessed from Rangitata Gorge Road and from Blandswood Road.
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Gabriel's Gully - Lawrence
The Otago Dam walk is a medium grade walk over 2.7km which will take you around 1hr to get to. Total round trip walk is about 2 hours. Otago Dam is in the heart of Gabriel's Gully, one of the richest and longest lasting gold fields in central Otago. 4,000 gold miners worked the Gabriel's Gully gold fields in 1860. A water race ran from Otago Dam down to Gabriel's Gully for hydraulic elevating.
read more- Location: 3 km from the township of Lawrence, 92 km south-west of Dunedin on SH8.
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Hemi Matenga Memorial Park Scenic Reserve
This 330 hectare native forest overlooks Waikanae and is one of the largest remaining areas of protected kohekohe forest. The main entrance to Hemi Matenga Scenic Reserve is at Tui Crescent, where there is a small parking area by a reservoir.
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Hawkes Bay - Eskdale Park
Eskdale Park is on Shaw Road and is signposted from the highway. The seven hectare park, with trees shading the playground and picnic areas, is popular with holidaymakers who want to cool off in the knee deep river on a hot day. There is plenty of room for the children to run around and the park has two rest rooms.
read more- Location: Shaw Road, off Napier Taupo Road, State Highway 5
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Queens Park - Invercargill
80 hectares (200 acres) of gardens and parkland, minutes from the city centre and next to the main tourist information centre and Southland museum. Queens Park also has an impressive bird aviary, animal enclosures, children’s play areas, extensive sporting facilities, 18 hole golf course, observatory and cafes. Also prominent on the ground is the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. There is a 4 km fitness trail for the energetic, otherwise there are numerous paths and tracks throughout the park.
read more- Location: Invercargill - Queens Park, Gala Street
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Lake Hayes Recreation Area - Queenstown
Consists of sandy beach, warm shallows, lots of space and toilets. Great spot to picnic and relax on a sunny day - lots of shade. Pontoon and good swimming and kayaking.
read more- Location: Queenstown - 15km from Queenstown - leave town via Frankton. Lake Hayes is on your left. Turn left at the turn off for Arrowtown - the best picnic area is signposted 2km along the Arrowtown road at the head of the lake.
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Omana Regional Park
An ideal place to take the family for a day out. Set in 40 hectares of open farm land, forest, cliff tops and rocky sea shore, there are family walks and a safe swimming beach, rock pools and even pet animals to feed. With large grass areas, plenty of barbecue and picnic sites and a children’s playground, there is plenty to do at Omana Regional Park to keep the children happy.
read more- Location: 40 minutes from downtown Auckland on the Whitford Maraetai Road
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