Wellington, Family Activities
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Ages 4+
Hutt River Grade 2 Family Rafting Tour
read moreA scenic Wellington whitewater rafting tour along the lower section of Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River Gorge is the perfect introduction to the watersport for beginners and families. Come and experience the natural beauty within Wellington during a paddle down small rapids and rock jumps.
Starting at the beginning of the Grade 2 section of the river, learn how to paddle before being guided through easy rapids with expert guides. There is also an opportunity to stop for photos by a cascading waterfall and take a dip in the refreshing waters. The scenic white water rafting tour is ideal for first timers and families allowing you to build your confidence before tackling the more challenging Grade 3 wilderness tour.
- Web: kidzgo.experienceoz.com.au/en/wellington/te-awa-kairangi-hutt-river-grade-2-scenic-rafting-tour
- Location: Wellington Rafting - 10 Marion Street, Upper Hutt, Wellington 5019
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Staglands Wildlife Reserve and Cafe
Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Cafe is the perfect 'must see' attraction for families that provides visitors with the unique and exciting opportunity to connect with nature in a beau... read more
- Email: wildlife@staglands.co.nz
- Web: www.staglands.co.nz/
- Phone: 04 526 7529
- Location: 2362 Akatarawa Road, RD2 Upper Hutt, 5372
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Ages 12+
Zealandia by Night - Kiwi Tour
read moreThis special night tour of New Zealand's ZEALANDIA is one of the best places to see Kiwis in the wild in all of NZ! A truly unique experience, you'll join your friendly guide for a torchlit walk through ZEALANDIA's amazing Sanctuary Valley as it comes alive under the cover of nightfall - many of the cutest species of New Zealand are nocturnal, so this is the time to see them at their most active.
The sights - Kiwis rummaging around the forest, tuatara on the hunt for a meal, shimmering glow worms, kaka parrots settling into their roost - combine with the sounds of the New Zealand forest to make for a magical experience great for both adults and kids alike. Grab your ticket online to take part in what world renowned travel guide Lonely Planet dubbed a "life-changing experience - book now to experience ZEALANDIA for yourself!
- Web: kidzgo.experienceoz.com.au/en/wellington/zealandia-by-night-kiwi-tour
- Location: ZEALANDIA - 53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington, NZ 6012
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Ages 13+
Bike Tours - Electric Bike Guided Tours
Jump on your electric bike and enjoy a fun, light hearted and engaging tour of Wellington. Departing from the Waterfront you will set out on a journey to enjoy picturesque panoramic views of Wellington's spectacular scenery and discover it's colourful history.
The electric bikes are easy to use and suitable for any level of fitness, if you can ride a bike you can ride the electric bikes!
Electric Bays Guided Tour
Half day trip where your guide will navigate you from the Waterfront to Wellington's quiet bays.
Self Guided Full Tour
This is a great full day tour where you can travel at your own pace throughout the day. You will be given instructions and a cycle map and left to your own devices to discover whatever you wish to!
The Rimutaka Rail Trail can be explored by taking the bikes on a train then riding from Maymorn to Featherston. This is a world class track well away from the city. Pack your lunch, take your camera and ride the old railway line taking in the New Zealand forest and history.
Minimum age 13 years.
read more- Web: kidzgo.everythingnewzealand.com/bike-tours-electric-bike-guided-tours-wellington-1314/
- Location: Departs from Shed 1 Queens Wharf, Wellington Waterfront
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Ages 6+
Adrenalin Forest
Take a walk in the treetops! This is an adventure park in the heart of the forest, testing your agility and balance in a safe and controlled, but of course, super-fun environment! ... read more
- Email: wellington@adrenalin-forest.co.nz
- Web: kidzgo.everythingnewzealand.com/adrenalin-forest-wellington-1292/
- Phone: 04 237 8553
- Location: Okowai road - Porirua
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Zealandia by Day - Guided Experience
read moreTighten up your walking shoes and get ready to explore one of New Zealand's best wildlife attractions. ZEALANDIA in Wellington is home to an incredible amount of native animals including the famous Kiwi. A visit to ZEALANDIA will get you up close to a range of animals while also learning about the country's wildlife history.
This experience provides you with entry to the park as well as a guided 2-hour tour of the grounds. An informative tour hosting a maximum of 10 people, this is one of the best ways to learn about the region, the animals that have and do live in the region and more!
With the help of a knowledgeable guide, you'll be able to see and learn about native birds such as the Kaka, Hihi, Tieke, Kakariki and Kiwi as well as Tuataras.
Tous depart on a daily basis at 10am, 11am and 1pm from the Visitor Centre.
- Web: kidzgo.experienceoz.com.au/en/wellington/zealandia-by-day-guided-experience
- Location: ZEALANDIA - 53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington, NZ 6012
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Te Korōria - Meet | Play | Connect
Te Korōria is a community-run cafe with an indoor, 3-level soft play facility. It's a social enterprise with all profit going back into the community and is a sunny, friendly plac... read more
- Email: hello@tekororia.org.nz
- Web: www.tekororia.org.nz/
- Location: 170 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington
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Kiwi Guardian Outdoor Adventures
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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East by West Ferries
Enjoy the best of Wellington with a cruise on the citys unique harbour ferry service. Up to 16 return harbour crossings daily between Queens Wharf and Days Bay and calling into Matiu Somes Island.
read more- Phone: 04 499 1282
- Location: 1 Queens Wharf, Wellington
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Green Jersey Cycle Tours - Martinborough
Out and about in Martinborough you'll visit 2 child friendly wineries a small farm with friendly animals and an olive grove where the kids can do some tasting. Our friendly guide will entertain the kids while you taste the wine. Includes picnic lunch, tasting fees and bike or rickshaw hire. Departs 11am, allow 4 hours, available at weekends and on public holidays only. Bike hire also available that includes family and tag-a-long bikes, phone for details.
read more- Phone: 021 074 6640
- Location: opposite the Martinborough I-site, Kitchener St, Martinborough
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Kilbirnie Recreation Centre
This modern facility is designed for all those fans of wheelbased activities like skateboards, bikes, scooters and skates. Kilbirnie has a 20m by 40m concrete rink with a barrier and safety netting and removable ramps and obstacles. The centre is also home to Tinytown, a preschool play space with a safe, fun, interactive play area and ride-on toys. Phone Kilbirnie for details on skate and Tinytown sessions.
read more- Phone: 04 387 1491
- Location: 101 Kilbirnie Crescent, Kilbirnie
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Bowlarama
Great family entertainment - 12 fully-electronic / automatic lanes and scoring, Kiddy bumpers on all lanes for children, Comfortable seating, 2 Projection screens for your viewing pleasure, Stylish bowling shoes.
read more- Phone: 04 920 0200
- Location: 52 Hall St Newtown, Wellington
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Lindale Tourist and Agricultural Centre - Kapiti Coast
The Farm Show is an all weather fun and educational experience including a shearing and milking demonstration, and the chance to handmilk a cow or feed the baby animals with a bottle. Take some food on the farm walk and most of the animals will eat from your hand. There are toilets, a café, restaurant and picnic areas.
read more- Phone: 029 254 9765
- Location: State Highway 1, Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast
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Wellington Cable Car
The Cable Car is one of Wellington’s oldest and most popular tourist attractions. Cars depart every ten minutes from Lambton Quay in the heart of the city and run under the corporate towers of The Terrace, emerging in Kelburn and ending up at the top of Upland Road where the Lookout, Carter Observatory and Cable Car Museum are located.
read more- Phone: 04 472 2199
- Location: 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington
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Nga Manu Nature Rerserve
A Real Kiwi Nature Experience – along with Tuatara, Kiwi and Silver Fern, Nga Manu has a range of over 700 different plant species along with a diverse range of native animals.
All facilities are designed for wheelchair and pushchair access. Family enjoyment is catered for with many picnic areas and a gas operated BBQ is available on site. Bird feed-out tour (11am daily) follow the staff as they feed the birds. Children love the eel feeding (2pm daily) or feeding the ducks.
read more- Phone: 0)4 293 4131
- Location: 281 Ngarara Road, Waikanae, Kapiti Coast
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Capital E
For all those budding actors, technicians and television presenters Capital E is the place to go! Capital E present professional theatre, hands-on exhibitions, events and school holiday programmes as well as offering children exciting opportunities to work creatively in their video and sound engineering suite and fully equipped television studio.
read more- Phone: 04 913 3740
- Location: Civic Square, Wellington City (PO Box 3386)
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Carter Observatory
Bring your family and friends and take a virtual journey through space in Carter's Pelorus Trust Planetarium – a state-of-the-art full-dome digital theatre, then take your own steps through space as you walk through the world-class interactive multimedia space experience. A varied timetable of Planetarium Shows includes a dynamic and thrilling show and a guided tour of the night sky. Telescope viewing, historical astronomical artifacts and our spacey shop will complete your family experience.
read more- Phone: 04 910 3140
- Location: Botanic Garden, at the top of the Cable Car, Wellington
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The Bike Shed :: Pencarrow
There's plenty to see and do around Eastbourne and Pencarrow - explore Wellington’s wild South Coast, including historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, lakes and wetlands, amazing views of Wellington and the Kaikoura Ranges, and occasional sightings of seals, little blue penguins, dolphins and orca!
Or for a more relaxed experience, grab a bike and cruise Eastbourne’s bays and cafes.
read more- Phone: 04 562 7077
- Location: South End of Muritai Road, Eastbourne
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Silver Stream Railway
Come and ride on a working heritage railway. Silver Stream Railway has one of NZ's most comprehensive and largest collections of preserved and operating steam locomotives, diesel locomotives and railcars. Open every Sunday and most public holidays, you can enjoy travelling behind a vintage locomotive. This is a great day out for the whole family to experience; there are picnic facilities at the station and a shop where refreshments can be purchased. You can also hire a historic wooden carriage to celebrate birthdays (or any special occasion). Book a half carriage for 14 people or a full carriage for 28 people for your next birthday experience.
read more- Phone: 04 563 7348
- Location: Reynolds Bach Dr (off Eastern Hutt Road), Silverstream, Upper Hutt, Wellington
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The Boatshed :: Days Bay
Cool little spot for a family day out: SUP and sit on top kayak hire, real fruit ice cream, unique lolly shop, bike hire. Grab a kayak (weather dependant) and cruise out to Matiu / Somes Island - about 45 minutes paddle each way.
read more- Phone: 04 562 8150
- Location: 612A Marine Drive, Days Bay, Lower Hutt
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H2O XStream - Upper Hutt
The place to go to swim, slide or just hang out! Bodysurf the wave pool, ride the slides and experience the thrilling pitch black fast and furious water slide. There is serious swimming in the 25m lane pool, fun in the wave pool and toddlers will enjoy splashing in their very own pool. All pools are heated and a crèche is available weekdays to look after the children while adults enjoy a swim. Friday nights are Teen Time nights and waterslides, waves and river rides operate after 1.30pm on weekdays and 10.30 am at the weekend. The Waves Café has meals, snacks and drinks for after your swim.
read more- Phone: 04 527 2113
- Location: Corner Blenheim and Brown Streets, Upper Hutt, Wellington
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Strike Entertainment Centre
Lazer Tag - a fun, fast paced game, played in our space-themed maze with state of the art, New Zealand Made Vests and Guns. Enter the Maze for ten minutes as one of up to 18 players and work together to "tag" the members of the other team. More tags = More points, but be careful: if you are tagged, your vest and gun are disarmed for a short period of time and you lose points! Great for young and old - without the "ouch" of paintball!
read more
Also, Ten Pin Bowling with bumper rails to help the kids, cafe onsite and birthday party packages available.- Phone: 04 568 3168
- Location: 399 Lower Hutt Road, Lower Hutt, Wellington
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Ages 7+
Daytona Raceway Wellington
Daytona Raceway Wellington is an adrenaline pumping, indoor go kart racing attraction where you will experience some high-octane fun (min. age 10+ and min. height 1.4m), there is also Indoor Paintball and JT splatmaster paintball guns for the kids (ages 7+). You can also play 18 holes of mini-golf fun, a game the whole family will enjoy. They also offer kids parties!
read more- Phone: 04 979 9426
- Location: 85-87 Port Road, Seaview, Lower Hutt, Wellington
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Murrayfield Clydesdales - nr Levin
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.
read more- Phone: 06 367 8166
- Location: Corner Potts Road and State Highway 57
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