Best Things to Do in Christchurch, with kids

Riccarton Park Racecourse is 66% Kids-Friendly

Kids enjoy free bouncy castles on family racedays and the Sunday market inflatables, but gambling focus, alcohol areas and limited shade mean parents must supervise closely.

Recommended visit duration: 3-4 hours

Cathedral Square is 65% Kids-Friendly

Children can ride the family tram, hunt for statues, and enjoy street performers, but the square lacks a playground or safe grass, and traffic edges require constant supervision, reducing appeal.

Recommended visit duration: 2-3 hours

Bridge of Remembrance is 63% Kids-Friendly

Wide ramps let children cross safely, they can hunt carvings and watch eels, but there are no toilets or play equipment on the bridge so attention may fade after a short stop.

Recommended visit duration: 30 minutes

Jailhouse Accommodation is 61% Kids-Friendly

A family room, arcade games, and free parking suit school-age kids, but no playground, shared showers, and a rule against children in dorms reduce ease and entertainment on site.

Recommended visit duration: 1-2 nights

ChristChurch Cathedral is 54% Kids-Friendly

The main tour requires age 10+ and PPE; younger kids are excluded and there is no play zone, though tram rides, markets, and cardboard-tube architecture provide some family appeal.

Recommended visit duration: 2-3 hours

Victoria Clock Tower is 54% Kids-Friendly

Kids can do a free heritage scavenger hunt and see fountains, yet there is no playground or interactive exhibit and traffic needs strict supervision, so entertainment time is short.

Recommended visit duration: 15-20 minutes

Oderings Garden Centre Barrington is 47% Kids-Friendly

Children are allowed and can spot colours or butterflies, yet there is no playground, no kid workshops, and parents must supervise near fragile stock and vehicles, so interest and comfort are moderate.

Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is 47% Kids-Friendly

Children are allowed, but there is no playground or permanent kid programming; unless a child-focused show is on, long events may bore under-12s, so suitability is only moderate.

Recommended visit duration: 2–3 hours

Inception Gym 24/7 Tower Junction is 21% Kids-Friendly

There is no play zone, child-minding, or light equipment; rules assume users are at least teens, so kids under 12 would need full supervision and may find the heavy machinery unsafe and dull.

Christchurch Casino is 8% Kids-Friendly

New Zealand law and casino policy bar anyone under 20 from all areas, so kids cannot step inside for even a meal and the venue provides no child-focused amenities at all.