School Holidays in Christchurch: Easter & Autumn Activities in Christchurch
The April School Holidays are here: It’s getting colder and darker, and now we’ve got two weeks to fill while the weather tries to decide if it’s still summery or if we need to dig the puffer jackets out of the garage.
Gone are the days when a Tip Top from the dairy and the local playground was the only thing on offer. If I’m dragging myself out of the house, I want a decent coffee and a nice spot to sit while the kids do their thing, so here are our 10 favorite ways to keep them busy (and your head straight) this April in Christchurch:
1. Arts Centre Crafts & Retro Movies
The Arts Centre is not only beautiful to wander around (and explore the free Rutherford’s Den and Classical Antiquities Museum, plus grab a great coffee), but they’ve got heaps of ticketed classes on for the school holidays this autumn. Think crafts, kids style paint n’sip (without the wine obviously), rocket building, puppetry, plus $10 fudge shape decorating (a walk-in thing with no booking needed). Lumiere Cinema is also showing James and the Giant Peach and The Great Mouse Detective - nice blast from the past for us and a great way to kill a couple of hours if it’s drizzly outside.
Check out the schedule and book here.
2. Quail Island Easter Egg Hunt
This is always a huge hit. You get the Black Cat ferry from Lyttelton (the boat ride is exciting enough as it is!) and head over to this stunning island. The kids use a map to hunt for letters to find a secret word while exploring nature and history, and you get a nice walk and fresh air out of it. But the best part, the deal! Adults pay kids' prices for the holidays, which makes it way more affordable. Plus, If you go over Easter weekend (April 3rd - 6th), there will be bonus chocolate treats.
3. Christchurch Easter Show (3–6 April)
This is a massive one because it's FREE entry and FREE parking, plus FREE activities. Love this for my bank account. It’s hosted by Event Hire and it’s basically a parent’s dream for the Easter holidays - egg hunt, face painting, pony rides and live entertainment (including a clown and a pipe band). Check out the location details and full event schedule here.
4. Riverside Market
Riverside is my go-to when I can't be bothered making lunch or doing dishes (which is most of the time). There’s something for every fussy eater AND we can all eat in the same place. And over Easter it’s even more exciting. Starting Friday 3rd April, you can grab a clue sheet from the Riverside Collective and go on a proper treasure hunt through the market. Hand in the form at the Riverside Pantry for a prize and a spot in the main prize draw. Plus, The Easter Bunny is hopping around from Friday to Monday handing out free chocolate eggs. You can also grab a colouring sheet from the Pantry to win one of four prize packs!
5. Dinosaurs at the Pop-Up Museum
Have you been yet? Even if you have, why not go again - kids can’t get enough (and it’s only here til June). If you didn't know, the Museum has moved into a pop-up spot at 66 Gloucester St and they’ve got the coolest dinosaur exhibit including REAL dino fossils and bones, plus a 9-metre relative of the T-Rex. It’s pretty impressive and a total lifesaver for an indoor activity when the weather turns. Open daily, and FREE.
6. Proper Autumn Leaf Stomping & A Hot Chocolate
Christchurch is pretty magic this time of year. Head to the Botanic Gardens, Mona Vale, Riccarton Bush, Victoria Park, The Groynes or your local park to jump in the leaves or explore and admire the beautiful colour changing (great to chat science about the seasons, or inspire some autumn art and crafts with the leaves) then follow it up with a tasty hot chocolate at a nearby cafe.
7. Creative Classes at Imprint Studio
Kids love arts and craft, and Carla at Imprint (Avonhead) is fantastic. She has three boys of her own, so she actually gets what kids find fun. For $20, they can do a class making sparkly butterflies, alien planets and more. It’s way better than them making a mess in your lounge.
8. Scavenger Hunt at The Palms
If you’ve got to get the groceries done, head to The Palms. They’ve got a scavenger hunt where the kids find 12 eggs around the mall to get a free chocolate treat at the end. Plus, the Easter Bunny is there on the Saturday and Monday (12pm - 2pm) for photos. Like Santa but cuter!
9. Laser Strike Weekday Deal
The new Laser Strike at 32 Byron Street is great for the older ones (and the high-energy younger ones). They’ve got a massive new arena with all the lights and hiding spots. We went a couple weeks ago when it opened, and it is EPIC, even for parents - I felt like Lara Croft. The Deal: They’re doing 3 games for $20 on weekdays over the holidays. It’s the best way I know to actually wear them out. Book a session here.
10. Find a New Playground on the ROAM App
We all get bored of our local park, so I’ve been using the ROAM app to find ones we haven’t been to yet. It’s got photos and descriptions of all the best playgrounds in Christchurch, so you know exactly what you’re in for before you drive across town (or just a few streets over). Also, have you checked out the 2 new playgrounds at Diamond Harbour? It’s a cheap and quick (10 min) ferry over from Lyttleton, a bit of a walk up a hill but so worth it!
