TheCockneyKiwi

So, after a week of house, car and everything else hunting, thinking we should take the kids to see some of the "real" NZ.

Anyone got any favorite destinations / Must See's?

Stormer999

So out to Birdlings Flat to gather some pretty stones off the pebble beach then maybe a drive along the spit via Baileys road or just back on the main road then over Gebbies pass for coffee and ice cream at Diamond harbour or drive on to Port Levy for a picnic.

Or just drive up to Spencerville and sit on the vast sandy beach or take a walk along the forest to the Waimakariri river and then back along the beach...maybe fly a kite.

Thats starters

Stormer999

Drive down through Sumner and coffee at Scarborough beach cafe then on to Taylors Mistake (via the Promonade Road) then a nice walk along the cliff top path (Boulder Walkway) down to Boulder Bay.

Tom1983

Get yourself booked to Lake Tekapo for the weekend, a nice 3 and a half journey, which gets better once you hit Geraldine. Go to the ice spa definitely. Unfortunately some poms have ruined one of the islands on the Lake

90 minutes north is Hamner Springs, there's a new slide there that we'll be experiencing in 2 weeks time. The mini version of Queenstown in terms of adrenaline. Lots of spa pools, river rafting, bungy jumping etc.

2 hours north on highway 1 is Kaikoura. I recommend you go in the summer for the whales and seals, then in the winter for the baby seals (30 minutes north to Oahu). You also pass a shop that sells some of the best crayfish in New Zealand

Or there's Akaroa which is a nice small French town where you can see a lot of wildlife

If you like clay pigeon shooting and that sort of things, Terrace Downs is a fabulous place to visit. It's about an hours car journey away (Windwhistle). Lovely area. It's also close to Mount Hutt for ski-ing purposes

Or get yourself a weekend booked in Nelson or Queenstown. Best places in the South Island by a mile! You'll have your holiday destinations sorted for life once visited there.

Woodlea

Castle Hill, an hour and a quarter from Chch and amazing. On a hot day (not a Norwester) go up Helicopter Hill http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...alking-tracks/ in the morning and cool off in Cave Stream http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...cenic-reserve/ in the arvo.

Pom_Chch

Hi Cockney Kiwi (love the name btw!)

Kaikoura is lovely. A wee town surrounded by mountains, particularly beautiful in winter when they are covered in snow. There's lots of cool stuff to do there. Check out: http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/. Takes about 2 and a half hours from the centre of Chch.

Akaroa is a must! A wee French town an hour and 15 mins south of Chch. The drive there from Chch is beautiful. Pack some travel sickness pills though, those roads are very winding! There's some great trips to see some penguins in Akaroa. I have just been on one myself with these guys: http://www.pohatu.co.nz/. We did the "Pohatu Package", which includes one night at a bach in Flea Bay. There was a Canadian family taking the trip at the same time as us and they all had a great time. I would recommend checking out the weather before you go though. It rained quite a lot when we went and, although still enjoyable, it would have been even better in the sun

Ashley Gorge - great on a really hot day. More of a day trip as it's only an hour from Chch, but if you want you can stay in the holiday park there. There a couple of short walks, picnic areas and swimming in the river. http://www.ashleygorgeholidaypark.co.nz/.

Hanmer Springs is pretty cool. Lots of hiking/biking there or just relax in the hot pools. There are some hydro slides for the kids (and adults!) Takes just under two hours to get there. http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/.

Arhturs Pass - beautiful national park. Particularly great in winter with snowy mountains. Awesome drive there and lots of walks along the way. Drive as much of it as you like, it takes around two hours from Chch to reach roughly the middle of the park.

Hope that helps!

Hokey-pokey

We've just returned from a family holiday on the "mainland". Can thoroughly recommend the small township of Geraldine. Can't believe that we had ignored it for so long - infact Im kicking myself for never having visited before. Its quintissential NZ and if you're into chocolate and fudge then this is the place! About 1.5 - 2 hours from Chch.

http://www.southisland.org.nz/geraldine

Stormer999

And the lovely old museum at Fairlea, and whilst were at it Ferrymead in Chch.

Tom1983

Do your young ones like crazy golf?

Go to caddyshack if they do. Unique is the best word to describe it. There's not many crazy golf courses that activate the Thunderbirds theme tune when playing

TheCockneyKiwi

Wow - Thanks all for the kind suggestions. The kids are 4 and 2, so some of this might be a little to grown up for the little one. Although I am sure he would have a go at Bungee Jumping and Clay Pigeon Shooting given half a chance!

Great to be here and hear from your wise words!