Discover Wellington these holidays with Kids Friendly New Zealand

Wellington
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After school care and holiday programmes | Accommodation | | Cafes | Parks and Reserves | Party Venues | Things to do | Toy Hire

Wellington is New Zealand's capital city and is at the southern-most end of the North Island.

Try the Cable Car which takes you from the bottom of Lambton Quay up to the Botanical Gardens. It's a fun trip and kids just love it. The cable car is enclosed so it is safe for children.

Trains

If the children enjoy trains and you don't use these as your everyday public transport then plan a day riding the trains, either going from Wellington to Johnsonville - enjoy a stop at the indoor heated swimming pool there.

Or try the Hutt Valley line and visit the Hutt Valley for the day. The Lillipop Indoor Playground is behind Western Hutt station and then you can relaxed (well, hopefully) coffee while the kids have fun in the playground. But please note that the Melling line does not operate between 8.52 am (departing Wellington) and 3.28 pm week days, and not at all in the weekends. The Hutt Valley line takes a different route and from Wellington the nearest station is Petone. The best way to get there is by car.

Accommodation

Broadeaves Bed and Breakfast
Location: 24, Ngarara Road, Waikanae
Ph: 04 293 1483 or mobile 021 545175
Web: www.broadeaves.co.nz
Email: stay@broadeaves.co.nz

This Bed & Breakfast in Waikanae, Kapiti Coast ( near Wellington) offers a childminding service when guests stay. This is because with two children of their own, they know how hard it is for mum and dad to get away and really have a break. Several families have stayed there and the mums say what a relaxing time they have had and the kids seem to go and play with theirs and give her a break. For more details about the child minding service check out their website.

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Beaches and walks

The Botanical Gardens in Wellington is a wonderful garden to visit. It is set on a hill, so if you have a pushchair remember that if you go down, you may have to go back up again. There is a great playground in the gardens, with a large variety of play things - and has toilets for your convenience.

Upper Hutt

If you are feeling a bit more energetic try the Rimutaka Incline which is located a few kilometres outside Upper Hutt. This is a great walk or mountain bike ride. Make sure you take a torch for the tunnels and plenty of food and water. This is suitable for older children who have the fitness for a full days walking or several hours biking. My husband did the Incline with our then four year old son on the back of his bike and said he would do it again.

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Cafes

Cafe Villa
61 Ottawa Road, Ngaio. 04 479 5707

With mums (and the occasional dad) regularly meeting here for coffee, parents can be content with space enough to bring their pushchairs and a couple of boxes of toys and books to keep the kids happy.

Party Venues
Art and Soul
7 Orua Street, Eastbourne
Ph: 04 562 7688
web: www.artandsoul.co.nz
The Cafe provides a wonderful venue for children to create their own painted ceramics. This venue is available for birthday parties.

Toy Hire

Pixie Toy Hire

7 Miro Street, Upper Hutt
Ph: 04 528 8964
Mob: 021 133 6510
info@pixietoyhire.co.nz
www.pixietoyhire.co.nz

At Pixie Toy Hire we offer top quality toy hire for children aged 0-5 years. We have a great range of indoor and outdoor toys. Short and long term hire options available as well as 3 day Party Hire options. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Things to do

Art and Soul (Ceramic painting)
7 Orua Street, Eastbourne
Ph: 04 562 7688
web: www.artandsoul.co.nz
The Cafe provides a wonderful venue for children to create their own painted ceramics. This venue is available for birthday parties.
Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street
Freephone 0800 801 700 www.metlink.org.nz

Wellington Cable Car, Cable Car Lane, off Lambton Quay
Phone +64 4 472 2199 www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz

Cable Car Museum,
Phone +64 4 475 3578 www.cablecarmuseum.co.nz

Carter Observatory
Phone +64 4 831 1131 www.caterobservatory.org

Museums
Museum of Wellington City and Sea
The Bond Store, Queens Wharf, Wellington.
Ph: 04 472 8904 www.museumofwellington.co.nz

Te Papa
Web: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz
Te Papa is our national museum and is a wonderful place to visit with the children. Ask at the information desk about current displays and children's activities.

Tours
Red Rock Sea Tours
101 Wakefield Street, Wellington. Freephone 0800 73 25 27 http://www.jasons.com/New-Zealand/Wellington-City/Seal-Coast-Safari
A nature adventure in Wellington. Feed some tame deer and see wild goats as well as visit a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals in their native habitat.

Attractions
Capital E
Civic Square, Wellington.
Ph: 04 384 8502
Web: http://www.capitale.org.nz/
This is a great place to take kids.

Movie Cinemas
Hoyts Cinemas
Mid City Centre, Manners Street, Wellington
Ph: 04 384 3567
Web: www.hoyts.co.nz
Enjoy the latest movies with your family at Hoyts. Check daily papers, phone or website for what's showing and when.

Wellington Zoo
Daniell Street, Newtown. They are located in Newtown only 10 minutes drive from downtown Wellington. You can catch the No. 10 or 23 Stagecoach bus to Newtown Park which goes directly to the Zoo.

Opening hours:The Zoo is open 9:30am-5:00pm 7 days, every day of the year (except Christmas Day!).
Web: http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/

Karori Sanctuary, Waiapu Road
Phone +64 4 920 9200 www.sanctuary.org.nz

Somes Island (Matiu Island), ferries leave from Queens Wharf, Wellington and Days Bay Wharf on Marine Drive. Phone +64 4 499 1282 www.doc.govt.nz

Days Bay, ferries leave from Queens Wharf, Wellington and Days Bay Wharf on Marine Drive.
Phone +64 4 499 1282 www.eastbywest.co.nz

About the Zoo
Excite your child’s mind and grow their appreciation of the natural world with a trip to the Wellington Zoo.

As New Zealand’s oldest Zoo founded in 1906, Wellington Zoo aims to provide visitors with an exciting and educational experience which inspires them to understand and participate in wildlife conservation, and to advance conservation through its wildlife management programmes.

There are a range of animals living at the Zoo including Rokan the Tiger, Riki the Giraffe and Alexi the Chimp. Keepers provide educational talks throughout the day and information boards in the Zoo add to the educational experience.

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After school care and holiday programmes

KIDSCO provides OSCAR approved After School and Holiday programmes with the specific needs of working parents and their families in mind. For more information on programmes and location visit http://www.kidsco.co.nz/

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