A Kid-Friendly 1 Week Itinerary in South Island, New Zealand – Christchurch to Queenstown

Pooja Tailor
Apr 19
4 min read

If you're dreaming of snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and wide open playgrounds for your little explorers, South Island, New Zealand is just the family getaway you need. We recently spent a magical week here with our two little boys, and it was a perfect mix of scenic road trips, playtime, and cozy downtime. Here’s how our one-week itinerary looked—with all the family-friendly highlights!

Day 1 – Land in Christchurch + Margaret Mahy Playground

After our flight from Sydney, we landed in Christchurch in the early afternoon. The kids needed to stretch their legs, so we headed straight to Margaret Mahy Family Playground—and what a start to our adventure! This playground is HUGE, with imaginative zones, splash areas, giant slides, swings, and climbing structures. It was the perfect place to let the kids run wild while we soaked in some fresh air. For a late lunch, we tried The Origin NZ, a lovely vegan café that doesn’t use onion or garlic in any of their food—perfect for our vegetarian preferences. Everything was fresh, healthy, and bursting with flavor.

We kept the evening relaxed and stayed the night in Christchurch to recover from the travel.

Day 2 – Slow Morning + Crepes + Exploring Christchurch

Our original plan was to visit Orana Wildlife Park in the morning, but due to rainy weather, we opted for an indoor adventure instead and headed to the International Antarctic Centre

It turned out to be such a fun experience for the kids! They were thrilled to watch the little penguins being fed, and meet the adorable huskies. We also stepped into the indoor Antarctic storm room—a safe, chilly experience that gave us a taste of real Antarctic weather.

We then headed over to Crepes De La Monde where the kind staff made sure our crepes were eggless (yes, they can customize every crepe!). My absolute favorite was their apple biscoff crepe. Highly recomment this one!

After breakfast, we strolled around Christchurch town center and soaked up the calm and charm of the city before hitting the road again.

Day 3 – Drive to Lake Tekapo + Stargazing

The drive to Lake Tekapo was around 3 hours and unbelievably scenic.

Rolling green hills, flocks of sheep, and snow-dusted peaks made it feel like a painting came to life. We reached in the evening and grabbed takeout from Dolce Pizza—they were quick, tasty, and just what we needed.

Our Airbnb was a dream for stargazing! Though our stargazing tour with Chameleon Stargazing got canceled due to weather (definitely recommend booking—it’s such a unique experience!), we loved sitting by the windows and pointing out stars with the kids.

Day 4 – Lake Tekapo + Iconic Playground + Drive to Queenstown

We started the day with breakfast at Jack Rabbit Café—grilled cheese for the kids and bagels with grilled tomatoes for us. Simple and satisfying.

Next up: Lake Tekapo! The kids had a blast throwing rocks into the lake, and we visited the Church of the Good Shepherd, a tiny stone church with massive views. It’s such an iconic spot and a must-see.

Then came one of the trip highlights—Lake Tekapo Playground.

Honestly, this place felt straight out of a fairy tale! With huge climbing towers, tunnels, trampolines, and a flying fox zipline, our boys could’ve spent the entire day here. The views of the lake from the playground just added to the magic.

In the early afternoon, we began our 3-hour drive to Queenstown. This drive was hands-down one of the most beautiful we’ve ever done. Every few minutes, we were pointing out herds of sheep, cows, and even buffalo, all set against a backdrop of mountains and glistening lakes. Definitely keep your camera handy!

Day 5 – Queenstown Views, Luges + Scenic Playgrounds

We checked into Commonage Villas by Staysouth,

and WOW—the view alone was worth it. Spacious, clean, well-equipped, and close to town, it was perfect for our family.

Dinner was at Boliwood Queenstown, where the staff was incredibly accommodating to our vegetarian and Jain dietary preferences—think dosa, paneer, and dal, all made without onion or garlic.

We topped it off with some gelato from Anita Gelato, and then strolled the Queenstown Boardwalk, which the kids loved—especially watching ducks and tossing pebbles into the water.

Day 6 – Skyline Gondola + Luge Rides + Donuts + More Playgrounds

The kids were buzzing with excitement for the Skyline Queenstown Gondola

. The ride up was spectacular and once at the top, we went straight to the luge rides. We got the 6-ride pass and honestly, could have done even more—the kids were obsessed! The lines were short and the staff was super helpful.

After a quick packed pasta lunch, we watched paragliders take off from the peak. Our boys were mesmerized watching them float above Queenstown.

Later that day, we went to Hanley’s Farm Playground. This was another gorgeous spot with modern play equipment and unreal views of The Remarkables. The open fields gave the kids plenty of space to run around while we relaxed.

That evening, we indulged in Balls and Bangles donuts—most of them were eggless, and SO good! For a light dinner, we picked up Fergburger, where they kindly made us a custom vegetarian, onion/garlic-free burger with a crispy hashbrown patty. Perfect end to a packed day!

Day 7 – Deer Park Heights Drive + Scenic Town Walk

On our final day in Queenstown, we did something a little adventurous—a drive through Deer Park Heights

. I’ll admit, the uphill winding roads made me a bit nervous, but the views and experience were so worth it. We saw deer, cows, pigs, goats, and even buffalos, all while driving through a storybook landscape. You can get out and feed some of the animals too!

We ended our trip with another walk along the water, throwing stones and taking in the last bits of New Zealand magic.