Our pick of family-friendly events from 17 – 19 April 2026. Here’s what’s on for kids this weekend in Christchurch.
School holidays are nearly done. Just a couple of days left to squeeze something worthwhile out of them. Christchurch is actually delivering this weekend, and you’d be mad to spend it inside watching someone else’s kids do slime tutorials on YouTube. From Himalayan culture to paper rockets, here’s what to get the family into before the school bell calls time.
Search our events calendar for more family-friendly events for kids here.
What’s on for kids this weekend in Christchurch:
Quail Island Easter Egg Hunt
Last chance on this one. The Quail Island Easter Egg Hunt wraps up on Sunday and it would be a genuine shame to miss it. Kids hunt for hidden letters scattered across the island, piece together a secret word, and trade their answer sheet for chocolate eggs. There are also three Akaroa Nature Cruises up for grabs if you submit an entry form, which is a very solid bonus for what is essentially a chocolate-motivated treasure hunt on a beautiful island. Old shipwrecks, native birds, hidden caves, and thousands of Easter eggs. Honestly, what more do you need.
When: Until Sunday 19 April, 9am–4pm
Where: Quail Island
How much: Adults and children are both $20 return across the full holiday period, with under 5s free and family passes available.
Nepal Festival
There’s a whole lot of world packed into Hagley Avenue this Saturday. The Nepal Festival brings together traditional handicrafts, Himalayan cuisine, folk dance performances, live music, and a multicultural parade, all in one sprawling celebration of Nepali culture and community. Whether your kids are drawn to the colour, the food, or the sheer spectacle of it all, there’s enough going on to hold even the shortest attention span. It’s one of those events you rock up to not knowing much and leave feeling genuinely glad you went.
When: Saturday 18 April, 11am–5pm
Where: Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre, 455 Hagley Ave, Central City
How much: Free
School Holiday Fun at Riverside Market
Giant games and a free Peace Train ride. Honestly, that’s enough. Riverside is turning up the volume for the school holidays with activities scattered through the market, and the vibe is very much “come as you are, stay as long as you like.” It’s the kind of afternoon that starts as a quick pop-in and somehow turns into three hours. No complaints.
When: Saturday 18 April
Where: Riverside Market, 96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central
How much: Free
Clothed in Love Pre-Loved Clothing & Shoe Sale
Last one before winter, and if your kids are anything like most kids, they’ve already outgrown half their wardrobe since August. Fill a bag with clothing and shoes for $5, browse the free books and bits out on the berm, and feel good knowing every dollar goes back into Clothed in Love’s clothing packs for tamariki across the city. Raffles on the day too. Worth a Saturday morning.
When: Saturday 18 April, 9.30am–1pm (weather permitting)
Where: 29 Breens Road, Bishopdale
How much: $5 per bag
Te Tou Pīwakawaka — Ōtautahi Autumn Holiday Trail
This one’s built for those who like their school holidays with a side of adventure. Pick up a free activity book from the Botanic Gardens, Tūranga, The Arts Centre, or a handful of other central city venues, then make your way around six locations collecting stamps as you go. You can blitz it in a day if you’re committed, or spread the remaining days at a more civilised pace. Either way, it gets the whole family moving through some of the city’s best spots.
When: Throughout the school holidays (Botanic Gardens trail 9am–4pm; check venue open times)
Where: Starting from Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, 7 Riccarton Ave, or Tūranga, The Arts Centre, and other central city venues
How much: Free
Easter iSpy at Mrs Bumbleberry’s Lolly Shop
A lolly shop with hidden Easter items and a chocolate bunny on the line? Kids will walk in casually and immediately become intensely focused detectives. Mrs Bumbleberry’s is tucked inside The Arts Centre and is exactly the kind of place that makes a quick stop feel like an event in itself. Spot the hidden Easter bits, enter the draw, and try to get out without buying half the shop.
When: Until Sunday 19 April, 11am–4pm
Where: Mrs Bumbleberry’s Lolly Shop, The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
How much: Free
Rocket Science at Rutherford’s Den
Paper. A straw. Your lungs. That’s genuinely all you need for this one, and somehow it’s more satisfying than it has any right to be. Head to the Lecture Theatre at Rutherford’s Den to launch a paper straw rocket and find out exactly how far a decent breath can take you. It’s part of the central city holiday trail, so grab a map while you’re there and make an afternoon of it.
When: 18–19 April, 10am–4pm
Where: Rutherford’s Den, The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
How much: Free
Rockets & Runways – Astronautical Expo
A free space and aviation expo from the Christchurch Rocketeers on the last day of the school holidays. Watch a live hobby rocket launch, explore a planetarium, touch actual rocket hardware that’s returned from space, and meet exhibits from Air NZ’s Training Academy, UC Aerospace, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Canterbury Astronomical Society. There’s also a giant inflatable Moon photo op with a prize pack up for grabs. No bookings required.
When: Sunday 19 April, 10am–4pm
Where: Air Force Museum of NZ, Wigram
How much: Free
