Ella Gilmer
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Margaret Mahy Playground
This must be the 'creme de la creme' of playgrounds - top of the range materials and equipment, and an awesome range of activities to suit kids from toddler to teen.
Expect messiness, especially if you have a little one, because the sand play area (a bit of water thrown in for good measure) attracts them like moths to a flame. It was still a bit cold for the water cannons and sprinklers, but in summer it would be fantastic. My kids love climbing the spiderweb and zooming full tilt down the wide slide. There are always HEAPS of kids here, which can be a bit overwhelming, but there's enough to do that no one misses out.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Otago Farmers Market
One of the best markets in the country!
Good value produce, as well as a heap of other beautiful food and drink - cheese, bread, chocolate, wine, beer, pies, meat and smallgoods.... And that's just the stuff you take home. You need to eat breakfast here too - anything you fancy from bacon butties to crepes and everything in between. And of course, coffee.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Pyramids, Victory Beach and Okia Reserve
Not a hugely interesting walk to the beach (through the salt marsh) but the pyramids are cool.
We climbed the little one on the way there and the view was gorgeous. The beach is downright stunning. We were the only ones there, just golden sand for miles and miles.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Sandfly Bay Track
Absolutely stunning place.
There were a fair number of other people there, but it still felt very remote. It was the wrong time of day to see penguins but there were sea lions basking on the sand and playing in the ocean. The only reason I didn't give this a 10 is that the walk back up the sand dune is incredibly steep, such a killer.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
Okuti Valley Scenic Reserve walk
Lovely birdsong.
Some of the track is quite steep (and slippery after rain) and we were a bit confused when we got to the gravel road because we didn't know if we were supposed to keep walking or if that was it. Of course if we'd read the info beforehand we would've known this...