10 Jul 2023

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Hunt for a whale tooth, look up at the stars and find a huia nest at the Ōtautahi Winter Holiday Trail.

The school holiday programme runs until 16 July and lets tamariki explore four of the city’s favourite places, in any order and at their own pace.

The trail is packed with discovery - from Tūranga to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, over to Teece Museum and then the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū.

Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says kids are encouraged to complete the activities in the provided booklet and collect a stamp from each place they go.

“The Ōtautahi Winter Holiday Trail offers Christchurch kids the chance to explore some of the incredible places around the city, while creating a fun treasure hunt to keep them entertained,” says Ms Robertson.

Journey through the Botanic Gardens and find plants used to construct boats and help people travel far and wide along rivers, lakes and oceans. Become an Antarctic explorer, play with the outside compass and decipher the map provided.

At Tūranga, catch up with ‘Kiri and Lou at the Library’ and find them waiting for you at the exhibition on Level 2. Explore native plants on the walls, search for Matariki stars and take a moment to relax and listen to the peaceful sounds of the forest.

Check out the Teece Museum at the Arts Centre, full of treasures that are thousands of years old. Test your knowledge of Ancient Greece and have a go at playing the Olympic Odyssey board game.

Find the exhibition ‘Ships Nails and Tail Feathers’ at the Christchurch Art Gallery and glimpse birds we have lost from our world. Hunt for a whale tooth and decode secret messages signalled between ships at sea and lighthouses.

“The trail offers a chance to keep tamariki busy and excited during the school holidays,” says Ms Robertson. “It lets Christchurch children explore the city in a fun and interactive while learning about our history.”

Find out more about the Ōtautahi Winter Holiday Trail here.