Hansen Park Playground

Locals know this one’s worth the visit — the slides are genuinely good, not the sad little plastic ones you find in half the parks around Christchurch. There’s plenty of room to spread out, so even on a busy afternoon it doesn’t feel cramped. The basketball court keeps the older kids occupied while the younger ones do their thing on the playground. Best part is the river walk right alongside the park — you’ll almost certainly spot ducks, which sounds minor but honestly makes the whole outing feel a bit more special.