One thing I like about living in New Zealand is that there are plenty of spaces for children to play and run around. Children are encouraged to go outside and explore. Many playgrounds are well-planned to allow kids to be physically active.
Here in New Zealand, malls and shopping centres are not designed for people to stay too long. They just go in, get what they need, and leave. Most people like to go outside, near the sea, the farm, the beaches and of course the playgrounds. If you’ve lived in a big city where no day is complete without a visit to the mall, this is something you’ll have to get used to in New Zealand.
There are many great playgrounds around Wellington. Here are the ones that our family has visited many, many times:
Johnsonville Playground
Just a stone’s throw away from our house, it’s our go-to place when the girls want to go out. They’ve been going here since they were babies, I could probably fill a photo album from when they were a few months old till present, just on this playground. It’s also near the new library and a coffee shop, plus the pool, so it’s very convenient when they get tired and want to do something else.
Amesbury School Playground
This has featured prominently in my Instagram Stories because this is where we take the kids when they want to ride their scooter or bikes. One playground is for the little ones, and the other is for the bigger kids. They’ve also recently added an obstacle course, so there’s more play options for the kids.
Aotea Quay Playground
This playground is really nice. I appreciated the fenced-in playground for smaller tots when the girls were babies. There are days when the small train runs, and the girls love it. In the summer, there is also a splash pad if kids want to play with water.
Shorland Park Playground
We go to this playground in the summer, because just across, the girls can play in the sand and in the water. Buy some fish and chips in the shop nearby, and lay out your beach towels, then you’re all set.
Avalon Park
A huge playground that the kids can play around in for hours over in Lower Hutt! However, we’ve decided to visit this park only in the summer or when we bring a change of clothes, because Katie’s first and only stop in this playground is the water machines.
Petone Esplanade Park
We like going here after I do my shopping at the nearby grocery, and the girls are getting restless. They play for a while, and then we take them to the beach to throw stones and look at boats going into the harbour.
So these are just a few of our regular hang outs here in Wellington. I really appreciate that these places are here for the kids to enjoy. It’s going to be a few more years before they outgrow these, so it’s nice to have choices.
