What To Do With The Kids When It Rains in Hokitika
Travelling with children can be a bit stressful at times, especially when the weather is not great. As a parent myself, I know how hard it can be keeping the kids happy when it is pouring with rain. Here are some of the things my family like to do when we get a rainy day in Hokitika.
HOKITIKA REGENT THEATRE
See a movie at the historic Hokitika Regent Theatre. Built in 1935 this theatre has become the hub of the Hokitika community following it’s restoration over the last 10 years by a committed group of volunteers and people from around NZ who have shared their expertise. This beautifully restored art deco theatre operates as a movie theatre, a performance theatre and as a town hall for the community.
THE NATIONAL KIWI CENTRE
Catch a koura & feed the giant eels at The National Kiwi Centre. The National Kiwi Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika in an undercover facility that provides viewing of kiwi in our nocturnal house that replicates their natural environment. During your visit you can take part in feeding the giant eels (10am, 12 noon and 3pm daily). The eels are approximately 85 to 100 years old. The kiwi also get fed after each eel feeding. You can view the tuatara, New Zealand’s oldest living dinosaur. “Children (and adults too of course) love catching freshwater crawlies (koura) in our indoor fishing lake. This activity is strictly catch and release. No animals are harmed in the process and no hooks are used. We will issue you a crawly catching certificate on request. Come and give it a go!” National Kiwi Centre, Hokitika.
http://www.thenationalkiwicentre.co.nz/
SHANTYTOWN
Take the kids to Shantytown. Children of all ages love Shantytown. Take a ride on the steam train, pan for gold, dress up in period clothing and take a family photo, explore the historical replica township. You can easily fill a whole day here there is so much to do. Much of it is covered so rain is not a problem. There is also a cafe
“With a flying fox (zip wire), old fashioned lollies, treasure hunts and wonderful buildings to explore there is plenty to keep everyone occupied for hours. Reuben Waite’s General Store has fantastic gifts, souvenirs and books to browse. Of course gold fever can strike at any time and the gold mining team at the Gold Claim will teach you to pan for your own gold (and we guarantee that you’ll come away with a little ‘colour’ for your trouble” Shantytown
https://www.shantytown.co.nz/Attractions/Serious+Fun+For+Kids.html
BONZ ' N STONZ FOR OLDER KIDS - I highly recommend Bonz 'n Stonz carving studio. Here you can carve your own piece of pounamu (jade), bone or paua shell. This is a truely special thing to do here. So much better than just being a piece off the rack. Design and carve your own. Full guidance given throughout by expert carvers.
SWEET ALICE'S Kids of all ages love hot chocolate, fudge, waffles and ice-cream. Take them into Sweet Alice's for a yummy hot chocolate. They also have sweets made on a 200 year old drop candy machine, they make their own fudge. Their giant ice-cream sundae in a waffle is divine!
HOKITIKA MUSEUM is great for children of all ages. There is a lot to see and do here including a great little film about the history of the town. There is also a kids activity sheet where they go around the museum and answer questions about items on display.
These are just a few ideas of what you can do in Hokitika if it is raining. Of course, you can also do what we did frequently – just put on a coat and go outside and see all things you had wanted to see.
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Every day visitors to Hokitika tell me that they wish they had known how much there was to see and do here. "We really wish we had booked to stay more than one night!" I hear this so often I thought it was time to try and create a short guide to give people an idea of what they can do and why one night if definitely not long enough.
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What To Do With The Kids When It Rains in Hokitika
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