Kiwi Kids Outdoors

07/06/2026

Free hiking meet-ups in Christchurch for parents/caregivers with pēpi & tamariki age 6 and under!

This is our most recent meet-up last week at Sign of the Bellbird - we walked the 1.6km Tōtara Trail which is so lovely, full of native bird life like piwakawaka, korimako & kererū. There are longer loops walks here too, for longer adventures - well worth a visit.

Our next one is at Pūtaringamotu / Riccarton Bush for a nice cruisy final term 2 walk with shared kai.

You can get more information and sign up at our website www.kiwikidsoutdoors.com - all welcome.

26/05/2026

21/05/2026

Those hands-on, tactile outdoor kids will love this simple building project that we found on the DOC website - build a pet and child safe rat trap tunnel for your back yard 🔨

Share with your outdoor parenting mates and have a trap building day together! Let us know if you give it a go.

Bonus points if you can find and re-use most of the materials in your garage from past projects or off cuts - you could deconstruct a wooden pallet found on the side of the road etc etc (the deconstruction part is lots of fun too!) - it helps make it a cheaper project, and offers additional learning around sustainability!

https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-activities/build-a-backyard-trapping-tunnel/

13/05/2026

‘s quilt could be the change you need to get yourself out on more overnight adventures with the kids! Share with your outdoor parenting people who are struggling to lighten the load and free up room in the pack 👌

Sponsored partnership - I reached out to this awesome company and they said yes, and I’ve been very happy with their quilt!

Why it’s been great for our family:
- I now only need one quilt between me and my toddler = much less weight, more room in the pack for kids gear
- it is awesome as an extra, very small packing item on camping trips or just cold outings as you can use it as a snuggly blanky on all sorts of occasions
- it’s so warm - this has a comfort rating of -5 degrees means the limit is even lower, it’s also over stuffed for longevity

There’s so much to love AND every piece of gear is an individual decision, and so I am nearly ready to publish a longer blog post with more detail for families considering an ultralight quilt including things you’ll want to consider before taking the leap (but spoiler alert, I’m glad I took the leap)

is the sort of company I am stoked to work with - I don’t do too many brand collabs but this Kiwi biz have epic values and standards that they adhere to. Cheers guys 🙌

12/05/2026

Sweet little road stop break for families travelling with kids between Christchurch and Nelson! The last point in the reel is very in important but I would argue that’s true for all NZ road trips too!

📍Buller Gorge Swing Bridge Adventure and Heritage Park

Approx 3.5 hours drive from Christchurch or 2 hours from Nelson

A good chance to stretch little legs, get some very fresh forest filled air and soak in the lush green scenery ready for the next leg of the journey.

You’ll have to turn off and take a 4km side trip to get there, but our fam thought it was pretty cool.

Current prices online to cross the bridge are $12.50 for adults, $5 for kids, the loop walks are really cool once you’re across, ranging from 10 min to 2 hour walks.

Unfortunately not a pram/wheel friendly option.

What do you think of this place?

08/05/2026

Overnight tramping trip with the kids and an AWESOME crew! Chuffed to have got out there.

If there are any details you would like to hear, let me know in the comments ⬇️

Woolshed Creek Hut via the Miners & 4wd track

It was our first overnight tramping mission and hut trip for quite a long time (with kids), and would be the first one that little one would remember and walked some of on her own feet. I reckon keeping up the short walks and mini outdoor adventures has gone a long way to making this feel achievable - don’t discount the little adventures! They’re important for building up over time (come join our hiking meet-ups 😉).

Having a great crew helped me get up those hills with a very heavy load carrying gear for my kids and me + child a lot of the way up, lastly mentally but also taking a little weight off at times, and I’m still working on lightening my gear load 🥵 as a midweek mission, Dad stays home for work and this crew helped me get out there and do it. Cheers team!

As much of a physical challenge as this was for me, I’m looking forward to getting my kiddies back out on their next overnight adventure!

04/05/2026

Tramping kid-free overnight in Lewis Pass’s St James Conservation Area.

My friend Sarah and I are both mums - every 6 weeks we try to go walking or tramping together for a solid catch up and self care. It’s always full of yarns, laughs, tears and silliness.

Share with a parenting friend you want to start this habit with!

Sometimes it’s just a short walk, this was our first overnighter back in Feb. love this area so much, we’re off to explore another trail there soon.

This one was about 12km to the hut from memory. Very doable undulating terrain if you have the right footwear and gear, with some grunty but pretty short uphills to test the fitness.

Always do your research into a track & weather etc before you attempt it yourself. There are so, so many gorgeous trails out there if you hop on the DOC website and explore your area.

23/04/2026

What’s in the tramping pack! All the gear I took tramping on a recent kid-free mum friend overnight tramping trip.

We headed to St James Conservation area a couple of hours drive from Christchurch, and oh so beautiful. Stay tuned for part 2 - the trip.

Is this too much stuff for you? Are you ultralight or take everything just in case? I definitely lean towards the latter 🤷‍♀️ I’ll be handy to have around in an emergency!
adventuring full pack weighing reel over on her page 😂 you’ll see .nz pack weights too. Man that was a fun wee trip.

thank you so much for sponsoring our little biz and whānau with this quilt (more on this quilt real soon too)

hikingmums

22/04/2026

Free fortnightly hiking and nature play meet-ups in Ōtautahi Christchurch for parents, caregivers and their babies and children, to help you get outside! Even through winter.

Share with your parenting friends and spread the word - everyone is welcome regardless of ability, experience, diversity etc!

There are options for shorter distances for little legs or longer for babies in packs, and an option to stay put at the start and just play in nature with other likeminded souls.

All the details and sign up forms are on our website www.kiwikidsoutdoors.com and if you have any questions ask in the comments or send me a DM ⬇️

21/04/2026

A pump track in Christchurch you must have tried out already… but if you haven’t, share with a parenting mate and go try it out!

📍 McLeans Island

A re-post from way back - details ⬇️

-toilets beside the cafe
-cafe with coffee, ice creams, snacks
- pump track, skills loop (like with stop and giveaway signs etc), mini mountain bike features
-right on the edge of a forest park full of longer bike trails & walking trails
-plenty of parking

Handy to know - can be patchy reception here

If you’ve tried it let us know your thoughts and if not, get there! And let us know any questions in the comments.