Family
Fun
Looking for things to do with the whānau?
This page rounds up some of the family-friendly spots and activities across Waimate District. It’s a curated list to get you started - but there’s plenty more to discover as you explore the rest of the site.
EnkleDooVery Korna Wallaby Park
Hand feed orphan wallabies at EnkleDooVery Korna.
You’ll get a generous bag of wallaby feed and as much time as you like with the animals. Gwen ‘the wallaby lady’ who runs the farm is lots of fun and will show you how to approach them and make the most of your visit.
There are a few other characters on the property too, including a talking cockatiel and rare breed Finlayson sheep.
Don’t leave without a look inside the historic trapper’s hut, packed with quirky memorabilia.
Address: 71 Bathgate Road, Waimate 7980
Phone: 03 689 7197
Winter hours (11 June - 19 September): 10am to 4pm, seven days a week.EFTPOS available. Group bookings by appointment.
Step back to Waimate’s early days at Bushtown Heritage Park, where the town’s sawmilling roots are brought to life.
In the 1860s, Waimate was a busy mill town on the edge of a vast tōtara forest - until a devastating fire in 1878 destroyed much of it, along with homes and livelihoods.
Today, volunteers are replanting the site with native trees and recreating the township as it once was, complete with a working sawmill and historic buildings. Visit during one of the open days or the Bushtown Market, held on the last Sunday of each month.
Bushtown
Waimate Event Centre
The Waimate Event Centre is a council-owned facility offering a wide range of activities.
It's set up for wall climbing, netball, basketball, tennis, squash, indoor bowls, table tennis, in-line skating, and badminton. It is also home to the Waimate Gym.
The school holiday programme is loads of fun activities to burn off energy that can include things like indoor wall climbing, indoor soccer, shooting basketball hoops and skating to music.
Located in the town’s former courthouse. It is home to thousands of items and images telling the stories of the district - from a tiny watch to a traction engine.
The collections include fossils and moa bones, medical equipment from the old Waimate Hospital, horse-drawn farm machinery, and a room full of clocks.
The complex includes the 1879 Courthouse, the former police station, jail and stables, and a pioneer cottage that was built of pit-sawn Totara before the bushfire of 1878. There’s a 1912 country school that’s still used to educate youngsters from around South Canterbury, and an earth brick shed that stores part of the huge collection of horse-drawn farm implements.
Shearman Street, Waimate
Waimate Museum
and Archives
The Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool is open from October to March.
The outdoor pool complex includes a six-lane heated pool and a separate paddling pool for toddlers.
There’s plenty of grass for picnics, with shade and seating around the grounds along with a BBQ area and a small kiosk selling snacks over summer.
Swimming pool
The Waimate App
Choose your trail and navigate there with The Waimate App.
You’ll find every trail in the district in the handy app, and you can check out the website version below without having to download anything.
Playgrounds
Want to burn off some steam at a playground?
Victoria Park (pictured) on Tennant Street is a favourite, with a more adventurous setup - think rope crossings, hanging rings and balance challenges that keep older kids busy.
Knottingley Park just a couple of minutes out of town, is more about space. It’s a good spot to kick a ball around, set up a picnic and let the kids loose on the swings and slide.
William Boland Skate Park on Queen Street in Waimate (beside the swimming pool) mixes things up with a skate area, fitness equipment and a few play features, so there’s something for a wider age range.
You’ll also find smaller playgrounds dotted around Cameron Street, Wilkin Street and Belt Street - handy for a quick stop when you don’t need the full outing.
Waimate District Library and Information Centre
One of the newest community spaces in town, and a great spot to spend a bit of time with the kids.
Light, modern and welcoming, the library has plenty of room to settle in with a book, use the computers, or let the kids explore the children’s area.
It’s more than just books too. The library regularly runs activities for children, including storytime and school holiday programmes, and there’s always something new to discover on the shelves.
If the weather turns or you’re looking for a relaxed family activity, the library is a good place to slow down for a while.