New Zealand’s South Island is full of adventure, and the Otago region is the place to experience it all. From glacial lakes and snowcapped mountains to sandy beaches and bungee jumping—take your pick!
We stopped in Otago on our way south from Christchurch and Lake Tekapo on a two-week NZ road trip. With only a few days to explore the area, we had to make serious decisions about what to do and skip.
Here are our must-do recommendations for exploring or visiting the Otago region with toddlers in tow:
The Otago Region of the South Island of NZ is on the stolen and occupied lands of the Maori.
Hike the Omarama Clay Cliffs
NZ$5/car; 45 minute hike
The Omarama Clay Cliffs remind me of the Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. They are hidden off the beaten path and located on private land.
Bring cash so you can pay the NZ$5/car entrance fee at the gate as you enter.
The hike takes you along the edge of unassuming gravel cliffs until you turn into the mountains and suddenly see the amazing formations of the Omarama Clay Cliffs. The cliffs are a short and easy hike away from the parking area, with a bit of a scramble at the end to get into the center of the formations.
Just in case you need some extra inspiration to check it out, tell your kiddo that when you arrive at the cliffs they can pretend they’re Mulan because the live-action Disney film was shot there!
Go Wine Tasting in Central Otago
NZ$35 per tasting; 2 hours for tasting and lunch
I was looking for a family-friendly wine-tasting location that included lunch. Carrick Winery and Restaurant in Bannockburn is the spot, folks! Wine tasting costs about NZ$35/per tasting. The winery was flexible enough to let us take our tasting slow, at the pace of two parents chasing their toddlers around.
They allowed us to bring the tasting outside to the patio where they set up a blanket with giant Legos and blocks for our baby to play with while we sipped and took turns going inside to grab the next glass.
Our 18-month-old toddled around the vineyard with us while we enjoyed the spectacular views of yellow cliffs above a blue river. We even met a few other families of color with little kids!
Bungee Jump the Kawaru Bridge
NZ$220 to bungy
People come from all over the world to bungee jump over the Kawaru Bridge, and the Bungee Jump Centre has the process down to a science. The staff line you up, get you strapped in, put you on a plank, get you to jump, and once you’re done bouncing they quickly put you in a boat and move the next person up to take a leap of faith. The whole process is very quick.
Just watching the videos on the website made me cringe, but my husband said he couldn’t drive past the “birthplace of the river bungee” without jumping. I secretly believe he wanted to jump because his older brother bungee jumped there many years ago.
Thanks to the brotherly competition, my husband jumped while my daughter and I watched from the bridge. Our toddler was very confused when she watched Dada leap to his doom and then bounce around, and so was I!
Haehaenui Arrowtown is so cute!
It is a little historic gold town that reminded me of gold mining towns in the California Sierras.
Take your family to:
- Casually stroll the historic streets
- Enjoy delicious food and desserts
- Hike or bike ride kid-friendly trails
- Learn about Chinese settlers in the area
- Try your hand at panning for gold
Check out our blog post about our favorite toddler-friendly activities and eats in Haehaenui Arrowtown here.
Queenstown is the tourist hub of the adventurous Otago region.
It is a little historic gold town that reminded me of gold mining towns in the California Sierras.
Take your family to:
Read our blog post here about our favorite toddler-friendly activities in this tourist town.
The Adventure Capital of the World did not disappoint. We went wine tasting, bungee jumping, hiking, boat cruising on a glacier lake, and ate some amazing food along the way. I highly recommend anyone traveling with kids to include Otago in their NZ travel plans.
If I had had more time, I would probably have spent one or two extra days there to explore more of the hiking trails and yummy restaurants with my family.
Next time!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting the South Island of NZ with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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Wonderful Wānaka: A Kid-Friendly Trip to New Zealand’s Adventure Playground
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