Entertain the kids with free or cheap events this January

 

Keeping your kids entertained and occupied during January is easy with a bumper month of free or cheap events in the Wellington Regional Council’s Great Outdoors Summer Events 2013 programme.

There’s no need for anyone to go stir-crazy in January says Cr Nigel Wilson, Chair of the Regional Council’s Social and Cultural Wellbeing Committee. “Our events will please even the most energetic, and/or discerning youngsters, and of course their parents. Plus we’ve made the events accessible to as many families as possible – the costs have been kept very low and many don’t require booking, so you can just turn up.”

Kicking off the programme, a Kev the Wandering Kiwi walk on 3 January along the Hutt River Trail – the first of three Kev walks held around the region throughout the month. Kev is a lovable giant kiwi and the event is an ideal activity for kids and their parents after the rigours of Christmas and New Year. 

The following seven days are bursting with great events. On 5 January: The Nature Discovery Treasure Hunt – a perennial Great Outdoors favourite where kids use clues hidden in Kaitoke Regional Park to find the treasure, concluding with a lolly scramble. From 5-6 January at Kāpiti’s Queen Elizabeth Park: The Tramways Kids Weekend, packed full of fun with heritage tram rides, a bouncy castle, and model railway and heritage trams on display. On 6 January: kids aged 8+ will love Creepy Crawly Critters at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, an opportunity to discover the friendly critters hidden in our waterways and bush. Later that week on 9 January: Prepare a Pony for a Ride at Queen Elizabeth Park – perfect for future horsemen and women. 

These are just a few of the Great Outdoors’ January events, which total 22.  Many are suitable for most of the family. Pick up Great Outdoors Summer Events 2013 brochure from the Wellington Central, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Masterton libraries.