2 lOCAl INfOrmATION
3
45 3
In the swim
If your family is sweltering in the summer sun, cool them down at the free public swimming pool at Lloyd Elsmore Leisure Centre. The centre features three swimming pools: a 25m lane pool, a 15m teaching pool, and a 25m graduated pool (great for kids). It’s a popular spot for families, set in the expansive grounds of Lloyd Elsmore Park. Make a day of it and have a picnic, enjoy the playground facilities, and finish off with a relaxing splash in the pool. 09 535 5502 • Lloyd Elsmore Park, off Pakuranga and Cascades Road, Pakuranga
4
Talk to the animals
Children love animals, so having a local farm to visit is a great opportunity for a family outing. Clevedon Animal Farm is a great place for them to get up close to some cute critters. Set over 25 acres in picturesque Clevedon, the farm is home
to ponies, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep and ducks. You can take the children for a pony ride, let them feed the animals and watch an animal show. There are holiday programmes over summer, where kids from 5 to 12 can spend a day learning how to take care of the animals. 09 292 9231 • Clevedon Animal Farm, 271 Clevedon Kawakawa Road, Papakura
5
Choo choo!
Take the children on a trip into our automotive past with a steam train ride. Every Sunday the park next to Panmure Lagoon is turned into a train station, when steam train enthusiasts set up their miniature locomotives. The trains run from 1– 4pm (weather permitting), and both children and adults are welcome to take a ride for just $2 each. 09 570 5286 • Panmure Basin Miniature Trains, Peterson Road, Panmure
For more activities out East visit Localist.co.nz
23