Summer fun for the family
Quickly becoming the place to take the kids in summer, the Raumati Marine Gardens is an amazing park with plenty to entertain the family.
Surrounded by beautiful shade trees, the playground is spread out but easily visible from all angles so you can keep an eye on the children while they play. There are multiple slides, climbing frames, things that spin and more.
The main attraction of the park has got to be the giant splash pad with its many sprinklers and fountains spraying water over the rubber ground cover. It puts the backyard sprinkler of my childhood to shame.
On the day we visited the park, the splash-pad was packed with tog-clad children, playing under the spray to cool off.
On Sundays, between 1pm4pm, the Kapiti Miniature Railway and Model Engineering Society runs a variety of trains on their double loop track for the public to ride on for a small fee. There are steam, internal combustion and electric locomotives to keep even the most train-savvy children and adults entertained – move aside Thomas the Tank Engine. The railway is also available for private bookings, ideal for a train themed party. Make sure you check their Facebook page before heading up to ride the trains to ensure they are running.
The Marine Gardens is handily positioned in between the beach and the Raumati shops so you can get your sandcastle and coffee fixes too.
There is plenty of space for everyone to set up their picnic spot or you can pop over the road and escape the heat in one of the local eateries. Registered dietitian Celine Evans is in need of pregnant women willing to take part in a study looking at iodine in pregnancy.
A Masters thesis candidate at Otago University’s Department of Human Nutrition, Ms Evans says the study involves a 15-minute appointment and a questionnaire.
If you are interested, call 0800 080 053 or email: kwips @otago.ac.nz.