We parked on Springdale Grove and wandered through the bush (recently a lot of tree removed so it's a bit bare and not very shady until the shrubs and ferns grow up) walk up to Atawhai Park.
Mr 2 loved the undulating pathway and was stoked to find some steps to climb. Atawhai Park is brilliant. It has a range of play equipment including a short flying fox and a basketball hoop. It's got a big open space to run, kick a ball or stare out onto the hills. It's away from the road so good for runners. Either end has bush walks if you're feeling adventurous. One end goes down toe Bledisloe Park, the other out to Springdale Gove. Otherwise, park on Atawhai Road and head through the main of side entrances. Recommend!
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We were driving home from an adventure. Toddler asked for a swing. (I had mentioned going to a park "later". I guess he decided this was "later"...). We saw the sign post for Papaioea Park and had nothing specific going on so why not stop for a swing.
It's a good park here with a wide open field, a pavilion and a broad range of activities in the playground - including outdoor gym fun! The playground area is far from the busy roads so feels pretty easy to play at. Today we took a circuitous adventure. It started as a backyard sit while I destoned apricots and my little one tasted them and went on mini adventures with his penguin and a car. Then little one asked for a walk. No reason not to. My big one was immediately displeased to be removed from the couch so every few steps we would implore me "let's stop and sit down or go home". "Just a little bit further" I coaxed. Bearing in mind, we were only five minutes and about 200 metres from home at this point! We ventured slowly down to the river pathway and eventually made it home 4 hours later with both children full of joy, enthusiasm and a little bit of remaining energy. Here in Palmy, our river, Te Awa o Manawatu, provides a varied adventure. Today we headed down to a river bank clearing between Ruahine and Rumahanga. While my big one stripped off and read her book, my little one threw stones into the gently moving water. A little further down the river we heard a splash. We looked over to see bubbles wandering over the surface of the water. Then a splish-splash again. We ventured down to have a look. We spotted four fish - fish colour with some white tinges! We waded into the water a little for a closer look. We watched for a bit (mostly me as my little couldn't see them and big one wandered back to her book). My little guy decided he wasn't quite sure about the water continually moving over his feet so he happily accepted a pick up. Soon he was ready for more rock plopping. We moved back upstream and left our fishy mates to it. Our little one threw more stones and encouraged us to join him. We looked flat stones and tried to skim. We will keep practicing before we can tick this one off the list...
Snacks snacked, drinks drunk and many stones sploshed, we headed back up to the pathway. We took a long route home along busy Napier Road and via Pita Pit for an unexpected lunch out and the supermarket for dinner supplies. The quietness of the river pathway is so pleasant and the busyness of the road so noticeable. Still, I was in pleasant company. We stopped by two playgrounds on the way home for a "wee" aka swing. We would have stayed much longer but our little guy needed more food and I was keen for some shade and more water! |
AuthorI'm Kate. I have 3 children - 2 bios and a steppie, 1 under 5 and 2 tweenagers. I am determined to spend more time outside this year and share more of Palmy's wonderful places and free play activities. Categories
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