With its ancient woodlands, open healthlands and stunning coastline, the New Forest National Park is a spectacular place to explore.

Europe’s favourite national park features miles of off-road walks and cycle tracks, beautiful villages, great visitor facilities and excellent public transport links.

The Forest also boasts a vibrant community with a host of local businesses ready to welcome you during the half term holidays.

Here, we bring you our top 12 activities for half term fun in the New Forest.

  1. Book an outdoor adventure for your budding ranger. Let their imaginations run wild while learning about nature in a beautiful ancient woodland at New Park.
  2. Help find Frank’s kit at Furzey Gardens. It is 1920 and famous plant collector Frank has lost eight important items – can you find all the items before it’s too late?
  3. Get to grips with gadgets galore. Discover incredible devices and amazing inventions, including James Bond’s iconic gadget-laden Aston Martin, at Beaulieu.
  4. Include a sweet stop-off. Build a bespoke box of artisan chocolates from award-winning chocolaterie Beaulieu Chocolate Studio.
  5. Experience the power of the tides. Explore Eling Tide Mill’s history through an interactive exhibition and stroll along Eling Creek shoreline.
  6. Weave and fill a willow bird feeder. Go on a guided bird walk, weave a bird feeder and fill it with suet and seeds at Blashford Lakes.
  7. Plant a tree for each member of your family. Attend a Family Tree Planting Day at Hockey’s Farm, then browse bric-a-brac, meet farm animals, and visit the shop and café.
  8. Meet magicians and time travellers. Captivating chemistry, phenomenal physics and bonkers biology are all in this family science extravaganza at Hangar Farm.
  9. Enjoy afternoon tea and outdoor play. Relax as children let off steam with a mud kitchen, giant chalk boards and play area at Rosie Lea House.
  10. Join morning feeding rounds on a farm. Bring your wellies and be prepared to get stuck in collecting eggs, counting sheep, moving goats and more with the Countryside Education Trust.
  11. Create your own forest friend. Learn about Piper the pony and many more creatures then get crafty at the New Forest Heritage Centre.
  12. Brush up your wood‐working skills. Get those saws, hammers and drills out at Testwood Lakes.

In the New Forest, you’ll also find a host of cafes, restaurants, shops and hotels who support local food, drink and craft producers. Look out for the distinctive New Forest Marque logo to help support the New Forest community. The New Forest Marque is awarded to produce which has been grown, reared, caught, brewed, produced or processed within the New Forest.

Find hotels, pubs, restaurants and tea rooms.

Find independent shops and specialist suppliers.

Find B&Bs and self catering.

Photo: Copyright New Forest National Park Authority