Riverside Early Childcare Logo of Riverside Early Childcare in Wanaka featuring stylized white text with a leaf motif above the 'i' in Riverside, all on a black background.
Riverside Early Childcare Logo of Riverside Early Childcare in Wanaka featuring stylized white text with a leaf motif above the 'i' in Riverside, all on a black background.
Contact / Enrol

About us—

Nurturing hauora tamariki through a co-created foundation of exploration, aroha, curiosity, joy and imaginative play.

Riverside Early Childcare A flat, simple icon of a flower with five teal-colored petals and a circular hole in the center, designed using minimalistic style on a white background, symbolizing growth in early childcare.
Riverside Early Childcare A simple graphic of a blue fish facing left, with a sleek design and minimalistic features. The fish lacks detailed facial features, emphasising a modern, stylised look suitable for early childcare themes in Wan
Riverside Early Childcare A simple, stylized icon representing an early childcare professional without distinct features, presented in solid gold color on a transparent background.

At Riverside, tamariki are treasured as the unique spirits they are, and our team wholeheartedly believe in building a space for them to thrive, grow, and succeed in.

Your pēpi are cherished in a home away from home by kaiako who build connections with each and every family; discover the sense of belonging and whanaungatanga you’ve been searching for within our Early Childhood Centre in Wānaka.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple graphic of a blue fish facing left, with a sleek design and minimalistic features. The fish lacks detailed facial features, emphasising a modern, stylised look suitable for early childcare themes in Wan
Riverside Early Childcare A simple, stylized icon representing an early childcare professional without distinct features, presented in solid gold color on a transparent background.

Our values—

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare White cursive handwriting that reads "manual" is featured against a muted green circular background, ideal for early childcare in Wanaka.

Whanaungatanga

// Kinship

At Riverside, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. From giggles with friends to high-fives with kaiako, we help tamariki build bonds that are bursting with trust, empathy and belonging – starting with the connection they nurture with themselves and extending to the world around them.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare Icon depicting a stylized hand holding a small plant with two leaves, centered within a circular golden-yellow background, symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka.

Ariā Mōhio

// Curiosity

At Riverside, Tamariki learn through doing. As they play, experiment, and explore, they nurture their curiosity, ask questions, and make connections to what they’ve discovered before.

Its all about exploring, experimenting, and discovering the magic of how things work – building confidence and sparking a love for learning every step of the way. 

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Ako

// Study

Words, wobbles, whispers, or roars – every tamaiti has a voice worth hearing! At Riverside, tamariki explore rich language experiences, whether they’re chattering away, telling stories with their hands, or letting their actions speak louder than words.

They confidently demonstrate their ideas knowledge and skills (along with the occasional tall tale) and learn from one another in an environment as lively and curious as they are.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Taha Hinengaro

// Awareness

At Riverside, tamariki learnt to understand their big triumphs little wobbles and everything in between. With plenty of encouragement, they build resilience, grow their independence, and discover the magic of understanding themselves. 

As they embrace positive self-awareness and develop their social skills, they learn every feeling and every effort matters  – each one step closer to something amazing.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare Three horizontal wavy lines in varying shades of blue, representing abstract water waves, set against a transparent background, evoke the serene ambiance of early childcare in Wanaka.
Riverside Early Childcare A stylized, simple image of a teal spiral that starts from the center and curves outward counterclockwise, forming a loop, all set against a transparent background. This design is used in early

Taha Tinana

// Movement

Through play and outdoor discovery, tamariki are inspired to explore, challenge themselves, and grow in confidence. Riverside is where curiosity flourishes, self-care blossoms, and every adventure is met with a sense of wonder.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Meet our local owner operators—

Sarah Macfie & Lachie Anderson

Meet Sarah Macfie, the heart and vision behind Riverside, holding a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE).

Sarah’s passion for early childhood education is the cornerstone of Riverside, where she has created an environment that celebrates the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery.

With her expertise and dedication, Sarah ensures that every child receives personalised care and a rich educational experience, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Alongside Sarah, Lachie holds a key role in the running of our centre. He is less involved in the day to day running of the centre however – is our go to when we need anything made, fixed or installed. Together, Sarah and Lachie work together to make managerial decisions to achieve our vision for our centre.

Our philosophy—

At Riverside Educare, we cherish both our bicultural heritage and the multicultural tapestry of our local community, which guides our approach in everything we do.

Riverside Early Childcare Three horizontal wavy lines in varying shades of blue, representing abstract water waves, set against a transparent background, evoke the serene ambiance of early childcare in Wanaka.

Our core values revolve around fostering respectful and meaningful relationships with tamariki and whānau.
Our team of friendly, empathetic, and passionate kaiako places a strong emphasis on authentic partnerships and continuous growth through professional development. Within our nurturing environment, we prioritise our tamariki having freedom to engage in spontaneous play and treasure the learning opportunities presented by rituals, routines, and one-on-one interactions. Authentic teaching and purposeful learning environments are cornerstones of our philosophy, encouraging active participation.


Our spacious playgrounds promote physical challenges and risk-taking within a safe space. Moreover, our kaiako love for the outdoors and nature enriches our teaching and learning experiences, both within Riverside and in the surrounding community.

Our centre—

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Outdoor play

At Riverside, we have a profound commitment to outdoor play, regardless of the weather. Nature exploration and outdoor adventures are deeply embedded in our identity and values.

Our expansive grounds offer endless opportunities for exploration and play. Children can enjoy large sandpits, an all-weather track perfect for bike rides, and even a mini 'mountain' and 'stream' that invite them into the magical world of mud play, digging, and water adventures.

Riverside's outdoor playground sets us apart from the rest. It's thoughtfully designed with separate spaces for infants and a sprawling shared area for toddlers and preschoolers. 

We're dedicated to fostering both physical development and imagination in our children, and this outdoor wonderland is where it all comes to life.


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Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Excursions

At Riverside, we cherish the chance to take our tamariki on exciting excursions and delve into the wonders of our local community. Our little adventurers find immense joy in exploring the treasures our beautiful region has to offer.

Every week, our Kea and Kahu tamariki embark on nature exploration journeys as part of our Kanuka Kids program (Mini Kanuka Kids for our Kea room!). These outings provide a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki to connect with their environment, uncover local stories, and experience moments of pure wonder.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.

Connection

At Riverside, our heart lies in cultivating warm, trusting relationships that underpin everything we do.

In an environment where respect, care, and free exploration reign, children learn and grow at their own rhythm. Inspired by Te Whāriki, we guide our tamariki to become assured learners and communicators, rooted in a strong sense of belonging. It’s within this secure embrace that our children are truly ready to learn and thrive.

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare Three simple white leaf shapes arranged in a cluster on a black background, forming an abstract, minimalist design inspired by early childcare in Wanaka.

Our rooms—

Riverside Early Childcare A simple, black and white abstract spiral design inspired by early childcare themes in Wanaka.

Pīwauwau Room

Infants

Learn more

Kea Room

Toddlers

Learn more

Kahu Room

Pre-school

Learn more

Ready to enrol?

Riverside Early Childcare A young child in a navy jumpsuit jumps off a blue play structure onto a mat, while another child watches from beneath the structure in an early childcare Wanaka backyard playground.

We’re always happy to offer guided tours of our centre, allowing you to see precisely why our children are always eager to come here!

Alternatively, if you’re ready to take the next step, head over to our contact/enrol page to download more information or complete online enrolment.

Contact / enrol
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Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare Three horizontal rows of line wave patterns, each varying in amplitude and frequency, displayed in black on a white background, symbolizing the dynamic rhythms of early childcare in Wanaka.

Privacy policy
(c) copyright Riverside Educare 2023

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 7.30am – 5.30pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed


Open all year including school holidays, excluding public holidays.

Contact

8 Rifleman Street, Albert Town
Wanaka


(03) 443 4073
021 702 706
office@riversideeducare.com

Riverside Early Childcare A simple black and white graphic of a stylized flower symbolizing early childcare in Wanaka, with five rounded petals and a circular center, depicted against a transparent background.
Riverside Early Childcare Three horizontal rows of line wave patterns, each varying in amplitude and frequency, displayed in black on a white background, symbolizing the dynamic rhythms of early childcare in Wanaka.
Riverside Early Childcare Logo of Riverside Early Childcare in Wanaka featuring stylized white text with a leaf motif above the 'i' in Riverside, all on a black background.
Riverside Early Childcare A simple, black and white abstract spiral design inspired by early childcare themes in Wanaka.
Riverside Early Childcare White silhouette of a human figure on a transparent background, depicted in a neutral stance with no discernible details or features, represents early childcare in Wanaka.