Kristiansand Dyrepark

Kristiansand Dyrepark, is the former Kristiansand Zoo off the E18 10km east of Kristiansand, has gradually expanded into what is probably the favourite holiday destination for children in Norway.

The funfair portion includes rides, pirate ship cruises, Captain Sabretooth's Treasure Trove and enchanted houses, while the zoo portion offers a surprising variety of specimens, including the near-extinct golden lion tamarin and a new African lion enclosure. If you want to enjoy the water park, be sure to bring a swimming costume.

The real highlights, however, are the Northern Wilderness (Nordisk Vilmark), where visitors are transported over the habitat of moose, wolves, lynx and wolverines on elevated boardwalks; and Cardamom Town (Kardamomme By), named for a key ingredient in Scandinavian waffles, a fantasy village based on the popular children's stories of Thorbjørn Egner. The town has been carefully laid out exactly as it appeared in the illustrated book. It's also possible to stay in the park.

To get there, take bus No M1 (every 15 mins Mon-Fri mid-Jun-mid-Aug, less often weekends & rest-of-year), which leaves from the bus station and takes 25 minutes.