If you had one day in the New Forest...

[Applesforjam]

Hello,
We are staying in Southampton this weekend and want to visit the new forest for the first time with our 2 and 4 year old for one of the days. Where would you go if you had a day to explore?
Thanks!

Longdown Dairy Farm.
and/or
New Forest Wildlife Park

Or drive around until you see some ponies on the road.

Lyndhurst. There is a visitor's centre and you could drive into the forest to Burley to see ponies etc

Then head up the road to Lyndhurst for a run up to Bolton's Bench and a wander on the forest. Finish with an ice cream or a trip to the sweetie shop in the high street.

Sadly the visitor centre has closed down, LIZS, but the museum and gift shop is still open.

Moors Valley country park

Blackwater car park for the huge trees and the arboretum. Take a picnic or disposable BBQ (there are tables with metal stands) and buy icecream.

Furzey Gardens to go fairy spotting with little ones. You can see the ponies too

Thank you so much for the suggestions mumsnetters! Wishing we had longer now. I will definitely look into them all! (smile)

Beaulieu is beautiful and there are normally a few donkeys and cows knocking around, having a snooze in the middle of the road! If it's sunny there's also a really nice little spot on the way to Brockenhurst, near the Balmer Lawn Hotel (not the nicest of places but fine) where you can park up and kids can splosh around in the brook. It's really shallow and a great way to cool them down!