New forest with 18 month old

[Yellowwellies1]

Any idea of things to do, places to eat etc etc?

It's been a while since I've been and I've not been with my children yet but if you go to the reptile centre (check dates for opening). It's completely free and you can try and spot snakes, frogs etc.
Also Bolderwood deer sanctuary is brilliant aswell. Was free last time I was there, assume it still is.
There's also lots of areas where you can pull over and picnic where donkeys, horses, cows will all be roaming around you.
If you camp then there are some brilliant campsites where you'll wake up to horses etc. outside the tent

Perfect age for Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World)

Beaulieu is a brilliant day out with small children. www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/little-beaulieu/
This is a great walk, suitable for a pushchair and includes a giant sandpit! www.theamblingpath.co.uk/the-walks/rockford-common
One of the most family friendly pubs is the Rising Sun at Bashley. It’s got changing facilities, a good kids menu, high chairs, play area, large garden etc…

Moors Valley Country Park
Tall Trees Trail
Furzey Gardens

Assume you’re doing paultons park? The new forest wildlife park is great. Lots of lovely walks - the ambling path linked above has tonnes of great ones. Furzey Gardens is lovely too with all the fairy doors.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

We haven't introduced my daughter to Peppa Pig yet (we're still in our Miss Rachel era!) so might give Paultons Park a miss this time. We've just moved to Berkshire so sure we'll have plenty more opportunities to visit the area in the future!

Cycling around the new forest and seeing the ponies, picnicking etc. Brockenhurst train station has a bike hire place attached which includes all the kids options (bike trailers, bike seats etc). They also supply routes/maps that clip onto your hire bike handlebars (you can choose your route dependent on difficulty/duration/ what you see etc and the routes are verbal instructions so v easy to follow).

I live in the New Forest and it is wonderful. I would avoid Lyndhurst as it is very touristy and the traffic gets terrible.
Beaulieu is a gorgeous village and nearby Buckler’s Hard is a tucked away gem and right on the river with room to play and has a nice pub/hotel The Master Builders. You can book a boat trip there which is good fun for all ages.
Lymington is great for unique shops that are great for locals as well as visitors.
Hatchet’s Pond is a good place for a walk although there are tons of lovely paths everywhere.
If you fancy a pony ride Burley Villa at Bashley is a popular place.
The Rising Sun pub nearby does good food.
If you want posher grub Pebble Beach at Barton on Sea is excellent.
The ponies and donkeys are everywhere to see on the roads and forest but be very careful not to feed or pet them as they are not tame and injuries occur. Plus there is a hefty fine if you are seen doing so.
Give the cows a wide berth too especially if they have calves.

I love the otter place and will happily go even without kids.

ferry trip to IOW?

Longdown activity farm, if it is open when you are down here.
You can bottlefeed goats etc.

Also just up the road from Longdown is the New Forest Wildlife park

Make sure you get to Paultons while DC is < 1m tall.

Another vote for Beaulieu! We drove a 4h round trip to go there just yesterday as DS (4) was desperate to take his stuffed panda 🙄

Fun for that age - there’s a huge playground with a dedicated little kids zone, a monorail and old-fashioned bus to ride on. Very interactive museum with cars to climb in and potter around.