Janine McCarron and her son Ryder (2), of Pukekohe, are disappointed the dinosaur slide in Marlow Park was closed yesterday. Photo: Shawn McAvinue

A "gutted'' mother and son on holiday in Dunedin are leaving the city today unable to realise a dream of riding a dinosaur slide.

Janine McCarron, of Pukekohe, said she chose Dunedin to take her son Ryder (2) on his first holiday because she had heard it was a great destination for children.

A factor influencing the decision to come Dunedin was glowing reports of the dinosaur slide in Marlow Park.

When the mother and young slide enthusiast visited the park in St Kilda last night they were  disappointed to see the entrance to the stairs of the slide covered in hazard tape and surrounded by road cones.

"There was no explanation - I was gutted. Ryder kept asking me why it was closed.''

The pair return home to South Auckland today.

Dunedin City Council parks and recreation group manager Robert West, in an email, said the slide was closed yesterday after minor damage was identified as part of a regular inspection.

The slide was expected to be repaired and open for the weekend, he said.

A council spokeswoman confirmed there was a hole in the slide which had been identified as an "entrapment risk''.