The first time I took my kids to New Zealand, I was honestly a bit nervous. The long flight, the jet lag, the expense - was it really going to be worth it? A few trips later, I can tell you without hesitation: absolutely. In fact, it’s one of our favorite places to go. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a family trip to New Zealand with kids.
New Zealand is a pretty great place to take the family. It’s easy to get around, feels safe, and there is no language barrier to contend with.
I’ve traveled through different parts of the country with kids, and it’s definitely easier than it might seem. The drives aren’t too long, most towns have clean toilets and spots to stretch your legs, and even the smaller places usually have a decent playground or an easy walking trail.
Renting a campervan usually works best for us. The kids are into it, and it gives us the freedom to stop whenever we need to—at a beach, a park, or just for snacks. It’s also saved us money on accommodation, and having our own space made meals and bedtime way less stressful.
It’s definitely not the cheapest country. We usually try to keep costs down by doing grocery runs and packing lunches most days. I recommend taking a look at a sample New Zealand itinerary to get a good jumping-off point for your trip.
Mavora Lake, South Island, New Zealand © Mo_Chen/Shutterstock
New Zealand is small enough to get around without too much hassle, and there’s a lot to do that keeps both adults and kids interested. The landscapes change fast, and there’s a general sense of ease when you’re on the road.
New Zealand changes a lot with the seasons, so it helps to plan around what your family enjoys most. Summer (December to February) means long, sunny days—great for beach picnics and swimming, with daylight lasting until 9pm in some places. Winter (June to August) brings snow to spots like Queenstown, where families can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and other cold-weather fun. Autumn and spring are often overlooked but can be ideal—there are fewer tourists, better prices, and more space for kids to run around without the crowds. For more about the weather, see our guide to the best time to visit New Zealand.
The first time I went, I tried to fit too much in—and paid for it. Roads are winding and take longer than expected, especially with frequent stops for snacks, bathroom breaks, or just to stretch out. Give yourself at least 2–3 nights in each spot. It makes things way easier with kids: fewer meltdowns, time to rest, and a better shot at catching good weather. If you're peicing together your itinerary, see our guide to how to plan a trip to New Zealand.
Hooker Valley, Mount Cook, New Zealand © Shutterstock
Even in summer, you’ll want to pack layers for everyone. The weather can flip fast, especially around the mountains—sunny one minute, chilly and wet the next. My essential family packing list: lightweight rain jackets, merino wool layers (they don't get stinky!), sun hats AND beanies for everyone. I keep a small backpack with weather essentials everywhere we go. New Zealand with kids might mean plenty of “wet feet from puddle jumping” days, and having dry backups will keep everyone happy and the day rolling.
Eating out in New Zealand with kids is pretty easy, especially if you stick to local cafes. They’re casual, kid-welcoming, and usually open early, which helps if your kids are still on a different time zone. That said, dinner menus often don’t open before 5:30pm, so we carry plenty of snacks—muesli bars, fresh fruit, or whatever we grab from a local market. Bakery stops are always a hit, especially for pies.
Campervans is what works best for us © Shutterstock
Our game-changer was discovering holiday parks with self-contained cabins! The kids make friends at the playgrounds while I cook dinner, and they're surprisingly affordable. Farm stays can also be a fun way to switch things up—some places let kids help feed the animals or see how things work on the farm. When you’re booking, look for places with enough space to relax in the evenings and somewhere to do laundry. It makes a big difference on longer trips.
Some of my kids' favorite memories from New Zealand weren’t the big-ticket attractions—they were the simple, hands-on ones. Like digging our own hot tubs in the sand at Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel. Totally free and way more fun than anything we paid for. If you’re hiking, look out for DOC trails labeled “kid-friendly.” We had a great time wandering through kauri forests on boardwalks that made things easy for younger kids.
Hot Water Beach, Mercury Bay, Coromandel, New Zealand © Shutterstock
If seeing animals is high on your list, you’re in luck. There are wildlife sanctuaries around the country where kids can safely spot kiwi birds, fur seals, and sometimes even yellow-eyed penguins. Head to the Otago Peninsula, Kaikoura, or the Bay of Islands for respectful, up-close wildlife experiences—like dolphin watching—that don’t harm the animals. Be sure to pack binoculars for the kids, and always join ranger-led programs when available.
The good news: New Zealand doesn’t have any dangerous land animals. The heads-up: the sun in New Zealand is stronger than it looks. Because of the thinner ozone layer, you’ll need a high-SPF sunscreen, and you’ll need to reapply it often—even when it’s overcast. For hikes, I bring twice the water I think we’ll need, and I always stop by a visitor center to check trail conditions. Sometimes a heavy rain can make what should be an easy walk quite a bit more difficult. For more travel advice, see our guide to New Zealand travel tips.
Great for New Zealand with kids: Sunset Beach at Port Waikato © C.Levers/Shutterstock
i-SITE visitor centers are worth stopping into, even if you think you’ve planned everything. A local staff member tipped us off about a Saturday market with pony rides and kid-friendly craft stalls—not something we ever saw online. If you’re visiting during school holidays, some regions run special programs just for families, with activities made to keep kids happy and busy.
There are lots of ways to introduce your kids to Māori culture in a way that’s hands-on and memorable. Some marae (meeting grounds) open their doors to visitors, and you’ll often find performances featuring the haka alongside traditional games, storytelling, and arts. It’s a great way for kids to connect with a different culture and come away with more than just snapshots.
Incorporating Maori cultural experiences is a great idea © Shutterstock
New Zealand is a great spot for families, with plenty to keep kids entertained. There’s a lot to explore, from the geothermal parks in Rotorua to the movie sets in Hobbiton.
Rotorua’s one of those places that really sticks with kids, and it is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand. The ground steams, mud bubbles, and geysers shoot up into the air—there’s just a lot going on. Wai-O Tapu is easy to walk around, and kids tend to love the bright colors and the daily geyser show. If you're up for something cultural, Tamaki Māori Village is a fun one. There’s drumming, games, and a big meal cooked in the earth, which is pretty cool to see (and eat).
Many places to stay are close to the main attractions, and some even have their own hot pools to relax in after a busy day. If your kids have energy to burn, check out the Redwoods Treewalk.
Even if your kids haven’t seen The Lord of the Rings, Hobbiton is like stepping into a fairytale. The little round doors, gardens, and hills are fun to explore, and the tour gives you just enough background without dragging on. Older kids might get into the behind-the-scenes stuff, while younger ones are usually happy just running around and peeking inside the hobbit holes. It ends at the Green Dragon Inn, where you can all sit down with a themed drink (they have non-alcoholic ones for kids). Some tours are geared more toward families, with scavenger hunts or extra interactive parts.
Hobbiton movie set © Shutterstock
Wellingtons easy to get around and has plenty for kids to do, especially if you want a mix of indoor and outdoor time. Te Papa (the national museum) is right by the water and has loads of hands-on stuff—s. Kids can walk through an earthquake simulator, check out the preserved giant squid, or explore natural history exhibits without needing to stay quiet or still.
Zealandia’s just outside the center and feels like a bit of wilderness without going far—you can spot birds like the kiwi, and the walks are short and easy. The cable car is a fun ride on its own, and it takes you up to the Botanic Garden, where there’s space to run around and some great views. The Weta Workshop tour is also a great stop. It gives a fun peek at how props and effects are made, and they do a good job of keeping it interesting for different ages.
Queenstown has a big reputation for adventure activities, but it’s not just for thrill-seekers. The Skyline Gondola is a good starting point—kids usually love the ride up, and the views are worth it. At the top, you’ll find luge tracks that are fun and beginner-friendly (kids six and up can ride with an adult). The TSS Earnslaw steamship ride is also a good pick—it takes you across the lake to a farm where kids can feed animals and watch a sheep get sheared. If your kids are into more active stuff, there are mellow rafting trips, kid-friendly jet boat rides, and even tandem paragliding for brave older ones. In winter, local ski fields have lessons and gentle runs for beginners, so it’s a good place to try out skiing (one of the best things to do in New Zealand).
Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, New Zealand © Shutterstock
This is New Zealand’s smallest national park, but it’s really easy to get around with kids. The beaches are calm and shallow, and the walking tracks are well-kept, with options ranging from short strolls to longer day hikes.
You don’t need to commit to a full trek either; water taxis run along the coast, so you can skip sections or just pop between beaches. Wildlife is a big part of the experience too—you might see fur seals lounging on the rocks, little blue penguins, or native birds along the trails. If your kids are up for it, family-friendly kayak tours get you out on the water with a guide who usually has good stories about the park’s history and ecosystems.
Auckland can be a fun base with kids because it’s got a bit of everything—city attractions, nature, and easy day trips. At Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium, there’s a cool underwater tunnel and penguins waddling around in their icy enclosure, which younger kids usually love. For something outdoorsy, you can take the ferry to Rangitoto Island—there’s a hike to the summit that’s doable with kids 7 and up, and the views are great. If the weather isn’t ideal, the Auckland Museum has interactive exhibits and cultural shows that are surprisingly kid-friendly. And right next to it is Western Springs Park, where kids can run around or explore MOTAT, a transport and tech museum with old trams, planes, and hands-on science stuff.
The glowworms in Waitomo are kind of magical. The boat ride through the main cave is slow and quiet, and kids usually go wide-eyed when they see the glowworms lighting up the ceiling. It’s a relaxed tour and fine for all ages. If your kids are older and want something a bit more adventurous, blackwater rafting is another way to experience the caves—floating through dark tunnels on inner tubes, still under the glowworms. Ruakuri Cave is also worth checking out. You walk instead of ride, and it has a cool spiral entrance and dramatic limestone formations. Around the caves, there’s a visitor center with interactive exhibits that explain how everything formed and a few short walking trails through the countryside if you want to get some fresh air afterward.
Abel Tasman National Park has great beaches in New Zealand for kids © Jiri Foltyn/Shutterstock
This two-week itinerary is ideal for families headed to New Zealand with kids. It covers both the North and South Islands, with manageable drives and plenty of chances to stop at playgrounds, beaches, and places where kids can check out wildlife. Along the way, you’ll visit some must-see spots and a few lesser-known gems that I would definitely recommend.
This itinerary begins in Auckland, see our guide to getting to New Zealand for more info on how to fly in. Auckland’s Sky Tower is a fun way to kick things off. The glass floor panels usually get a mix of wide eyes and nervous laughs—some kids love it, others stay close to the center. It’s worth going in the morning when it’s quieter and the city’s still waking up. After that, head to the Auckland Fish Market. The fish tacos were a hit with my family.
If you’ve got time (and energy), the Auckland Museum is great with kids. The volcanic exhibit helps explain why the city has so many cones, and the Māori cultural performances at 11am and 1:30pm are worth catching if you can. By the afternoon, jet lag might be setting in, so it’s a good time to head back to your accommodation for a break. For dinner, Wynyard Quarter is easy and relaxed. There’s space for kids to run around, lots of casual food spots, and a nice view of the boats in the marina.
Sailing in Auckland © Shutterstock
Plan to leave Auckland by 8am—it’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Waitomo. The roads are smooth, and the rolling farmland makes for a nice drive.
At Waitomo, the glowworms are the main event. These caves, formed from limestone over 30 million years ago, are lined with thousands of glow worms that light up the ceiling. The larvae use bioluminescence to attract prey into their hanging silk threads. The boat ride through the cave is short but pretty special.
After that, head to Matamata for lunch. A meat pie from a local bakery is a solid choice—steak and cheese is usually a safe bet. From here, head to Hobbiton Movie Set, the 12-acre site featuring 44 permanently constructed hobbit holes nestled into hillsides. Even if you’re not big on the movies, walking around the hobbit holes is still fun. The place is full of small details like tiny gardening tools and laundry lines strung between hills. The tour wraps up at the Green Dragon Inn with a ginger beer before you drive an hour east to Rotorua for the night.
Start your day (early if you can) at Te Puia, where you can see Pōhutu Geyser erupt—it goes off pretty frequently, sometimes reaching up to 30 meters. The valley is full of steam vents, bubbling mud pools, and other geothermal activity. There’s also a carving school onsite where you can watch artists work with traditional woods like totara and kauri.
Grab lunch near the lake—there are a bunch of casual spots with regional dishes like kumara (sweet potato) soup or kawakawa tea. In the afternoon, take the gondola up Mount Ngongotaha and try the luge. It’s a gravity-powered cart ride with a few different tracks, so you can take it easy or go a bit faster depending on how you're feeling. It’s a hit with kids but fun for adults too.
After a break back at your place, head to Tamaki Māori Village in the evening. The cultural experience runs into the evening, and the hāngī dinner is filling.
Wauitapu in Rotorua, New Zealand © Shutterstock
By day four, a slower pace tends to work better. Blue Lake (Lake Tikitapu) is a good pick if you’re looking to stay outside but take it easy. There’s a walking track around the lake—it’s about 3 miles, but you don’t need to do the whole thing. We just did sections, stopped to listen for birds (we saw a tui), and took our time. If you can, pack a picnic. There’s a small deli in town where we picked up cheese and snacks the night before.
The eastern side of the lake gets morning sun, and the western side is nicer in the afternoon. If the kids still have energy, check out the Redwoods Treewalk nearby. The suspension bridges between the giant trees are a fun way to get a bit of a thrill without needing to hike.
Back in town, soaking in a mineral hot pool is a relaxing way to wind down. Polynesian Spa has family-friendly pools.
Fly down to Wellington in the morning—it’s about an hour, and on a clear day you’ll see some great views of the North Island and the coastline. Once you land, head to the waterfront. A lot of the old woolsheds there have been turned into casual restaurants and cafés. It’s a good spot to grab lunch, maybe something with local seafood like paua fritters.
If you’re curious about Māori cuisine but don’t want to commit to a full hāngī, Karaka Café is a good place to start. They serve a mix of traditional flavors in a relaxed setting — nothing too unfamiliar, but still interesting.
From there, walk over to Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum. It’s modern and interactive, with exhibitions that cover everything from earthquakes to the Treaty of Waitangi. There’s a giant squid on display that kids tend to love and a few hands-on areas tied to rotating exhibits.
When you’re ready to check in, I’d recommend staying somewhere around Cuba Street. It’s central, easy to walk from, and there’s always something happening nearby — shops, food, street performers, you name it. There are other ways to get around town as well if the walk is too much (see our guide to getting around New Zealand).
Wellington, New Zealand © Tom Zahnas/Shutterstock
Catch a morning flight to Queenstown, which lands right in the middle of some dramatic scenery—mountains all around, with Lake Wakatipu just beside the runway. Once you check in, find a lakefront café for lunch.
In the afternoon, take the Skyline Gondola up to Bob’s Peak. It climbs about 450 meters and gives you views out over the lake and surrounding ranges. Once you're up there, you’ll see people paragliding and maybe try out the luge tracks. They’re designed for all ages—fast enough to be fun, but nothing extreme.
Later, head back into town. Queenstown has a few good spots for pizza, including places that use local ingredients like horopito (a peppery native plant) or green-lipped mussels. It’s an easy way to end the day.
For this day, I really recommend joining a coach tour rather than driving yourself. The road to Milford Sound is long and winding — around 180 miles (288 km) — and I was happy to leave it to someone who drives it regularly.
Once you reach Milford, you’ll hop on a boat for a cruise through the fjord. The cliffs here rise straight out of the water, and you’ll pass waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen Falls, which run year-round. Keep an eye out for fur seals on the rocks and dolphins swimming near the boat. If conditions are right, the boat gets close enough to the falls that you might feel the spray.
After the cruise, you’ll head back to Queenstown along the same road, but the light often changes the scenery, so it doesn’t feel repetitive. Back in town, grab dinner with a lake view if you can and spend some time outside once it gets dark. The night sky is usually clear enough to see the Southern Cross and even the Magellanic Clouds without a telescope.
If you're planning a trip to New Zealand with kids, our local travel experts can help. Our tailor made trips make traveling easy by taking care of the planning and booking. Our trips are designed by local travel experts who know the ins and outs of the area, and each trip is customized to what you and your family want to do.
New Zealand with kids? Don't miss Milford Sound National Park © Shutterstock
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