1. Kayak out to the Mine Bay Māori rock carvings, Lake Taupō
Kayak beside the magnificent 14-metre-high Māori rock carvings on Lake Taupō at Mine Bay. The carvings were made in the 1970s by Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell and a team of artists. The main carving takes the face of Matahi’s ancestor, Ngātoroirangi, the visionary Māori navigator who guided the Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes to Taupō 1,000 years ago.
2. Meet the critters (and keepers) at Hamilton Zoo
The 25ha Hamilton Zoo is home to more than 600 native and exotic animals and boasts the largest walk-through aviary in New Zealand. You can go behind the scenes on a Face2Face encounter or catch a “meet the keeper” talk highlighting the characters and personalities of animals, their feeding and enrichment. There’s an onsite cafe and scenic picnic areas to have lunch.
3. Delve into history and science at Waikato Museum, Hamilton
On the banks of the Waikato River in Hamilton’s south-end cultural precinct, the Waikato Museum museum offers an insight into the area’s rich history of arts and culture. Highlights include the majestic war waka, Te Winika, and the hands-on science galleries for children.
4. Walk through the treetops at Redwoods Treewalk, Rotorua
See 75-metre-tall Coastal Redwoods as you walk across eco-suspended bridges and platforms at the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua. The award-winning eco-tourism operator’s new night-time experience – illuminated with lantern creations – is truly special. Purpose-built baby strollers are available for guests to use.
5. Dig your own hot spring at Hot Water Beach, The Coromandel
Kids will love digging their own hot pool at this appropriately named beach in The Coromandel, on the North Island’s east coast. A natural spring runs deep beneath the surface of Hot Water Beach, bubbling up to emerge through the golden sand. The best time to visit is two hours either side of low tide.
6. See wild dolphins on the Bay of Plenty with Dolphin Seafaris
Swim with wild dolphins on a tour with Dolphin Seafaris in the Bay of Plenty. As well as common dolphins, you are also likely to encounter orcas (aka killer whales), humpback whales, pilot whales, little penguins and New Zealand fur seals. Dolphin Seafaris eco-tours depart daily during the summer season, from November to April, and on weekends and during school holidays the rest of the year. The company has a 95 per cent success rate of seeing dolphins in summer, and guests get to swim with them 85 per cent of the time.
7. Feed the animals at Bullswool Farm Heritage Park, The Coromandel
Children can feed the animals at this working farm, a 1.5-hour drive south of Auckland, in the southern part of The Coromandel. The sheep shed, stables, toolshed and milking shed at Bullswool Farm Heritage Park have all been restored and set up as fun and interactive museums, telling the story of New Zealand’s early farming life. Visitors also have access to the Farm’s Native Bird Reserve, an award-winning conservation project that provides information about the country’s Indigenous birds, plants and aquatic animals.
8. Ride the famous Wellington Cable Car
Take a five-minute ride on the Wellington Cable Car from the heart of the city and up through the hillside terraced houses of Kelburn, to the lookout perched high above. From there you can visit the Botanic Garden, Cable Car Museum, Space Place (at Carter Observatory) and ZEALANDIA (via free shuttle).
9. Marvel at the Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park
Admire the power of Mother Nature in the geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and colourful silica terraces at Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park. The attraction, between Taupo and Rotorua on the banks of the Waikato River, can be reached via a short ferry ride over Lake Ohakuri.
10. Encounter NZ's rare birds at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
As the world’s first completely fenced eco-sanctuary in an urban area, Zealandia is a landmark wildlife park in the heart of Wellington. It protects around 225ha of native forest that provides habitat for more than 40 rare wildlife species, many of which can be spotted on self-guided or guided walking tours. Keep an eye out for New Zealand kaka and colourful tui birds as you explore the trails by day, together with tuatara reptiles, which are so ancient they originated in the Triassic period. After dark, you can join one of the Kids’ Night Walks to experience the magical display of glow worms and see flightless kiwis fossicking for food.
11. Tackle Whakarewarewa Forest's mountain bike trails
Just five minutes from Rotorua, the Whakarewarewa Forest provides a fantastic array of purpose-built mountain bike trails suitable for all ages and fitness levels, and access is free. Bikes and equipment can be hired from a range of shops around Rotorua.
12. Discover Rotorua's secret rainforest waterfalls
To explore over 70 km of walking tracks head to Treetops Lodge and Estate, a 1000 ha private nature reserve and luxury retreat where children are welcome. The drive here passes an eerie volcanic landscape of steaming thermal pools before clearing to reveal rolling hills. Follow the trail through lush forests of tree ferns and fir trees inhabited by deer and water buffalo to discover four magical waterfalls.
13. Zipline through the sky on Waiheke Island
Catch the ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island where EcoZip Adventures offers state-of-the-art flying fox ziplines and an eco-immersive forest walk. Siblings can fly side-by-side on dual cables that are over 200m long.
Zip One, or Vineyard Cruise, provides a gentle introduction, soaring above a beautiful working vineyard. Zip Two, or City View increases the tempo – taking you higher and faster and providing magnificent views of the city, some 25km away. Then it’s time for Zip Three, or Kurinui, which zips along at speeds in excess of 50kmh – faster than you can legally drive on Waiheke’s roads!
14. Dial up the adrenaline at Velocity Valley Adventure Park
Get the ultimate adrenaline rush at Velocity Valley Adventure Park, an epic attraction full of extreme activities. It’s home to Rotorua’s fastest jet boating experience and Swoop, a giant swing with a 40-metre drop that takes you plummeting to earth at 130kmph. If that’s not enough to get the adrenaline pumping there’s also Freefall Extreme (a simulated free-fall over an upturned jet engine), the Shweeb Racer (a pedal-powered monorail) and the Vertigo freestyle drop – like bungy jumping without the cord!
15. See Rotorua's world-famous volcanic springs
You can’t visit Rotorua without a trip to Waimangu Volcanic Valley and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. The walk through Waimangu takes you past a boiling lake, bubbling boiling creeks and the Inferno: a phosphorescent pale blue lake of sulphuric acid.
Wai O Tapu is home to a completely different set of natural wonders including the Champagne Lake, so named for the size of its bubbles. The colours are amazing, with the edges of this crater resembling bright orange coral and a centre of aqua-marine bubbling water.
16. Tour the Hobbiton movie set near Matamata, Waikato
Step into the world of Middle-Earth in the heart of Waikato on the North Island on a guided tour through the Shire. Serving as Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, you’ll discover why the director, Sir Peter Jackson, decided to transform these lush pastures into his movie set. See some of the most famous locations that appeared on the big screen, including the Hobbit Holes and the Mill, and learn how this fantasy world was brought to life. You’ll end your adventure at the famous Green Dragon Inn with a well-earned Hobbit Southfarthing drink.
17. Try river rafting or kayaking with your kids
Get back to nature rafting or kayaking down one of New Zealand’s picturesque waterways. River Rats Rafts and Kayaks offers rafting experiences around Rotorua across grades two to five. Children aged five and up can join the Rangitaiki grade two scenic expedition in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island, while thrill-seeking teens will love getting white knuckle thrills on the Kaituna Waterfall or Wairoa experiences. The company also offers lake kayaking and river sledging activities, with guided kayak trips to the Manupirua Springs Hot Pools.
Rafting New Zealand runs rafting for kids aged three and up in the alpine village of Turangi and in Taupo township. The Thermal Float Rafting Adventure travels down New Zealand’s longest river, Waikato, as it departs Lake Taupo. The grade two Tongariro Family Fun adventure is ideal for families with younger children, with more than 20 fun rapids and an optional cliff jump.
18. Discover the world of special effects at Wētā Workshop
Movie buffs shouldn’t miss a visit to the Wētā Workshop, which offers immersive tours through its creative spaces in Wellington and Auckland. It all started with busloads of Lord of the Rings fans wanting to see what went on behind the scenes, and has evolved into an experience like no other. You’ll learn how to make movie effects and get up close to authentic props while discovering how the imaginary worlds of horror, fantasy and sci-fi are brought to life on the big screen. If that’s not enough, the kids can pick up tools for their own creative filmmaking journeys at the Weta Cave retail store.
19. Play in the snow at Whakapapa and Tūroa
On the North Island is the country’s largest ski resort, Whakapapa, which lies within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. Combined with the neighbouring ski resort of Tūroa, it has 1,050ha of terrain, with both accessible on a single lift pass. The Happy Valley and Alpine Meadow areas are both ideal for families and children taking their first ski steps.
20. Experience Māori culture and cuisine at Te Pā Tū
Voted as one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the world, Te Pā Tū (formerly the Tamaki Māori Village) is an essential stop on any North Island itinerary. Located 15km south of Rotorua, this recreated traditional village takes you on a journey back in time to experience what life was like in Aotearoa before Europeans arrived. After a Whakatau ceremony on arrival, you’ll learn how to make Māori dishes and enjoy a hangi feast before being treated to live performances and storytelling.
