New Zealand Family Vacation: 5 Stunning Spots To Visit With Kids
Savanah Ganley is doing something that most people only dream of: taking a trip around the entire world with her husband and their two children. “It’s something we have spoken about on and off for years and one day we just thought, ‘It’s now or never,’” Savannah says. “The next day we went in and resigned from our jobs and starting getting our house ready for the market. Eight weeks later we were homeless with a one-way ticket to New Zealand!”
And New Zealand, it turned out, was the perfect spot to begin their family’s epic adventure. Read on to learn about Savannah’s favorite spots for a New Zealand family vacation.
DESTINATION...
New Zealand
THROUGH THE EYES OF...
PARENTS WILL LOVE...
Breathtaking scenery, stunning photo opportunities
KIDS WILL LOVE...
Swimming at Castlepoint Beach, luging in Queenstown
GOOD TO KNOW...
“We saved money by packing loads of snacks and water in our backpacks, which also helped ensure the kids were eating healthy. We also cooked a lot of our own meals while we were campervanning.”
1. CARDRONA
“While Cardrona is a ski resort, we loved trekking around their hiking trails in the summer on our New Zealand family vacation. The views were spectacular, and the kids enjoyed the gondola to the top of the mountain.”
2. CASTLEPOINT BEACH
“Castlepoint has a wonderful beach with a lagoon at low tide that the kids loved splashing around in. It was such a novelty to actually drive our car onto the beach. We loved that the water was calm and we didn’t have to worry about box jellyfish or crocodiles (we’re from north Queensland.)!”
3. CASTLEPOINT LIGHTHOUSE
“It’s a little ways away from the swimming area, but the trek up to Castlepoint Lighthouse was amazing and overlooked some of the bluest water we’d ever seen. The kids were fascinated by the fishermen standing on the rock ledges.”
4. HOOKER VALLEY TRACK
“It’s long been a goal of ours to hike this track, mostly for the scenery. The kids loved being surrounded by snow-capped mountains and [seeing] the suspension bridges over roaring rivers.”
5. SKYLINE LUGE IN QUEENSTOWN
“If you’re going to New Zealand with kids, put the Skyline Luge in Queenstown on your list. This activity was hands down the best fun we had as a family in Queenstown. Everyone loved whizzing down the mountain!”
If you’re planning a trip to the southern hemisphere, check out these adventures in Australia with kids.
