Life changes in every possible way when you become a parent - including the way you travel. While you may be swapping sleep-ins and cocktails for playgrounds and early nights, you don’t have to give up your dreams of travelling with freedom and adventure simply because you have little ones in tow.
With a bit of know-how and planning, travelling with young children can be incredibly uninhibited and fun for the whole family.
Furthermore, New Zealand is the ideal location to do it. The combination of stunning natural beauty, family-friendly activities and ease of travel means that a huge amount of enjoyment can be packed into a limited timeframe.
In this post, we show you numerous reasons why New Zealand is a dream family holiday destination for so many young families.
Read on to find out how to have a rewarding and hassle-free trip, while creating incredible family memories along the way.
Good things come in small packages
The small yet diverse nature of New Zealand makes it an ideal travel destination for young families. With so much to see and do, you won’t need to travel long distances each day to experience a variety of scenery and activities.
Check out our Travel Distances Matrixin Chapter 4 of our recent eBook for information about the distance between the main tourist attractions in both the North and South Islands.
Affordable
Whether you’re a nature-lover, culture-vulture or thrill-seeker, New Zealand has a vast amount of free and cost-effective experiences to choose from. So, if you’re working to a daily budget, you’ll still be able to enjoy plenty of things to see and do around the country.
Learn about our history by visiting one of the many museums, mix with the locals at a farmers market or take in the atmosphere at a colourful cultural festival.
New Zealand’s natural wonders, including lush forests, crystal-clear lakes, rugged beaches, magnificent mountains and natural hot springs, are among the most unique and easily accessible attractions. And many of them can be visited at no cost at all.
Family-friendly activities
New Zealand offers a myriad of activities that cater to young families, such as the ones in this visitor video, made by Sing Yee and family after their recent motorhome tour of the North and South Islands.
Take a farm tour, experience geothermal activity, visit a traditional Maori meeting house or discover the country’s abundant wildlife on a cruise. You’ll see wildlife such as whales, seals, dolphins, penguins and albatross in their natural habitats.
Nature on your doorstep
From majestic mountains to pristine beaches, steaming geysers and mirror-like lakes, New Zealand’s awe-inspiring natural beauty is renowned. Wherever you go you’ll discover another stunning view that will amaze you and the little ones.
So give your children the chance to interact with nature first-hand and head into nature’s playground.
If you enjoy walking, put the kids in backpacks and take your pick of coastal tracks, forests and national park trails.
Among the most well-known are the Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Mount Cook, Fiordland and Tongariro National Park walks. To see some examples of New Zealand’s stunning scenery, we recommend checking out this video that captures two families exploring the beauty of New Zealand together.
Ease of travel
When travelling with young children, convenience is key. New Zealand offers a range of domestic travel options including flying, car hire and motorhomes.
If you want to combine the ultimate in convenience, freedom and comfort without compromising on adventure, a motorhome holiday could be the perfect choice for you and the kids. It certainly was for the Wason family, who described their NZ motorhome trip as “a stand-out experience”.
Motorhomes easily accommodate children’s car seats, plus you avoid having to unpack and repack if you’re staying in a new motel each night. So, everyone has more time to have fun and relax.
New Zealand is a touring delight for parents and children alike. With so much to do, you’ll be spoilt for choice in this compact and friendly country. With just a little organisation and planning, your young family can enjoy the freedom and adventure you’re dreaming of, on your next family getaway to New Zealand.
