Journey to Middle Earth – New Zealand Family Vacations
You can pretty much bet that your children have seen Lord of the Rings even if you haven’t and that one day they’re going to nag you for a family vacation to New Zealand. The country that is made up of two main islands is one of the most diverse and varied places in the world and will present a huge variety of activities and an unforgettable experience for your family should you choose to visit.
How to see New Zealand
There are of course several ways to see the Land of the Kiwi. One idea is that you fly there and rent a camper van and drive around the country. There are thousands of campsites located in beautiful areas that are virtually untouched by humans. Alternatively, you could also take a tour with a guide on a small bus with others. There are many package tours available like this.
You can also choose to stay in one area, such as in one of the many national parks that the country is famous for.
North or South Island?
Unless you are going to stay in New Zealand for longer than a few weeks, you will probably have to decide between visiting one of the two islands since there will not be enough time for both! On the other hand, you could take one of those family vacations where you spend a bit of time here and a bit of time there, but that way you may miss out on a lot so it is not recommended.
The main difference between the two islands is the climate. If you’re looking for one of the top family vacations in the world in a tropical climate, then you want to visit the North Island. If, however, if you want to go for some of the best skiing and winter holidays on the planet, then the South Island is where you want to be. Many tourists are surprised by this fact, that New Zealand literally has everything. Aquamarine blue tropical lagoons and sea with pristine white sand for miles and miles surrounded by palm trees and lush rain forests — and then snow-capped mountains, glaciers and pine forests like Alaska.
Skiing in New Zealand
Some of the best skiing in the country for families that include lessons for all ages and all levels of skill are in Queenstown, on the South Island. Queenstown is a great place to organize hub-type tours. You stay there for a week and visit as much as you can around the area each day.
For more skiing fun you can try Cardrona Alpine Resort or Lake Ohau Lodge.
Tropical New Zealand
On the North Island, there is a region that stretches from the north of Auckland all the way up to the tip of the country at Cape Reinga — this is called Northland. There’s so much to do in this part of the country for kid friendly vacations such as scuba diving in shipwrecks, observing natural marine life in the beautiful lagoons and atolls and much more.
Perhaps the best part of family vacations to New Zealand if you’re from the northern hemisphere is your children’s first reaction to seeing the water go down the sink the “wrong” way!
New Zealand is one of the best places in the world for family vacations. Read on to find out more about what you can do in this great country at the south of the planet.