New Zealand Family Package: Active Adventure

Bay of Islands

Cape Brett Peninsula Cruise

Pictured: Scenic dining in the Bay of Islands

Day 1: Bay of Islands Welcome

Welcome to New Zealand! Arrive in Auckland and catch your connecting flight to Kerikeri, where you’ll collect your rental car and drive to your Bay of Islands accommodation. This historic region, scattered with over 140 subtropical islands, witnessed New Zealand’s early European settlement and the pivotal 1840 Treaty of Waitangi that shaped the nation’s future.

Overnight: Bay of Islands (Sanctuary Bay of Islands)

Day 2: Island Hopping and Marine Discovery

Cruise through the Bay’s pristine waters to Cape Brett Peninsula, passing the historic lighthouse and the famous Motukōkako (Hole in the Rock)—legend says a drip from above brings good luck. Watch for dolphins dancing in your wake as you navigate between emerald islands.

Stop at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island for swimming, walking, or refreshments at the licensed café before returning to your lodge for a home-cooked meal with your welcoming hosts.

Overnight: Bay of Islands (Sanctuary Bay of Islands)

Auckland

Weta Unleashed | All Blacks Rugby Experience

Pictured: All Blacks Experience

Day 3: Auckland, Harbor City

Bid farewell to your hosts and drive to Auckland, where twin harbors embrace New Zealand’s largest city. Check into M Social with harbor views and explore the bustling Viaduct area, where waterfront restaurants serve everything from fresh seafood to international cuisine.

Overnight: Auckland (M Social)

Day 4: Movie Magic and Rugby Legends

Head to SkyCity for two quintessentially Kiwi experiences. At Weta Unleashed, discover the creative wizardry behind beloved film and television productions through hands-on exhibits. Then dive into rugby heritage at the All Blacks Experience, where interactive displays reveal the stories behind New Zealand’s legendary team and their spine-tingling haka tradition.

Overnight: Auckland (M Social)

Rotorua

Hobbiton | Glowworm Caves | Whitewater Rafting | Evening Redwoods Walk

Pictured: Whitewater rafting adventure

Day 5: Hobbiton and Glowworm Caves

Journey to Matamata to step into Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where perfectly round doors and manicured gardens bring Tolkien’s world to life. Continue to Waitomo for a private glowworm cave tour, where thousands of tiny lights create a natural planetarium within ancient limestone chambers. Conclude your day in Rotorua, where Eat Street offers diverse dining options for hungry adventurers.

Overnight: Rotorua (Regent of Rotorua)

Day 6: River Rapids and Forest Canopy

Challenge the Kaituna River’s churning rapids, including a heart-stopping 7-meter plunge over Tutea Falls—the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Warm waters and expert guides make this family-friendly adventure accessible for kids and adults seeking thrills amid native forest scenery.

As evening falls, walk among the towering Redwood forest canopy, where suspended walkways and twinkling lights transform the ancient trees into a magical outdoor cathedral perfect for family exploration.

Overnight: Rotorua (Regent of Rotorua)

Christchurch + Lake Tekapo

Leisure Time | Dark Sky Reserve

Pictured: Lake Tekapo in spring

Day 7: South Island Crossing

Fly across Cook Strait to Christchurch and collect your rental car. Known as the Garden City, Christchurch has reinvented itself with innovative architecture and creative street art rising from its historic foundations, all framed by the Canterbury Plains and distant Southern Alps.

Overnight: Christchurch (Distinction Christchurch)

Day 8: Lake Tekapo’s Turquoise Waters

Drive to Lake Tekapo, where fine particles from glacial erosion suspended in the water create an otherworldly turquoise hue that families love photographing. The tiny Church of the Good Shepherd sits beside the lake like something from a fairy tale, while lupins paint the shoreline purple in summer—perfect for family vacation photos.

Overnight: Lake Tekapo (Peppers BlueWater Resort Lake Tekapo)

Day 9: Stargazing and Hot Springs

Spend your day at leisure exploring the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Soak in the therapeutic hot pools at Tekapo Springs, hike trails that reveal alpine panoramas, or visit Mount John Observatory. When darkness falls, witness some of Earth’s clearest night skies, where the Milky Way stretches across the heavens like a cosmic river.

Overnight: Lake Tekapo (Peppers BlueWater Resort Lake Tekapo)

Queenstown + Surrounds

Milford Sound Excursion | Ziplining | Guided Routeburn Track Hike

Pictured: Routeburn Track

Day 10: Queenstown Adventure Base

Drive south through the dramatic Southern Alps landscape to Queenstown, where adventure culture meets alpine sophistication. Your hotel balcony overlooks Lake Wakatipu’s serpentine shape, carved by ancient glaciers and surrounded by the Remarkables and other jagged peaks. Dine with panoramic views or hit nearby Coronet Peak for skiing adventures.

Overnight: Queenstown (The Rees Hotel)

Day 11: Milford Sound Wilderness

Journey to Milford Sound for a family kayaking adventure in Harrison Cove Marine Reserve. Paddle beneath towering waterfalls that plunge directly into the fiord, reach out to touch the cascading pure glacial water, and taste mountain streams at their source.

Visit the unique Underwater Observatory to peer into the fiord’s mysterious depths, then cruise the sound watching for fur seals, penguins, and bottlenose dolphins in their pristine habitat.

Overnight: Queenstown (The Rees Hotel)

Day 12: Skyline Thrills and Zipline Adventures

Take the Skyline Gondola up Bob’s Peak for commanding views over the region’s dramatic landscape. Then strap in for an adrenaline-pumping zipline experience, flying down six gravity-fed lines while expert guides share insights about the surrounding environment and conservation efforts.

Overnight: Queenstown (The Rees Hotel)

Day 13: Routeburn Track Alpine Hiking

Explore a section of the famous Routeburn Track, where alpine meadows give way to beech forests and cascading waterfalls. Knowledgeable guides keep kids engaged with stories of early explorers and conservation heroes while families discover the area’s geological history and native flora together.

Overnight: Queenstown (The Rees Hotel)

Day 14: Journey Home

Your chauffeur will collect you for transfer to Queenstown Airport, where you’ll begin your journey home carrying memories of New Zealand’s wild landscapes, warm hospitality, and family adventures that will inspire stories for years to come.