Good family holiday destinations for every type of family

Where’s a good place to take your family on holiday? Well, it depends on what kind of family you have! Are you thrill-seeking adventurers, active relaxers, or happy just chilling at the beach? Do you love or hate the summer heat or the winter cold? Young children might need a few home comforts, whereas teenagers will want to know if there’s Wi-Fi. (Or maybe the whole point is to get them away from their devices!)

Whether you’re looking for a family trip close to home or a completely new place to explore, a short break or a bucket list adventure, we’ve got some great family holiday destinations for you.

 

Holiday ideas for young families

Finding the right destination is the key to holidaying with small children. Staying close to home on a New Zealand staycation can be a good option since there’s no need to organise passports, worry about what to feed fussy eaters, or think about airline luggage limits. But it’s also possible to find an overseas holiday destination that caters to your whole family’s needs, especially if you opt for an all-inclusive resort which offers kids’ clubs and babysitting services. Let’s look at both.

 

Holiday at home

Start making a list of good family holiday destinations for young children in New Zealand and you’ll soon find you’ve got enough activities to keep you busy until your toddlers have grown up and left home! We’ve narrowed it down to our favourite five. 

  • Hanmer Springs – for hot pools and waterslides
  • Waitomo – for the glowworm caves
  • Christchurch – for the Margaret Mahy Family Playground and a ride on the tram
  • Rotorua – visit the kiwi hatchery, ride the Skyline Gondola
  • The Coromandel – bathtime is more fun when you get to dig your own at Hot Water Beach!

 

All-inclusive family resorts

The Pacific Islands are known for their relaxed way of life which sounds like the perfect vibe for a family holiday, especially if you’re travelling with toddlers. Check out Fiji, Rarotonga, Vanuatu or Samoa for some fabulous family-friendly resorts offering a full range of kids’ activities and childcare facilities so the adults can also relax into holiday mode. From family-size suites to kids-eat-free deals, your every need can be catered for, and it’s all only a four-hour flight away.

 

Holiday ideas for active families 

Some families just don’t like sitting still! If holidays with your tribe involve constant questions like “What are we doing today?” or complaints about being bored, you’re going to need a way to keep them entertained. We suggest a family ski trip or cycle tour. Both are ideal ways to explore New Zealand’s great outdoors and work well for shorter holidays if you’ve only got a week or so to enjoy your time away together.

 

Skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand

Head to Aotearoa's adventure capital, Queenstown, where you’ll have your choice of four mountain resorts to keep you more than busy. The Remarkables and Coronet Peak are a 20-minute drive from central Queenstown. Add another hour to drive to Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone, but you’ll love the views over Lake Wānaka once you arrive. Never tried skiing or snowboarding, or don’t have the gear? Don’t worry, the resorts all offer lessons and equipment hire, usually as part of a package, and the instructors can teach anyone from toddlers to grandparents!

 

Family cycling holidays in New Zealand

If it’s a summer holiday you’re after, riding The Otago Central Rail Trail is a fun way to spend time with your family. The 152km long trail between Middlemarch and Clyde is mostly flat, so you don’t have to be a super-experienced rider to tackle it; however, it does pay to have a reasonable level of fitness. Most people take three to five days to ride the trail, with a range of accommodation types available along the route, from backpackers and campgrounds to luxury lodges. The trail itself is free to use, so taking the whole family along for the ride doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

 

Family riding bikes

 

Overseas holidays for active families

If you’re looking to venture further afield, how about a family surf holiday in Hawaii? With warm weather all year round, beautiful scenery, friendly locals and, yes, some of the world’s best surf beaches, Hawaii ranks as one of the top holiday spots for kids. Away from the water, Hawaii is also a great place for hiking. Tire out the teenagers on the Koko Crater Trail with its 1,048 steps to climb, or start younger children off with a gentle stroll through the rainforest of the Manoa Falls Trail.

 

Holiday ideas for adventurous families

If you’re looking for family holiday ideas which include a healthy dose of adventure, we’ve got you covered. 

If you’re feeling intrepid, how about trekking in the jungle, exploring ancient ruins and seeing wild elephants in Sri Lanka or Thailand?

Flying to Thailand or Sri Lanka takes around 12 to 13 hours, but once you arrive, you’ll find food and accommodation are much cheaper than at home which frees up more of the budget for fun activities! Think: an exhilarating zipline ride (with a licensed provider!) in the hill-country village of Ella in Sri Lanka or visiting the beautiful waterfalls in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

 

Family at a waterfall

 

Hop on the rollercoaster

Australia is a great holiday destination for families who love theme parks. The obvious benefit of family holidays to Australia is not having to go too far; fly direct from Auckland and you’ll be on the Gold Coast in under four hours. There’s a different theme park for almost every day of the week, so the adventure starts the minute you land. It does pay to do your research before you get there as some rides are not suitable for young children. If you plan well, you’ll find entertainment for every age group (including the adults!).

 

Holiday ideas for beach-loving families

For many of us, the best family holidays simply require a good beach. Whether that means a tranquil spot to sit and read a book while the kids build sandcastles, or somewhere that offers water sports galore, we’ve got some great suggestions on where to park your towel.

There’s no shortage of fantastic beaches right here in New Zealand, so if you’re keen to explore more of your own backyard, check out our guide to New Zealand’s best beaches. If you’re eager to holiday abroad we recommend the beaches of Australia and Bali.

 

Family on the beach

 

Family beach holidays abroad

Australian beach culture is famous throughout the world, and no wonder, with an enormous coastline adorned with white sand and clear water, it’s a beach lover's paradise. The hard part is narrowing down where to go. Noosa on the Sunshine Coast is the ideal spot for first-time surfers. If you’re looking for warm, calm waters where your little ones can paddle, Sydney’s beaches deliver in spades (pun intended!).

With its family-friendly resorts and welcoming atmosphere, Bali ticks the boxes for a good family holiday destination. Add in its beautiful beaches and you’re all set for the holiday of a lifetime. The calm, shallow waters on Nusa Dua make this an ideal spot to bring young children while Lovina Beach in the north offers swimming and snorkelling as well as dolphin watching. 
 

For nature-loving families

Have your little Kiwis ever seen a kiwi? If not, why not take a trip to Rakiura Stewart Island for a chance to spot one in the wild? Stewart Island is the ideal destination for nature-loving families. 
While you’re there, also look out for rare marine life such as hioiho/yellow eyed penguin and kororā/little penguin as well as mutton birds and albatross.

Meanwhile, just across the ditch, you’ll find all sorts of interesting wildlife to fascinate, entertain, charm and maybe even make you squirm a little. You’ll come across kangaroos and emus in The Grampians just three hours from Melbourne, crocodiles in the Daintree Forest near Cairns and cute quokka on Rottnest Island near Perth. Of course, there’s nowhere quite like the Great Barrier Reef for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving with clown fish and turtles amongst stunning coral gardens. 

 

Do I still need travel insurance for a family holiday in New Zealand?

Family holidays take a bit of planning, but if you’re staying in the country, one thing you might not have on your to-do list is travel insurance. While ACC and our public health system will more than likely cover medical treatment, what you won’t be covered for is costs incurred if you must cancel your trip. We recently covered a claim for $5,740 where the insured couple was due to travel to Christchurch to take part in a cycle tour. Unfortunately, one of the insured fell ill with COVID-19 (yes, it’s still a thing) and had to cancel their entire non-refundable trip.  

Learn more about our domestic travel insurance.

 

 


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