Greetings! My husband and I are in the VERY preliminary stages of planning a holiday to New Zealand for about a year from now. Our travel companions will be our two sons, who will be ages 4 and 7 at that time.

We're hoping to fly from the US to New Zealand to start our trip. I plan to get a good guidebook once we've made some basic decisions about how to structure the time.

I'd love to get everyone's take on the best way to spend 5 days, which I know isn't enough. We're going to try to travel light, but that's probably not exactly "light" by others' standards, so I'm not sure how much roaming makes sense.

We tend to enjoy things like wine-tasting (even with the boys), agri-tainment, hikes (not too arduous due to our short-legged friends), wildlife and animals spots (like zoos, aquariums), beaches, trains and other transportation marvels.

So, any ideas? (I'll also happily take suggestions for AU as well, although I suspect we'll head to Sydney first, followed by a spot or two in Queensland, unless the weather will be just too beastly.)

Many thanks for your imput!

Are you planning a trip to New Zealand first, then Australia? How many days total?

You can see how we spent 10 days on the North Island in 2004 at http://community.webshots.com/user/ElendilPickle

Lee Ann

Yes, NZ and then over to AU. We're thinking that the trip will be somewhere under 3 weeks in length.

Hi Mia

5 days is a bit tight but heres what I would do if I had 5 days.

Arrive Akld and head south to Waitomo Caves to do the glow worm black water rafting [rental car is best]

From Waitomo drive to Rotorua to spend a night. Try the ploynesian thermal spas at night! under the stars!

Next day drive to Taupo stopping at the hidden valley [ a thermal nature reserve]. After taupo head straight to wellington. Spend at least one night to in wellington. Check out Te papa [NZ biggest museum].

Fly from Wellington to Christchurch.

From Christchurch you can head to Queenstown [nice drive] or head back north to Kaikora to swim with the whales or dolphin.

Hope this helps

Eeek =)

Thanks for your take - it certainly does seem like a lot of jumping around in 5 days. Might we be better off sticking to just a single area (or maybe two), with the promise to ourselves that we'll be back some year? If so, which area(s) and why?

Hi Mia

If you like the snow and the mountains than do the south island.

If you want culture and thermal action then do the north island.

personally I'm a sucker for the north island. Its diverse and plenty to do in 5 days with a car. Its only approx 900Km between auckland and Wellington with heaps to do inbetween.

I hope this helps.

Eeek

I'm not sure I would go with EEk's itinerary with your small children, I wonder if they can even go on the black water tour.

With just 5 days assuming you are flying into Auckland I would stick with the North Island. There is a nice education center (Arataki Visitor Center) in the Waitakere Ranges just outside Auckland. Lots of hikes, including a Nature Trail. In the same area, Kumeu has winetasting, and Coopers Creek is really good! I overnighted at a great B&B in Helensville (Malolo House), the family that runs it has children and I think there is a private ensuite unit. There is a hot spring spa in Helensville that I did not visit but it looked good. From Helensville you could visit the gannet colony at Muriwai (easy hike or can even see from the road). Continue up the west coast to the Kauri forest, Hokianga Coast (I would think it's easy to find a farmstay in this area), over to the east coast around Russell/Pahia (I stayed at the Copthorne Waitangi which I recommend). Ferry or sailing trip, see dolphins, etc. Back to Auckland. 5 days will be gone before you know it.

You're right, mlgb; there's no way little kids can go black water rafting.

If under three weeks is all the time you have for this trip, I would just choose one country and stick with it, rather than trying to visit both. I can't help thinking all that flying would be hard on your kids.

Lee Ann

I would fly to Queenstown from Auckland or Christchurch and spend your time there and in Fiordland. Your sons will have lots to do in Queenstown and Fiordland, and from there you can fly to Sydney.

Liz

Hi. I have two lads too 6 and 8 at present so I should be able to advise. Mmmm lets see. Hire a car and drive to the Coromandel. ( I wouldnt spend time in Auckland ). Visit Hot Water beach - kids will love that ( dig in the sand at low tide and have a long soak in a hot pool right on the beach ! ), you can take short boat tours from Whitianga or a speedboat ride for a spot of excitement. Thames is an interesting little town. Pan for gold. Explore the old gold mine workings/ tunnels. Lots of easy walks. You could spend a couple of nights in this area quite easily. Leaving and now heading south .There is a steam train ride they would enjoy in a place called Waihi . Keep travelling down the coast - a visit to Mt Maunganui. Beautiful beach , Kiwifruit farm tour close by - I think the best one is Kiwi360 our boys always enjoy that - they take you round in little " Kiwifruit cars " You can also go on a chopper ride there. Maybe one night at The Mount. Rotorua less than an hours drive. The boys will enjoy the gondola ride at Rotorua and then the luge ( which I hate personally ) . There is so much to do in Rotorua with children. Visit the zoo to feed the lions. Watch a sheep being shorn , watch sheep dogs in action. My lads are obsessed with the " Buried Village" in Rotorua. You can easily find info online about all these places. I would then fly back to Auckland from Rotorua. I think there is plenty there to keep you all very well entertained - without ending up totally exhausted !

Sorry just realised the Hot Water beach section has not been very well explained. It is a thermal beach ( in places ). Spades can be hired from a local store. Dig to a depth of 2-3-4 feet . There will be other people there doing the same thing - so you will know where to go. Its fantastic enjoying a cool dip in the sea and then jumping into your custom made hot tub ! Very social too ! Thanks for reading.

5 days is short, and the South Island much more scenic. Assuming you arrive in Auckland, you could do EITHER (but not BOTH) of the following:

1. Fly to Queenstown and spend all your time in that area (between Wanaka and Manapouri) jet-boating, lake-touring, tripping to Milford & Doubtful Sounds, wandering around Arrowtown, and so on.

OR...
2. Get out of Auckland (fast) and drive round the Coromandel Peninsula (another poster above has included detail), and down to Rotorua (lakes, Buried Village, thermal wonderlands like Whakerewarewa, Waiotapu, Waimungu, etc), returning to Auckland via Matamata (the "Lord of the Rings" Hobbiton, or what's left of it).