Best New Zealand Family Vacations Chosen By Kids

Want the real scoop on Aotearoa’s most perfect vacation? Then you have to go to the experts.

We spoke with children from all over the country to learn about the best vacations they have ever had and where they want to go next.

From ice cream to fishing trips to hanging out with the All Blacks, these are the Kiwi kids’ dream vacation.

Mei-Ling, 6 years old, Auckland

My dream vacation would be Lake Taupō because I want to see how big the lake is. My teacher was just there on vacation. I would go with my mom and my little sister because we are family, I love them and we always have fun together.

For my last vacation, we went to my cousin’s house in Palmerston North. I liked it there because it has great pets, a dog and a cat, and you saw them.

Max, 15 years old, Wānaka

For my dream vacation, I would fly to Auckland with my family, buy a bunch of Krispy Kreme donuts, and then go see my older brother Ben, who lives there. Then we would go to Waiwera, then to Tāwharanui beach for a swim. We used to go there every Christmas because it was close to where my grandmother and grandfather lived. Now they live in Wānaka. I remember we would always sit under a pōhutukawa tree and eat cookies.

One day my friends and I want to go to Rotorua on vacation so we can make a lot of fart jokes. I would also like to go on vacation with our dogs, Stan and Jerry. They’ve only been to the beach once, so we’d take them somewhere like the West Coast or the Catlins.

We recently went to Milford Sound. It was really cool especially the boat ride to the sound, the snow in the mountains and all the waterfalls. In Homer Tunnel, we met a kea we named Jerry, after our dog, since they are both fat.

Olioni Taumoepeau, 15, Palmerston North

My favorite holiday is Christmas because it is a time for the family to get together and eat good food. My favorite place to visit in New Zealand is Rotorua.

Theo, 12, and Felicity, 8, Christchurch

Happiness: My dream vacation would be to go to Akaroa and stay in a two-story house and swim with the dolphins and eat fish and chips on the beach. We were going with my cousins, my Porpor (Cantonese for Mom’s Mom), my friend Lily, Mom, Dad and Theo. I forgot grandpa.

According to the: I’d go to Hanmer Springs to the hot pools and go to their cafe and eat the hot fries, and then go whitewater rafting.

Happiness: For our last vacation we went down to Tekapo with our friends. We went to the hot pools and it was so hot we had blocks of ice. We also went down the really big water slide and into the huge bouncy castle in clothes.

Nathan Isaac, 12, Gisborne

I usually go on vacation with my mom and dad. On my last vacation, we went to Te Waipounamu. It was my first time in the South Island. We went from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Maunga (Mount Cook). In Christchurch, I thought the art of graffiti on new and old buildings was very good. The food at Riverside Market was really good. I like to eat in places we don’t have in our hometown and try new food.

We did a day hike on the Hooker Valley Track in Mount Cook National Park. The glacial ice lake at the end of the trail was amazing. The mountains around the track were huge. I couldn’t see Aoraki peak, because the clouds were covering it, but it was still amazing.

Silvi Withel, age 9, Lyttelton

My dream vacation is to go to the Marlborough Sounds in the summer, swim in the water and see the fish and stuff. I’d probably also like to go on the boat and go fishing, and maybe see some birds and maybe dolphins if there are any, and maybe see fireflies too.

Kye, age 9, Golden Bay

If I could go on vacation with anyone in the world, it would be Richie McCaw.

I’d like to go to Alexandra for Southland sushi and riding, and Queenstown for gondola riding. I bought a new bike on my last vacation and had so much fun riding at Christchurch Adventure Park, it was exciting. I really prefer to go downhill and not climb.

Jude Neate, age 10, Nelson

On vacation I like to visit adventure parks, eat ice cream, and swim on the beach with my bulldog. I would like to go in and feed the gorillas at Orana Wildlife Park and not just see them through the glass.

Last vacation I went to visit my grandfather in Whangamatā. It was the best to see. Mom made us get up early to watch the sunrise on the beach, which was good too.

Emmy, 7, Wellington

On my last vacation, I went to Masterton with Mom, Dad, and Digby (little brother, 2 years old). We drove and stayed in a hotel that had a playground. We went to another playground that was really big and had a lot of slides. It rained a lot. One day we played bowling.

I love Tauranga because it is always a sunny day and I can see my grandmother and Tones (grandfather) and their dog, Monty. And I love going to my grandmother and grandfather’s house in Timaru; your home has plenty of space and is stylish. We see my cousins ​​there and we look at farm animals.

Ivy, 12, Auckland

I would love to stay on Great Barrier Island for a few nights so I can enjoy the scenery, swim at Medlands Beach, and do the Windy Canyon hike. It would be an adventure, from the ferry trip to the incredible things you can experience on the island and, above all, because I had never been before.

One of the most memorable places I’ve been is Russell in the Bay of Islands. I loved this vacation because we relaxed on the beautiful beaches, explored the town, and even learned a new skill. We booked a fishing boat and learned how to fish. The first fish I caught was a swordfish, and then my mom, dad, and I caught a really big snapper.

Oliver, 6, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

I would love to go around in a caravan because I have never done that before. I would go with Mom and Seko (my half brother) because Mom is great and Seko loves to talk to us. Dad can go in his own caravan.

Ziggy, 7, Mount Roskill, Auckland

The vacation of my dreams would be to go to a climbing wall and a pizzeria and Lego. You know, a house made of the three, because I really like climbing, Lego and pizza. I would like to go back to Rotorua because I got to zip-line and Zorb.

Keaan, 9, and Mila, 7, Auckland

Keaan: The vacation of my dreams would be Queenstown. I could ski and snowboard all day, every day, and teach Baz the dog to ski with me. I would add an extra day to run up the mountain to the Skyline Luge and race down the red track trying to beat all my friends on vacation and then run to the top of the mountain. And because my Big Buddy Blair always travels to the South Island, we could drive back to Auckland together and eat lots of delicious food and unlimited amounts of ice cream along the way.

The most important people (and animals) I would love to vacation with would be my Big Buddy Blair, Baz the dog, and obviously my mother. My mom made me invite my little sister, but sometimes it’s okay.

I’d also like to bring Beauden Barrett, Richie McCaw, and Sonny Bill Williams so we can train in rugby.

Mila:

I like to go with my aunt, my uncle and my brother because we have so much fun and my aunt and my uncle let us stay up late. My aunt says we don’t have to tell my mother, but I always do.

Every year I go camping in Ōpoutere with my mother and my brother. We know my mother’s friends and their families. My mom sets up the tent (the other dads help) and unpacks the car while my brother and I play on our bikes with the other kids. Last year we walked through the bush and found many beautiful beaches with clear water, soft sand and caves. We played in the creek, paddleboarding, swimming, board games, and cricket. Before going to bed, we roast marshmallows on the fire. All the children go to sleep and the adults stay up and sit around the fire telling stories, we can hear them laugh. I can’t wait to go back.

This story was first published in the New Zealand Herald Travel on September 29.