New Zealand Family Holiday in 2 weeks

November 15th, 2025

Planning a new zealand family holiday with kids can feel like trying to squeeze a movie-length adventure into two weeks. The good news is you do not need to be overwhelmed. This guide lays out two proven 14-day plans that deliver dramatic peaks, glowworm caves, geothermal wonders, fjords and wildlife — all paced for families. One itinerary covers both islands by combining short domestic flights and scenic train rides. The other focuses entirely on the South Island and is ideal for motorhome travel. Use these day-by-day plans, practical tips and packing and travel advice to shape a memorable new zealand family holiday everyone will talk about for years.

Why these itineraries work for families

Families need variety, manageable travel days and activities that excite multiple ages. These itineraries are built around three core principles for a successful new zealand family holiday:

Recovery buffers after long-haul flights so everyone adjusts before exploring.
Short driving segments or single overnight hops to avoid long days in the car.
Iconic, kid-friendly experiences like digging hot pools, glowworm caves and short alpine walks that deliver big “wow” moments with minimal effort.

Two options: Both islands in 14 days or 14 days on the South Island

Pick the both-islands plan if your family wants a taste of the thermal North and glacial South in a single trip. Pick the South Island motorhome plan if you want breathing room, slower pacing and the joy of waking up lakeside or beneath mountains. Either way, this is a workable, low-stress blueprint for a true new zealand family holiday.

Option 1 — Both Islands in 14 Days (rental car + one domestic flight)

This is the fast-paced highlights plan that balances big attractions with kid-friendly downtime. It is best for families who prefer hotels and want to move efficiently between destinations.

Days 1–2: Auckland — arrive and recover

Most international flights land in Auckland. After your flight, take a shuttle to your hotel and resist picking up a rental car on arrival — everyone will be tired. Use your first full day for relaxed activities that still feel special: a ferry to Waiheke Island for beaches and gentle coastal walks, an easy stroll along the waterfront or a short climb up the Sky Tower for city views. These gentle options are perfect to ease into your new zealand family holiday.

Days 3–4: Coromandel Peninsula — beach magic and hot pools

Pick up your rental car on day 3 and drive about 2.5–3 hours to the Coromandel. Base yourself on the eastern side near Whitianga or Hahei. The star attraction is Hot Water Beach where, at low tide, the family can dig a warm sand pool and soak while waves lap nearby. It is an unforgettable hands-on experience for kids and a classic new zealand family holiday moment.

Days 5–6: Waitomo Caves and Rotorua — glowworms and geysers

Day 5 is a larger travel day: drive from the Coromandel to Rotorua, stopping at the Waitomo glowworm caves. A guided boat under a ceiling of tiny bioluminescent creatures is a magical experience. Continue to Rotorua for two nights. On day 6 explore thermal parks with bubbling mud and geysers, visit a redwood forest for easy treetop walks, or choose a family canopy or zipline experience if you want more adrenaline. Rotorua is a highlight for a new zealand family holiday due to its diverse activities and cultural experiences.

Day 7: Fly to Queenstown — skip the long drive

Drop your car at Rotorua airport and take a short domestic flight to Queenstown. Flying saves a long cross-island drive and gives you more time in the South. You can choose to stay car-free in Queenstown and use local tours, or pick up a rental at the airport for more flexibility.

Days 8–9: Queenstown — adventure in a family-friendly package

Queenstown is known as New Zealand’s adventure capital but it is surprisingly family-friendly. Take the Skyline gondola for panoramic views and luge rides, and include a cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw. Consider a Milford Sound day trip: for children aged 10+ a coach cruise can work but it is a very long day (often 12+ hours return). Families with younger kids can choose a scenic flight-cruise-flight for a shorter, unforgettable fjord experience when weather allows.

Day 10–11: Drive to Franz Josef — from dry tussock to rainforest

The drive from Queenstown to Franz Josef takes roughly six hours through Haast Pass but it is one of those drives that keeps giving. In a few hours you can move from dry central landscapes into lush temperate rainforest. Stop at the Blue Pools for an easy 20-minute walk that kids manage well. Base in Franz Josef for two nights. Glacier helicopter flights remain spectacular even though the ice has retreated. Consider a calm lagoon kayaking tour from Okarito to see rare birds and wetland habitats — a quieter family favourite.

Day 12: Drive to Greymouth, then scenic train to Christchurch

Drive north to Greymouth with stops at Hokitika Gorge and Shantytown, then return your rental car in Greymouth and board the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch. The train is one of the world’s great scenic rail trips and is a highlight for kids as much as adults. You’ll arrive into Christchurch in the evening.

Days 13–14: Christchurch — gardens, river rides and Akaroa

Spend your final full day exploring Christchurch’s botanical gardens, take an Avon River punting ride or head to Akaroa on a guided tour for harbour cruises and rare Hector’s dolphin sightings. Return your car or collect a transfer to the airport for your departure afternoon. This wrap-up gives a calm end to a packed new zealand family holiday.

Option 2 — South Island Focused 14 Days (motorhome friendly)

This plan is designed for families who want extra breathing room and love the idea of a motorhome. Waking up by a lake, parking near walking trails and staying in holiday parks makes this a relaxed new zealand family holiday option.

Day 1: Christchurch — rest day

Arrive into Christchurch and spend the night in the city to recover. This rest sets a relaxed pace for the rest of your South Island adventure.

Days 2–3: Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook — stargazing and alpine walks

Pick up your motorhome or rental car and drive 4–5 hours to Lake Tekapo via the scenic inland route through Rakaia Gorge and Geraldine. Avoid State Highway 1 if you can — the inland route is more scenic. Spend two nights in Tekapo or Twizel. From here, a family-friendly Hooker Valley Track is a 3-hour return, relatively flat and includes a swing bridge, glaciers framed by mountains and stunning views. The Aoraki Mackenzie region is a dark sky reserve; stargazing here is memorable for kids and adults alike.

Days 4–5: Oamaru and Dunedin — Victorian charm and wildlife

Head to Oamaru to see the Victorian harbour district and the curious Moeraki Boulders. Continue to Dunedin for two nights and take a wildlife tour on the Otago Peninsula. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see an albatross colony close to a city, along with yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals — wildlife encounters that thrill children during a new zealand family holiday.

Days 6–7: Te Anau — gateway to Fiordland

From Dunedin drive to Te Anau. The direct route takes about four to five hours, but if time allows consider the coastal detour via Nugget Point for rugged views. Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park. On your full day choose Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. For families, joining a local coach and cruise from Te Anau is an easy option that avoids long self-driving days. For active families, consider a day hike on the last section of the Milford Track with a local family-run operator for a less crowded experience.

Days 8–9: Wanaka — relaxed lake life

Drive from Te Anau to Wanaka via Queenstown to glimpse its highlights without staying there. Wanaka is quieter and usually more affordable. It offers gentle lakeside walks, bike rentals and relaxed days — a welcome counterpoint to high-adrenaline stops. Two nights keeps the pace family-friendly and restorative.

Day 10: Franz Josef — glacier country

Head over Haast Pass stopping at the Blue Pools and Ship Creek. Stay in Franz Josef where holiday parks are suited to motorhomes. Explore short walks to viewpoints or book a guided glacier experience or scenic helicopter flight if weather allows.

Day 11: Hokitika to Punakaiki — Pancake Rocks and blowholes

Travel north through Hokitika and stop at Hokitika Gorge. In Punakaiki, walk among the Pancake Rocks and watch the blowholes at high tide. Note: services can be sparse along parts of the West Coast, so stock up on essentials in larger towns before moving on.

Days 12–13: Nelson Tasman and Abel Tasman National Park

Make your way to the Nelson Tasman region, with an optional detour through Cape Foulwind to see a seal colony. Base yourself in Motueka, Mapua or Kaiteriteri for easy access to Abel Tasman National Park. Spend a full day exploring golden sand coves, kayaking, or taking a water taxi to remote inlets. For families with younger children choose short coastal walks like Marahau to Anchorage for a rewarding day without needing a boat.

Day 14: Kaikoura to Christchurch — whale watching finish

Travel south through the Marlborough region to Kaikoura. Book an early morning whale-watch or a dolphin encounter. If conditions prevent whale watching, a seal swim or a dolphin encounter still delivers marine magic. From Kaikoura drive 2.5 hours back to Christchurch and return your motorhome or rental vehicle before your flight home.

Motorhome vs rental car: choose what fits your family

Deciding between a motorhome and a rental car depends on how you prefer to travel on your new zealand family holiday.

Motorhome advantages: Flexibility, waking up in nature, saving on accommodation, and simple family logistics (kitchen, beds and toilets on board).
Motorhome trade-offs: Slower travel — plan for about 20 percent less distance per day, need to book holiday parks in peak season, and smaller living spaces can be challenging for some kids on multi-night stints.
Rental car advantages: Faster travel between destinations, hotel comfort and full hotel amenities, more daytime available for activities on a 14-day new zealand family holiday.

Packing and planning tips for a stress-free trip

Make these simple planning moves to keep the trip smooth and enjoyable for everyone on your new zealand family holiday:

Book high-demand holiday parks and key activities in advance if you travel between November and March.
Plan one full rest or light day after long flights. Your kids will thank you.
Keep driving blocks child-friendly — aim for 2–4 hour drives where possible with predictable stops.
Layer clothing for variable weather — New Zealand can switch from sunny to wet in an hour.
Carry snacks, water and simple entertainment for drives and early morning departures.
Include at least one marine or wildlife experience — the chance to spot dolphins, whales, penguins or albatross is a lifetime memory for many kids.

Sample day-by-day checklist for the first week

Day 1: Arrive Auckland — shuttle to hotel, relaxed waterfront walk.
Day 2: Waiheke Island or Sky Tower — keep it low-energy.
Day 3: Drive to Coromandel — check into Hahei or Whitianga.
Day 4: Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove (short boat or kayak option).
Day 5: Drive to Rotorua, stop at Waitomo glowworm caves.
Day 6: Rotorua thermal parks, redwood walks, cultural performance.
Day 7: Fly to Queenstown and settle in for lakeside activities.

Final thoughts: build a trip that fits your family

A new zealand family holiday should balance iconic experiences with easy days. Both itineraries here are proven road-tested options that reduce stress and maximize memories. If your family loves flexibility, late nights by a campfire and waking up to mountain views, choose the South Island motorhome plan. If you want to see highlights of both islands and prefer hotels and fewer nights moving camp, choose the combined islands plan that includes a short domestic flight and the scenic TranzAlpine train.

Either way, focus on the moments that matter: the quiet glowworm caverns, the excitement of a whale watch, a hot sand pool dug by tiny hands, and the first time the kids see towering snow-capped peaks. With a little planning and these ready-made day-by-day options, your new zealand family holiday will be a joyful, achievable family adventure.