10 Day New Zealand Family Guided Tour

Travelling with children? This is the perfect 10-day tour of New Zealand for families who want to see the highlights of both islands at a pace that’s comfortable even for very little ones. Top experiences on this tour include a Milford Sound cruise, a glacier helicopter flight with a snow landing, the TranzAlpine Train, the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, a Māori cultural experience including a hangi dinner, and a tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

We have children too and know exactly what it’s like travelling with them, from the countless playground visits to the urgent search for a toilet in the middle of nowhere! We’ve taken that expertise and designed this tour with your children in mind.

Here are a few of the ways we’ve tailored this itinerary to suit young families:

• No age restrictions for most activities – except in Rotorua (read the itinerary below for more details), all included activities are suited for children of any age.
• Driving time is minimised – from scenic flights to reach Milford Sound to the TranzAlpine Train that gives your kids the chance to stretch their legs on the journey between Greymouth and Christchurch, we keep car time to a minimum.
• Apartment-style accommodation – everywhere possible, we book apartment-style style accommodation for your family (at no extra cost). This gives you separate sleeping areas, kitchen facilities, and a lounge – perfect for preparing meals for fussy eaters, setting aside a designated nap space, or relaxing between adventures.
• Activities that the whole family will love – both children and parents will find a lot to love in each included experience! Boat rides, scenic airplane and helicopter flights, animal encounters, glowworms, and child-sized homes at the Hobbiton Movie Set are genuine New Zealand highlights that are also sure to be popular with your children.
• Longer stays in each destination – with three multi-night stays (and only three one-night stays) in this itinerary, we’ve ensured you have a chance to properly settle in and explore all the top destinations without worrying about packing up the whole family each morning.

Looking for something else?

• Travelling with teenagers? The 10 Day Iconic New Zealand Guided Tour has more thrills and fewer “kiddie” activities.
• Hoping to minimise travel time? The highlights of the North Island are all located close together, so the 10 Day North Island Family Guided Tour has the least driving time of any 10-day family tour.
• Are you a family of Lord of the Rings fans? We have 10-day North Island and South Island Lord of the Rings tours you may want to consider.

10 Day New Zealand Family Guided Tour Itinerary | Family Tour Packages

Day 1 Queenstown New Zealand

Your family guided tour begins in Queenstown, New Zealand’s most popular holiday destination. Equally famous for its stunning alpine lakeside setting and its exciting adventure scene, Queenstown truly has something for everyone.

Once your guide collects you from the airport, settle into your central accommodation and spend the afternoon exploring. There are enough family activities on offer in Queenstown to keep you busy for months, so your guide will help you plan your time carefully so you can fit in as much as possible without feeling rushed!

If your family enjoys outdoor adventures, ask your guide to take you for a scenic hike, or else choose from a range of experiences that include ziplining, white-water rafting, and canyoning.

And if you have older children who want to try some of the extreme sports on offer, you can choose from skydiving, paragliding, bungy jumping, or the thrilling Nevis Swing.  

But never fear—if jumping out of an airplane isn’t for you, there are plenty of more sedate family activities on offer! Visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park, ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for views over the Wakatipu Basin, stroll through the Queenstown Gardens, or play a round of mini golf. Or, if you want to dip your toes into the adventure scene, the Shotover Jet is suitable for any children taller than 1 metre. 

Family travel tip: Downtown Queenstown is very compact and fun to explore on foot. You’ll find a playground at the lakefront beside the Queenstown Gardens, plus lots of walking trails along the water.

Included today:

• Private tour guide/driver and luxury tour vehicle for the duration of your stay in New Zealand
• Sightseeing and commentary en route throughout your travels in New Zealand
• Apartment-style family accommodation in central Queenstown

Stay 3 nights in Queenstown.

Day 2 Milford Sound Scenic Flight & Cruise + Queenstown

Milford Sound is widely touted as the “eighth wonder of the world,” and for good reason. Our most famous fiord is just as dramatic as the ones in Norway, but that’s where the similarities end.

Here you’ll find lush subtropical rainforest dropping down to the water’s edge, shrouding the near-vertical mountain slopes in a verdant cloak. Cheeky alpine parrots called keas soar above the mountains of Fiordland, and wildlife such as fur seals and dolphins and sometimes even penguins calls the fiords home.

Today you’ll reach Milford Sound in the most direct and awe-inspiring way possible—by air.

Instead of taking the long and winding road from Queenstown, your scenic flight soars past craggy peaks and glaciers, waterfalls and braided rivers, as it traverses Mt Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park en route to Milford Sound.

Much of these parts of New Zealand are inaccessible except by air, and the views along the way are among the most breathtaking you’ll see anywhere in the world.

When you arrive at Milford Sound, your family will have a chance to stretch your legs as you board a modern catamaran for a 1 hour 45 minute cruise through the fiord. A highlight for children of all ages is the close-up encounter with Stirling Falls, where you’ll feel the spray and hear the pounding force of the waterfall as it hits the surface of the fiord.

After your cruise, a return flight will take you back to Queenstown.

Included today:

• Milford Sound Fly – Cruise – Fly
• Apartment-style family accommodation in central Queenstown

Day 3 Best Things To Do In Queenstown, TSS Earnslaw Cruise, Lunch & Farm Tour

Today’s excursion is an iconic Queenstown experience that offers something memorable for all ages.

Board the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw for a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. The historic farmhouse is tucked improbably on a narrow slice of flat land at the lakefront, surrounded by sheer mountainsides—but there’s a hidden back road that connects to the highway far south of Queenstown and allows this working farm to continue operations to this day.

When you disembark at the farm, enjoy a delicious gourmet BBQ lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant before watching an entertaining farm demonstration. Young children will enjoy meeting the friendly farm animals, or you can take in the spectacular views from the lakeside gardens.

Once you return to Queenstown, your guide can take your family for an afternoon visit to Arrowtown. Just 20 minutes from downtown Queenstown, Arrowtown is a lively, quirky historic gold mining settlement.

One family highlight is panning for gold in the Arrow River (you can hire gold pans at the Lakes District Museum), or else stroll the historic Buckingham Street and browse the many shops and cafés.

Family travel tip: Where the Arrow River flows past Arrowtown’s historic town centre, the river is shallow and rocky – great for kids to play around in!

Included today:

• TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruise, Walter Peak High Country Farm Tour & Gourmet BBQ Lunch
• Apartment-style family accommodation in central Queenstown

Day 4 Wanaka + Things To Do In Wanaka

Travel time Queenstown to Wanaka – 1.5 hours

Your day begins with a scenic drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka. You’ll want to arrange with your guide to leave early enough that you have time to explore this afternoon, as Wanaka is just as captivating as Queenstown and a great family destination.

The two most renowned family attractions in Wanaka are Puzzling World (which has a host of mind-bending illusions plus a challenging outdoor maze) and Wanaka Lavender Farm (which offers lots of highlights for kids, such as farm animals and scavenger hunts and tractors you can climb on, along with highly photogenic scenery for any photographers in the family).

Other great family activities include kayaking (you can hire kayaks on the lakefront), walking the Millennium Track past the famous Wanaka Tree, and climbing Mt Iron (1.5 hours return).

Family travel tip: The food truck park in Brownston Street near downtown Wanaka is a fun and low-key place to eat as a family. There are picnic tables, a stream (with ducks that sometimes pay a visit!), and lots of food options so you’re sure to find something for everyone.

Included today:

• Apartment-style family accommodation in Wanaka

Stay 1 night in Wanaka.

Day 5 Franz Josef Glacier Heli Flight & New Zealand Glaciers

Travel time Wanaka to Franz Josef – 4.5 hours 

Today’s drive is one of the longest of your tour, but your guide will help make the journey a highlight as you travel the scenic Haast Pass Highway. You’ll have the chance to stop many times along the way to take in the dramatic views, and your family can stretch your legs on short walks to cascading waterfalls, broad alpine meadows, and the turquoise depths of the Blue Pools.

When you reach the West Coast, your guide will take you to Lake Matheson, where a short 20-minute walk (each way) takes you to a jetty with magnificent views reflected on the surface of the lake.

In the afternoon, enjoy a close-up encounter with one of New Zealand’s most remarkable glaciers. A scenic helicopter flight whisks you high above Franz Josef Glacier before landing in the snow, where you’ll have a chance to get out and soak in the incredible views of the Southern Alps.

Included today:

• Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
• Family accommodation in Franz Josef

Stay 1 night in Franz Josef.

Day 6 Hokitika + TranzAlpine New Zealand Train + Christchurch

Travel time Franz Josef to Greymouth – 2.5 hours 

Train travel time Greymouth to Christchurch – 4.5 hours 

Before the end of the day, your family will board the TranzAlpine Train for the renowned journey through Arthur’s Pass. But first you have plenty of time to explore the other highlights of the West Coast with your guide.

Hokitika is the first town you’ll come to. This quaint seaside settlement has a rugged beach that your family may wish to explore, or you can visit the West Coast Treetop Walk or the Hokitika Gorge.

Continuing north, you’ll reach Greymouth, where you’ll board the TranzAlpine Train. If you have time and don’t mind the extra driving, you may be able to fit in a visit to the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki (40 minutes north of Greymouth)—speak to your guide if this is something you would like to do. The short walk around the Pancake Rocks is especially exciting at high tide when the blowholes are active.

When at last you board the TranzAlpine Train, travel in comfort past the soaring peaks and braided rivers of the Southern Alps, through the gorges of the Waimakariri River, and finally past the rolling Canterbury Plains. The open-air viewing carriage is a fun way for children to experience the scenery, or you can relax at the comfortable tables as you travel.

When you arrive in Christchurch, your guide will meet you at the train station and bring you to your accommodation.

Included today:

• TranzAlpine Train Journey Greymouth to Christchurch
• Apartment-style family accommodation in Christchurch

Stay 2 nights in Christchurch.

Day 7 Christchurch + Tram and Punting on the Avon River

Combining historic architecture and sprawling gardens with a vibrant new town centre that has risen from the ashes of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, Christchurch is now one of New Zealand’s most captivating cities. The walkable town centre boasts a thriving restaurant scene (be sure to visit the Riverside Market), a number of art galleries, and the Botanic Gardens.

Today you’ll explore Christchurch in a unique way that’s perfect for children of all ages. All-day tickets for the hop-on/hop-off heritage tram allow you to travel in a fun and easy way between the top sights, with informative commentary from the driver along the way.

In between tram rides, make your way to the Avon River for a relaxing 30-minute punting ride through either the city or the park—a fun and very different view of the city!

Family travel tip: Margaret Mahy Family Playground is one of the best playgrounds in New Zealand. From a toddler-suited sand play area to a series of exciting nets and towers and slides that will challenge older kids, it’s well worth a visit.

Included today:

• Christchurch Tramway All-Day Pass
• Punting on the Avon
• Apartment-style family accommodation in Christchurch

Day 8 Auckland + Hobbiton Movie Set Tour + Rotorua

In the morning, your guide will take you to Christchurch Airport to board a domestic flight from to Auckland (cost of flight not included in package—please enquire for indicative pricing).

When your guide collects you from Auckland Airport, your North Island adventure begins as you travel south to Hobbiton.  

Travel time Auckland to Matamata – 2 hours

Whether you are a dedicated Lord of the Rings fan or just curious about the much-beloved film set, Hobbiton is a real highlight. Children will love the miniature homes, with everything scaled to match, and the skill and detail that has gone into the set is incredible to see. Every hobbit-hole has its own personality that reflects the hobbit that lives inside, from the beekeeper with jars of honey sitting on a table outside to the craftspeople’s homes surrounded by miniature tools, and the gardens are laden with real produce.

As you tour the Hobbiton Movie Set, you’ll learn fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about how the films were brought to life. And if you’ve always wondered what it felt like to step inside a hobbit hole, you’re in luck—not long ago, the Hobbiton Movie Set opened up its very first fully realized hobbit homes that you can explore room by room. These are interactive and great fun for both kids and adults.

Your tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn, where you’ll enjoy a complimentary Hobbit-themed Southfarthing beverage (with alcoholic options for the adults).

Travel time Matamata to Rotorua – 1 hour 

Following your tour, enjoy the scenic drive through rolling farmland to Rotorua, the geothermal capital of New Zealand.

Family travel tip: The Redwoods Treewalk is a great activity for children! And you can book the day and night combo for a discounted rate. During the day, you really get to experience the forest and the swing bridges, while at night the lanterns are magical. (Just check what time the night visits are scheduled, as they vary depending on sunset times and can be quite late in summer.)

Included today:

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
• Apartment-style family accommodation in Rotorua

Stay 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 9 National Kiwi Hatchery Guided Tour + Rotorua Skyline Gondola & Luge + New Zealand Hāngi & Maori Culture Show

Today is a fun-filled day of Rotorua family activities. On top of that, you’ll still have free time to explore either on your own or with your guide—there are countless geothermal reserves to choose from (ask us for recommendations!), or else you can take a walk along the lakefront past steaming pools or soak in one of the hot springs.

Your first scheduled activity is a tour of the National Kiwi Hatchery, a conservation programme that has successfully hatched over 2,100 kiwi chicks. This 45-minute guided experience takes you to the purpose-built incubation facility, where you may be lucky enough to see a newly hatched kiwi chick! After your tour, your family can explore the interactive kiwi burrow and giant kiwi egg and see adult kiwi roaming and foraging in the purpose-built nocturnal house.

Next, head up the Skyline Gondola for spectacular views over Rotorua. At the Skyline complex, enjoy three thrilling luge rides—young children can ride with their parents. If you have older children, you can also try the SkySwing or the Zoom Zipline.

Finally, finish the day with a memorable Māori cultural experience including a hangi dinner. Your visit to Te Puia begins with a traditional Māori welcome including the famous haka, followed by a feast cooked in the traditional way by hot coals buried in hangi pits. After dinner, make your way through the geothermal reserve to a geyser and watch it erupt beneath the night sky.

Family travel tip: You may need to swap out today’s activities if you are travelling with very young children (ask us for suggestions!). The kiwi hatchery tour has a minimum age of 5. The Skyline luge is only suited for children over 85cm tall and 2 years of age (but all ages can ride the gondola!). The Māori evening experience is suited for all ages but finishes at 8:30 pm, so there is a daytime tour available (without the hangi dinner) if you need an earlier finish.

Included today:

• National Kiwi Hatchery Guided Tour
• Rotorua Skyline Gondola & 3 Luge Rides
• Te Puia Te Po Māori Evening Experience including Hangi Dinner
• Apartment-style family accommodation in Rotorua

Day 10 Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour + Auckland

Travel time Rotorua to Waitomo Caves – 2 hours 

Journey to the Waitomo Caves, where you will encounter the magical glowworms which are unique to New Zealand. Your tour through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves begins on foot, taking in dramatic cave formations, before you board a small boat to see Glowworm Grotto. When the lights turn out, these small bioluminescent larvae put on a display of countless twinkling lights reminiscent of a galaxy of stars.

Travel time Waitomo Caves to Auckland – 3 hours

Sit back and relax as your guide takes you to Auckland for your last night in New Zealand.

Home to one third of New Zealand’s population and bordered by two stunning harbours, Auckland is a thriving, diverse city surrounded by natural wonders. Your family may have time to make a trip up the Sky Tower or visit one of the museums around Auckland, or else you can simply enjoy a hearty dinner at one of the excellent and diverse eateries around the city.

Included today:

• Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour
• Family accommodation in Auckland (central Auckland or airport accommodation depending on your departing flight time)

Stay 1 night in Auckland.

Day 11 Depart Auckland

Your guide will deliver you to Auckland Airport for your departing flight.

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