New Zealand Family Vacation

We’ll meet your family in central Christchurch and make our way south to Methven and the Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa, a unique experience where we can relax while soaking in Southern alpine views. The Discovery Pools around offer family-friendly exploration for all ages in the crazy river, leap of faith jump pool, or the star lit caves.
Accommodation: Methven Motels, Methven Resort, or Brinkley Resort, Methven
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today we’ll head through the mountains to Queenstown. We’ll stop along the way for some of the best ice cream in the whole of New Zealand – you’ll soon find out why! We’ll then continue on through fruit orchards and vineyards before arriving in Queenstown.

After lunch, excitement levels will be high as we head off for a family rafting trip in Skippers Canyon. Set in a deep, beautiful, rose-lined schist gorge, it’s a spectacular float trip – perfect for the whole family. From June to September, rather than rafting which is closed for the winter, we take a lift on the gondola up Bob’s Peak for stunning views over the region and thrilling downhill rides on the luge.
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Heartland Hotel & Scenic Suites or Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we’ll replace the hustle of Queenstown with the beauty of beautiful and isolated Glenorchy at the furthest and most stunning end of Lake Wakatipu. We’ll explore the small town, with the option of a short hike if you’re keen, and a picnic lunch will be provided. 

This afternoon, we’ll cross Lake Wakatipu on board the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station. A guided farmyard tour led by our friendly rural host will get us up close with the friendly farm animals, including sheep, cattle, alpacas and farm dogs. A dinner buffet with local and homegrown produce will follow at the Walter Peak’s Homestead Restaurant, a beautifully restored colonial homestead surrounded by sweeping, elegant grounds. 
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Heartland Hotel & Scenic Suites or Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 0.2 mile (0.4 kilometer), 0.5-1 hour

All the comforts of civilization are packed into this tiny resort town: restaurants galore, sidewalk cafés, stylish lounge bars, day spas, and boutiques. There’s plenty of family entertainment here too: luge rides, a gondola, lakeside playgrounds, mini golf and a cinema. There are also some more adventurous optional activities such as horse trekking, kayaking, fishing, winery tours, hang gliding, mountain biking, bungy jumping, jet boating and skydiving as well as some great hiking opportunities. Or you can just soak up the atmosphere and lounge about reading a book. Your guides will happily share their favorite haunts and point you in the right direction for your free day today.

A great winter option (June to September) is to spend a couple of days skiing or snowboarding at one of four local ski areas: Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona or Treble Cone. 
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Heartland Hotel & Scenic Suites or Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
Meals: No meals

We have a leisurely start today, enjoying breakfast and a cuppa while admiring the view, before hiking back to the trailhead. Along the way, we might encounter the cheeky kea again – this time in its natural habitat – they’re really inquisitive and like to get pretty close at times! 

Back in Wanaka, we’ll have lunch before some free time. Lake Wanaka is the fourth largest lake in New Zealand and surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains. Whether you’re skipping stones on the lake’s edge or exploring the shops, Wanaka is a great spot to rediscover simple pleasures. Tonight we’ll mingle with the ‘coasters’ in the tiny township of Haast, exchanging tales of our adventures at the local restaurant in front of a roaring fire.
Accommodation: World Heritage Hotel, Haast
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 3-5 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 197 feet (60 meters) descent

Today we’ll head further up the coast to experience the West Coast Treetop Walk, an adventure among giants. This walk will take you up above the forest floor, allowing you to pass through an ancient canopy of rimu and kamahi trees. We’ll then continue to Hokitika, where you can check out the local art galleries and pounamu carving workshops (pounamu is Maori for jade). The beach here is a great place for playing games or making sculptures out of driftwood. Then we’ll head back through to Arthur’s Pass, the highest pass over the Southern Alps, to settle in for the night.
Accommodation: Arthur's Pass Motel, Arthur's Pass
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 2-3 hours

Today, after breakfast, we’ll head off to check out the Conservation Centre in Arthur’s Pass and learn about the Kea, the only true alpine parrot in the world! Afterward, we’re off to the ultimate hide-and-seek spot, Castle Hill. It’s a bit of a climb to the top, but it’s worth every step as we arrive at an eerie limestone landscape where much of the movie ‘Narnia – the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ was filmed. During a visit a few years ago, the Dalai Lama called this natural labyrinth ‘the spiritual center of the universe’!
Accommodation: Darfield Motels, Darfield
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 2 miles (3 kilometers), 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 164 feet (50 meters) ascent, 164 feet (50 meters) descent

This is the last day of your trip, and we’ll head on to Christchurch, with our last stop the International Antarctic Centre which offers a variety of experiences to learn about Antarctica, including chilling out in an Antarctic storm, riding an Antarctic Hägglund and seeing Little Blue Penguins.

After our Antarctic experience we’ll farewell our family and wave you off feeling refreshed, invigorated, and with lasting memories of the adventures, great food, stories, laughs and fun times you’ll have had with us in New Zealand!
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch