8 holiday stops for kids

Meet Tom the Troll at Waitomo

Located close to the famous glow-worm grottos in Waitomo, there’s a cavern which is home to something big, ugly and mean – Tom the Troll. Young adventurers take an elevator down into the purpose-built artificial cave to find Tom. The Troll Cave experience is interactive and guides help to dial the fear factor up or down depending on how the children react.

Be baffled at Wanaka Puzzling World

Children love to get lost in Puzzling World’s great maze, solve problems in the puzzle centre and enjoy optical illusions that appear to defy gravity, physics and common sense. Discover the world’s first 3-D ‘Super Maze’, and check out the very unusual toilets! Some areas are free to enter, so call in and discover a world of weirdness.

Bubbling mud and fearsome warriors at Rotorua’s Te Puia

Kids will love a stroll around Rotorua’s Te Whakarewarewa Valley in Te Puia. They can watch the world-famous Pohutu Geyser catapult water 30 metres into the air, marvel at the bubbling mud pools, or watch master carvers and weavers at work and hear the guides share stories passed down from their ancestors.

Go behind the scenes in Wellywood’s Weta Cave

Wellington’s Weta Cave is the stuff of big dreams for small kids. Tiny film fans can go on a journey from Middle Earth to Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island and beyond. Guests can snap a photo with life-sized statues, find souvenirs to take home, or discover the secrets to the making of much-loved films such as The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Feel the thrills at the Skyline in Rotorua

Skyline in Rotorua is the ultimate adventure destination for kids of all ages. Enjoy a relaxing ride up to the adventure zone in the gondola while you take in the views across Rotorua. When you reach the top, enjoy a day of luging, mountain bike riding, zip-lining or swinging on the Skyswing. There’s also a Jelly Belly store, mini diggers, and a nature trail.

Go island hopping

The ferry trip from Wellington to Picton takes around three hours and is a great way to begin your holiday in either region. In Wellington, take a walk around the harbour, enjoy an ice-cream or fish and chips, and wander through Te Papa. In Picton, let the kids loose in the cool playground on the foreshore or visit the Picton EcoWorld Aquarium.

Get in touch with nature in Kaikoura

If you’ve got a little nature lover in the family, then a trip to Kaikoura is a must. They’ll never forget the wonder of seeing majestic whales and playful dolphins in their natural environment on a Whale Watch tour. Or watch the cheeky seals t basking in the sun at Point Kean. A wonderful place to see how amazing the world around us can be.

The best things are free!

Of course, you don’t need to spend much to provide kids with amazing experiences, especially when you’re travelling by RV! Toasting marshmallows over a campfire (where allowed), sipping hot chocolate while stargazing, glow-worm hunting, and listening to stories about your childhood adventures – all guaranteed to put a smile on their faces!