Curator’s statement
New Zealand is as epic as it seems! My wife and I took our two young daughters (4 and 1) to the North Island in March of 2025. It definitely did not disappoint — the dramatic landscape and wide range of outdoor activities are unmatched. What we were even more impressed with, though, were the little touches that made Kiwi culture so family-friendly. It may be a long flight, but the destination is worth it!
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Things to do in New Zealand
Rotorua Night Market: Every Thursday night, downtown Rotorua hosts a street market lined with food vendors and shops. This is a great way to try lots of different cuisines and get a sense for the people.
Luge Rotorua: Speed down the mountain like Mario Kart at Skyline New Zealand. There’s five different tracks to try from and it was incredibly fun for our toddler and us!
Horse Trekking Lake Okareka, Rotorua: Ride horses through native brush, pass by flocks of sheep, and up to epic views of Lake Okareka. The views are out of this world!
Mitai Maori Dinner: Learn about the traditional Maori culture and enjoy a wonderful meal using ancient cooking methods. We left feeling a strong connection to the land and people that we were visiting.
Hike Mount Maunganui at sunrise: Wake up early and head to Tauranga for a summit hike. You will be greatly rewarded with a birds-eye view of the beach and city below.
Hobbiton: Even if you’re not a Lord of the Rings or Hobbit fan, you will find this site equally impressive and charming. Our daughters loved exploring the town made for their size!
Piha Beach: About 45 minutes from Auckland CBD, this is the postcard beach on the North Island. Dramatic landforms and powerful surf make this a perfect sunset destination.
Waiheke Island day trip: Take a ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island to enjoy over 40 wineries along with restaurants, shops and a great family beach.
Sail the Auckland Harbour: While in the city of sails, you have to get out on the water! Visit the Maritime Museum and sail upon a boat constructed by museum staff.
Auckland Zoo: Great zoo with a wide variety of animals, including native species to New Zealand. There’s even a nocturnal kiwi exhibit to get up close!
Places to eat & drink in New Zealand
Number 8 Wire (Rotorua): Hands down, the best meal we had in Rotorua. Farm-to-table restaurant with great cuts of meat and fresh vegetables. Outdoor seating is available on summer evenings.
Beach Hut Cafe (Tauranga): After hiking up Mount Maunganui, stop here for a delicious fresh breakfast. Their pastries had unique flavors (white chocolate passion fruit muffins!) and their waffles were perfect.
MIBO Bakery (Auckland): Could have eaten breakfast here every day. Do yourself a favor and order (at least) one of their seasonal danishes!
Jurassic Ridge Winery (Waiheke Island): Not as big as some of the commercial vineyards nearby, Vance is a one-man show here. Do a tasting and get all the insight on how he uses ancient Roman methods of fermentation without using any additives.
The Garden Shed (Auckland): Right near Mount Eden, this restaurant is a plant lover’s dream! There’s a beautiful courtyard with hanging plants everywhere and fresh ingredients that match the scenery.
Ponsonby Central (Auckland): More of a collection of restaurants — this is the place you go to want to try as many different things in one meal. From Filipino skewers to Moroccan lamb meat pies and Korean barbeque, young kids will even find things they like!
Need to know
To get a true sense of Kiwi cuisine, look for farm-to-plate restaurants (like Number 8 Wire and the Garden Shed). These were by far our favorite meals of the trip!
Smile and say hello — we were amazed by how friendly everyone was throughout our travels. New Zealand is one big community and it’s beautiful being a part of it (even if for a limited time).
Be prepared for winding roads when traveling between your stops. This was especially the case from Rotorua to Tauranga. If you or your children get carsick easily, make sure to have Dramamine ready!
Enjoy the parks! One of the things we missed most about this trip was the atmosphere of the local parks. Families there enjoying time together outside and clean facilities made every park special.
Find ways to learn about Maori culture. Whether it’s attending the dinner recommended earlier, or doing your own research, there’s a very large community and their history is so important to the country!
Travel Advisor
Mike Mertel
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