Your family-holiday success can hinge on where you stay. Will everyone have enough room? Is it close enough to everything? Can you get five minutes of peace?
Luckily, you’ve got us around, so we’re shooting over our top five New Zealand resorts to keep you and the kids happy (and let them think it’s all about them).
1. Annandale (Scrubby Bay) – Pigeon Bay
Why we love it: This is ‘gumboot luxury’ on a working coastal farm, where the kids can roam across 4000 acres, take guided 4WD tours, and get up close to cows and sheep. Getting their hands (and their boots) dirty helping out in the shearing sheds will have them awestruck. They’ll never forget to shut a gate again.
When they’ve had enough of farm life, there’s hiking, biking, and dolphin adventures in Pigeon Bay. Afterwards, relax in private, five-star comfort, and let the Anandale crew serve you dinner after their on-site cooking class. Now that’s what we call a holiday.
2. Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Why we love it: In the centre of Queenstown, on the shores of Wakatipu Lake, it’s the perfect base for a winter of snow fun, or a summer spent ziplining, parasailing, and mountain biking.
Free breakfast for under 16-year-olds and free Wi-Fi are kind to the holiday budget. And – wait for it– there’s in-room childcare available! We’ll wait why you finish your happy dance. Do something they don’t expect and order a sneaky midnight snack from the 24-hour room service menu. That’s a childhood memory to treasure.
3. Edgewater – Lake Wanaka
Why we love it: You’ll gasp at the mountain views on the edge of Lake Wanaka, but the kids will be too busy getting on the slopes. Best of all, it’s close to both the gentler Cardrona ski fields and the more intense Treble Cone, so you can mix things up as you go.
For a quiet day at the resort, mini golf and a playground will keep the little ones happy, fuelled by a special children’s menu at the on-site restaurant.
Mess with their heads at Puzzling World – a theme park full of illusions, including the world’s first 3D ‘Super Maze’ and wacky buildings, all designed to tire out buzzing brains. Then book in that on-site childcare and take a sneaky trip to Rippon Vineyard (only 1.5 km away). It’d be rude not to, right?
4. Best Western Braeside Rotorua – Rotorua
Why we love it: This North Island gem is a three-minute walk from the Skyline Adventure Centre. The kids can luge or zipline down the mountain, and you can take a breather on a gondola ride with views of Lake Rotorua.
Comfy bedding in spacious rooms keeps everyone cosy and getting along. And a pool, playground, and games room (table tennis, anyone?) come in handy for those days when everyone needs to chill out and slow down. If you can keep them off the zipline, that is.
5. Paihia Beach Resort & Spa Hotel
Why we love it: Paihia lets the adults indulge in a luxury holiday without leaving the kids behind. Immaculate rooms with private balconies, plus every suite has an ocean view. Friendly staff will organise a family outing to cruise through the waters of the Bay of Islands and see the iconic Hole in the Rock landmark (perfect for that holiday Facebook post).
Swim with the dolphins in New Zealand’s warmest waters, walk to Paihia Beach, or mark your spot beside one of the six resort pools.
For an educational day out, take the family to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (less than 2km away), where the kids can learn about Māori culture. Don’t miss the Hāngi! Learning and full bellies? You’re winning as a parent.
