Luxury Family Trip to New Zealand made for you
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Experience epic scenery, spectacular wildlife and outdoor adventure on your luxury New Zealand family tour
New Zealand’s location may seem remote, but the reward is a playground of natural wonders that feels like it was designed specifically for families. At Jacada Travel, we specialise in bridging that distance, turning a long journey into a seamless, memorable experience that begins the moment you step off the plane.
From bubbling geysers, cycle tracks, tranquil beaches and dune sandboarding in the North Island to glaciers, jet boating, whale watching and hiking in the South – this country delivers fun-filled activities for the whole family in a safe and easily accessible environment.
Get a taste of the quintessential rural life of New Zealand at Rotorua’s Agrodome where families can jump on a 4WD to explore a real working farm and hand-feed friendly baby animals. Explore a labyrinth of caves and underground rivers littered with thousands of magical glowworms that create a star-like canopy at Waitomo Caves. Go on a family adventure into middle-earth at the original Hobbiton movie set from Lord of the Rings, swim with friendly fur seals and hike through untouched forests to private beaches.
Wherever your family’s interests lie, get in touch today and let our travel designers carefully craft the perfect trip with experiences that will excite and delight you all.
Experiences picked by our destination specialists
A word from one of our experts
New Zealand truly is a natural playground where every glacier, glowworm cave and 'Middle-earth' trail feels curated just for your family. We'll craft a seamless journey that transforms the North and South islands into your own private backdrop for adventure and meaningful connection.
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in New Zealand
There are many incredible places to stay in New Zealand. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Get inspired with our New Zealand example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
13-Day Trip
Epic Family Adventure in New Zealand
13-Day Trip
Epic Family Adventure in New Zealand
15-Day Trip
Essential New Zealand
15-Day Trip
Essential New Zealand
10-Day Trip
A Complete Reset in New Zealand
10-Day Trip
A Complete Reset in New Zealand
Where to go in New Zealand
Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
Bay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
Christchurch
Curious travellers will relish all the new eclectic hubs to discover in a city and region that is full of surprises, friendly locals and an inspirational community spirit.
Coromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
Dunedin and Coastal Otago
Dunedin is a university town and there is a good selection of lively restaurants and bars. It is also a great base from which to explore the Otago Peninsula with its rugged landscape, beautiful beaches and wildlife.
Hawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
Kaikoura
With the swelling Pacific Ocean on one side and the snowcapped Kaikoura Range on the other – Kaikoura is a quaint peninsula village that is a base for discovering some of New Zealand’s best wildlife.
Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook, is an arresting sight dominating the skyline of the national park which surrounds it.
Marlborough Sounds and Wine Region
Hop from vineyard to vineyard on the wine trail in this diverse, sun-drenched plateau and sample some of the country’s finest wines, most notably the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park
With the snowy-peaked Southern Alps sloping down into deep blue waters and lushly forested shores bursting with wildlife, the spectacular Fiordland National Park area in the south-western corner of the South Island is known for its stunning vistas.
Nelson and Abel Tasman
New Zealand’s sunniest region has a diverse geography ripe for exploring from golden sand beaches to dense forests, the clearest fresh water lake in the world and secluded, enticing rivers.
Queenstown and Wanaka
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns, sitting on the tip of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s a bustling hub of international and local visitors come to seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping.
Rotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
Wellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
West Coast and the Glaciers
The narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea plays host to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, which is quite some claim.
Meet your Australasia team
When to visit
Around December to February, summer brings warmer temperatures across New Zealand’s South Island. This is an ideal time for coastal walks in Abel Tasman National Park.
The milder weather and fewer crowds of autumn (March to May) makes it one of the best seasons to experience Auckland’s sights on the North Island.
Come winter (June to August), a guided boat trip off Kaikōura’s coast invites you to spot migrating whales such as humpbacks and southern right whales.
Coastal walks in Abel Tasman National Park
December–February
Sightseeing in Auckland
March–May
Whale-watching in Kaikōura
June–August
New Zealand travel guides
Plan your trip to New Zealand
Whatever you want from your adventure in New Zealand, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Ask our experts
Are travelling distances in New Zealand long?
Our travel designers will ensure your family trip to New Zealand is as seamless as possible in order to minimise journey time, however some longer travelling distances are unavoidable. Drives between certain destinations may take several hours, particularly as New Zealand’s mountainous roads can be slow and winding. Transfers will be done by a professional driver guide, in comfortable, luxurious vehicles, and with stops for refreshments and services factored in.
Is North or South Island better for family trips?
For adventurous families who love the outdoors, we recommend visiting the South Island because it offers a rich variety of active and adventure activities to suit families of all ages, including whale watching, hiking and kayaking. It also has good family-friendly infrastructure, including well-maintained roads and child-friendly hotels, making it easy for families to get around.
What are some must-do family activities in New Zealand?
Some of the must-do family activities in New Zealand include whale watching or sea kayaking in Kaikōura, exploring the bioluminescent Waitomo glowworm caves or the Hobbiton movie set, or a private boat cruise through Milford Sound. There are also countless hiking and biking trails, geothermal hot springs and ziplining and white water rafting for adventurous families.
Don't take our word for it
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
