The North Island/Te Ika-a-Māui provides the perfect playground of exploration for kids over the school holidays, with a range of family-friendly locations and activities to discover new kinds of fun. Grab the fam and load up your Thrifty rental car and head out to any of these thrilling places that are sure to keep the kids (and the adults!) smiling all the way through the school break.

Explore the City in Auckland

The harbourside city of Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau offers a plethora of exciting adventures for families to explore. The iconic Auckland Zoo is home to the largest diversity of wildlife in the whole of New Zealand/Aotearoa, bringing you animals that are both native to the country and are from all around the world. There’s a range of activities and experiences that let you get up close and personal with the zoo animals, from feeding a giraffe to meeting a Galápagos giant tortoise. You can even take a tour that immerses you in New Zealand’s native flora and fauna with the Te Wao Nui tour, introducing you to the unique natural offerings that make up the country. For another Auckland city activity, check out the SkyWalk. Perfect for family members over ten years of age, SkyWalk offers the thrilling experience of walking around the outside of New Zealand’s tallest building, letting you soar at the crazy height of 192 metres tall. This is a great option for adrenaline seekers wanting to chase the thrill of new heights these school holidays. SkyWalk also offers incredible views of Auckland city, allowing you to walk all the way around the circumference of the tower to take in the sweeping skyline of the buildings below.

Discover Geothermal Wonderlands in Rotorua

Explore the natural theme parks that are the geothermal wonderlands of volcanic activity in Rotorua. These forces of nature are fascinating to adventurers of all ages, with some of the geysers that explode out of the ground of the volcanic rock reaching up to 30 metres high. Te Puia is a popular spot to watch the geysers reach for the sky, however Kuirau Park in the city central also houses an incredible range of bubbling mud pools and geothermal activity, and all for free. Rotorua also boasts some of the best mountain biking trails in the country and makes for an exciting way to experience the natural delights of the scenery that are on offer whilst cruising down the hills and valleys. To relax at the end of a day of exploring, make sure to visit any of the hot springs that Rotorua is famous for. Both the adults and the kids will love the naturally warm water of the geothermal waters, maybe so much so that you won’t want to leave!

Embrace the Environment in Taupō

Sitting on the edge of Lake Taupō, the town of Taupō in the heart of the North Island provides a range of family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained over the holidays. The long ski season at Mount Ruapehu (June to October) makes Taupō a hotspot for families wanting to make the most of the winter holidays and embrace the snowy alpines. Whakapapa Ski Area is the perfect pick for families with varied skill sets when it comes to skiing or snowboarding, and the snow field’s Happy Valley makes learning how to navigate the snowy terrains a (snow)ball of fun for everyone of all ages. The fun in Taupō doesn’t stop there—the famous Huka Falls is another gem of the region that you can’t miss. Watch as the country’s longest river, Waikato River, moves north from Lake Taupō and explodes through the volcanic rock into the turbulent pool below, resulting in the almighty Huka Falls. This natural landmark can be observed from afar on an observation deck, or for those wanting to seek that extra bit of thrill there are jet boat rides that take you right up close to the majesty of the falls. 

Learn About the World at Hamilton Gardens

Discover the magic of Hamilton Gardens in the heart of Waikato. This unique garden space is home to 18 enclosed gardens that are carefully maintained and immaculately manicured, all with a different theme or story. A great place to spend time as a family, these gardens are both spectacular to look at and educational to explore. From the Ancient Egyptian Garden to the Chinese Scholars’ Garden, the different gardens will transport you all over the world and to a variety of cultures, allowing you to travel across country borders all while staying comfortably in Hamilton. There’s even the world’s only traditional productive Māori garden, Te Parapara Garden. It’s not just flowers found in this garden, but stories too. 

From zoo visits to adrenaline activities, New Zealand’s North Island is filled with heaps of adventures for kids and the whole family to enjoy over the school holidays.