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Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $4,398
    To $4,898 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+From $1,030 To $1,330
    for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

7 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2009 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 dinner.

Recommended Kids Ages

View age recommendations and restrictions

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Auckland, New Zealand/Taupo, New Zealand

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Geological Wonders, Kayak, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Raft, Rainforest Exploration, Spa, Swim, Tropical/Winter Sunshine, Water Activities

My Backroads

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Recommended Reads

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

New Zealand Family

New Zealand Family Multisport

Family Fun on the North Island

New Zealand offers a world of fun for adventurous families! Edged with serene bays and beaches tucked safely into the craggy coastline, the North Island is both tranquil and exciting. The landscape features trout-filled streams, fertile farmland covered by sheep, and forests of tree ferns and native bush in addition to gushing geysers, steaming vents, bubbling pools and towering volcanoes. This incredibly diverse island is also home to a vital Maori culture, with an abundance of art and ancient legends. Explore the North Island with Backroads by pedal and paddle, on foot and by raft - an adventure sure to bring out the kid in everyone.

View the Classic Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View other trips in Asia & the Pacific

Days 1-2 Pauanui

Meet in Auckland Our Kiwi guide Damian Johansen leads us through a jungle of vines and giant tree ferns to a hidden pool Pedal to Hahei and hike to the white rock sculpture of Cathedral Cove, where white-sand beaches await.

Days 3-4 Rotorua

Hike the lush Karangahake Gorge, crossing suspension bridges and walking through an old gold-mining tunnel before enjoying a swim in the Waitewheta River Kayak on tranquil Lake Rotoiti and then take a dip in thermal lakeside hot springs  Bike along the beautiful (and bumpy) north shore of Lake Rotorua Visit the Agrodome for a farm tour that offers the chance to feed sheep and see sheepshearing in action Ever bounced downhill inside a giant plastic ball? Now's your chance to give the Kiwi-created Zorb a try.

Days 5-7 Taupo

Pedal along rolling pastures of Kiwi farmland to Waikite Hot Pools, perfect for a dip  At Wai-o-Tapu, walk past geysers, hot springs, colorful silica terraces and percolating mud pots Tame the Tongariro River on a Class III rafting trip Enjoy a walk to Huka Falls  Feeling fearless? Try a bungee jump over the Waikato River.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

I purchased this New Zealand trip last Christmas for my family. We have touted this trip for one year as our "family vacation of a lifetime," as my son is 18 and will be leaving for college next year. We couldn't have been more pleased or had a better time. The trip leaders were awesome, and we met some great families and friends. Thanks for making this such a great family vacation!
Ryan Smith - Draper, UT

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the New Zealand tour experts. For multisport tours in Asia & the Pacific, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Asia & the Pacific multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours click here.

New Zealand Family Multisport

KIWI-STYLE COMFORTS: Premiere Inns

Puka Park Resort

Pauanui (2 nights): Settle into your private chalet nestled in the rain forest at this secluded wilderness retreat.

Duxton Hotel

Rotorua (2 nights): Lovely accommodations set right on Lake Rotoiti, with spa pools, heated swimming pool, tennis courts, on-site spa treatments and spacious guest rooms.

Millennium Hotel

Taupo (2 nights): Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Taupo from this waterfront hotel, with a pool, two restaurants and spacious luxurious rooms.

New Zealand Family Multisport New Zealand Family Multisport

Duxton Hotel

View the Classic Premiere Inns Itineraries.

New Zealand Family Multisport

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1

  • Level 1  1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 4 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
  • Biking 8, 13, 20, 40 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 2 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 2, 6 miles
  • 0 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Kayaking 3 hours
  • Optional Biking 14 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Farm Tour and Sheep Shearing Demonstration
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 16, 25 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 2.5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
  • Rafting 4 hours
Day 7
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 0-500 feet elevation gain
  • Optional Bungy Jumping

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities.

New Zealand Family Multisport New Zealand Family Multisport

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles