New Zealand Family Multisport
- Bike past Rotorua's fascinating geothermal elements to hot springs perfect for a soak
- Experience traditional Maori customs and foods at a marae (ceremonial meeting place)
- Kids try the exhilarating and uniquely Kiwi sport of Zorbing
- Stroll past giant tree ferns and hanging vines to a secret valley
- Kayak on Lake Rotoiti to a small hot spring accessible only by boat
Call 800-462-2848, Every day 7am–5pm,PST
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Family Fun on the North Island
Kiwis know how to have fun. Serious fun. Bigger than life is normal. Climbing inside a huge inflated ball with a splash of water and rolling down a hill. Attaching a long elastic cord to your feet and diving off a bridge. Supercharged hiking, biking and boating. Giant tree ferns, percolating mud pots, striking gorges, dramatic coastline and hidden swimming holes - just part of the daily grind. Don't miss out on the fun! Join us in an exploration of this living, breathing, wild landscape.
Days
1-2 Stroll with our Kiwi guide past giant tree ferns and hanging vines to a hidden pool in the Broken Hills wilderness 
Can you believe this forest has remained virtually unchanged for millions of years? Pedal to Hahei and hike to Cathedral Cove, a little piece of heaven on earth with a white-sand beach, sculpted sandstone monoliths and gentle crystalline waters.
Day
3 Traditional Maori customs and foods at a marae (ceremonial meeting place) Hike the lush Karangahake Gorge, venturing across suspension bridges and investigating an old gold-mining tunnel before cooling off in the Waitawheta River.
Day
4 Kids try the exhilarating and uniquely Kiwi sport of Zorbing Kayak on Lake Rotoiti to a small hot spring accessible only by boat Along the way, explore quiet inlets and spot a variety of native birds Ever fed an emu or watched sheepshearers in action? Never say never!
Days
5-7 Tame the Tongariro River on a Class III rafting trip Pedal through rolling pastures of farmland and along the white cliffs of the Paeroa Range to Waikite Hot Pools, perfect for a dip Watch your step - geysers, thermal springs, colorful silica terraces and percolating mud pots abound at Wai-O-Tapu At Huka Falls, witness the Waikato River as it enters a narrow rock channel and emerges in a spectacular display of foam and spray Feeling fearless? Try a bungee jump over the river.
Call 800-462-2848, Every day 7am–5pm,PST
Guests Reviews About This Trip
To celebrate my 50th birthday, I waited for two years to save enough money to take this trip and it was worth it!!! It was an incredible experience for our family. I thank you Backroads! It was the first time in years that my husband engaged in all the activities and actually relaxed. It was a trip of a lifetime and we loved every minute. I must credit all three guides for making our trip so meaningful and special. Everything they did was put forward with passion and love of life. They worked really hard but never showed it. Instead they shared their joy and kind spirit. And their enthusiasm for what they do was contagious. We all enjoyed their energy and good fun. Thanks again for an incredible trip.
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!- Draper, UT
Our family LOVED this trip. Backroads leaders were terrific and the mix of activities was just right! New Zealand was the perfect place to spend the holidays with my family and new Backroads friends. I would highly recommend this trip to families who love the outdoors and like to spend their days actively having fun.- Harrison, NY
Premiere Inns*
Puka Park Resort
Pauanui (2 nights) Settle into your private chalet at this secluded wilderness hideaway nestled among 25 acres of New Zealand bush. (pool, spa, tennis)
Amora Lake Resort
Rotorua (2 nights) A comfortable getaway on the shore of Lake Rotoiti. (pool, tennis)
Millennium Hotel
Taupo (2 nights) Amodern and convenient haven on Lake Taupo with waterfront guest rooms. (pool, tennis)
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
Routes 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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking | 3.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 12* | 300 | 31* | 700 | ||||||
| Walking | 2.0* | 400 | |||||||||
| Walking | 3.0 | 400 | |||||||||
| 3 | Walking | 3.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 900 | ||||||
| 4 | Kayaking | On Lake Rotoiti (3 hours) | |||||||||
| Other | Afternoon farm tour with sheepshearing demonstration | ||||||||||
| Kids | Zorb adventure (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 19* | 400 | 23* | 600 | ||||||
| Biking | 28* | 900 | |||||||||
| Other | Waiotapu Thermal Park walk (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Walking | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Rafting | On the Tongariro River (4 hours) | ||||||||||
| 7 | Walking | 3.0* | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Optional bungee jumping at Waikato River (1 hour) | ||||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 5% dirt and 95% paved).
On this Family Trip, our routes follow rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities.
* Includes a shuttle
More Recommended Trips
For 34 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the New Zealand tour experts. See our award-winning Asia & the Pacific multisport tours, Asia & the Pacific biking tours and Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours.
