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New Zealand Family Multisport

New Zealand Family Multisport

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.

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 beautiful 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 Waitawheta River Kayak on tranquil Lake Rotoiti and then take a dip in thermal lakeside hot springs  Adults bike along the beautiful (and hilly) 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? Kids get the 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.

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KIWI-STYLE COMFORTS: Premiere Inns

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

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

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7

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


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.

Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2011 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years

Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years

Minimum age restriction to Zorb: 6 years

Minimum age restriction to raft the rapids section: 10 years 

Minimum age restriction to raft a calmer section 5 years

Minimum age restriction to bungee jump: 10 years and 100 lbs. (on your own)

No burleys available.

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

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

I had an absolute blast. I thought the variety of activities were great and the leaders were fun and interactive. Bungee jumping was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I would redo the trip in an instant!
Grant Pope - Saint Louis, MO

Our family LOVED this trip. Backroads leaders were terrific and 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.
Susan Faxon - Harrison, NY

New Zealand is the perfect family destination. We loved every minute of it.
Katherine Pope - Saint Louis, MO