5 Winter Holidays – Without The Snow

Te Papa in Wellington is a perfect place to visit for a winter holiday

Snow isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a winter holiday, just add a few extra layers and enjoy the fresh winter temperatures. We decided to round-up 5 activity-filled destinations for a family getaway without the snow.

Wellington IN WINTER WITH KIDS

Wellington may get super-windy in winter, but with places like Te Papa, Space Place, Capital E, and Wellington Museum, you’ll have no issues spending all day inside. Visit Zealandia, Staglands or Wellington Zoo for your animal fix, head-up the cable car or Mount Victoria for stunning views of the city or pop out to Oriental Bay for a lovely walk along the beach. Warm up with a hot chocolate from the Wellington Chocolate Factory or treat yourself to a delicious thick Italian version (imagine hot chocolate and cream in splender together) from Scopa.

Rotorua IN WINTER WITH KIDS

Rotorua is the ultimate hot-spot for a winter holiday. This geo-thermal area is a family-play zone with plenty of indoor options, and outdoor activities that are all open and easy to enjoy in winter. Head up the gondola for beautiful views and down the luge for some thrills, race each other through the A-Mazeing maze, head out on the lake, explore the buried village, wander through geo-thermal areas, visit the Polynesian spa or the hot pools, or head for some indoor activities like the 3D trick art gallery or to the inside entertainment mall, Motion Entertainment.

Northland IN WINTER WITH KIDS

Ahh – the winterless North, the perfect location for a winter holiday with no snow. The weather is usually mild enough to just need an extra layer to two to partake in some of the North’s best attractions. Take a nature cruise through the Bay of Islands and visit the Hole in the Rock (hop on at Paihia), enjoy walks through beautiful forests and maybe take a glow worms tour in Kawhiti, learn about New Zealand history at the Treaty of Waitangi grounds, or walk along the beached and enjoy a wilder winter ocean.

The winterless north makes for a perfect winter holiday destination, the hole in the rock is a great trip to take

 Auckland IN WINTER WITH KIDS

Auckland is a great place to have a city adventure during winter, with multiple museums and indoor activities to visit. There’s the Auckland War Memorial Museum, MOTAT, Howick Historical Village, SeaLife Kelly Tarltons, plus loads of places to go indoor rock climbing or have a round of mini golf. It’s still warm enough to climb Rangitoto or head to Cornwall Park to play on the playground, and you’ll find a tonne of amazing kid-friendly cafes with playgrounds and serving up cosy winter meals. 

 Christchurch IN WINTER FOR KIDS

While there are plenty of ski fields in the area, Christchurch is home to some awesome attractions that don’t involve snow. The Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery, Quake City, and NZ Museum of Toys and Collectibles are all fun indoor activities. The Turanga Library has plenty to offer with kid-friendly events and classes. The Christchurch Tram is a fun way to get around the city, try rock climbing at a Clip n Climb, wrap up warm and spend an evening star gazing from Godley Head Reserve or the Sugarloaf landmark, or alternatively The Canterbury Astronomical Society run sessions in West Melton. 

More Travel From Tots to Teens

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Family Adventures In Queenstown

How To Spend 48 Hours In New Plymouth

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