The Best Family-Friendly Organized Tours to New Zealand
Guided Group Tours, Vacation Packages, or Planned Itineraries
Looking for an incredible family getaway that checks all the boxes? Whether you're traveling with your younger adventurers or simply craving a well-organized tour that caters to every member of the family, we've found the best selection of organized and guided tours for your next family vacation. By analyzing all of the tours, holiday packages, and guided vacations in New Zealand, we've found the best among all the options based on price, ratings, amenities, destinations, activities, and more. This way, you'll have a stress-free and memorable family holiday experience where you can focus on having fun and spending time with your family. So why wait? Take the leap, book your tour to New Zealand today, and get ready for an incredible journey filled with laughter, love, and memories that will last a lifetime.
The Best Family-Friendly Tours through New Zealand
Including guided tours, organized tours, holiday packages, all-inclusive vacations, and guided itineraries.
All tour prices are listed in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically. While we do our best to evaluate all tours to maintain accuracy, always confirm the details directly with TourRadar or the tour company before booking. The information provided on this website is sourced directly from TourRadar and may change at any time.
Why does New Zealand appeal to families?
New Zealand appeals to families for its unique mix of cultural experiences, child-friendly attractions, and safe, welcoming environment. Auckland, Rotorua, and Napier offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Fiordland National Park is known for its world renowned hiking trails and stunning natural environments. Paihia, Nelson, and Napier are popular with beach lovers. Tours to the region offer a perfect mix of family relaxation and adventure in an affordable package, as there's something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, family-friendly itineraries make it easy to travel stress-free while creating lasting memories together.
How much do family-friendly tours to New Zealand cost?
The average daily price of Family-Friendly Tours in New Zealand is $390 per day. Prices can vary widely due to the included amenities, length of the trip, number of guests on the tour, and many other factors. If you want more information about prices, we have put together a complete analysis of the costs of Family-Friendly Tours in New Zealand here.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
Which Tour Companies Offer Family-Friendly Tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer family-friendly tours in New Zealand. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Collette
Collette is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain, and France. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and camping.
AAT Kings
AAT Kings is a smaller tour company that focuses on Australia and New Zealand. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. The tours offered by AAT Kings are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, snorkelling, diving, dolphin watching, and island hopping.
Thrifty Tours
Focusing on New Zealand, Thrifty Tours is a smaller tour company which provides a personalized level of service to customers. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category.
See All Tours from Thrifty Tours
Bucket List Group Travel LLC
Bucket List Group Travel LLC is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Nepal, India, and Australia. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. The tours offered by Bucket List Group Travel LLC are usually luxurious, high-end, and provide a top-tier level of service. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, snorkelling, and rock climbing.
See All Tours from Bucket List Group Travel LLC
Family-Friendly Destinations in New Zealand
Wondering where family-friendly tours visit in New Zealand? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Queenstown
Queenstown is located on the banks of Lake Wakatipu near the Southern Alps in New Zealand. It is a high adventure destination with many activities for thrill seekers. There are also vineyards in the area, bungee jumping, and world class hikes. Whether you want to enjoy skiing in the winter or boating in the summer, there is no shortage of activities here.
Kids will enjoy the Queenstown cable car and the Skyline Gondola. After a ride on the gondola, you can even take the luge back down! The city also offers lake cruises, family-friendly farm tours, boat tours, and kayaking.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand's South Island. It's a nice city with amazing hikes and biking trails. There are beautiful outdoor spaces, parks, and gardens. Many visitors enjoy the city's rich English heritage, and punting along the Avon River is a favorite activity.
The International Antarctic Centre is a thrilling and fun experience. There's also the Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. For adrenaline junkies there are the ropes courses at the Adrenalin Forest. There are also many indoor playgrounds and rock climbing facilities.
Auckland
Auckland is a waterfront city that is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in New Zealand. It's spread out between the Manukau Harbour and the Waitemata Harbour, and there's a compact city centre with a number of landmarks and attractions. For many visitors, it's the point of arrival or departure to the country.
There's a big focus on getting kids outside in the city, so you'll find many outdoor parks and play spaces. Popular activities for families include visiting the Huia Lodge Discovery Centre, going to the Museum of Transport and Technology, and wandering through the botanical garden.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a town on New Zealand's North Island that is surrounded by geothermal activity and is filled with Maori culture. There are geysers, hot springs, and cultural villages in the area that make this a highlight for any traveler. Many visitors also enjoy a visit to the charming and whimsical Hobbiton, from the Lord of the Rings movies.
The geothermal activity is fascinating for kids and adults alike. There are also many activities that will teach kids about the Maori culture and for animal lovers, there are farms and wildlife tours. Lord of the Rings fans won't want to miss Hobbiton, and there are many thrilling activities in the area such as white water rafting.
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Other popular destinations for family-friendly tours through New Zealand include Franz Josef, Bay of Islands, Omarama, Greymouth, and Hokitika.
Family-Friendly Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
Before deciding to book a tour or handle the planning yourself, it's important to consider the aspects of each travel style.
Organized Tours
- Everything is planned for you.
- Guides make destinations more engaging.
- See the highlights efficiently.
- Meet other families on the tour.
- Less stress navigating unfamiliar areas.
- Family-friendly activities are included.
- No transportation worries.
- Access to special experiences.
- Fixed schedules limit flexibility.
- Tours can be more expensive.
- Sharing with strangers may feel less personal.
- Limited time at attractions.
- Activities may not fit your interests.
- Meals might not suit your preferences.
- Busy days can tire out kids.
Independent Travel
- Plan everything to fit your needs.
- Save money by choosing budget options.
- Focus on what your family enjoys most.
- Discover hidden gems and go off-script.
- Bond while planning and traveling together.
- Engage with locals at your own pace.
- Eat where you want, when you want.
- Balance sightseeing with rest.
- Planning takes a lot of time.
- You might miss important attractions.
- Arranging logistics can be stressful.
- Hard to balance too much or too little.
- Emergencies are harder to handle.
- Language barriers may create issues.
- Costs can be unpredictable.
- Harder to meet other traveling families.
Which is cheaper?
Is it cheaper to plan your own trip or join guided family-friendly tours? The answer isn't clear-cut. Tours typically package accommodations, transportation, meals, entry fees, and activities into one price, whereas independent travelers must arrange and pay for these themselves. To understand the cost difference, compare the tour's price with the cost of booking everything individually. Depending on whether you choose budget-friendly options or splurge on certain aspects, the tour might be a better deal—or not. Make sure to check what's included before drawing conclusions.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, The Best Historical Tours in New Zealand, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, The Best 3-Day Tours in New Zealand, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, The Best 3-Week Tours in New Zealand, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in New Zealand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in New Zealand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in New Zealand, The Best Cultural Tours in New Zealand, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in New Zealand, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in New Zealand, The Tours for Animal Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, The Best Self Drive Tours in New Zealand, The Best Walking Tours in New Zealand, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, or The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Auckland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Christchurch, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Wellington, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Queenstown, The Best 10-Day Tours from Christchurch, The Best 10-Day Tours from Auckland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Wellington, The Best 2-Week Tours from Auckland, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Christchurch for more package tour options.
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