New Zealand is packed with unspoiled natural landscapes, incredible parks, and adventure-filled destinations where you can make the best memories. Tons of places in this country boast coastal glaciers, fish-filled rivers, and caves that travelers will have fun exploring. With its dramatic topography, exciting activities, such as white water rafting, skydiving, mountain biking, and jet boating, are possible. For travelers who like the island lifestyle, Bay of Islands is the place to be. However, if you want to be where all the buzz is, there is no destination better than Queenstown. Meanwhile, wildlife enthusiasts and seafood lovers should consider visiting the coastal Kaikoura. If you’re traveling here with your loved ones, check out this list of top family resorts in New Zealand.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and access to family-friendly amenities and activities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on October 30, 2025.
1. Taipa Beach Resort (from USD 150)
Delicious meals at the on-site restaurant, though some areas for improvement in service.
Reasonable pricing for spacious rooms and beachfront location.
Conveniently located near the beach with easy access to shops and attractions.
Great on-site facilities including pool, spa, and well-equipped kitchenettes.
For families looking for the perfect summer destination in New Zealand, consider visiting Taipa and booking a stay in this beachfront resort. With its location, you can spend your days indulging in water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing. When the beach is not a good choice, you can still have fun with the resort’s facilities.
There are a swimming pool and a hot tub that both the young ones and adults can enjoy. A tennis court and a golf course are also within the vicinity. Children-friendly networks, books, DVDs, and puzzles are available for the little ones. When they’re hungry, the resort has meals for them.
Taipa Beach Resort
Address: 22 Taipa Point Road
468.57 km (291.2 mi) from Huka Falls
2. Hilton Queenstown Resort AND Spa (from USD 298)
Have the best vacation in Queenstown when you book a stay at Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa. Sitting on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, this resort offers guests five-star amenities, such as an indoor pool, a wellness center, and a gym. All the guest rooms are completed with LCD TV, a bathroom with a bathtub, and outdoor views. There are also family rooms available.
When it comes to food, you can head to Wakatipu Grill and enjoy hearty meals and local wines. A kid-friendly buffet is also available. In need of some alone time? Avail of the resort’s babysitting services.
Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa
Address: Kawarau Village, 79 Peninsula Road
934.81 km (580.9 mi) from Huka Falls
3. Peppers Bluewater Resort, Lake Tekapo (from USD 204)
Mixed reviews for the on-site restaurant, with some guests finding the meals disappointing.
Reasonable pricing for the area, but restaurant meals were expensive.
Central location with easy access to shops, restaurants, and attractions. Stunning views of Lake Tekapo.
Clean and well-equipped rooms, some with lake views. Friendly staff and convenient facilities.
Peppers Bluewater Resort is an ideal venue for families and couples on a romantic escapade. Its location in the heart of Mackenzie Country, near Lake Tekapo, affords guests breathtaking sceneries every day of their stay. The accommodation provided by the resort is on par with the stunning landscape surrounding it. Here, guests can enjoy luxurious amenities that are fitting for both kids and adults. Its on-site restaurant serves kids’ meals and special diet meals upon request. WiFi, parking, and family rooms are available, as well.
Activities, such as hiking, cycling, and fishing, are also possible. If you want someone to watch over the little ones, the resort offers babysitting services.
Traveler's tips
Douglas
When visiting Mackenzie Country, include the Ahuriri Valley, Lake Ohau, and Mount Cook areas for breathtaking landscapes, glacial valleys, and snow-capped mountains. The region is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and scenic drives, with highlights like the Alps to Ocean trail—a multi-day cycling route that takes you from Mount Cook through Mackenzie Country to the Pacific Coast. Focus on one or two regions, exploring destinations within one to two hours’ drive from your base, to fully appreciate New Zealand’s unique landscapes without feeling rushed.
Peppers Bluewater Resort This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: State Highway 8
757.57 km (470.8 mi) from Huka Falls
4. Wairakei Resort Taupo (from USD 73)
Dining experiences vary from excellent dinner options to basic and overpriced breakfasts.
Good value for money with last-minute booking discounts available.
Convenient location close to attractions, though a car may be required for town access.
Great pools, fitness center, and proximity to hot pools and golf club.
Spoil your family with a stay in Wairakei Resort Taupo, a four-star resort with a plethora of lavish amenities. This resort offers guests six spa pools and heated pools that guarantee relaxation. With its location in a stunning geothermal valley, every day of your stay includes breathtaking nature scenes. Aside from that, its on-site restaurant serves dishes that will suit the taste of the youngsters.
For leisure, guests can play tennis, go golfing, or burn some calories in the fitness center. There is an outdoor play area for the kids, and babysitting services are available if you need someone to keep an eye on them.
Wairakei Resort Taupo
Address: 640 Wairakei Drive TAUPO, Wairakei, Taupo, New Zealand, 3384
2.29 km (1.5 mi) from Huka Falls
5. Ramada Resort By Wyndham Rotorua Marama (from USD 276)
Offering its guests individually furnished accommodations with separate living rooms, Ramada Resort By Wyndham Rotorua Marama is an excellent dwelling that you can book if you are heading to the city of Rotorua. If you are coming with your family, consider booking an apartment with a full kitchen and laundry facilities. You can also plan a picnic and use the resort’s barbecue facilities. For recreational amenities fitting all ages, the property features an outdoor pool, a spa tub, a tennis court, and a fitness center.
Boardgames and books for kids are available, as well. Plus, the TVs have kid-friendly channels.
Ramada Resort By Wyndham Rotorua Marama
Address: 1420 Hamurana Road
70.22 km (43.7 mi) from Huka Falls
6. Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef (from USD 27)
If the captivating township of Franz Josef is your dream holiday destination, then book a stay in Rainforest Retreat. It is surrounded by lush tropics and provides picturesque scenery you’ll remember forever. This resort is ideal for all types of tourists, especially vacationing families. It features tree huts and modern holiday houses. Pets are allowed on site for a small additional fee.
Rainforest Retreat offers on-site dining with kid-friendly meals, a picnic area, and a children’s playground.
Rainforest Retreat
Address: 46 Cron Street
722.79 km (449.2 mi) from Huka Falls
7. Avalon Resort, Kerikeri (from USD 77)
Lovely and well-appointed kitchen equipment, with the option for a private home-like cooking experience.
Great value for money, with fantastic pricing and good facilities.
Conveniently close to town, yet secluded and quiet, with a beautiful, park-like garden setting.
Beautiful and peaceful surroundings, private and tranquil space, with a spa, sauna, and natural pool for swimming.
There is a lot to love about Avalon Resort. Set in a dreamy garden, this majestic resort guarantees guests a holiday filled with relaxation, bliss, and spectacular nature views. You and your family are sure to have a soulfully relaxing stay in your classy and cozy accommodation, which comes with excellent air conditioning facilities, WiFi, a seating area, an ensuite bath, and a kitchen that comes in handy whenever you need to craft something for the picky eaters.
While you indulge in the spa, your kids can spend their time in the library reading books or playing with educational tools. Babysitting services are available in case you need an extra hand with the kids.
Avalon Resort
Address: 340A Kerikeri Road
424.94 km (264.1 mi) from Huka Falls
8. Regal Palms Resort, Rotorua (from USD 377)
While there is no on-site restaurant, the kitchenette and BBQ facilities provide flexibility for dining. Plenty of dining options within a short drive into town.
Great value for money with spacious, modern rooms and plenty of on-site activities for families.
Convenient location close to mountain bike park and a short drive from central Rotorua. Safe and quiet surroundings with easy access to local attractions.
Wide range of activities including tennis, mini golf, heated outdoor pool, and sauna. Well-equipped gym and friendly, accommodating staff.
Nothing compares to a holiday with the family. Plan your next trip to Rotorua and book a family apartment in Regal Palms Resort ahead of time. Each accommodation in the resort comes with entertainment facilities, such as a wide-screen TV with kid-friendly channels and WiFi. More so, a balcony or a patio is built in each unit, the perfect spots to unwind in the open air.
During your stay, you will be treated to a lot of exciting facilities, including sports courts, a wellness center, a modern gym, a barbecue area, a children’s playground, and a mini-golf, which is also a sure hit with kids. Books, DVDs, and board games are available for their entertainment, as well.
Regal Palms Resort
Address: 350 Fenton Street
56.71 km (35.3 mi) from Huka Falls
9. Paku Lodge Resort, Tairua (from USD 90)
Options to use on-site kayaks and bicycles for free, and nearby excellent restaurants.
Great value for money with excellent pricing and free amenities like kayaks and bikes.
Perfect location overlooking the waters, close to the beach, and within easy access of nearby attractions.
Well-equipped kitchenette, free kayak use, and clean, modern rooms with beautiful views.
Paku Lodge Resort is a slice of heaven on Earth, boasting a dreamy beachfront location with mesmerizing views of Tairua Harbour. Accommodations in this resort are bright, relaxing, and self-catering, convenient for families with kids who like home-cooked meals. Complimentary WiFi is available for added convenience.
During your free time, you can light up the grill and enjoy a cookout with your family, rent kayaks, dive into the sea, or breeze through the area the old-school way— on bikes.
Paku Lodge Resort
Address: 10 The Esplanade
184.23 km (114.5 mi) from Huka Falls
10. Lake Tekapo Cottages (from USD 292)
Great kitchen facilities and dining options nearby, with the opportunity for star gazing and enjoying the natural surroundings.
Reasonable pricing for spacious cottages with good heating and kitchen facilities.
Superb location within walking distance of the lake and town center, offering peaceful and quiet surroundings.
Convenient location near The Good Shepherd Church, with cozy, well-kept cottages and friendly staff.
Make the most of your holiday by making Lake Tekapo Cottages your home for the weekend. This scenic resort offers cozy cabins set amidst dreamy gardens. Although each cabin is fashioned with rustic exteriors, you’ll be surprised with its contemporary interiors, which come with updated amenities, including airconditioning, WiFi, kitchen essentials, and a bathtub. Family rooms are also available.
There are no dull days for guests staying in Lake Tekapo Cottages as its location is a hotspot for outdoor opportunities, such as hiking, swimming, fishing, and skiing. Watersports gears, bikes, and barbecue essentials are at your disposal throughout your stay.
Lake Tekapo Cottages
Address: 12 Sealy Street
757.29 km (470.6 mi) from Huka Falls
Explore New Zealand and discover its wonders
Whether you are looking for adventure or relaxation, you can never go wrong with traveling to New Zealand. Apart from having a little bit of everything, this country is also an ideal venue for families looking for new ways to bond. If you’re interested to know what the hype is all about, book a stay in any of the recommended family resorts above.
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