Thinking of booking your next family holiday? Check out why choosing a bach or holiday house could be the first step towards a memorable and relaxed family holiday.
For families, there are plenty of reasons to book a bach. So before you plan your next getaway, consider these benefits.
Riversdale Retreat, Wairarapa
Location
Basically, wherever you want to go in New Zealand, there’s a bach, holiday house, or apartment not too far away. So whether you want to explore somewhere new or take the kids back to a favourite childhood spot, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Once you find your location, you don’t need to stay put. Use your bach as a base to explore knowing that your “home away from home” will welcome you back at the end of a busy and fun day making memories.
Staying in a holiday house (which are often in residential areas) can also give you a different perspective on your location, allowing you to live more like a local and really find the hidden treasures.
The bach becomes your family’s private space, with a view that you can usually only dream about!
Holiday paradise, Moetapu Bay, Marlborough
Quality time
Family holidays are all about quality time. Without the distractions of work and day-to-day home life, we can relax, recharge, and find time for those special moments with our loved ones. The schedule is yours to create (or not!). There’s no need for you to head out each day so set your own timetable and … just chill!
Sharing quality time with friends and extended family is simple when you’re all under one roof with space for everyone to spread out. Baches and holiday houses come in all shapes and sizes, with many set up to accommodate big groups. Bringing whānau together provides an opportunity to reconnect, build relationships, share family stories, celebrate traditions, and just enjoy each other’s company.
Often our most precious memories are of playing with childhood friends all summer long. That’s easy in a relaxed holiday home environment where opportunities for play come naturally and you will find that the kids are more keen to get outside to play and explore in a holiday setting.
The Glass House, Mangawhai
Holiday experiences
Outdoor spaces are conducive to creating amazing family memories – playing cricket or tag on a big grassy lawn, stepping out onto the sand from a beachfront property, or listening to the native birds in bush surrounds. You can also find baches that offer kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, or surfboards for guest use, giving kids a new challenge or an opportunity to build skills. Pools and hot tubs are available too for even more fun and relaxation.
Getting out and about opens up a myriad of experiences: go on a bushwalk, visit a museum, take a boat tour, catch the local ferry, walk to a lookout, explore a market, visit a wildlife park – there’s so much to explore!
The Boat Shed at Lake Tarawera
Bach amenities
Having a kitchen in your bach or holiday house is an absolute lifesaver when holidaying with kids! Beyond the fact that you’ll be saving money by not having to order in or eat out every day, kitchen facilities mean that it’s easy to prepare snacks and keep drinks cool. Preparing food for babies and small children is also simpler and there’s greater flexibility to meet dietary needs.
A lot of baches have a BBQ and outdoor dining areas, meaning that you can dine al fresco without the hassle of trying to get the kids to sit still at a restaurant.
If you’re staying a while, choose a bach that includes a washing machine so you don’t need to pack so much.
When the weather outside isn’t playing ball, there’s board games and puzzles, spaces to read and watch TV, and Wi-Fi to keep the whole family entertained. Some baches also allow pets so you can bring your pup along too.
Amenities vary. Check the full details of the bach or holiday house for the amenities that are included.
Beachfront bach in Whiritoa, Coromandel
Written by Kidspot NZ in partnership with Bookabach
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Written by Julie Scanlon
Julie is Editor for Kidspot NZ and our MVP. Her hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at her own jokes, annoying her family by asking questions about movie plots, and never taking anything too seriously. She speaks a little Spanish and a lot of Yorkshire.
Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”
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