New Zealand really is the ultimate playground and our beautiful country offers lots of opportunities to try new activities that you may not have considered before – or that you’ve been really wanting to have a go at!

Spring in New Zealand is a great time to try new things, share adventures, and make lots of special memories as a family. So on your next family holiday or break, why not discover a new passion with our guide to spring activities that you can try as a family.

Please note: Venue information was correct at the time of publication. Please check with individual venues for the latest availability, opening dates, times, prices, etc, before making plans.

Try kayaking

Kayaking isn’t just an Olympic sport that brings home the medals. It’s also a wonderful way to explore New Zealand’s stunning coastline and inland waterways. Whether you want to paddle Lake Taupō, the sunny Bay of Islands, or the open waters around New Zealand, kayaking can become a favourite family activity that leads you to explore parts of New Zealand that others never see. You can even paddle a waka for a unique cultural experience that you don’t want to miss.

Taupō Kayaking Adventures offers guided tours of New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake and the mighty Waikato River, taking in stunning scenery including the Mine Bay Māori rock carvings. Their passionate and knowledgeable guides will make this a trip to remember.

Mum-approved skydiving

Image credit: Vaughan Brookfield

Everyone wants to fly like a superhero – but skydiving is a bit too extreme for most people! Indoor skydiving however, is a safe and fun activity that everyone can enjoy and is sure to become a favourite story to retell around the dinner table!

iFLY in Queenstown is New Zealand’s only indoor skydiving attraction. The specially designed tunnel has a smooth, wall-to-wall cushion of air on which anyone can safely fly. iFLY simulates skydiving with no strings, parachutes, planes, or scary heights. It’s ‘skydiving approved by mum’! The highly trained instructors are experienced in supporting new flyers of all ages and abilities.

Dig this!

Playing with diggers and bulldozers in the sandpit is great fun when you’re a kid. So who could resist the chance to play on the life-sized versions!

Dig This Invercargill is New Zealand’s only heavy equipment playground – yes, you read that right! Go wild on the big machines as you push, pull, spin, and smash your way to family fun! Their grunty machines include bulldozers, diggers, skid steers, and excavators in a giant gravel pit.

Glide on a zip line

The beauty of zip lining is that almost anyone can enjoy this adrenaline rush! You simply get clipped on to a suspended cable and then you zoom safely down the line, over the landscape below – gravity does all the work. There are several zip line venues in New Zealand that glide you over native forest or through steep canyons and some offer multi-person zip lines.

In Queenstown, Ziptrek Ecotours offers combos for up to six ziplines, including the world’s steepest zipline which descends 30 storeys at up to 70kph! Enjoy this amazing trip down from high up on Bobs Peak (Skyline Gondola) through the forest canopy.

Experience the passion of the All Blacks

Playing some form of sport is part of growing up for most tamariki in New Zealand. While there are many sports on offer, rugby is considered our ‘national’ sport and lots of children dream of growing up to become an All Black or Black Fern.

The long history of rugby and the All Blacks are celebrated at the All Blacks Experience in Auckland. Learn what it takes to become an All Black or Black Fern, test your rugby skills in the hands-on interactive zones, and feel the passion of the haka.

Get on your bike

Image credit: Miles Holden

Whether you explore a trail for a fun day out, or take the family on a cycling holiday, getting out into the great outdoors on a bike is a fun and unique way to create memories together. New Zealand’s Cycle Trail network offers magnificent scenery and active exploration on cycle rides for all ages and abilities.

The Otago Central Rail Trail is a family-friendly favourite that follows an old railway line and offers lots of interesting stops along the way. With Trail Journeys you can explore the Otago Central Rail Trail on a self-guided cycling package including bike hire, accommodation luggage transfers and transport. They also have packages for other popular Otago trails.

Take the wheel

What it’s really like to drive a high-performance car on an actual racetrack? The opportunity to take the wheel and drive a supercar can become a reality for the older members of the family, while the kids can join in the motorsport fun with speedy go-karts!

At Hampton Downs, 20 minutes south of Auckland, there are plenty of motorsport activities on offer. Get the adrenaline pumping while you drive a HotLap in a V8 Supercar, experience up to 230kph in a Lamborghini Huracan, or the whole family can enjoy a high-speed ride in the Lexus Safety car. Then take the Go-Karts out on the undulating 800m track, reaching speeds of up to 70kmph! Single karts are available for ages 10 and up, while kids 6 years and up can jump in the passenger seat of the tandem karts.

Try your hand at curling

You’ve probably seen curling on the television during the Winter Olympics and thought it’s a rather quirky sport! This unique game can be enjoyed by all ages and makes a great activity for a family outing. Pit your skill and strategy against each other in this easy to learn sport.

Maniototo Curling at Naseby Indoor Curling Rink in Central Otago is run by local enthusiasts and offers the chance to give curling a go. The centre is open year-round and also offers an ice luge, ice skating and ice hockey.

Main image credit: Camilla Rutherford

See more

• Find more fun family adventure ideas
• Plan a trip to Rotorua with our destination guide
• Family holiday experiences that inspire curiosity and celebrate culture
• Richie & Gemma McCaw’s top tips for family travel

Written by Kidspot NZ in partnership with 100% Pure New Zealand.