Family-friendly Fiordland

The inclusion of children on your next big holiday shouldn't deter you from fitting in plenty of action and excitement adventure. Yes, the little ones may slow you down a bit, but they often love adventure holidays even more than the adults! It's all about finding the right destination and activities to suit your whole brood. We're pretty sure you'll find everything you're looking for and more in beautiful Fiordland.

Located at the bottom of the South Island, the Fiordland region is known for its sightseeing and walking opportunities. If you love nature tours and flora and fauna, you're probably going to want to stay a while as you explore the Te Anau, Milford Sound and Lake Manapouri regions.

Fiordland has been awarded World Heritage status and is home to the stunning Milford and Doubtful Sounds. These waterways are perfect for exploring by boat, and there are plenty of cruise companies charters in the area who will be more than happy to point out the sights to you and your tiny terrors. You'll be blown away by the intimidating tall mountains plunging straight up out of the sea, and kids will love the chance to spot dolphins, penguins and even seals lounging in the sun on nearby rocks.

While much of the action in Fiordland takes place on water, the rugged terrain can also be explored on foot or by bicycle. Hire a few bikes and head out for a family ride around Te Anau, or tackle one of the easier walking tracks in the area. While the great walks of the Kepler, Milford and Routeburn Tracks aren't suitable for children under 10 years of age, there are plenty of shorter walks to try out. The Milford Foreshore walk is just one of these, winding through beech forest and alongside sandy foreshore areas where you can spot cruises taking visitors out to sea.