Christmas is a wonderful time to relax and spend time with your family. If you are in New Zealand, there are some lovely places where you can go with your family and have a great time. These range from places where you can commune with nature to cities with a vibrant nightlife. The choice is yours. Remember to book Christmas bus hire in New Zealand when planning how your family will get to these destinations. Let a professional driver take you there in style and comfort so you can maximize the time that you spend with your family.
Planning a Christmas Trip for Your Family
Christmas presents a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your family and catch up over what has been happening over the year. You may choose to do it at home but many people also take that opportunity to tour the country and visit some beautiful place so as to break the monotony of being at home.
Either way, what matters is the quality of time that you spend with your family. If you decide to take a drive out and spend Christmas at some beautiful place, remember to plan well and ensure that you have all bookings done in advance. We have compiled a list of lovely places in New Zealand that you can consider for your family outing this Christmas.
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park will offer you and your family mind blowing scenery as you hike across this beautiful and rugged mountain terrain. There are also numerous accommodation options to cater for all kinds of budgets, so you are assured of something that will be just right for your budget.
Apart from hiking, other activities that you can do in this picturesque mountain area include sailing through the fiords, visiting Lake Te Anau (famous for its beauty and glow-worms). You could also choose to pay a visit to Bowen Falls or climb to the Key Summit for stunning views.
Marlborough Sound
If sea life is your thing, you will be spoilt for choice at Marlborough Sound. Whether you want to go whale watching or simply just enjoy a cruise in the calm waters of Whites Bay, there is something for the sea enthusiast. The area also boasts of several fine wineries where you can sample an array of locally made wines while tantalising your tastebuds with all manner of dishes.
The area also features the Abel Tasman National Park as well as a host of other attractions. Accommodation is plentiful and you can choose from a wide variety of options. From hotels to B&Bs, there is something to fit any kind of budget.
Gisborne
If you want to enjoy great sceneries but still be able to party with fellow Christmas revellers, then you might want to head to Gisborne. With its numerous concerts and festivals designed to usher in the New Year, you will have an awesome time. We would particularly suggest the famous Rhythm and Vines Festival if you are looking for party the holidays away.
And it’s not just the parties; Gisborne offers a wide variety of activities including a visit to the East Woodhill Arboretum, rock sliding at Rere Waterfalls and surfing. Just like the other places we have mentioned, there are accommodation options to cater for every kind of budget.
Bay of Islands
This beautiful and picturesque area is made up of 144 islands and is ideal if you are looking to spend Christmas surrounded by blue oceans and pearly white beaches. As you can imagine, there is a variety of marine life attractions in the area and you will be spoilt for choice if you are a marine wildlife lover.
Activities that you and your family could undertake here include dolphin and whale spotting in the pristine waters and scuba diving to explore shipwrecks. The area is also a great place to learn about the Maori Culture, and activities such as the Waitangi Heritage Tour will give you and your family a greater knowledge of the Maori people.
Rotorua
Rotorua is famous for its geysers, hot springs and mud pools. Immerse yourself in a relaxing and therapeutic mud bath and emerge from the hot springs to explore its many other attractions. Things to do here include mountain biking, white water rafting, among a host of others. Rotorua is also a great place to sample Maori food and generally learn from and interact with the Maori people.
Auckland City
If city life is your thing and you are looking for a fast-paced Christmas, it might be worth the while to check out the various attractions in Auckland. Like all big cities, it boasts of a number of museums and other cultural attractions that will keep you and your family busy. It also has a wide variety of restaurants where you can sample culinary delights from around the world.
Some of the activities that we recommend in Auckland City include a visit to the Sky Tower and its famous Skywalk, or you can chose to visit wineries in the nearby Waiheke Islands. Lovers of marine life can go on a marine eco safari or you can choose to go kayaking to Rangitoto Islands.
Queenstown
In keeping with the fast paced Christmas theme, fire up your adrenaline in Queenstown with activities such as jet boating and bungee jumping. Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown will give you and your family an action packed Christmas and then some. Do not however let the adrenaline packed city fool you, there are numerous places to relax and unwind after an action packed day. Your family could decide to tour the numerous wineries or visit the scenic Lake Wanaka.
Wellington
New Zealand’s capital offers peaceful and scenic sites for those who choose to visit. With its beautiful green hills and sparkling harbour, Wellington will embrace you with its welcoming charm. Activities that your family could do (apart from taking in its breathtaking scenery) include kayaking and biking. We also recommend visiting the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and taking a hike to the summit of Mount Victoria.
Regardless of where you decide to spend Christmas, it is a good idea to hire a minibus to get you and your family there safely. At BusHire.co.nz, we can take the stress out of getting to these amazing locations, giving you more time to explore and enjoy. Give us a ring at (0800) 661 236 today.