2 and a Half Boys (Aged 3, 6 and 35) in New Zealand for 10 Days - Itinerary Ideas?

[BindonPB]

Hey Guys,

Very sadly my two boys aged 3 and 6 relocated to New Zealand with my Ex Wife last October. I'm flying to see them for the first time in April and I will have them in my sole care for 11 days.

My original plan was hire a very cheap hotel or use a hostel near where my wife lived. Then I would collect the boys daily and ease them back into the idea of having a dad in-person and they would have the comfort of their own beds and toys. I was then planning on hiring a holiday home for the last few days of my visit so they could stay with me. Unfortunately, my Ex Wife has other plans, and she wants me to just collect the boys in a car park on the outskirts of Auckland so she can visit a friend in the city.

So, I'm after your no-doubt brilliant ideas of where to go and what to do them. I've ruled out a camper-van, and I was toying with the following ideas:

• Staying in 3-4 different locations (a combination of holiday parks and cities).
• Renting a holiday home.
• Finding a Centre Parcs or Butlins-style larger Holiday Park (my idea of hell but no doubt the boys would love it).

Clearly keeping my eldest entertained is key when my youngest gets tired. Your suggestions of locations, venues and activities is hugely appreciated in advance! Many thanks.

Depending on when easter is, you may find a lot booked out. Not using a camper van in April is a very good idea. Does nz even have the centre parcs type places?

Have a look at bbh hostels - not all take kids but some do and the smaller ones which need a car to access won't be full of drunken gappies. So you'll have company in the evening when the kids are in bed. You self cater so that's OK.

The smells and explosions of Rotorua should be a hit and it is only 4 hours from Auckland. Dependent on weather the coromandel or bay of islands would also be good.

Thank you so much guys; you’ve made what was a daunting task much easier! So, my current proposed itinerary is:

Day 1: Land in Auckland and stay in a cheap hostel by myself.
Day 2: Collect a hire car and the meet the boys after lunch and drive to Rotorua.
Day 3-6: Stay in a Hostel/Motel/Bach for 5 nights with options to do the following activities: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Agrodome, aMAZEme, see the Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest, Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park and go to the beaches in the Bay of Plenty.
Day 7: See Hobbiton on the drive to Auckland.
Day 8-11: Stay in Auckland in a Hostel/Motel/Bach for 5 nights and do the following activities: MOTAT, Butterfly Creek, Ice Creams at Mission Bay, Rainbows End, get the Ferry to Waiheke Island or Ferryport, Sheepworld, Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, Auckland Zoo, Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
Day 12: Say goodbye and stay in a cheap hostel by myself, return the hire car.
Day 13: Depart for London.

Reserve activities: Beach, thermal pools, cinema, playpark, toy banks, Bowling, Mini Golf, Trampoline Parks.
Does this look about right as a plan? Am I missing any obviously child-friendly activities for either Rotorua or Auckland? Where are the best beaches for Children in the Bay of Plenty?

A huge thanks for your help this far!

Good Luck, enjoy your boys

That looks pretty good and is lots of doing stuff rather than driving. My only comment is to give it one full day before driving, I.e. two nights sleep. You are looking at a 12 hour body clock change as well as journey exhaustion.

Nz has a bad road death rate and even with your very sensible itinerary, next day is still too early to drive. Keep everyone safe. Take the kids to rangitoto for the day or climb mt eden.

BTW for hostels : city garden, bamber house, verandahs, uenuku. Not the big city centre ones, you'll get no sleep. Book a private room.

Enjoy!