Is NZ boring for long trip with kids?

[Figs788]

DH & I are looking to take our 4 & 8 year olds on a long trip this January, as we’ve been going through big life changes and need a big break away.

Ideally somewhere spectacular looking, fun, warm, sandy beaches…but also safe. We’re contemplating taking a campervan trip around NZ.

as a family we’ve done lots of uk travel to Lake District, wales etc - all amazing landscapes. I heard a podcaster describe NZ as ‘basically like the Lake District..and it’s too far to go for just that with kids!’

We have family there, so it would be nice to see them, but the looooong flight is a concern too.

On balance, is the cost and upheaval of getting to NZ worth it for a family holiday? Should we wait until they’re older maybe? Any thoughts gratefully received!

Thanks guys this is all so helpful

I have only just realised quite how expensive peak season makes the trip though, so that’s my next wobble, adding up what we can reasonably afford.

I appreciate that most people are encouraging about the flight being doable, thanks for that (not that I underestimate it!) My current preferred option is stopping in Singapore for 3 nights en route, although I’m warned it’s super expensive there, so that might change my mind

We are just in a unique time in our lives that makes January a possibility for this trip, it slightly feels like now or never, not to be too dramatic…!

I've been in January before. I felt amazing all year having missed the greyest part of the year in UK. Go for it!

@Figs788 you could maybe do two nights in Singapore. It's easy to see in a day or two.

Flights are expensive at that time of year but every time we've gone for Christmas/January I've just loved it. Last time we had 3.5 weeks of amazing weather!

For a variety of reasons , we were able to get 5 weeks off in February- March and went with a 2 yo and 4 yo. Camper in the South Island, really reasonable motels and car in the North. It was truly incredible. We look back at that holiday as truly the best of times.
Kids were incredible on the flights and they weren’t usually. We stopped for a night in Singapore both ways. Brilliant trip

ridiculously. Do you not think Kiwis take their kids home from the UK for a holiday? kids will be fine

Absolutely. My kids genuinely love the flight, they do think it is fun. What actually isn't fun is the jet lag, that's the worst thing for me but it's still worth it.

On the other hand I don't totally disagree with this poster in that if you are British and you're going to go once in your life perhaps it makes sense when the kids are older. When we flew last Christmas (left mid December, came back early January) there were loads of families with teenagers on the flights clearly going for a holiday.