A New Zealand Adventure Playground

Jason and Erin Howlett, along with their children Isabelle (9) and Nicholas (7), kicked off 2026 with their third trip to New Zealand in eight years, determined to create another unforgettable family experience.

Before this trip, Erin and Jason had already collected an array of passport stamps from overseas travel. Their adventures have included holidays with friends, a memorable honeymoon in Peru where they hiked to Machu Picchu, and more recently, a family trip around Italy in 2024 with a brief stop in Austria – where Izzy bravely paraglided alongside the adults.

Their latest New Zealand itinerary built on previous visits filled with jet boating, parasailing and scenic adventures. On earlier trips, age and height restrictions had limited some activities for the children, but this time both Izzy and Nicholas were able to join in on all the fun.

Inspired to Ride

This holiday began with a bike trip inspired by Australian author and entrepreneur Zoe Foster Blake, her husband, comedian Hamish Blake, and their two children. Erin first saw the Foster Blake’s New Zealand bike ride on Instagram a few years ago and earmarked it for a future family holiday.

‘We decided to do this trip as we enjoy going on adventures as a family while the kids are still young. The kids enjoy new experiences and being outdoors,’ Erin said.

After doing their own research, Jason and Erin booked the ride through travel company SheBikesHeBikes. They based themselves in Queenstown, planning their itinerary around the bike trip that would kick off their holiday.

‘We had one day before our bike trip to explore Queenstown. The kids enjoyed the playground beside Lake Wakatipu, then we rode the gondola up for an afternoon on the luge,’ Jason said.

The family hired e-bikes to complete the 162km scenic journey over four days along the Otago Central Rail Trail, travelling from Clyde to Middlemarch. Along the way, they opted into additional experiences, including a luge ride in Naseby and a visit to Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead.

‘The tour company provided a full itinerary, including places to stop along the way, recommendations for meals and towns with shops to restock on snacks. Our accommodation was booked for us and our luggage was transported each morning,’ Erin said.

‘The kids had so much fun and there was minimal complaining. We had plenty of time each day to complete the rides – 52km was our longest day. There was time to stop along the way and plenty of time to relax at the end of the day.’

While completing the ride with two young children is a feat in itself, for Erin, the time together was the biggest reward.

‘I loved spending the day with the family, having great conversations with the kids while enjoying the beautiful scenery. We often split into pairs, one adult and one child, and rode together. It was nice to have that one-on-one time.’

Nicholas also said the bike ride was his favourite part of the trip, whilst Izzy said seeing the stunning scenery of New Zealand was her highlight, while chatting with her family along the way.

A Remote Highlight

While the entire family loved the bike trail, Jason’s favourite experience came later in the trip: an overnight Doubtful Sound cruise aboard the Tutoko II with Fiordland Expeditions.

‘I loved the sense of adventure that came with the remoteness of the destination and limited tourist access,’ Jason said. ‘Sharing the experience with only seven other guests and three crew allowed the kids to confidently interact with others and enjoy a more personalised experience.’

Other highlights included exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, horse riding in Glenorchy and a visit to Maniototo Adventure Park, where they experienced the Gold Rush Luge.

‘We had the option of doing the Gold Rush Luge or trying curling,’ Erin said. ‘On reflection, we would have tried curling, as it’s the only dedicated indoor curling rink in the southern hemisphere.’

Lessons Learned

If they were to do the trip again, Erin said they would book accommodation earlier, as options were limited during the peak summer season.

As for advice to other families considering New Zealand?

‘Travelling New Zealand is an easy first overseas destination for a family adventure, with culture and lifestyle very similar to Australia,’ Erin said.

The biggest challenges?

‘Staying somewhere different each night meant packing up luggage every day,’ she said. ‘That, and the midges –  make sure you take insect repellent!’

With another New Zealand holiday ticked off, the Howletts have their eyes set on the next adventure.

‘We’re hoping to do a conservation trip to South Africa in a few years when the kids are a bit older,’ Erin said. ‘We’d also love to visit France and the UK. Jason is keen to head back to South America too – particularly Patagonia.’

The Howletts’ New Zealand Adventure Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown and enjoy the gondola and luge rides.
Day 2: Transfer with SheBikesHeBikes to Clyde and begin the Otago Central Rail Trail, staying in Lauder, Wedderburn and Hyde.
Day 4: Finish the bike ride in Middlemarch and shuttle back to Queenstown.
Day 5: Drive to Te Anau and visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.
Day 6: Drive to Manapouri and cruise to Doubtful Sound for an overnight stay with Fiordland Expeditions: fish, kayak and help bring up lobster traps.
Day 7: Return to Manapouri and travel back to Queenstown.
Day 8: Morning horse ride in Glenorchy, then explore the Dart River area.
Day 9: Final morning in Queenstown before flying home.

The Howletts’ Top Picks

Experience: The Otago Central Rail Trail
Scenic view: Poolburn Gorge (Day 2 of the trail), Queenstown Hill overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables
Meal: “All the ice creams — and Ferg’s!”
Drink: Apple juice at Canyon Brewing (Erin); Emerson’s Pilsner (Jason)
Rest and relaxation spot: Dart River, Glenorchy — perfect for skipping stones
Best way to get around: Hire car from Queenstown Airport due to distances between activities   Downtime activity: The family left their iPads at home to focus on quality time together but brought Kindles for reading on the plane or during quiet breaks.                                                                   Souvenir: Izzy and Nick chose magnets for their lockers, and the family purchased a print featuring the names of the towns along their bike journey.