Our Family Top 10 List of New Zealand

Number 10………… Museums- the museums were really interactive and modernized.  They were a great retreat, especially in our last two weeks of poor weather.

Number 9……..Playgrounds- the Kiwi’s really know how to make playgrounds for children.  They have avoided the “bubble wrapped” playgrounds that us Canadians have to endure.  Special shout out to the Margaret Mahy Playground in Christchurch.

Number 8……..Boogie Boarding- we got to do this mostly in Papamoa (North Island), but also caught some waves at Woodend Beach in Christchurch.

Number 7…… The Cream Trip Tour- this tour took us into the Bay of Islands.  We saw orcas, dolphins, penguins, hammerhead sharks and a flying fish.  The hole in the rock was cool as well.  Boom netting was interesting(kids loved this).  Too bad we saw the dolphins on their lunch break (no swimming with them).

Number 6…….Te Puia- this geyser park in Rotorua was really great. Boiling mud pools, geysers erupting, a kiwi house (this bird is way bigger then any of us originally thought), a traditional cultural performance ( yeah….Haka), we thoroughly enjoyed it all here.

Number 5……Inflatables- Action World and Inflatable World were a lot of fun.  We really worked up a sweat at these two places.

Number 4…….Christmas- Christmas in Papamoa was truly great.  We got to boogie board on Christmas Day, had a tree filled with candy and received some great Christmas presents.  The girls loved their Blackwater Rafting through the Glow Worm caves and the boys took full advantage of going to the full contact car races, seeing 4 days of racing and 10 car rolls!

Our top three were so close that it was pretty much a tie, so here is our top three in no particular order.

Number 3….Lindy and Rick’s- this place was truly amazing!  We all loved this experience in Horeke (30 minutes from Paihia).  From making cheese to getting eggs to moving cattle to being invited to two bbq’s.  The kids loved the roaming chooks (chickens), the cats and especially the dogs.  What really made our stay here was Lindy and Rick, one could not ask for better hosts, when we left it felt like leaving family.

Number 2…..Luge- In Rotorua, this luge was great!  Going down a mountain on these luges was adrenaline pumping action for the whole family.  A few of us even got air!  And no Lewandoski race would be complete with out an accident.  Sayer and dad may have gotten pretty tangled up, but rubbing is racing.

Number 1……Wallaby Park- this impromptu stop on our way back to Christchurch from Dunedin did not disappoint.  Hand feeding, petting, and cuddling wallabies was truly heart warming.  Everyone loved this experience!