HOMESPUN FUN See New Zealand through the eyes of the experts
See New Zealand holiday hotspot towns through the eyes of the experts — the kids who live there. We asked some Kiwi youngsters where to find the best icecreams, the coolest experiences, the best playgrounds, and the must-know secrets of their towns.
Thea, 11, Paihia
The Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is such a cool place. There are tracks for all abilities. I love doing the jumps. Te Ara Kaanihi is my favourite track. It’s free to ride but everyone should definitely join the Register to Ride donation programme as the money goes towards maintaining the tracks.
I love swimming out to Motu Iti — the Paihia swimming pontoon — for bombs — mastering the manu! Then icecream from Kingfisher dairy afterwards.
And snorkelling in Russell at Tapeka Point — there are heaps of fish, and two beaches to choose from, depending on the wind and the swell.
Zoya, 9, Auckland
My favourite thing is catching the ferry to Waiheke and looking at our beautiful city. I like to stay on Waiheke and go swimming and eating out. I also love going to the many farmers’ markets in Britomart, Parnell and Clevedon; as a family, we go to get ingredients for dinner and I cook with my dad.
Gochu is my favourite restaurant — it’s in Commercial Bay. Gochu serves cool Korean cuisine — the pork buns with a buttery sauce are just delicious and I also love their fried chicken.
Auckland Museum always has interesting things to look at. I love seeing olden-day toys and the house that you go in and it shakes when Rangitoto explodes is really cool.
Mahi, 9, and Arlo, 7, Auckland
Mahi:
My favourite thing to do in Auckland is to go to Rocket Ropes — it’s really challenging, and I love climbing through the different levels.
I like to go swimming with my friends. There are lots of cool pools in
Auckland — my favourite one is the Mt Albert Aquatic Centre, it’s got a waterslide, and a wave pool that’s lots of fun.
I love going to the Tip Top icecream factory. You can do a tour to see how they make different types of icecream, and you get to try it after. Arlo: My favourite thing to do in Auckland is going to Whoa! Studios. It has a really cool climbing net and the best playground. My favourite place to get icecream is KiwiYo in Mission Bay — lots of different flavours, and you get to put lollies on top too.
Zaleeka, 3, Rotorua
I love to go to Skyline because the gondola ride is exciting and I get an icecream.
I also love to go to the cafe for fluffies with pink marshmallows. My favourites cafe is the French cafe (Le Cafe de Paris, Rotorua) because they make pretty fluffies.
My other favourite thing to do living in Rotorua is to go on the jet ski with Dad because we go to the Rotoiti Hot Pools. It is fun going fast on the jet ski on the lake and the pools are exciting when my friends are there to play with too.
Felix, 5, Napier
My favourite holiday is fishing at Po¯ rangahau, Hawke’s Bay. The beach is big and long and we drive down in the truck. We use the Kontiki or my fishing rod, and the fish we catch are really yum.
Ethan, 10, Taupo¯
Taupo¯ has been home for me and my family since