Family-Friendly
Short, formed, and interesting-enough-to-hold-attention walks across NZ that actually work with children in tow. Pushchair-friendly where noted, and genuinely worth the trip for the grown-ups too.
Bay of Plenty. Wide, flat, and sealed — one of the most pushchair-friendly walks in the country. Plenty of places to stop for a swim or ice cream along the way.
Punakaiki, West Coast. Paved, short, and the blowholes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids (best at high tide). An easy drive-by stop on a West Coast road trip.
Christchurch. Steep — better done as a one-way with a pre-arranged pickup at the bottom. Older kids will enjoy the settler history angle and the cable car at the Lyttelton end.
Taupō. Flat track along the Waikato River ending at Huka Falls — the sheer volume of water and the roar of the falls at the viewing platform is a genuine spectacle for all ages.