Family Epic in Nouvelle-Zélande

Upon arrival, a shared shuttle takes you to your accommodation in the city center. After the journey, parents and children can rest and take a shower. Rooms are available from 2 PM.

Nicknamed the "City of Sails", Auckland is the largest city in Nouvelle-Zélande. It is also home to the most significant community of people from the Pacific Islands, which earns it the status of being considered the capital of Polynesia.

Depending on your arrival time, several optional activities are possible. For your first evening, you can dine at the panoramic rotating restaurant of the Sky Tower, with a 360° view over the city.

Pick up your rental car in downtown Auckland, then head to the Coromandel Peninsula, between forests, coastlines and white sand beaches. Stop at Thames before following the coastal road lined with pohutukawa, native trees whose red flowers bloom at Christmas. You then pass through Coromandel, a former gold rush village.

Board a small train through the Kauri forest. This family-friendly 1 hour 45 minute journey crosses ten bridges and three tunnels through a native forest in full regeneration. A pottery class is also available as an optional activity.

Finally, cross the peninsula to Whitianga, the main town of Mercury Bay, whose main street runs along the sea.

Two-night stay in Whitianga.

From Whitianga, take the road to Waihi, where a viewing point allows you to observe the open-pit gold mine. Continue to Matamata for an included visit to Hobbiton, the preserved set from Peter Jackson's films, inspired by Tolkien's universe.

Then head to Rotorua, known for its Maori culture and thermal activity. Depending on your preferences, take a walk along the lake and through the Government Gardens, visit the Ohinemutu Maori village or go hiking in the redwood forest.

Start with a visit to Orakei Korako Geothermal Park. Stroll among its bubbling hot springs, mineral terraces and geysers, in a landscape of varied colors.

Continue to the Huka Falls, then head to Lake Taupo, the largest in Nouvelle-Zélande. Following its shores, reach the Tongariro National Park, the oldest in the country and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Choose a walk according to your preferences, from an accessible stroll to a more challenging hike. Hikers seeking a challenge can opt for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, in the heart of the park's volcanic landscapes.

Enjoy one last walk through the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park. You can choose the Taranaki Falls hike (2 hours) or the Silica Rapids hike (2 hours 30 minutes).

Then head south. After the desert lands around the volcanoes, the landscapes become green again as you reach the Kapiti Coast. You finally arrive in Wellington, at the southern tip of the North Island. The world's southernmost capital and cultural center of Nouvelle-Zélande, it will be your stop for two nights.

This morning, board the ferry to cross the Cook Strait. Admire the Marlborough Sounds before docking at the port of Picton.

Continue along the scenic road that follows the Sounds to Havelock, known as the "green mussel capital" of Nouvelle-Zélande. Several viewpoints dot the route and invite you to stop for photos.

Then traverse one of Nouvelle-Zélande's main forest regions before reaching Nelson, a sunny city on the South Island.

From Nelson, reach the Abel Tasman National Park. Spanning 22,500 hectares, it is known for the Abel Tasman Coast Track. You will discover golden sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, rivers lined with dense vegetation and may have the chance to observe seals.

Explore the park on foot, by kayak or by sailboat, then return to Nelson.

Take the West Coast route via the Buller Gorge. Stop at Tauranga Bay to observe a seal colony in its natural habitat.

Between Westport and Punakaiki, stop by Underworld Adventures. Depending on the activity you choose, discover cave formations and glowworms, or try underground rafting and float down the Nile River rapids on a tube.

At Punakaiki, walk an easy 20-minute loop to approach the Pancake Rocks, rock formations that resemble stacked pancakes. At high tide, when the sea is rough, water can rush into their cavities and spray through the blowholes.

Join Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast. You can make a detour to Shantytown, a reconstructed gold digger village where children will discover the atmosphere of the pioneers.

The route then passes through Reefton, the first town in the southern hemisphere to be electrified in 1888, then crosses the Lewis Pass to enter Canterbury. You arrive at Hanmer Springs, a village located at 385 metres altitude and known for its hot springs. Its aquatic complex included features 12 pools and water slides, with options depending on the age of your children.

In the wooded park, you can walk, mountain bike (rental available) or search for the fairy houses hidden in nature. Hanmer Springs also offers mini-golf, a farm visit, tandem bikes, jetboat rides, bungee jumping and quad biking.

The road brings you back from the mountains to the Pacific shores. Along the coast, watch for sea lions resting sometimes on the rocks to the right of the road and, offshore, dolphins.

You arrive at Kaikōura, between sea and mountains. Its underwater canyon notably attracts sperm whales and numerous seabirds, while the Kaikōura Peninsula allows you to observe colonies of sea lions.

The name Kaikōura means "crayfish meal" in Maori. To taste seafood, caravans set up by the sea offer grilled crayfish. Children can also choose a fish and chips.

Cross the plains of Canterbury and its vineyards, then go around Christchurch to reach Banks Peninsula , formed by two ancient extinct volcanoes.

Located in the heart of a crater, Christchurch retains traces of the arrival of French settlers in 1840. Discover its port, colonial architecture, the small Onuku Maori church and its museum. The peninsula is also perfect for easy walks and hikes.

In Akaroa Bay, choose a boat trip, kayaking or paddleboarding to try to spot Hector's dolphins, as well as penguins and fur seals. Children can also discover The Giants House, a historic residence surrounded by a garden of colorful sculptures representing animals, characters and abstract shapes.

Late in the morning, reach the center of Akaroa, then head towards Christchurch, the final stage of your journey. Nicknamed the "Garden City", the city stands out for its green spaces and modern city center.

To discover Christchurch, you can:

• Explore the city center by tourist tram or waka, the traditional Maori canoe.

• Take the children to the Margaret Mahy playground.

• Stroll along Regent Street and enjoy artisanal gelato at Rollickin Gelato.

If you have a vehicle, you can also take a walk on the esplanades of Sumner and New Brighton, discover Lyttelton and the nearby bays of Cass Bay and Corsair Bay, or take the gondola to admire the Banks Peninsula.