The Best North Island Family Friendly Holiday Parks

The North Island of New Zealand is an exciting mix of culture and natural beauty offering a truly diverse holidaying experience, with each region being different from the last, giving you and your family a variety of landscapes and activities to choose from.

Here is our guide to the best Family Friendly Holiday Parks across New Zealand's North Island and a little information on each region to help you plan your next adventure.

If you're visiting the South Island, check out our Best Family Friendly South Island Holiday Parks or you can check out our Top 20 Family Friendly Holiday Parks in New Zealand.

Top of the North

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and our most diverse, offering a lovely gateway into the North Island. Heading north from Auckland, you will travel into the “Winterless North'', known for its warm weather, stunning landscapes (both inland and coastal) and of course is home to some of New Zealand’s most important historical sites, including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

Camp Waipu Cove

The Bay of Islands Holiday Park - Bay of Islands

Located in the stunning Bay of Islands, it has plenty of trees for shade with the Waitangi River forming one boundary for safe swimming. You can kayak and paddle upstream to the Lilypond Falls to a tarzan swing and swimming hole along with a great children's playground and summer swimming pool.

Treasure Island Camping and Campground – Northland

Tranquility Sun, Surf, Sand. Treasure Island features a safe lagoon, ideal for young children and two excellent golden sand beaches where you can swim at any time of the day. It has a playground, tennis and volleyball courts along with a massive slide!

Camp Waipu Cove - Northland

Camp Waipu Cove has been a Northland holiday haven for generations of Kiwi families, and continues to offer one of the best camping environments in New Zealand. Camp Waipu Cove is nestled at the Southern end of the beautiful and unspoiled Bream Bay. Right beside the white sand beach. There is also a large playground and tennis court onsite.

Russell - Orongo Bay Holiday Park - Bay of Islands

Your UNIQUE opportunity to hear and see Kiwi in the wild! Relax by the Pool, explore the Kiwi Trail and indulge yourself in nature. Conveniently located to explore the Bay of Islands, Russell - Orongo Bay Holiday Park is set in 14 acres with amazing birdlife (the BBC filmed here!). It has incredible facilities, with a massive playground and stunning swimming pool, pizza oven and more. You can see why this is an award winning Holiday Park.

Central North Island

Home to the gorgeous beaches of the Coromandel, the ski fields of the central plateau, and the amazing sites at Waitomo, Rotorua and Taupo, this area offers a great chance to explore many different environments and cultures, while still offering some amazing places to simply chill out.

TOP 10 Holiday Park Blue Lake

Taupo TOP 10 Holiday Park - Taupo

This is a great Kiwi holiday spo and the closest Holiday Park to Taupo township and the beautiful Lake Taupo. Not only is its location epic, but it has both a brand new swimming pool along with a thermal plunge pool onsite to go with its awesome playground and other quality facilities.

Taupo DeBretts Holiday Park - Taupo

This is the ultimate all-year-round relaxation and recreation destination for the whole family! Here you’ll find a mix of unique New Zealand experiences – from the mineral waters of the historic Taupo Hot Springs to their modern Living Waters Spa - you choose your adventure. Just a stone’s throw from stunning Lake Taupō and a million miles from stress, soak up the atmosphere in their natural thermal pools, fresh water pools and park-like grounds. Kids will especially love the warm water playground and hydroslides.

Coromandel TOP 10 Holiday Park - Coromandel Peninsula

This lovely park is situated in the heart of Coromandel Town with bush, beach and cafes at your doorstep. Enjoy the playground and outdoor pool set to the stunning views of the Coromandel Ranges. It is perfect for families who want to enjoy nature, but still have civilization close at hand!

Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park - Bay of Plenty

The best of both worlds - this award winning Holiday Park is situated in a beautiful valley with direct access to the shoreline of the safe and sheltered Kikowhakarere Bay. There is a new heated pool and splash zone and kids can go exploring in the rock pools when the tide is out or walk to the Kauri Grove.

Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park - Bay of Plenty

A fantastic holiday destination in New Zealand’s scenic Bay of Plenty. Ohope has an unbroken 11 km white sand ocean beach that offers the most spectacular views of White Island (Whakaari) and Whale Island (Moutohora) plus far-reaching views towards the East Cape. Camping by the beach is a fabulous experience helped by the onsite playground, games room and swimming pool - they even have a mini golf course!

Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday Park - Bay of Plenty

Located mid way between Tauranga and Katikati, this fresh and friendly park takes pride in providing top class family facilities including a modern playground, spacious grounds to play and have fun, with colourful landscaped gardens. They even have THREE natural hot mineral pools ensuring a holiday experience to relax and unwind at any time of the year.

Tasman Holiday Parks - Papamoa Beach - Bay of Plenty

Relax & enjoy the unique beachfront location on safe surf patrolled beach where families swim, surf, fish, dig for tuatua or simply relax. Large playground, jumping pillow & mini tennis are all on site, as is a spa all with amazing panoramic ocean views.

TOP 10 Holiday Park Blue Lake - Rotorua

Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Rotorua's Blue Lake, this Holiday Parks covers over 14 acres of well-maintained grounds set in a tranquil native bush setting. There is a playground and even a spa onsite and of course you can go swimming in the crystal clear waters of Blue Lake.

Tasman Holiday Parks Ohiwa Beach - Bay of Plenty

Set on five landscaped hectares beside the sparkling Pacific Ocean and a sheltered harbour, Ohiwa Beach holiday park offers the best of sea and bush. The park is ideally situated with easy access to the towns and beaches of the eastern Bay of Plenty, and one of the great New Zealand road trips around the East Cape.It’s just a few steps from the park to the magnificent Ohiwa Beach where you can surf, swim, fish, walk or read a book beneath a pohutukawa tree.

Miranda Holiday Park - Hauraki

This amazing holiday park is the gateway to the Coromandel and is packed full of features. These include a BMX track, playground, flying fox, tennis court and table tennis to name just a few of the awesome onsite activities to keep the kids entertained. There is even a hot mineral pool – ideal to relax in after a day of exploring the local coastline.

Tasman Holiday Parks Waihi Beach - Bay of Plenty

This is a stunning seaside Holiday Park set amongst mature native trees alongside the Waihi Beach stream. The park also fronts child friendly Waihi Beach along with a fantastic swimming pool and playground making it the ideal family friendly getaway spot.

Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park

Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park is a family and pet friendly beachfront campground that sits right on the award winning Coastal Walkway, and with a jumping pillow and playground on site and a children's pool right next door (summer only).

It is the perfect location for a family holiday or a relaxing beach break

Lower North Island

The Lower North Island is off the beaten track and gives you a great chance to dodge the crowds. It is home to many of New Zealand’s famous wine and food regions while also being home to some real hidden gems like CastlePoint, the Pinnacles, Maraetotara Falls and the amazing Pouakai Tarns Track. A visit to the vibrant city of Wellington is a must, as is the kids favourite of the Te Papa Museum.

Castlepoint Holiday Park

Paekakariki Holiday Park – Kapiti Coast

A relaxed family focused holiday park in the small coastal township of Paekakariki. It’s close to the railway station for excursions into Wellington city. They're set in a very quiet location close to the beach with abundant native flora, fauna and bird life. They have loads of activities for children, from jumping pillows and a massive playground to eels in the local stream they can feed!

Castlepoint Holiday Park - Wairarapa

Right on the scenic beachfront lies Castlepoint Holiday Park. Not only is there a great beach to swim at, but this is one of the most scenic stretches of coast in the lower North Island. The Holiday Park has incredible views of the bay and the stunning Castlepoint Lighthouse while there is also a large playground on site to keep the kids busy when they’re not out exploring!.

Hastings TOP 10 Holiday Park - Hawke's Bay

This is the first step to unwinding in the sunny Hawkes Bay, with a tranquil park-like setting with shady tree lined avenues and well landscaped gardens providing for a relaxed setting. There is a great children's playground and swimming pool complex that ensures an enjoyable time for all while the water park Splash Planet is just across the park!

Mohaka River Farm and Holiday Park - Hawke's Bay

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing long weekend on the banks of the river, a horse trekking adventure or an opportunity to learn some new skills and engage in a hands-on farm experience, Mohaka River Farm has it all. Reconnect with nature as you take in stunning views, explore the variety of different settings and trails around the property or take a dip in the refreshing Mohaka River as you take the family off the grid!t

Foxton Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park - Manawatu/ Horowhenua

Foxton Beach is a popular holiday spot for vacationers. Perfectly situated by a picturesque beach, enjoy fishing, swimming, surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddle boarding, four-wheel driving tracks and great hiking tracks along the coast and in the nearby Tararua Ranges. The beach is wide and sandy, allowing ample space for all your favourite beach activities while there is a kids club and playground at the park.

Have a family favourite that isn't on this list? Get in touch so we can add it!

If you're looking for an extra fun activity to try with your kids while on holiday, check out our Guide to Fishing with Kids!