Travel StoriesApril 23, 2026

NEW ZEALAND!

Words

Emily Mushlock

Photos

Josh Mushlock

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11 min · 41 photos

Several years ago as a family we sat down and looked through travel books and all came up with lists of places we wanted to visit and adventures we wanted to experience. Then we compiled a master family list of everyone’s ideas, and we each ranked them all from 1-10, least wanting to experience to most. On the top of everyone’s list was New Zealand. Partly because as a family we are huge Lord of the Rings fans (movies and books), and partly because … well, it looked amazing!

With New Zealand being so far and us wanting to explore both the north and south islands, we knew it would need to be a longer trip than we usually take. We also wanted to time it right as far as ages go for the kids. Our youngest unfortunately doesn’t remember much from some of our earlier international travels. Also as the older ones start graduating and doing more independently, we realized that whole family trips will get tougher to make happen. So, we finally decided the time was now! It was an amazing 2 weeks in New Zealand in March ~ a beautiful early fall there!

I think I spent more time planning this trip than any of our travels before. There was just so much we wanted to see! All the planning was worth it though because it was definitely a trip of a lifetime and one of our favorites.

The four children arranged in the big black KIA ORA letters at the airport, one sitting inside the O, Preston standing behind the A, another kneeling in the R, and Case at the end in a walking boot — "Kia Ora" ... hello, goodbye, good morning, take care, be healthy, have life

What was supposed to be a full 2 weeks ended up getting cut short when our flight got cancelled two days in a row because of crazy winds. Thankfully I had kind of built in some chill time in our itinerary, so there wasn’t anything huge we missed. We started in the north island, then flew to Queenstown in the south making our way over to Christchurch to fly back home.

NORTH ISLAND

Auckland

We flew into Auckland and did just a bit of exploring there. We actually arrived early in the morning and by the time we got our rental car and drove into the city we were catching the sunrise over the water front. So beautiful and a great welcome to New Zealand!

If we hadn't missed two days we would have spent some more time in Auckland, but we wanted to get to the coast for our stay in the north island.

Waihi Beach

A big part of planning travel for me is where we stay, and with a family of six, we tend to go with AirBnBs. The Beach House in Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty, was one of the favorite spots we’ve ever stayed. Right on a chill beach without many people, huge windows that overlooked the beach, listening to the waves at night, collecting shells, and a great restaurant a short walk away - it was perfect!

Mia with her arm round Case on a gravel drive between tussock grasses, Case in a backwards cap and a walking boot

Case posing on the rocks above Waihi Beach in a backwards cap and walking boot, surf breaking behind him and a green headland beyond

Emily and Mia together on the white veranda of the beach house, the sea and a pale sunset filling the open window behind them

Hobbiton (Matamata)

As I mentioned, we are huge LOTR fans, and doing this Hobbiton Movie Set Tour was an absolute must do for us! And even though expectations were flying high for this experience, it was even better than we could have imagined!

You are transported right into The Shire (the grounds are still a working farm, so you pass some sheep and beautiful rolling farmground on your way to the set), into Hobbiton, and all the way to Bilbo’s Bag End. (They only allow a certain number of tours each day, so get tickets in advance! And if you can’t find availability at first, keep checking for cancellations, which is what we had to do and thankfully it worked out!) Our tour guide was amazing ~ actually had a PhD in Tolkein Studies! ~ and gave us some incredible tidbits about the making of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies.

You visit several hobbit holes with incredible details, each one designed with a whole life story: the hobbit who is a florist, a fisherman, a beekeeper, etc. Smoke coming out of their little chimneys, gardens all around - some things artificial and some real. It was hard to tell the difference! Then you get to visit the inside of a hobbit hole with yet again just a crazy level of incredible detail. Finally, the last stop on the tour is at the Green Dragon for some gingerbeer.

From beginning to end … just … WOW.

All six of them in the doorway of a hobbit hole at Hobbiton, grass roof above and a Baker Fresh Bread sign to one side

The vegetable garden at Hobbiton with pumpkins and leeks in the foreground, a red round door set into the green hill behind

A wooden signpost reading East Farthing and West Farthing in front of a hobbit hole with a yellow round door and a turf roof

Bag End, the green round door under the brick arch set into the grassy hill, stone steps leading up to it and a pumpkin in a barrow to the left

Preston standing at the hearth inside Bag End looking up at the painted family tree of portraits above the mantel, a fire lit below

Mia on the ladder and Case beside her in front of the hobbit bunk beds with their patchwork quilts

Evie turning to the camera in Bilbo's study, the desk in front of her with an open illustrated book and the shelves behind packed with books and scrolls

Emily and Josh together on the lawn outside the Green Dragon, the thatched roof and stone chimney behind them and a willow overhead

We had an early morning tour at Hobbiton and had planned to go on to Rotorua in the afternoon to visit the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, but the family decided we’d rather go back and play on the beach.

Mia and Case standing on the boulders at the tide line, the sky above the sea burning orange and pink at sunset

SOUTH ISLAND

Queenstown

Queenstown was very beautiful, but also pretty touristy, which is not our favorite vibe. We really loved some of the nearby drives though! We loved the little town of Glenorchy and all the beautiful stops on that drive (Wilson Bay, Twelve Mile Delta, Bob’s Cove - did a short hike here, and Bennetts Bluff Lookout). We grabbed lunch and some souvenirs at the very cute Mrs. Wooley’s General Store.

Preston carrying Case on his shoulders on a bush trail, holding Case's walking boot in one hand

Emily standing barefoot in the clear shallows of the lake at Glenorchy, jagged peaks reflected in the still water behind her

Case at the stony edge of a mirror still lake, mid throw, the golden mountainside reflected across the whole surface

The view from Bennetts Bluff over the lake, a wooded island in the middle and snow-capped peaks along the far end

From Glenorchy we drove a bit further, venturing onto gravel roads that felt like our Wyoming home into the small rural town of Paradise, New Zealand. Gorgeous scenery, no people, and LOTR filming location … LOVE!

Josh taking a selfie with the whole family behind him at the green Paradise road sign, mountains and farmland beyond

A meadow of bare twisted trees at Paradise below steep forested mountains, a braided river bed running along behind

Emily and Josh leaning on a post and rail fence in the long grass, a glacier and snow-covered peaks filling the view behind

The other small town near Queenstown we really enjoyed was Arrowtown. There are some really cute shops and a fabulous authentic Italian restaurant, Bianca by Giovi.

One spot in Queenstown we really enjoyed was the Boat Shed Cafe - the best breakfast right on the lake - SO good!

Te Anau

In Te Anau we did a Glow Worm Cave Tour, and it was so awesome! First a beautiful boat ride to get to the cave, and then the cave itself with the water rushing through it in spots was beautiful. Finally you get to the spot in the cave where you get into a little boat, the guide turns off all lights, so it is complete darkness - a heavy darkness, and suddenly you feel like you are outside looking at the stars! These tiny little worms (we learned they are technically maggots) hanging out on the ceiling of the caves and glowing this blue-green light. It’s one of those things that you just kind of shake your head and think - wow - God’s creation is so weird and very cool.

Preston in a cap and sunglasses looking back from the stern of a boat, the wake running away across the lake behind him

From Te Anau we did a full day tour to the Milford Sound. A tour guide picked us up in a van, took us to several beautiful stops on the way to the sound, and shared some great stories and interesting history of the area. We then got to do the 2 hour boat tour of the Milford Sound, stopping at some magnificent waterfalls and enjoying our picnic lunch. For the ride back to Te Anau we stopped and did a couple short hikes, learning more about some of the native plants, trees, and birds. This whole day was definitely a highlight of our time in the south island, as well as the whole trip!

A family selfie on the wharf at Milford Sound, all six of them with Mitre Peak and the cruise boats behind

Mia turning to the camera at the water's edge at Milford Sound, the fjord walls and peaks rising into cloud behind her

A clear green river running over boulders through native bush, sunbeams slanting down and a peak in cloud at the head of the valley

All six of them on a grassy track high in the Milford valley, sheer rock walls either side and cloud over the peaks

Also in Te Anau we visited the bird sanctuary - a quick visit, but worth the stop, especially to see the Takahe, endangered birds thought at once to be extinct but then rediscovered.

Te Anau is not very large, so making dinner reservations is important. I highly recommend the Pizzeria Paradiso. Miles Better Pies is also a fun and yummy spot for a quick bite.

Wanaka

“Wanaka for the win-a-ka!” We only had a short one day/one night in Wanaka, but it was a favorite for the family. We just loved the feel of this quaint town and of course the views of Lake Wanaka.

A stop we made in Wanaka that I wasn’t sure would be a hit or a flop was the Wanaka Lavender Farm. It was a bit late in the season for the lavender, and I just didn’t know if the whole family would enjoy it. But it was definitely a hit! What a beautiful spot! It is so well done and cared for. The shop was beautiful and offered some yummy treats like chocolate lavender ice cream and lavender boysenberry sorbet. The grounds are just immaculate. Peaceful. Beautiful. Great photo ops, various gardens, fun farm animals, and outdoor lawn games. Just an all around great place.

Emily and Mia standing in a freestanding purple door set in the middle of a lavender field, mountains across the valley behind

Another fun spot was Hook Wanaka where you get to fish for your supper ~ Lake to Plate. Unfortunately we didn’t catch anything but had fun trying. I think if we had gone earlier it would have been better and less crowded. Nonetheless it was a beautiful spot, lots of fun, and great food - whether you catch it or not!

Case fishing from the bank of a stocked pond with his rod bent, in a backwards cap and a walking boot

I also have to mention the Crumb Bakehouse in Wanaka as I still drool when I think about their lemon curd cruffin (croissant muffin). Oh. my. dear. so. good! And the coffee - New Zealand knows how to do good coffee!

Lake Wanaka is so beautiful and serene. We enjoyed walking the beach along the water and in among the huge trees. At first I thought it was silly how many people were taking pictures of the “Wanaka Tree.” I thought - It’s just a tree growing at the edge of the water. What’s the big deal? But as we got closer and got our own pictures, I was humbled. Okay, wow… that is actually pretty gorgeous.

The Wanaka tree standing alone in the shallows of the lake at dawn, mountains and soft cloud behind it

Tekapo

Another short one day/one night visit for our next spot, which was Tekapo. There’s not a whole lot in Tekapo - it’s pretty and we enjoyed it, but probably would have been fine to skip this one. I was mainly trying to avoid really long drive days.

Before getting into Tekapo we made a very pretty stop and short hike at Peter’s Lookout along Lake Pukaki. In Tekapo, we first made the drive up to the summit of Ōtehīwai Mount John for some amazing views and snacks at the Astro Cafe. Then in town we rented bikes to ride trails around Lake Tekapo, and that was really special. We had an amazing dinner at the TLV Restaurant and a beautiful walk to the Church of the Good Shepherd across the MacLaren Footbridge.

Emily sitting on the stony shore of Lake Pukaki between Mia and Evie, all three looking out at Aoraki Mount Cook across the water

Mia crouching at the water's edge reaching for a pale stone marked with a heart, clear shallows and rounded pebbles all around

Josh and three of the children on mountain bikes on a gravel track above the turquoise lake, dry hills and mountains behind

The stone Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo at sunset, its windows lit gold from inside and tussock grass all around

Case standing with his hand on Preston's shoulder on the rocks at the lake edge, snow-capped mountains across the still water at golden hour

Mount Hutt

On the way to our last spot in Mount Hutt, which is about an hour from Christchurch, we stopped for a hike on the way, called the Rakaia Gorge Walk. It was really beautiful (side note: what Kiwis call a "walk" is definitely a "hike" in my book!)

A bright turquoise river curving round a wide pale shingle bank in the Rakaia gorge, native bush on the banks and mountains beyond

Then we grabbed some groceries in Methven with the full intent of not going anywhere while we were at our last AirBnB.

The last place we stayed, the Paewaka House at Montrose Estate, was so perfect, especially for the end of a long journey of going from place to place. It was snuggled in the middle of a beautiful valley, completely secluded. The most beautiful views, a private lake with a dock and kayaks and walking trail all around it, a playground and tree swing, chicken coop with the chickens visiting the front porch regularly. We even discovered while following one of the walking paths that it led right to the Rakaia River (where we had previously gotten great views of on our hike). It was peaceful and cozy. We enjoyed some home cooking after eating out a lot, played frisbee on the lawn, watched the black swans on the lake, and just really enjoyed relaxing in that special place.

Preston and Emily either side of a wooden signpost reading Hoturoa, Te Ata and Paewaka, a lake and pink lit mountains behind them

A wide panorama of a still lake below golden hills and distant ranges, a gravel track curving away along the shore

Mia and Case sitting together at the end of a long wooden jetty, looking out over the lake to the hills beyond

Preston paddling a turquoise kayak towards the jetty in a cap and sunglasses, green hills rising behind the lake

A wide panorama of a braided river running over grey shingle flats at dusk, bluffs on the right and hills fading into haze

Emily and Case sitting together on a round rope swing hung from a big tree, looking out at pink lit mountains across the fields at dusk

This trip to New Zealand was the longest amount of travel we’d ever done as a family, even with missing two days of it. Twelve days went by quickly though, and we felt like we were taking home with us so many incredible memories and experiences. Reflecting on the way home I had this thought - family vacations are kind of like life in a nutshell. What matters is the time you spend together and making memories. It’s not going to be perfect. Things happen. But you approach it with arms open and eyes up.

For example - this trip - I’ve listed our favorites, the highlight reel if you will, because that’s what matters. Those are the memories that we will carry with us. We did have the choice to fold our arms and see things with a complaining posture … our youngest breaking his ankle just a few days before we were supposed to leave and having to be in a boot the whole time, flights cancelled day one - rebook everything, flights cancelled day two - rinse and repeat, a rental car that wouldn’t start consistently and losing time having to switch it out, siblings fussing and fighting, a daughter with awful food poisoning for a solid 24 hours, the same daughter later on with a scary severe allergic reaction …

I guess you could look at it like the old analogy for whether or not the glass is half full or half empty, but that doesn’t quite feel meaningful enough. I think what I’m trying to get at is … I want what matters to be what truly matters in my life and what doesn’t to fade away. The same Jesus who said, “In this world you will have trouble” also said, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” The troubles and stresses don’t have to negate the fullness of life.

This trip as a family, even with the troubles and stresses, truly felt like fullness of life - being in awe of our Creator, trusting Him, being together with the people we love, and meeting new people along the way. Of course I know we don’t have to go to New Zealand or wherever else in the world for that, but sometimes new places and new experiences can help us remember to live … Arms Open. Eyes Up. Wheels Up.

Kia Ora - Have Life!