If you've got kids to entertain, you'll find no shortage of options for family fun. Line up a wildlife encounter with a dolphin cruise or native bird walk, or take a tour of the glow worm caves by Lake Mclaren to meet some of the Bay of Plenty's most ancient and unusual subterranean inhabitants.
For an educational option, take the kids to learn about Maori culture and heritage at one of several fantastic museums and heritage centres in the area. Or visit the Whakarewarewa Maori Village for a full immersion experience. For a glimpse into one of the most famous aspects of modern New Zealand history and culture, take a day trip to Matamata and walk around the movie set used to film Hobbiton in Sir Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
