When our baby boy was just 3 months old, we took him on his first international vacation to New Zealand. As first-time parents, the thought of an international trip with a baby came with a lot of nerves about the unknown, but we also knew that it would be an incredible opportunity to create unforgettable memories for our new family of 3.
While traveling with a young baby may seem scary, especially for new parents, I cannot recommend New Zealand enough as the ideal destination for our first international adventure. From baby-friendly amenities and facilities to stunning natural beauty, here are ten compelling reasons why an international trip, especially one to New Zealand, is not only feasible but immensely rewarding. Grab your little one and get ready for an incredible adventure!
10 Reasons to Travel to New Zealand With a Baby:
1) Family Leave as Vacation Opportunity:
My husband and I were fortunate enough to have about 12-16 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth of our son. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that embarking on a family vacation to an exciting destination, especially one at the top of your bucket list, is a fantastic way to make the most of this leave time.
Traveling to New Zealand with our baby gave us the chance to bond with our new addition while using two weeks of our parental leave to explore stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. In our view, the first few months of being new parents, or even seasoned parents with a new baby, can throw some wild obstacles your way—so why not face those challenges in a beautiful and exciting place?
2) New Zealand Airports are Super Family-Friendly:
Navigating airports with small children can be stressful, but in my experience, this is definitely not the case in New Zealand. The airports we visited had fantastic family-friendly facilities that made our journey much smoother.
One airport feature that made traveling to New Zealand with a baby painless was the family restrooms, the best I’ve ever seen. They were spacious, with separate nursing rooms that included lounge chairs for mom and baby, and extra seats for toddlers. They even had strap-in baby seats next to the toilet to secure your baby while you use the restroom—a lifesaver, especially for mom or dad traveling solo who, like myself, dread the balancing act of holding a squirming baby while using the restroom.
Additionally, most of the airports we traveled through had dedicated play areas, perfect for letting your baby stretch and wiggle after a long international flight.
3) Fly International with Ease:
Speaking of airplane travel, we find that long-haul international flights can be a lot easier than shorter flights or other forms of travel. The reason for this is the combination of taking overnight flights and the availability of bulkhead seats with a bassinet for your baby.
With most airlines that fly internationally, after booking your flight with a lap infant, you can call the airline to request a bulkhead seat and a bassinet. While the airline usually can’t ‘confirm’ the bassinet in advance, as long as you make sure you secure your seats at the bulkhead, you should be good to go—we’ve never been denied a bassinet on over 10+ international flights.
The bassinet is a game changer. Once baby is safely secured, you as parents are totally hands-free. This works especially well for us on overnight flights when our baby is already tired and ready for bedtime. The combination of a sleepy baby, the plane’s white noise, and the gentle rocking from turbulence creates an optimal sleeping environment for our little one.
4) Convenient and Money-saving Baby Gear Rentals:
For our trip to New Zealand with our baby, we were able to travel light because of the availability of baby gear rental companies throughout the country.
During our trip, we made Queenstown our home base, which worked out great because there was a rental gear company, Tots on Tour, located less than a mile from the airport. They offered everything one could need for travel including a wide range of options for essential items from strollers to cribs, and even toys.
The rental option was perfect because although we absolutely love our Thule Urban Glide Jogging Stroller, its size does not always make it practical for long-distance travel. Tots on Tour was also incredibly affordable- we paid around $75 for just under 2 weeks of rental, freeing up space in both our hands and our budget during our adventures.
5) Access to Adult-only Time:
With New Zealand being such a baby-friendly country, some of the popular destinations we traveled to during our trip such as Queenstown, offered babysitting services for families visiting on vacation.
During the last few days of our vacation, my husband and I utilized Babysitting Queenstown for a babysitter once in the evening, and then again the next day. Although we initially were hesitant about doing so as new parents to a 3-month-old, we had a fantastic experience with the company and they took great care of our little one.
This was a big treat for Mom and Dad, allowing us to hit up some adult fun such as relaxing at the Onsen Hot Springs and Jet Boating in the famous Nevis River, while knowing our little guy was in safe hands.
See this article for a complete review of our experience with hiring a babysitter in New Zealand.
6) Convenient Campervan Rentals Make Traveling With Baby a Breeze:
Traveling via campervan is a very popular way to explore New Zealand, and it is also a terrific choice when traveling to New Zealand with a baby.
Traveling with a baby in a campervan offers convenience and flexibility that is hard to beat. With your vacation home on wheels, you can bring all the comforts of home and baby necessities with you as you explore the country’s diverse attractions.
Plus, as New Zealand has stunning landscapes around every corner, campervanning makes it easy to continue admiring that gorgeous vista you traveled so far to see, while baby sticks to their nap schedule snoozing comfortably in their bassinet.
Planning a campervan trip with your family? Make sure to read my article on the 7 Essential Tips for Renting a Campervan with a Baby in New Zealand.
7) New Zealand is Friendly to your Family Budget:
Traveling as a family is certainly more expensive than as a couple or solo, however, traveling to New Zealand with a baby offers a ton of affordable options for accommodations and activities, especially for those embracing the outdoors.
Camping is free in most parts of the country, making a place to stay extremely affordable during your trip. Also with the abundance of public outdoor spaces, national parks, and free outdoor activities, your families can experience the beauty of jaw-dropping wilderness without breaking the bank.
8) New Zealand is Filled with Baby-Friendly Public Spaces:
Speaking of public spaces, one thing that I found very unique to New Zealand while traveling with a baby is the availability of facilities and free amenities tailored to the needs of families traveling with infants and children. Most of the public parks we visited had baby-friendly features such as soft play areas, where a crawling baby or an unstable toddler can move about worry free.
There were also amenities for the entire family. As a nursing mother, I particularly appreciated the free public bathrooms for families with private and clean nursing rooms.
9) Babies Sleep Better in Cold Weather: Right?!
When we vacationed to the South of New Zealand in late Spring (late Fall for the Northern Hemisphere), the climate in New Zealand allowed for pleasant daytime temperatures and cooler nights, allowing a very comfortable environment for the whole family.
While we were on the go exploring with our baby, the combination of being bundled up in cozy layers, and the cool crisp outside air, allowed him to sleep really well in the stroller during our adventures.
10) Babies Are Small, They Travel for Free, and They Can’t Run Away Yet
Although our family has not personally had experience with this yet (our baby boy is not quite walking yet), I can imagine that it has to be much easier to travel with an infant vs. a runaway toddler – From the way our son crawls with such ferocity, I know we are in for a never-ending game of chase as soon as he learns how to move on just two limbs.
Not only does a less mobile baby make it easier to keep track of your little one in crowded tourist attractions or on wild outdoor adventures, small babies are also lighter and easier to carry or push around for the full day.
Lastly, infants under a certain age, usually 2 for most places, fly either free or at reduced rates, and usually do not have to pay admission rates for most attractions.
Go Now: Travel to New Zealand with a Baby!
New Zealand provides the perfect backdrop for creating cherished memories with your new baby. So why wait?
Start planning your unforgettable family adventure in New Zealand today!
Have any reasons to add or have a question about anything above? Add it in the comments below!
