School holidays have a way of sneaking up. One minute you're looking at the calendar thinking "we should plan something," and the next you're booking flights three weeks out and paying peak-season prices for the privilege.

To take some of the guesswork out of it, we've priced up eight family-friendly destinations for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids under 12) flying out of Auckland, based on a 7-night stay over the September/October 2026 school holidays.  

Accommodation, food and activity figures are rounded estimates built from current hotel listings and typical family spending patterns — treat them as a sensible planning range, not a quote.

Let's get into it.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali remains the easiest tropical escape for Kiwi families — a direct flight, a five-hour time difference that barely touches jet lag, and enough beach, pool and rice-terrace scenery to keep everyone entertained. 

Base yourselves in Nusa Dua or Sanur for calmer water, or Seminyak/Kuta if you want restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. The Gili Islands are a short boat ride away for snorkelling with kids, Waterbom Bali is a genuine full-day water park, and Ubud's Monkey Forest and rice terraces are worth the drive inland for older kids.

Indonesia travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$3,600–4,400 return, Auckland–Denpasar direct with Air New Zealand or Jetstar. Off-peak return fares sit around NZ$680–900 per person; school-holiday demand pushes this toward NZ$1,000–1,100 per person.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,400–1,800 for a week in a 4-star family room at a beachside resort in Nusa Dua, Sanur, or Legian.
• Food: NZ$550–700, with plenty of room to eat well on local warungs, fresh seafood and family-friendly cafés.
• Activities: NZ$300–480 for a day at Waterbom Bali, Gili Islands snorkelling, the Monkey Forest, and a family cooking class.

Total: approximately NZ$5,850–7,380

How to exchange NZD to IDR 

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), symbol Rp. Cards are widely accepted at resorts, but carry some rupiah for markets, warungs and Grab drivers. A quick mental shortcut: drop the last four zeros from an IDR price for a rough NZD equivalent.

Australia (Gold Coast, Queensland)

For Kiwi families, Australia plays the role New Zealand plays for Australians — a short, easy, theme-park-heavy hop that doesn't chew up a whole week in transit. The Gold Coast is the obvious pick: Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, and Sea World are all within a short drive of Surfers Paradise, and the beach itself is patrolled and family-friendly. If you want a change of pace, the hinterland (Lamington National Park, Tamborine Mountain) is an easy day trip.

Australia travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$2,200–3,000 return, Auckland–Gold Coast direct with Air New Zealand or Jetstar (around 3.5 hours). Off-peak fares run NZ$410–530 per person; school holidays typically add NZ$150–250 per person.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,400–1,800 for a week in a 4-star family room in Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach.
• Food: NZ$700–900, covering everything from beachfront fish and chips to family-friendly dinners.
• Activities: NZ$500–750 for a day each at Movie World and Dreamworld/Sea World (theme park tickets for a family of four are the single biggest activity cost here) plus a beach day.

Total: approximately NZ$4,800–6,450

How to exchange NZD to AUD

Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD). Cards are accepted everywhere, including most parking meters and market stalls, so there's less need to carry cash than in most of the other destinations on this list.

Japan (Tokyo)

Tokyo's appeal for families barely needs explaining: Disneyland and DisneySea, the teamLab digital art museums, Shibuya Crossing as a 'wow' moment for kids, and an extremely safe, easy-to-navigate train network once you've got a Suica card sorted. Base yourselves near Shinjuku or Tokyo Station for the best rail connections, and consider a day trip to Kyoto if your kids can handle a bullet train ride (most love it).

Japan travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$6,400–8,000 return, Auckland–Tokyo (Air New Zealand flies this route direct). Fares fluctuate a lot by date; expect NZ$1,600–2,000 per person during September/October school holidays.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,600–2,000 for a week in a 4-star family room near a major transport hub such as Shinjuku.
• Food: NZ$750–1,000, from conveyor-belt sushi and ramen shops to family-friendly izakayas.
• Activities: NZ$550–750 covering a day at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea (the biggest single spend) plus temples, shrines and a teamLab visit.

Total: approximately NZ$9,300–11,750

How to get NZD to JPY 

Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY). Japan is far more cash-reliant than most people expect — many smaller restaurants, temples and rural spots still don't take cards, so carry yen alongside a Travel Money NZ Cash Passport travel card.

China (Shanghai)

Shanghai gives families heaps of entertainment thanks to the skyline (The Bund at night is unforgettable for kids), Shanghai Disneyland, and an easy day trip to see the Bund's Yu Garden or take a river cruise along the Huangpu. Beijing is the alternative base if the Great Wall and the Forbidden City are the priority instead — both cities work well for a week-long family trip.

China travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$6,400–7,600 return, Auckland–Shanghai or Beijing (no direct Air NZ service; expect one stop via Air New Zealand's partner network, China Airlines, or Cathay Pacific). Per-person fares run NZ$1,600–1,900 in the school-holiday window.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,800–2,300 for a week in a 4-star family room, with cheaper serviced-apartment options available.
• Food: NZ$600–800, from dumpling houses and noodle shops to larger family restaurants.
• Activities: NZ$650–850 for Shanghai Disneyland, a guided Forbidden City or Bund tour, and a Huangpu river cruise.

Total: approximately NZ$9,450–11,550

How to exchange NZD to CNY

Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY), symbol ¥. Digital payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay) dominate day-to-day spending in China, but these can be fiddly to set up as a visitor, so it's worth carrying some cash as a backup.

Thailand (Phuket)

Phuket remains a family favourite for a reason: calm, warm water at Kata and Karon beaches, a short boat ride to the Phi Phi Islands for snorkelling, and enough resorts with kids' clubs and pools that you can genuinely relax while the children are entertained. The Old Town's markets and Bangkok's Grand Palace (via a short domestic flight or day trip if you want to combine cities) round out the cultural side.

Thailand travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$6,000–7,600 return, Auckland–Phuket (no direct flights from Auckland; expect one stop, typically via Australia, Singapore or Hong Kong). Per-person fares run NZ$1,500–1,900 during school holidays.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,600–2,000 for a week in a private pool villa or 4-star family room.
• Food: NZ$500–750, with excellent-value beachside Thai restaurants, fruit stalls and night markets.
• Activities: NZ$400–700 for a Phi Phi Islands snorkelling day, Splash Jungle Water Park, and an ethical elephant sanctuary visit.

Total: approximately NZ$8,500–11,050

How to exchange NZD to THB

Currency: Thai Baht (THB), symbol ฿. Cards work in hotels and malls, but cash is still king for tuk-tuks, street food and markets.

Vietnam (Da Nang)

Da Nang is the standout budget-friendly option on this list: a long stretch of sandy beach at My Khe, the cable car and Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, and the lantern-lit charm of nearby Hoi An Ancient Town, all without the price tag of Bali or Phuket. It's also a genuinely relaxed base — less frenetic than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, which matters when you're travelling with young kids.

Vietnam travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$5,600–7,200 return, Auckland–Da Nang (no direct flights; typically routed via Asia). Per-person fares run NZ$1,400–1,800 during school holidays.
• Accommodation: NZ$1,100–1,400 for a week in a 4-star family room near the beach or Da Nang city centre.
• Food: NZ$400–600, covering street food, local phở restaurants and fresh seafood.
• Activities: NZ$300–600 for a Ba Na Hills cable car and Golden Bridge visit, a Hoi An lantern-making class, and the Marble Mountains.

Total: approximately NZ$7,400–9,800

How to exchange NZD to VND

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND), symbol ₫. Cards are accepted in tourist hubs and larger hotels, but cash is still the norm for street vendors and smaller restaurants.

Singapore

Singapore is the polished, easy-mode Asia trip: spotless, safe, English-speaking, and built around a public transport system that makes getting around with kids genuinely stress-free. Gardens by the Bay's Supertrees, Universal Studios Singapore, and Sentosa's beaches and Adventure Cove Waterpark cover most ages, while the hawker centres solve the "fussy eater" problem better than almost anywhere else in the world.

Singapore travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$6,800–8,400 return, Auckland–Singapore direct with Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines. Per-person fares run NZ$1,700–2,100 during school holidays.
• Accommodation: NZ$3,000–3,600 for a week in a 4-star family room near Sentosa Island or Marina Bay — Singapore is a genuinely premium accommodation market.
• Food: NZ$650–900, with hawker centres offering excellent value alongside pricier mall and hotel dining.
• Activities: NZ$600–800 for Universal Studios Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, and Sentosa's beaches and waterpark.

Total: approximately NZ$11,050–13,700

How to exchange NZD to SGD

Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD). Cards and contactless payment are near-universal but keep a little cash for hawker centre stalls that are cash-only.

Europe (Paris)

Paris is the splurge destination on this list, and the long-haul flight time (with at least one stopover from Auckland) means it suits a longer trip or a milestone occasion more than a standard school-holiday dash. That said, the payoff is real: the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris, a Seine river cruise, and the kind of picnic-in-the-park afternoons that make European travel worthwhile with kids.

Paris travel budget breakdown

• Flights: NZ$11,200–13,600 return, Auckland–Paris (no direct flights; typically routed via Asia, the Middle East, or North America). Per-person fares run NZ$2,800–3,400 during the September/October window.
• Accommodation: NZ$3,800–4,300 for a week in a one-bedroom apartment sleeping four — this is usually more comfortable and cost-effective than a hotel room for a family of four in Paris.
• Food: NZ$1,100–1,450, from bakeries and casual brasseries to family-friendly crêperies.
• Activities: NZ$450–800 for Disneyland Paris (the biggest single cost), the Louvre, and a Seine river cruise.

Total: approximately NZ$16,550–20,150

How to exchange NZD to EUR

Currency: Euro (EUR). Paris is largely card-friendly, but keep some cash for public toilets, tipping, and smaller cafés.

^Disclaimer:

^{This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. Travel Money Oz has sought to ensure that the information is true and correct at the time of publication (First Published September 11th, 2025, and updated September 8th, 2026). Prices, details and services are subject to change without notice, and Travel Money Oz accepts no responsibility or liability for any such changes, including any loss resulting from any action taken or reliance made by you on any information provided. You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate or is appropriate for you. We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog. All prices are approximations. Your costs may differ depending on where you go, where you shop, and their individual factors.}