Meet the Thompsons — a Sydney family of four who decided to spend their school holidays exploring Taupō, New Zealand’s adventure capital of the North Island. With two kids under five, they wanted a mix of easy hikes, cosy stays, and zero packing chaos.
Instead of hauling strollers, cots, and carriers across the Tasman, they booked everything through us here at Tiny Trekkers (genius move). When they landed, everything was waiting for them — a baby carrier for their hikes, a high chair for their Airbnb, and a porta-cot for those much-needed naps.
🏞️ Day 1: Settling in by the Lake
Their first stop? A walk along Taupō’s lakefront trail. The kids loved watching the ducks and throwing stones into the water (classic toddler entertainment). Mum, Jess, grabbed a coffee from Storehouse before heading to the Waikato River Walkway, which has plenty of shaded spots for snack breaks.
“It was such an easy start,” Jess said. “We didn’t have to unpack half the house — just strapped the baby into the carrier and went exploring.”
💦 Day 2: The Mighty Huka Falls
No Taupō trip is complete without Huka Falls. The family parked at the main carpark and followed the short walking track to the lookout point. The roaring blue water was a hit with the kids — loud, dramatic, and “very splashy,” according to their three-year-old.
For a longer walk, they followed the Spa Park to Huka Falls Trail, which is flat, easy, and stroller-friendly in parts. Bonus: it ends at the natural hot pools at Spa Park — perfect for a quick dip before heading home.
🌿 Day 4: Exploring Craters of the Moon
This geothermal wonderland is an easy loop track filled with bubbling mud, steam vents, and alien-looking landscapes. The kids were wide-eyed the whole time.
It’s stroller-accessible and only takes about 45 minutes to complete — long enough to feel adventurous, short enough to avoid meltdowns.
Parent hack: rent a baby carrier if you’ve got a little one who’s still napping — it makes wandering the boardwalks so much easier.
☕ Day 5: Lakeside Picnics and Chill Time
After a few days of walking, they spent a lazy morning at Whakaipo Bay — an underrated gem for families. The calm water, picnic spots, and open space for running wild made it the perfect “no schedule” day.
They packed their rented high chair and buggy for easy setup and enjoyed lunch with lake views and sand between their toes.
✈️ Heading Home (and Already Planning the Next Trip)
When it was time to leave, they simply dropped their hired gear back — no bulky luggage, no stress.
“Honestly, renting everything locally made it so easy,” said Jess. “We got to explore Taupō properly instead of worrying about what we forgot at home.”
🧡 Takeaway Tip
Travelling light doesn’t mean travelling unprepared. Renting your baby and toddler gear in Taupō means you can focus on the good stuff — like chasing waterfalls, finding the best ice cream in town, and letting your kids fall in love with the great outdoors.
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