#starstorySmall Steps Adventures with the Glaser Family

Small Steps Adventures: An 8-Week New Zealand Family Road Trip with Twin Toddlers

TL;DR

The Glaser family spent eight weeks travelling the length of Aotearoa in a Star RV Polaris 6, with twin girls who had just turned two. This story follows their New Zealand family road trip from the far north at Cape Reinga to the southern tip at Bluff, covering more than 50 stops across both islands.

What you will take away:

• A proven North and South Island route for a long motorhome trip
• Practical, real-world lessons on a road trip with toddlers
• Why slowing down and letting nature lead turns small moments into big ones
• How the Polaris 6 motorhome supports families on extended journeys

The result? A family that came home closer, calmer and already planning their return.

Why an 8-week motorhome trip with two-year-olds?

For the Glasers, this wasn't their first long journey as a family. In 2024, they spent 12 weeks travelling through Australia, Fiji and Tonga when their twins were not yet one. Those weeks gave them something rare: uninterrupted time together, every single day, away from the pull of social commitments at home.

They wanted that feeling again. So in 2025, two parents in their thirties and two-year-old twins set off for New Zealand. The plan was simple. See the whole country, both islands, cities and wild places, across the changing seasons.

A motorhome made that plan work. With a home on wheels, nap times happened on the road, dinners were cooked with a view, and every morning started somewhere new. There was no packing and unpacking at hotels, and no rushing to make check-in times. The family moved at their own pace, which is exactly what travelling with toddlers requires.

Where did you go, and what did you do?

The North Island: geothermal valleys, waterfalls and the far north

The Glasers collected their Polaris 6 in Auckland and headed east. Their New Zealand road trip itinerary on the North Island came in two parts, one at the start of the trip and one at the end, with the South Island in between.

Heading south: Auckland to Wellington

The first leg took them through some of the North Island's best-known landscapes:

• Coromandel: golden beaches and native bush
• Rotorua: steaming geothermal ground and bubbling mud pools
• Matamata: the rolling green farmland of the Waikato
• Omanawa and Ngatira: quiet back roads and forest waterfalls
• Taupo: the country's largest lake, with volcanic peaks on the horizon
• Wellington: the harbour capital and the ferry across Cook Strait

Returning north: Taranaki to Cape Reinga

After sailing back from Picton, the family took the long way home. They walked to Dawson Falls on the slopes of Mount Taranaki and explored New Plymouth. At Tongaporutu, they saw the sea stacks of the Three Sisters. Then came Waitomo, and the moment you'll read about shortly.

From there, they drove into Northland. Whangarei, Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri showed off the Bay of Islands. Tokerau Beach offered long stretches of sand, and Cape Reinga marked the northernmost point of the journey. On the way back to Auckland, they stopped at Kawakawa, the Waitakere Ranges at Pukematekeo, and the wild black-sand beaches of Piha and Whatipu.

The South Island: the stretch that left them wanting more

If the North Island charmed them, the South Island captured them completely. The family spent the heart of their trip here, and it's the region they talk about returning to most.

East coast and the Southern Alps

After crossing Cook Strait, they drove down the coast to Kaikoura, where the mountains meet the sea. Christchurch came next, followed by the braided river at Rakaia Gorge and the slopes of Mount Hutt. From Timaru, they turned inland to Lake Tekapo's famous turquoise water and on to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's highest peak.

The deep south and Fiordland

The route then wound through Omarama and down to Oamaru and Dunedin on the coast. The Catlins Conservation Park brought forest walks and rugged shoreline before the family reached Bluff, the southern end of State Highway 1. From there, two of Fiordland's great experiences followed:

1. Doubtful Sound: remote, quiet and vast
2. Milford Sound: sheer cliffs and waterfalls pouring into the fiord

Queenstown, the lakes and the West Coast

Queenstown, Glenorchy, Arrowtown and Wanaka filled the next chapter with mountain lakes and golden valleys. Crossing to the West Coast, they found the mirror-still reflections of Lake Matheson, then Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. Hokitika Gorge delivered its striking milky blue water.

Heading north through the mountains

The final South Island stretch took them over Arthur's Pass National Park, past the limestone boulders of Castle Hill, and through Waipara and Lewis Pass. Lake Rotoiti, Abel Tasman National Park, Wharariki Beach and Nelson rounded things off before the ferry left Picton.

The "WOW" moment at the Waitomo glowworm caves

Across eight weeks, one small word kept coming up. Waterfalls, lakes, mountains: again and again, the twins would stop and say "WOW!". But one moment stood above the rest.

It happened on a tour of the Waitomo glowworm caves. This was the family's first cave of the trip, and the girls' first cave ever. The Glasers walked in at the front of the group.

"One of the girls looked up at the limestone structures, the darkness combined with some light from the torches on the floor. She waited a moment, stood still, and then said, with everyone still quiet behind us, 'wow!'. It was such a genuine moment. She was truly impressed."

For her parents, it was a reminder of how precious nature is, and why it deserves our care and protection. They already knew the cave was beautiful. Hearing their daughter's reaction made them feel it.

What toddlers teach you about slowing down

The Glasers found that nature does the hard work when you travel with little ones. A full day of sightseeing is a lot for a two-year-old to process. A full day of wandering outdoors is different. There are new textures, new smells and new sounds everywhere.

"You don't have to entertain them. They entertain themselves with nature. They actually fully live."

That approach shaped every day of the trip:

• Wake with the sun: sunrise views over beaches, mountains and lakes set the tone for the day
• Go outside, whatever the weather: rain gear on, hike still happening
• Let the kids lead: follow their curiosity rather than a strict schedule
• Keep plans light: fewer big attractions, more time in open space

Rain is part of any trip to New Zealand, and the family embraced it. As they put it, "Did we get soaked sometimes? Yes. Did we mind? No."

Why the Polaris 6 suits a New Zealand family road trip

Eight weeks is a long time to share a space with two toddlers. The family chose the Star RV Polaris 6, and it gave them the room and comfort to make every one of those weeks feel easy.

Key features of the Polaris 6

• Sleeps six: three double beds, so parents and little ones each have their own space
• Fully self-contained: onboard toilet and shower, freshwater and greywater tanks
• A proper kitchen: gas cooking, a large fridge, sink and all cookware supplied
• Easy to drive: automatic transmission on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or similar base
• Comfortable living area: an inside table and bench seating for meals and rainy afternoons
• Family extras: child seats and booster seats available to add to your booking

Check out the Polaris 6 Motorhome

Who is the Polaris 6 best for?

This 6 berth motorhome in NZ suits travellers who want space without compromise:

1. Families with young children who need separate sleeping areas and an onboard bathroom
2. Families with older kids looking for room to spread out on longer trips
3. Multi-generational groups travelling with grandparents
4. Groups of friends sharing the road and the costs

For couples, Star RV's smaller motorhomes offer the same thoughtful design in a more compact layout.

Why Star RV for motorhome hire in New Zealand

Star RV's modern fleet, well-kept vehicles and friendly local support make it simple to plan a long journey. Whether you are booking two weeks or eight, you will set off knowing every detail is taken care of. That leaves you free to focus on what matters: the people beside you and the road ahead.

The Glasers summed up their trip best:

"We are a team; whatever happens, we figure it out as a family. We take our time, consciously every day, to learn more about and from each other, nature, and other cultures. To experience it all to the fullest; to let all those little moments actually be the big moments."

They will be back when the girls are older, ready for the longer hikes and trails of the South Island. Your own small steps adventure starts with a Polaris 6 booking.