I’m not sure about you, but this week feels like the first time I can taste summer in the air. The early morning sunshine, birds chirping and temps that soared into the high 70s for the first time here in Michigan. It’s magic. Wherever you’re based, I hope that you’re finding the same energy and optimism as we near May.

With that in mind, I wanted to use this week’s newsletter to reflect on one of the family adventures where we most leaned into the great outdoors—a month slow traveling New Zealand’s South Island. It might be on the other side of the planet for most of us, but as I detail below, it’s an adventurer’s playground. (And even with the lengthy travel required, I can guarantee that your kids will LOVE it.)

Plus, I’m sharing a round up of my favorite travel-inspired gifts for Mother’s Day for the mamas who may want to forward some suggestions (wink, wink) or for gifting of your own. Finally, I’m highlighting one of the most unique, themed properties we’ve ever laid eyes on… based in New York state. You’re gonna want to take a look at this.

A peek into the other side of the world

Mountains that feel magical. Remote ocean stretches. A sense of adventure that seems to waft in the crisp air. New Zealand: a veritable playground.

It had been seven years since we spent half of our honeymoon exploring the country’s South Island, and here we were, heading back with two kids in tow, to retrace our steps but with more days (and less time, ironically, as full-time parents) in our itinerary. While we spent a long while debating whether we’d stay on the North or South Island, or both, we ended up choosing to return to the South, and while our travels meandered from one end of the island to the other, I wanted to focus today’s recap on Queenstown—the perfect basecamp.

Nestled beside The Remarkables mountain range and on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown offers the ideal first glimpse of New Zealand. It blends everything you’d want – a charming downtown packed with apres-hike cocktail bars, a beautiful lakefront with the most picturesque playground and cafe, and proximity to a gazillion outdoor excursions. (It’s also just minutes from the Gibbston Valley wine region, wink-wink.)

The walkable downtown itself is at lake level, but the city stretches uphill – quite steeply! – so it’s worth looking for lodging that’s nearby and double checking its elevation. We had rented a car, but knew we’d want to be able to easily walk to and from town, and were thrilled that we found this Queenstown Airbnb property, which offered a garage and a reasonable path to and fro. Ascending and descending the side street to the condo door was laughably steep, but a short distance to manage. (What we really loved were the epic views from the patio.)

We had no trouble filling time during our two-week stay. Here are a few of our recommendations, though you can read our full list, plus more on other stops on the South Island, in our full guide and itinerary, which just published:

• EAT: Start your day with a reservation at The Boat Shed Cafe and Bistro for lakeside brunch and order up “fluffies” for the little ones (foamed milk with sprinkles in a coffee cup); wait in line at the much-acclaimed Fergburger for a juicy to-go burger or pop into Fergbaker for pastries to take down to the water’s edge; end your day at Patagonia Ice Creamery and Chocolaterie where you can dip gelato bars into melted chocolate and top with hazelnuts, sprinkles and more.

• PLAY: I could write an entire blog post on New Zealand’s playgrounds, which are far more fun than most here in the U.S., in my opinion, while also happening to be placed in the most photogenic locations on Earth. Downtown, along the waterfront, you’ll find the Bathhouse Playground with its daringly tall slide and nearby cafe. A bit outside of town, you’ll find Hanley’s Farm Playground with gorgeous mountain views, sand pit, trampolines and a circular swing set. And a bit further up the road, Jack Tewa Park Playground, which overlooks a vast soccer field and roaming sheep and boasts my favorite zip line of the trip.

• HIKE: Take half a day and drive out to the quiet and supremely scenic Glenorchy and Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway, where you can pack a picnic lunch and then spend one or two hours soaking up the scenery on a leisurely walk; or back in town, take an hour to stroll Queenstown Gardens and the peninsula lakefront path.

• DAY TRIP: A quaint pioneer town outside of Queenstown, Arrowtown is as charming as it gets and less than an hour drive. Also located nearby is the casual sophistication of New Zealand’s Gibbston Valley wine region. It’s a growing area with a solid selection of vineyards and tasting rooms. Our kiddos kept us from fully appreciating this opportunity, but we did spend an afternoon at Queenstown’s Cargo Gantley’s Pub and loved that there was space for Mack to run around while we sipped brews atop bean bags outside.

• MILFORD SOUND: It can theoretically be done as a day trip, but at four hour’s drive each way, it makes for one looooong day. We debated adding this stop into our itinerary, but ultimately ended up going for it – booking an Airbnb to break up the drive – and heading to the legendary sound for a boat tour. Milford Sound is a stunning ocean-fed inlet and UNESCO site that you can best see by water. We opted for a smaller boat tour with Cruise Milford and really enjoyed it.

Mother’s Day is May 11th…

Whether you’re a mom yourself, or simply celebrating with one, we’re sharing some of our favorite travel-inspired finds that anyone would be lucky to unwrap.

• Dagne Dover Convertible Tote | $285
  A handbag with a long shoulder strap, or backpack functionality—win, win, win!

• Kindle Paperwhite | $129
  I held out for so long, but this is a traveler’s dream (especially for downloading library books!)

• National Park Tin Candle | $34
  A splurgy candle that’s fun and functional—with a lid for easy packing. I love the Joshua Tree scent which is a sophisticated blend with notes of cedar and sage.

• Blackberry Farm Cookbook | $37
  Whether you’ve been or dream of going, this resort’s chic and homegrown cookbook is a treat for the eyes and appetite.

• Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit Pack | $55
  We fell in love with these biscuits in Charleston and thankfully, they’re available for mail order! Delight mom with a sampler pack that simply pops in the oven.

• Digital Aura Frame | $149
  This app-based frame has been such a hit in our family. Anyone can upload photos easily from an app and the quality and design is top notch.

Plus, a dramatic getaway in upstate New York

Planning a core-memory-kind-of celebration for your child? Look no further than a night’s stay at one of The Roxbury’s fantastical tower cottages, from The Faerie Forest, draped in vines and twinkling lights, to Dracula’s Fangs, blanketed in black and red hues. Or, consider a more cost-effective stay in the Roxbury Motel’s uniquely themed guestrooms in the Catskill Mountains.

While the properties are light on child-friendly amenities, their eye-widening decor is enough to make them a hit with kids of all ages. No doubt, this will be a slumber to remember.

See more photos on Instagram: theroxburyexperience

Need more ideas? The Kid-Friendly Stays travel directory is the perfect first stop in your next family vacation adventure, wherever you wanna go(!), offering a curated collection of hotels, resorts, Airbnbs and VRBOs for your perusal.

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