New Zealand from an insiders view

New Zealand never needed to sell itself to me. It just got on with being New Zealand, and somehow that was enough. Quietly spectacular, grounded, and endlessly generous, it’s a place that gets under your skin without making a fuss about it.

I lived there for seven years. Long enough for it to stop being a destination and start feeling like home. I wasn’t passing through highlights on a checklist, I was living real life, building routines, working hard, and raising my sense of what “normal” could look like. Looking back now, it’s impossible not to see how rare it all was, especially through the lens of family life.

Auckland was my gateway and, for many families, it will be yours too. It’s a city that works best when you stop thinking of it as one place. It’s really a collection of suburbs that each have their own personality, stitched together by water, green space and old volcanoes. Devonport felt like a small seaside town where the ferry ride alone was enough to keep kids entertained. Mission Bay was easy and social, playgrounds by the beach, safe swimming and the kind of evenings that drift away without anyone checking the time. Over on the North Shore, Takapuna balanced proper beaches with parks, cafés and a sense that families were very much part of everyday life, not something to work around.

What I always loved about Auckland was how quickly you could switch environments. One minute you’re in the city, the next you’re walking up Mount Eden looking into a volcano, or rock pooling on the coast. For kids, that variety is gold. For parents, it makes life feel lighter.

Heading south, the city slowly loosens its grip. Karaka and the surrounding areas open out into proper space. This is farmland, paddocks, long fences and big skies. It’s quiet in a way that resets you. Children notice animals, weather and seasons again. You’re reminded that New Zealand isn’t just beautiful, it’s working land, and people are deeply connected to it.

I lived in Cambridge, right in the heart of the Waikato, and that’s where New Zealand really locked itself into me. Cambridge is horse country, plain and simple. Horses aren’t a feature, they’re part of the fabric. Early mornings meant mist sitting low on paddocks, the sound of hooves on the road, and yards coming to life before most towns are awake. I worked with horses there, and that shaped everything. It teaches patience, discipline and respect for land and animals in a way that never really leaves you.

Cambridge itself is one of the easiest places I’ve ever lived. Tree-lined streets, a gentle pace, kids on bikes, sport at the weekend, and the river quietly running through it all. It’s the sort of town where family life feels natural rather than forced. Nothing flashy, just solid, safe and genuinely good.

Hamilton

Hamilton sits just down the road and gets unfairly overlooked. It’s practical, friendly and built for real people living real lives. The Hamilton Gardens alone make it worth time. They’re world class, but still relaxed enough that kids can explore while parents slow down without trying.

Then there’s Raglan. Raglan does its own thing and always has. Black sand beaches, a creative edge, surf culture and a sense that nobody is in a rush. It’s barefoot, unpolished and completely comfortable with that. For families, it’s magic. Safe water, space to roam, fish and chips eaten outside, and sunsets that make everyone go quiet for a minute.

One of the great gifts New Zealand gives families is the road trip. Distances are manageable, the scenery keeps changing, and there’s always somewhere to stop that feels safe and welcoming. As you head south, the landscape shifts again. Hills turn to mountains, lakes appear, and the scale of it all hits you.

Queenstown might be famous for adrenaline, but with kids it becomes something else entirely. Gondola rides, lakeside walks, boat trips on Lake Wakatipu and views that stop conversations mid-sentence. Yes, the big thrills are there if you want them, but so are the simple moments. Ice cream by the lake, feeding ducks, watching the Remarkables change colour as the sun drops.

What stays with me most after seven years isn’t just how good New Zealand looks. It’s how it feels. It’s a country that trusts families. Nature is open and accessible. Children are welcome everywhere. Playgrounds appear when you least expect them. Life moves at a pace that allows for curiosity, mud on clothes and plans that change because the day is too good to rush.

Working with horses in Cambridge grounded me in a way few places ever have. It turned New Zealand from somewhere I lived into somewhere that shaped me. And that’s why it lingers.

For families willing to make the journey, New Zealand offers something rare. A place where kids don’t just visit, they grow. And if you’ve lived there, even for a while, a part of you never really leaves.

Written by David Fleming (Lottie's husband)