Easter 2010 "EGGS" pedition at Treetops Lodge & Estate - Nominated as the only New Zealand property in 2009 at Virtuoso "Best of the Best" for the Childrens Program - we have done it again!

CHILDREN IN THE TREETOPS

Youngsters can sometimes be the “forgotten guests” at luxury lodges, but at Treetops we aim to make them welcome with a range of activities created especially for them. In addition, many of our activities for adults can be readily adapted to suit younger tastes, and the Rotorua area offers an extraordinary range of additional activities for all ages.

For your convenience, we will divide our array of children’s activities into those aimed principally at younger children (5 – 10 years), those for older children (up to about 15), and those that can be tailored to suit any age.

Powhiri

On arrival to treetops Lodge and Estate you will be welcomed to the Lodge with a Powhiri (traditional Maori welcome).

Younger children

Teddy Bears’ Picnic

The children are taken “exploring” in the forest by one of our staff. As they wander through the trees, they are told about the animals that live there and Maori legends of the forest. Suddenly, perhaps in a secluded clearing by a waterfall or maybe on top of a high hill overlooking the entire valley, they spy a splash of colour. A picnic has been set out, and teddy bears are waiting to welcome their guests. The children are “introduced” to the teddies, and then join them for a feast. Afterwards each child has a teddy to take home with him or her – a permanent reminder of a very special day.

Pumice carving

An hour or two in the evening for Mum and Dad to relax after dinner while the kids learn to create a pumice masterpiece.

Flax Weaving

A baking lesson

Wouldn’t it be great to bake Mum and Dad’s afternoon tea? Our friendly open-plan kitchen welcomes guests of all ages; they don there very own Junior Treetops’ chef’s jacket (which they get to take home) and work along side our Chef to learn some of the Treetops’ kitchen secrets – a delicious Treetops recipe.

Older children

Fly fishing

“Hey, Mum, look what I’ve caught for our dinner!” Treetops is at the heart of one of  New Zealand’s most productive fly fishing regions. In fact there are prime fishing locations within five minutes of the front door (the trout in the pool by the door are not for fishing!). Our experienced fishing guides can supply all the equipment and will take your child out for his/her very own lesson in this art. Our chefs will be happy to cook the catch of the day!

Archery / Clay Bird / Target Shooting

Bows, rifles, targets… we have it all here at Treetops, plus licensed firearm tutors who can guide your child through their first experience with a bow or gun. They will learn safe handling techniques and test their hand-eye coordination skills.

Mountain biking

There are some great mountain bike tracks on Treetops Estate that cater to all levels. We have top quality mountain bikes available. For the more adventurous, one of the World’s best mountain bike parks – The Redwoods - is only a fifteen minute drive away. This venue hosted the World Mountain Bike Champs with over 400 km of dedicated trails graded for difficulty snaking through the forest, providing fun, and a challenge, for the older child – and the fitter parent! Bikes can be hired at the Redwoods.

Geo-caching

Geo-caching is a treasure hunt employing the Global Positioning System (GPS). With the aid of a hand-held tracking device, the children must locate “treasure” (or “caches” to use the official term) using only the coordinates given to them. A simple hunt may involve only one cache, located close to the lodge itself. At the other end of the scale we can create a treasure hunt that will last several hours, each cache giving consecutive clues which can take the hunters deep into the heart of the estate. Some planning may be required so please tell us well in advance if your children would like to try this exciting new sport.

Kayaking

Lake Reflection, only five minutes walk from the lodge, has a number of very stable kayaks drawn up on the beach, ready for use. For the more adventurous, kayaks or canoes can be hired during the summer months at several of the large lakes in the Rotorua. Kayak across Lake Rotoiti to the hot springs for a swim and a picnic these springs are only accessible by water.

Horse trekking

The wider forest and pasture tracks of the Treetops estate are ideal for horse trekking. Diddy, our experienced horseman and charismatic Maori elder, has a team of great trekking horses, to suit all levels from absolute beginners to those who have experience. Let him lead your children on a journey of exploration to the very corners of the estate enchanting them with stories of long ago. Trips can be tailored to suit; varying in length from an hour to a full day with a picnic lunch included.

And for the very adventurous

New Zealand virtually invented “adventure tourism” so it is not surprising that a variety of more extreme sports can be followed in the Rotorua region. White water rafting on the Kaituna River, skiing on Mount Ruapehu (in winter) water skiing on the lakes and surfing in the Bay of Plenty (in summer), lugeing (like small fast downhill go-carts) and zorbing (rolling down a hill in a big plastic ball) are just some of the activities that young adults visiting Treetops may care to alarm their parents by indulging in!

All Ages

Educational

Learning can be fun – especially at Treetops! Many of the parents visiting the lodge are home-schooling their children whilst they travel, others are simply keen that their children take away more than a superficial knowledge of the area.

Natural history

We can arrange for local experts in the unique geology and natural history of the region to give a personal lesson. This can be accompanied by a walk in the forest to observe bird life, and examine some of the remarkable plants of New Zealand.

Looking further afield, many attractions in the area combine extreme excitement with education. Want to go inside the crater of an active volcano? A trip in our helicopter to White Island will let you do just that – and view many of the other volcanic features of the area from the air on the way. Then there are visits to any of the several geothermal sites in the region to witness geysers, boiling springs, mud pools, and more.

If animal life is a child’s particular fancy, this too can be catered for. At the Wings Haven Falconry Centre, the rare New Zealand falcon can be observed flying free; at Rainbow Springs other unique wildlife of New Zealand – kiwi, parrots, weka, lizards and tuatara can be observed. Children love a visit to Kiwi Encounter - the world’s most successful kiwi breeding facility endeavouring to repopulate our forests with this unique bird - also New Zealand’s national icon. A visit to Mokoia Island bird sanctuary, in the middle of Lake Rotorua, will provide an opportunity to see many more native birds in their natural habitat.

And for those who want something completely different, at Paradise Valley Springs, along with a variety of native and introduced animals, there is often the opportunity to pet a lion cub!

Cultural

“Meeting the locals” can often be a highlight of an overseas trip. Treetops can arrange a visit to a local school and/or marae (traditional Maori meeting house) to meet and interact with local children

Continuing the cultural theme, many people, not just New Zealanders, will be familiar with the haka – the Maori war dance – some may have seen it performed by  teams (notably the All Blacks) prior to sporting events. In fact there are many different haka, not all are war dances and virtually every child in New Zealand, whether Maori or Pakeha (“Pakeha” = “different” in Maori. “Maori” actually means “normal” relevant to the days of early European colonisation) learns to perform one in school. Our Maori experts will be delighted to teach your child a simple haka or a traditional Maori song accompanied by the guitar and explain what it all means. There are also a number of traditional Maori games which they will delight in teaching to your child.

The impact of Pakeha is not forgotten – at the Agrodome children will be introduced to traditional New Zealand farm animals and techniques.

Then there is the Rotorua Museum of Art and History – a great place to spend a couple of hours.

Art lessons

A local artist can be invited to give lessons in sketching and painting – outdoors or inside. Perhaps something to think about if the weather is not on your side!

Just walking & Planting a Tree

A walk around the estate with a knowledgeable guide can be an experience all on its own. With five species of deer, wild pigs, water buffalo, pheasants, peacocks, and a huge variety of native bird life, there is always plenty to see.

Soaking in one of our natural Hot Pools

Rotorua hosts some of the best Thermal Pools in the country. It’s a unique place to experience the Living Waters of underground springs. This natural mineral water straight from the ground ensures a pure bathing experience for young and old. Bring the family and play in the large open pools or relax in a private pool.