When people think of New Zealand they tend to think of either the sheer natural beauty of the country (Lord of the Rings landscapes et al) or the array of adventure sports you can partake in (while surrounded by natural beauty) such as bungee or jet boating. If you’re with kids though you’re options for adventure might be a bit more limiting – height, age restrictions – and all.
On our recent trip to new Zealand, a few family friends told us the highlight of a visit to Rotorua was to spend a day at the Luge. For me luge conjured up the Winter Olympics image of a head to toe spandex bodysuited person laying flat down on a board attached to some skates inches from the smooth cold ice hurtling like a torpedo down a mountain.
Sounds like Fun!! But does that sound safe for the kids?
The Luge, Rotorua
Well the Skyline complex including a gondola ride, luge, restaurants and great views over Rotorua provided the answer. Their luge, proudly claimed “a world’s first” and designed and built in Rotorua, involves no rock hard ice track, bodysuit or lying inches from the ground. Instead sitting in specially designed 3 wheel carts (with room for the kids between you and the steering) with easy to control steering and braking meant an exciting ride whether you’re 6 or 60 years old.
With three levels of track (slow, intermediate and advanced) each with respective increases in terms of speed, we spent the better part of the day going down the hill and again and again – kids couldn’t get enough. While you have to be six years of age to go down by yourself, (and my 7 year old daughter Leila had fun learning to control the luge even at slow speeds) it was my five and two year olds that had the most fun, sitting in front of me or my wife, while we hurtled down the hill.
Opening at 10am I suggest you get there early as by lunch time lines had grown quite long but even so they moved pretty quickly. Price wise its not a cheap day out, the cost of the gondola comes first but a family pass can come with 6 or 8 luge rides included and then you may purchase additional packages of rides. Of course for adults or teenagers an unlimited day pass might be a better option. Also if you pick up a Rotorua/ NZ brochure they frequently have a 10% discount option as well
Enjoy!
Kids after a day at the luge, Rotorua
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My boys would love that! Looks like a very fun filled day indeed!
haha wow that looks really fun
Wooohooo that looks great, I would spend all day there racing down the hills.
That’s what we did – we all had a blast.