Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on the best New Zealand stopovers with a child

Have a travel question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

You can use the long distance travel opportunity to see Hong Kong Disneyland (Getty)

Q I’m looking to visit family in Auckland over Easter 2017. It will be myself and eight-year-old son travelling from Heathrow. I would welcome your opinion on the best routes. I am considering Dubai and Hong Kong as stopovers but have no idea if these would be the most interesting for an eight-year old. I am flexible on dates and times. What is your advice?

Jackie Priddy

A On the very-long haul to New Zealand, a stopover is an excellent idea – in both directions – partly to break up the journey, but mostly because it delivers an extra destination at little extra cost.

At Easter, Dubai would already be too hot for me (and for an eight-year-old). In contrast, Hong Kong would be fairly fresh and pleasant, though with some risk of storms and high humidity. For an eight-year-old, Hong Kong offers plenty of colour and excitement in a relatively safe environment.

The Star Ferry across the harbour is the place to start, followed by a trip on the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak. The Science Museum has plenty of hands-on attractions, and to round off a stay you could treat him to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Coming home, I recommend you turn it into a round-the-world trip. Not only is it an exciting concept in its own right – a circumnavigation also gives the chance to see California on the way home. You could choose either San Francisco or Los Angeles, but I recommend LA – full of excitement, from great beaches to Hollywood, and the formidably fun Universal Studios.

Contact two or three specialist agents to get the best deal; they can also organise good-value hotels in the cities you choose. Fares to New Zealand at Easter are generally low, so your timing is excellent.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder