WE WANT TO HAVE AN OVERSEAS FAMILY CHRISTMAS, SOMEWHERE AFFORDABLE WITH A LAY-BY OPTION TO ENABLE MY YOUNG ADULT FAMILY TO MANAGE THEIR BUDGETS. WE HAVE CONSIDERED PLACES IN ASIA AND WANT SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BEACH. THERE ARE SIX OF US, TWO WITH HEALTH ISSUES, DIABETES AND COELIAC DISEASE.
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S. MURPHY, PORT MACQUARIE
Without knowing how greatly those health issues might affect your holiday, I'm inclined to make safety the number one priority, which puts New Zealand squarely in the frame. You've got first-class medical facilities close at hand, any medical treatment that might be required is covered by the reciprocal healthcare agreement between New Zealand and Australia, and language won't be a problem when you eat out with those family members with diabetes and coeliac disease.
Just a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke is the city's castaway island, a green, slow-moving, sea-hewn paradise ringed with lovely beaches. It also has a boutique coffee roaster, a spa, olive groves and about 30 vineyards, many with their own wineries open for cellar-door sales, some with fine restaurants. Activities are mostly from the DIY catalogue. Hire a sea kayak and paddle the coastline, hop on a bike, or explore the island's bird and marine reserves. Waiheke also has a lively arts scene, best seen at the weekly market at Ostend. Accommodation includes eco-friendly lodges, bed and breakfasts, sculptural beach houses and a few swanky retreats, but an apartment or holiday house might work best for your needs – check Air BnB (airbnb.com.au).
Another great option at this time of the year is the city of Nelson, on the north coast of South Island. Nelson is a charming, pocket-sized city with the beaches and islands of Abel Tasman National Park on one side and on the other, the serrated coastline of the Marlborough Sounds and the Marlborough wineries, the most celebrated winegrowing area in the country.