At a glance: is Delhi a good place to take kids over the NZ summer holidays?
Yes, with a little planning. December and January are Delhi’s winter, so days are cool and pleasant, mornings can be foggy, and air quality needs checking daily. Stay in South Delhi or Aerocity, use the Metro and app-cabs, and build the days around open spaces like Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi Garden and the National Rail Museum. Flights are from NZD $920 per person, one-way from Auckland, checked 9 October 2026, prices change daily.
Why Delhi works for a Kiwi family summer
For many Papatoetoe, Hamilton and Wellington families, “going home for the summer” means Delhi. The children finish school by Friday 18 December 2026, and the family has until late January or early February 2027 before Term 1 begins. That is six or seven weeks, long enough for grandparents, weddings, and a few proper days out in the city.
Delhi in winter is a different city from Delhi in May. The heat is gone. The food is at its best, from gajar ka halwa to roasted peanuts on street corners. The two things to plan around are fog and air quality, and both are manageable once you know what to expect.
Weather and air: what to pack and what to check
Delhi’s December and January are cool to cold. Daytime highs are usually 18 to 22 degrees, but nights and early mornings drop to 5 to 8 degrees, and fog can roll in before dawn. Kiwi kids used to a Mount Maunganui Christmas will feel it.
What | Why it matters in a Delhi winter |
Layers, not one big coat | Mornings are cold, afternoons are mild. Thermals, a fleece and a light jacket let children add and remove as the day warms up. |
Child-sized masks (N95 or KN95) | Winter air quality in Delhi is often poor. A well-fitting mask for outdoor hours on bad days is a simple precaution. |
An air quality app | Check the AQI each morning before choosing an outdoor or indoor day. The Government’s SAMEER app or any AQI app works. |
Closed shoes and socks | Jandals are for home. Delhi footpaths are uneven and mornings are chilly. |
Children’s medicines from NZ | Pack paracetamol, inhalers and rehydration sachets. Keep prescriptions in hand luggage with a copy of the script. |
Fog buffer in your plans | Morning flights and trains in and out of Delhi can be delayed by fog in late December and January. Do not book tight same-day connections. |
Before you fly, read the NZ Government’s India advice on SafeTravel and register your trip.
Where to stay with children: South Delhi or Aerocity
If you are not staying with family, two areas work well. South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Green Park, Saket, Greater Kailash, Defence Colony) is leafy, has good hospitals and cafes, and sits close to the big monuments and gardens. Aerocity, next to the airport, is quieter and modern, with international hotel chains and a Metro station. It suits a late-night arrival with tired children, or a short stay before a connecting flight to Amritsar or Chandigarh.
Avoid Paharganj and Old Delhi for sleeping with young children. Visit them by day instead.
Getting around: Metro first, app-cabs second
The Delhi Metro is clean, air-conditioned, cheap and surprisingly fun for children. Buy a smart card or use the DMRC app so you are not queuing for tokens. Children under 90 centimetres travel free.
For door to door, use Uber or Ola rather than hailing on the street. The fare is fixed in the app, the route is tracked, and you can request a larger car for a family and bags. Car seats are rare, so bring a lightweight travel booster if your child still uses one.
A 4-day Delhi plan for families
A gentle plan that mixes history, green space and food. Each day has one main outing, a long lunch and an early night, which is about right for jet-lagged children.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| Day 1 | Lodhi Garden. Let the kids run, feed the ducks and climb the steps of the old tombs. | Khan Market for lunch and a bookshop stop. Rest at the hotel. | India Gate at dusk. Ice cream, balloons and the lights coming on. |
| Day 2 | Humayun’s Tomb. Wide lawns, water channels and a UNESCO site children can actually explore. | Dilli Haat (INA). Crafts from every state and a safe, varied food court for a late lunch. | Early dinner near your hotel. |
| Day 3 | National Rail Museum. A toy train ride, real steam engines and a playground. Closed Mondays. | Qutub Minar. The tallest brick minaret in the world and a good “spot the carvings” game. | Hauz Khas Village for a lake walk and dinner with a view of the ruins. |
| Day 4 | Akshardham. Arrive at opening to beat the crowds. No phones or cameras inside, so plan for that. | Akshardham’s exhibitions and boat ride, then a slow lunch. | The musical fountain show after sunset, then home. |
5 tips for keeping kids well in Delhi
1. Sealed bottled water only
Drink and brush teeth with sealed bottled water. Skip ice in drinks outside your hotel, and skip pre-cut fruit from carts. Whole fruit you peel yourself, such as bananas and oranges, is a good snack.
2. Choose hot, freshly cooked food
Busy places with a quick turnover are your friend. Dal, rice, roti, paneer and hot parathas are all low-risk. Dilli Haat and hotel restaurants are good when children are fussy.
3. Plan indoor days for bad-air mornings
If the AQI reading is high, swap the outdoor plan for Akshardham’s indoor exhibitions, a mall with a play zone, or a long lunch with family.
4. Wash hands, carry sanitiser
Before every meal and after every Metro ride. It is the simplest way to avoid tummy bugs.
5. Know where the hospital is
Ask your relatives or hotel for the nearest good private hospital on day one. Make sure your travel insurance covers every child and keep the policy number on your phone.
Getting there from New Zealand
There are no non-stop flights from New Zealand to Delhi, but good one-stop connections run from Auckland through Asian and Gulf hubs. As a guide, Auckland–Delhi is from NZD $920 per person, one-way from Auckland, checked 9 October 2026, prices change daily. Departures from Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown are quoted on request.
The summer rush starts the week schools finish, around 14 to 20 December, and the return rush is the last week of January. Book early, keep the family on one booking, and ask us about flexible payment options such as PayLite and Afterpay. NZ students, teachers and education staff can save $25 on selected return flights with our Latest Offer.
New Zealand passport holders, children included, need an Indian e-Visa or OCI card. Apply only through the official Indian visa website. For routes, read our Auckland to Delhi flight guide, our Christchurch to Bengaluru guide for South Island families, and our NZ summer holidays in India planner.
Why book your family trip to Delhi with Mann Travel?
Our team is based in Papatoetoe, South Auckland. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, is available 24/7 while you are away, and specialises in group and family bookings. That means seats together, child meals requested, and someone to call at 3am Delhi time if a flight changes.
Let’s take you home to Delhi this summer.
Search live fares at manntravel.co.nz/flights or call our team on 09 973 1940. Prefer email? Send us your dates and we will do the rest.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Delhi in December and January?
Cool and dry. Daytime highs of 18 to 22 degrees, nights of 5 to 8 degrees, with morning fog common from late December.
Is Delhi's air quality safe for children in winter?
It is often poor. Check the AQI each morning, keep well-fitting N95 or KN95 masks for children on bad days, and plan indoor activities when readings are high.
What are the best things to do in Delhi with kids?
Lodhi Garden, Humayun’s Tomb, the National Rail Museum, Qutub Minar, India Gate at dusk, Akshardham and the food court at Dilli Haat.
Where should a family stay in Delhi?
South Delhi for gardens, hospitals and monuments close by, or Aerocity near the airport for a quiet, modern base and easy connections.
How much are flights from New Zealand to Delhi for the summer holidays?
From NZD $920 per person, one-way from Auckland, checked 9 October 2026, prices change daily. Other NZ cities are quoted on request.
