Where is a must visit, North Island ?

[dsl2]

Coming over for 3.5 weeks in December visiting relations with the family (wife, two boys 11 & 13) & looking for inspiration for places to visit in the first two weeks in North Island.

Fancy a few days having a proper relaxing break by the coast to begin with, was thinking of Bay of Islands? Or any where else better?

Not really into busy areas, wanting relaxation & lovely scenery to begin with, then looking at Roturua & lake Tapu for the more extreme holiday pastimes!

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Kiwi XTR2]

Taupo is much better Tapu

Starting at the top - Ninety Mile Beach & the cape, Bay of Islands is great for lots of stuff, fishing at Tutukaka, diving at the Poor Knights.

Vineyards at Matakana, Kumeu, Waiheke Island, down to Hawkes Bay.

Lots of stuff around Rotorua & Taupo.

Once the school holidays start you might want to watch some routes on the big travelling days.

[Esprit]

Echo what Graham's said... there's good bit of rustic sightseeing up north (Cape Reinga, Kerekere, ninety mile beach etc), you'll probably spend some time in Auckland, which has its nice points, but not worth more than a day or two. I'd then head down and maybe spend a day or two around the coromandel (GREAT driving roads around the peninsula)... from there down through Tauranga to Rotorua (lots of geothermal and cultural stuff there) and then onto the central plateau (Taupo, Oakhune, Tongariro National Park etc). I'd then skip across to Hawkes Bay (Napier/Hastings/Havelock North) as this is wine, fruit and sunshine country well beyond what France can offer.

Those would be my picks... Spend a good deal of time in Taupo and National Park area as there's a lot to do here (lots of adventure type stuff like white water rafting, bungying, heli-fishing, tramping, etc etc etc) Also worthwhile budgeting to spend a day or two having "rest days" in some of the quieter places just to soak up one of the best things about NZ; its sparse (in places) population.

[Coq au Vin]

Esprit said:

Hawkes Bay (Napier/Hastings/Havelock North) as this is wine, fruit and sunshine country well beyond what France can offer.

Let's not get carried away here!

[Esprit]

Coq au Vin said:

Esprit said:

Hawkes Bay (Napier/Hastings/Havelock North) as this is wine, fruit and sunshine country well beyond what France can offer.

Let's not get carried away here!

Well it's not packed with Frenchies.... that's gotta be a start

[Omerta]

Nothing south of Taupo / Hawkes Bay worth visiting then chaps?





OK, I agree...

[GravelBen]

Must visit places? Try the South Island

[Kiwi XTR2]

GravelBen said:

Must visit places? Try the South Island

San Francisco and Anaheim are really good as well. But they're not in the North Island either.

You'd think a surveyor would know that . . .

[dsl2]

Great, thanks for the ideas fella's. Will be doing a week or so on the south Island too, but thats going to be where ever the outlaws have got planned, so got to go with the flow on that one!

[Bull1t]

My pick of places to visit would be the Hawkes Bay. Best weather, great roads and interesting architecture.

If your anywhere near Wellington make sure you go to Southwards Motor Museum.

[Coq au Vin]

Definitely worth spending a day (or even and afternoon + evening) in Wellington.

[lestag]

dsl2 said:

Coming over for 3.5 weeks in December visiting relations with the family (wife, two boys 11 & 13) & looking for inspiration for places to visit in the first two weeks in North Island.

Fancy a few days having a proper relaxing break by the coast to begin with, was thinking of Bay of Islands? Or any where else better?

Not really into busy areas, wanting relaxation & lovely scenery to begin with, then looking at Roturua & lake Tapu for the more extreme holiday pastimes!

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Better get you accomodation booked brother!!
Northland
Stayed here , loved it - Cable Bay http://www.goldensand.co.nz/

http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/for-rent/new-zealand...

Stayed here
http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/listing.php?listing...

Any east coast beach is great.

here will give you some idea of what accomodation is around.
http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/for-rent/new-zealand...

Omapere/ Opononi is another option

To give you an idea of travel time
3hrs from Auckalnd Airport to Whangarei
1hr Whangarei to Paihia
1hr paihia to cable bay

Alot of peopel up here drive at 80k, bugger all passing lanes, so yah just gotta kick back and relax
Also remember , up here there are a lot of gravel roads esp. from waitaki landing up to the cape , so take care

[GravelBen]

lestag said:

Also remember , up here there are a lot of gravel roads esp. from waitaki landing up to the cape , so take care have fun

Corrected

[Kiwi XTR2]

Would check out the AA site which has links everywhere

NZ Automobile Association

Two things that the kids might like are Tane Mahuta (which is the biggest tree in NZ) and the glowworm caves at Waitomo

[dsl2]

Brilliant fella's, much appreciated!

[bigburd]

A couple of us arrive in NZ on 11th Oct, till 27th Oct. We will be primarily based around Wellington so may bump into a few of you whilst passing. Will try and check out some of the options on this thread ---> thanks to all contributors

[Kiwi XTR2]

If you happen to be driving past Taupo (right in the middle of the N.I.) on either the 11th or 17th, I'm driving at Trackdays at the A1 track on both those days

[thehawk]

The East Cape is beautiful.

[bigburd]

bigburd said:

A couple of us arrive in NZ on 11th Oct, till 27th Oct. We will be primarily based around Wellington so may bump into a few of you whilst passing. Will try and check out some of the options on this thread ---> thanks to all contributors

My plans changed! After arriving 15th, due to some 4x4 fun on Moreton Island (hmmm first time I have driven down beaches with the tide coming in!) I made it to NZ, but was whisked off for a 4 and a bit day rapid tour of South Island - FANTASTIC, excellent roads/driving despite my host crashing her car at an unknown speed through a barrer on the main road on east coast, Christchurch, Methven (some skiing on last weekend), Lakes to Cromwell, Queenstown for shootover jet boat and my first Bungy Jump before returning to North Island for a few more days...downside I am in a remote farm with 33.6K Modem so no pics yet.

BB

[roysum]

dsl2 said:

Coming over for 3.5 weeks in December visiting relations with the family (wife, two boys 11 & 13) & looking for inspiration for places to visit in the first two weeks in North Island.

Fancy a few days having a proper relaxing break by the coast to begin with, was thinking of Bay of Islands? Or any where else better?

Not really into busy areas, wanting relaxation & lovely scenery to begin with, then looking at Roturua & lake Tapu for the more extreme holiday pastimes!

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Done it a few times as my brother lives on the N. Island. Suggest the Coramandel, we did go to Ninety mile beach in January but not that impressed. Loads of real nice places around Auckland, try Piha that's pretty awesome ! Enjoy !