Next week we’re headed to New Zealand!
Courtesy of Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand we have free flights from LA and amazing deals while we’re there. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.
But, with the trip just a week away we’re scrambling to plan our trip. So we’re turning to you, dear readers, to help us plan our trip.
We will be sticking to just the North Island for 8 days. Primarily we will be campervan-ing around. And yes we’ve heard of the beauty of the South Island, but that will have to be another trip.
Here are some of the suggestions we’ve heard so far – please comment and add your own thoughts: (We’d love to hear suggestions on: cities, activities, restaurants, food and drink, etc)
Rotorua
Coromandel Peninsula
Tongariro Crossing
Gisbourne
Raglan
Tauranga/Mt. Maunganui
Bay of Islands
Waitangai or Russell
Lake Taupo
Waitomo (Glow Worm caves)
Waiheke in the Hauraki Gulf
Napier
photo credit: Sandy Austin
Recommended Reading:
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
We’d love to see you visit Rotorua. (of course)
We’ve got so much to offer visitors to NZ’s most beautiful city (five times), you could spend your entire eight days here and still not see everything.
Make sure you visit Rotorua to Thrill and Pamper yourself while you break Free!
Check out our website for ideas of things to see and do.
@ Rotorua – We’ve heard great things about your city and are thinking a 2 night stay — what are the top things to do in Rortura for a few days? (Since we won’t be able to see everything)
You’re mad for not including the south island when it’s just a short ferry trip accros the straight – and whilst on the ferry you see the go through the most amazing parts of NZ, the Malborough Sounds. From there you can take the main road south through the fabulous wine region of malborough and down past Kaikora where you can go whale watching and see seals bathing on the rocks – truly an amazing site to see whales in their environment. Christchurch is a great place to visit for a couple of days where you can go to akaroa (1hr), a seaside French town, or, Hanmer Springs (1hr 45mins), a thermal hot pools town. Queenstown is also arguably one of the best places in Nz and that’s about 5hrs south of Christchurch but worth every minute as you drive through some unbeleivable scenery and see mount cook. I’m from Christchurch and I still love the drive to Queeenstown and the Malborough Sounds. Don’t leave NZ without seeing the South Island, it’s a long way to come back for!
Can I just say that I’m jealous? I can’t wait to get there one of these days. I’m very interested in reading about your trip. Enjoy!
We are in the midst of planning our own 6 week road trip to New Zealand, and even that amount of time seems short. Days days will go by so fast. All I have to add is that after extensive research into Camper companies you have to go with KEA. They are by far the most environmentally friendly company operating in NZ, Australia and South Africa. They have won numerous awards and all the campers are custom made using local and sustainable materials. The best part is that they all have solar panels! Check out their site: http://nzrentals.keacampers.com/en/Default.aspx
@ Jay – Thanks for the thoughts about South Island. We’ll see if we can make it happen – but with it being their winter and wanting to have plenty of time there I think South Island might have to be a 3 week separate trip!
@ Keith Yes, we are booked with KEA for the camper – thanks for the recommendation!
There’s a hike on a park close to Rotorua, called Waimangu, full of geological oddities – if you’re into volcanic stuff. Also I’d suggest a conventional hike to the Cathedral Cove Beach in Whitianga, at Coromandel Peninsula. Both hikes have very nice views, I deeply enjoyed.
Near Rotorua, I would highly recommend the Tongariro Crossing – a day hike, which can be done in as quick as 4-5 hours or as long as 7. It is breathtaking and allows you to see an entire range of topography/geology and eco-systems. Incredible.http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/
Near Rotorua, I would highly recommend the Tongariro Crossing – a day hike, which can be done in as quick as 4-5 hours or as long as 7. It is breathtaking and allows you to see an entire range of topography/geology and eco-systems. Incredible.http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/
i love to eat and drink exotic foods and delicacies from all over the world.,;:
After seeing that trip is only 8 days, im sort of glad I passed on it….8 days is nothing….is that 8 days just time in the country or including flight time? Assuming its time in country, you don’t have any time so you need to pick 3 places. You are going in winter which sort of sucks b/c the best things to do in the north island are in the summer but my suggestions:
1. Auckland 1 day (its boring)
2. Taupo 3 days – tongarario crossing, hot springs
3. Rotorua 2 days – maori stuff, hot springs, good history
4. Waitomo caves but I would check to see the water temperature. In summer it is only 15 C so it might be too cold to do it in winter. If it isn’t, go with the black water rafting company.
@ Jeannine – Thanks for the tip!
@ Matt – Actually we could have stayed as long as we wanted, but due to work schedules that was the most we could go for. We are in the country for 8 nights/9 days – thanks for your thoughts.
You should definitely check out the Awaroa Lodge in the Abel Tasman national park; you can see a gorgeously preserved park and beach in the same place. There’s a Coastal Track at the northern end of the park, which is considered one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks.” Check out http://www.globalbasecamps.com/new-zealand/abel-tasman-national-park-eco-lodge/awaroa-lodge for some photos and information.
Have fun on your trip!
i love Food and Drinks, i eat a lot of both nutritious and junk foods.’;: