The wife and I are headed to NZ on Saturday for a few weeks of vacation. I know, I know, wrong time of year, but hey, beggers can’t be choosers. Anyone have any recommendations in/around Auckland, Tauranga, Taupo, etc?
Jump on a plane in Auckland and head down to Queenstown. So much to see and do and while you’re there check out the course for the new Challenge-Queenstown race to be held in January.
If you have time drive up or down the West Coast of the South Island. Beautiful scenery and friendly people. One thing about this time of year there won’t be any crowds and no need to book in advance!! You’ll enjoy it, have fun!
My husband and I just got back from New Zealand - south island though. If you can get down there it was incredible. Weather was chilly, but not too rainy like everyone warned us about. Definitely not the high season, but also not a ghost town either. Didn’t get to the north island, going to do that next time! We have some pictures up here if you care to see: http://www.martygaal.com/trippin06/pics/ (and we have travel blogs at http://www.martygaal.com/trippin06/trippin06.html)
Have a great time in New Zealand - I absolutely loved it over there.
Where to begin. NZ, both the North and the South islands are packed with things to see and do - particularly if you are into outdoor sports and recreation. I spent 2 months travelling around the country in 1995. Some high lights:
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Cape Rienga and 90 Mile beach North of Auckland
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The Coromandal Penninsula near Tauranga is great. be sure to check out the kiwi fruit fairms in the area
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The hot springs around Rotorura are cool, err . . hot!!
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The wineries in Malborough and Nelson produce some of the best wine in the world
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West coast drive in the South Island is outstanding. Some of the most spectacular beaches in the world and no one there!
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Queenstown is a little gem of a Mountain Town
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Stewart Island off the southern tip of the South Island is about as far south in the developed world as you can go. Next stop the Antarctic!
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At the tip of the Otaga Penninsula, there is a Wandering Albatros Colony. These birds have the longest wingspan of any bird - over 12 feet. It’s an impressive site to see them in flight.
I could go on and on.
Have a great time.
Fleck
Beautiful country, you’ll love it. My husband and I spent 40 days there over (our) winter and had a blast. Around Auckland, nice area’s to visit are the Coromandel Penninsula; some nice trails and great views. There’s also some canyoning in Thames which I’d highly recommend if you’re into rappelling down waterfalls (very cool). Hahei has a great hike out to cathedral Cove; there’s kayaking you can do there as well as a dolphin pod that was off the beach (don’t know if they’re there all the time). The gorge between Waihi and Paeroa was breathtaking and there’s a bunch of trails that start somewhere in there. If your into a bit of adventure, there’s a bunch of caving in Waitomo (we went through Absolute Adventures and they were great). Also a great walking trail through the same area. We didn’t spend too much time in Auckland itself, but did walk around a few of their parks as well as downtown. The city was nice, but we were most impressed with the countryside; tons of treking trails everywhere and everyones willing to tell you where the best ones are. South Island was great as well, unbelievable country and nobody’s there. Fiordlands, Fox & Franz Glaciers, Haast Pass, Abel Tasman, Aurthur’s Pass are all amazing spots.
We’ve got the trip online w/ pics at: http://www.toddandchristy.com/sabbatical_pictures.htm. One spot we didn’t get to is the area north of Auckland, looking forward to going back for that. Email me if you want any of the companies we used over there, I think I’ve still got all the brochures. Enjoy!
Thanks a ton for all the info. No time for the South Island, but we’ll have a go at most of the North Island. Will hopefully have lots of pics to share when we return.
I second Queenstown. That is a must go place. Make the time to go to Milford Sound. As for a place to stay in Auckland, if money is no objection, the Hilton downtown is a fancy place with the view of the harbour. Have a great time!!
Well if you can’t be persuaded to head to the South Island then when you are in Auckland take the ferry over to Waiheke Island and spend the day there. Some great little wineries to have lunch and nice beaches. Then drive up to the Bay of Islands and Explore Pahia, Russell, Waitangi and then drive on to Cape Reinga.
Turnaround and drive South to the Coromandal and spend a few days in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui. Go for a run on the beach and finish up on top of the Mount—great view! Rotorua is worth a day visit then stay a few days in Taupo. Trout fishing is great and the Tongariro crossing is an interesting hike across the volcanic plateau. If money is not a consideration I would recommend staying at the Tophouse in Acacia Bay on Lake Taupo. ($600NZD per night but worth it). Jack Gower is the owner and will take you trout fishing to his favourite spots. We have stayed there for the past 7 years for IMNZ and had a great time. http://www.thetophouse.co.nz/
After Taupo if you’re not going to the South Island, head back to Auckland. Make sure you plan to visit again because the South is true New Zealand and it’s also where Speights is brewed!!
When you come out of the airport, take a left.
From there on, anywhere you go is going to just knock your socks off. If you’re staying on the North Island, do the coromandels, that’s a beautiful drive, Rotorua, the waitomo caves are great for exploring and seeing the glow worms. If you’re feeling adventurous try the lost world adventure and it’s 110m abseil into the cave system.
There’s just so much in NZ, you can’t go wrong wherever you go. I miss it so much.
Lucky bastard. I second Waiheke Island.
A kick-ass place to stay is Kehoe Farms near Kehoe (a few days North out of Akl). An Italian couple runs the place on a working farm, they make home-made pizza and espresso w/ grappa for dinners, and then everyone plays barefoot soccer on their grass soccer pitch (complete with lighting for those night games). Loved that little place. Would have stayed there weeks if I could have.
Also: Bayley’s beach. Rent a bach there and relax for a day or two.
And of course: Cape Reinga. 90Mile beach.
AP
Taupo and Rotorua are 70km apart and good for adventure based activities - zorbing, jetboating, bungy jumping and mtb hire spring to mind. The forests and lakes are accessible and safe (we’re a bit short on dangerous wildlife) if you fancy exploring at a gentler pace. Taupo has the bonus of being able to look at where the 2006 Ironman would have been held.
Tauranga is a bit dull these days though I’m sure the locals will tell you there are all manner of things to do - let down the tyres of the street racers, coin their paintwork etc. All I can think of is walking up the Mt and admiring the view. There are parks in the area that highlight the wonders of kiwifruit (aka chinese gooseberry/zespri) and old cars.
Coromandel is a bit less commercial and good for a look around, lots of little craft stores. If you make it down to Napier you can admire/deplore (take your pick) the Art Deco architecture (city was destroyed by quake in 1931 and rebuilt in the style of the time) and visit the vineyards.
The west coast beaches in Auckland have a bit more rugged appeal than the beaches in the harbours. North of Auckland you can get to 90 Mile (actually 53 or something like that) and go all the way to the tip at Cape Reinga (where the souls leap off on their departure to the netherworld). Russell is quite interesting and the bay of islands has multiple attractions.
Mostly locals dont try the tourist attractions so I cant really point out all the things you can do. I wouldnt spend much time in auckland though - head out to Rotorua (2.5hr drive) and find the City centre where they have a good information kiosk. Most towns, particularly those that try to be destinations, have very good information about what is available.
And make sure you try the vegemite while you’re here - it will make a man of you.
Don’t forget to see Auckland while you are there. Some of the best places in the world are right on its doorstep. I second the recommendation for a trip to Waiheke Island. You can go for a day and have a nice long lunch: I recommend Stonyridge Winery, or Te Whau restaurant. If you are going during the week try the Mudbrick cafe, one of the most amazing views in the world. It gets booked out on weekends. Catch the ferry over, and then grab a taxi. Some of the restaurants will pick you up if you book. There are a few bus tours as well.
Also, do not miss one of the west coast beaches, but be very very careful swimming there, as in don’t. Try either Karekare or Piha for absolutely amazing scenery. The Piha surflifesaving club will allow you instant membership if you want a beer or a meal. There is no food at Karekare, which is why it is such an exhilarating, unspoilt place just 40mins out of the city.
In the city itself, try a bike ride, or roller blade, or run along Tamaki Drive. Adventure Cycles in Customs Street street do bike hire (right by the Britomart). There are also bike hire and roller blade facilities at Okahu Bay. You can catch a bus from stop D13 at the Britomart. Its 10km of waterfront from city out to the eastern beaches. Better to go early in the morning, when there are lots of fellow riders and runners. You should see a fair number of Cervelo’s out. You can make a leisurely tour, stopping at Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium (allow 2hours to wander through) and then on to the Mecca Stonehouse Cafe at Mission Bay (on the left in the reserve).
A day trip to Rangitoto is a must, once again by ferry. There are no facilities on the island apart from a water tap and toilets, so take some food. Its a short, steepish 45’ climb to the top. Its nice to grab a thermos and a few cakes and have a leisurely morning tea while the whole city is laid out before you.
Also a nice, leisurely day trip is to catch a ferry across to Devonport, wander around the fortifications on North Head, and then back to the cafes in Devonport.
The museum is good value, and once again a spectacular view.
The Viaduct is where most of the easily accessible nightlife (as in bars and restaurants) is. I recommend Soul Bar and Euro as good quality restaurants. Other good restaurants, but not in the Viaduct, are Cibo, Vinnies. For seafood you could try Sails.
If you are heading down to Taupo ways, do not miss the Chateau Tongariro, about an hour south. It is a fantastic hotel in an incredible location. For great free shows, catch the Aratiatia rapids. They let the water through twice a day, at 11am and 2pm I think, and then visit Huka falls. The prawn farm is a good place for lunch once you have checked out the rapids and the falls. There is a pretty cool run between the falls and rapids, but takes about 2 hrs and you should take water. You can go the other way between Taupo and the falls, but I’ve never tried it.
If you are meandering down to Taupo, check out the swingbridge at Awapuni. its a bit off the beaten track, but pretty cool. Do not go to Hamilton, there is nothing there.
In Rotorua there is good mountainbiking in the Whakarewarewa forest, with bike hire at the entrance. Also the Skyline luge is pretty cool.
PM me if you want to know a bit more. I need someone to feed the cat this weekend.