Help with a travel itinerary to NZ
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@nonpartizan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@canefan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
Getting a small car and booking motels or hotels along the way isn't as cheap, but more comfortable. The exchange rate is favourable, why not travel in relative comfort?
Canefan, on that note can you just pretty much roll into a town in NZ and relatively easily find accommodation at a motel without prebooking? Like, say I just drove into Napier will I be able to find.a room pretty easily?
If so, this may afford us a lot more flexibility instead of a hard and fast schedule that does not allow for any changes.
I'd say probably so, especially if there is nothing significant on that weekend in town. Just use booking.com as a guide and maybe book a day or two ahead once you firm up your plans. Most towns will have decent hotels, apartments hotels (Quest is a pretty solid chain in NZ for example) and lots of motor lodges where you can drive in and stay. At that time of year it shouldn't be a major problem, except you obviously want to book in Hamilton
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Is there any part of NZ that hasn't been recommended?Sorry to say but weather will play a large part in determining how enjoyable your holiday is.
The North Island is usually massively under-rated but given your time frame I would seriously consider just flying Hamilton to Wellington as a way to free up time. Rotorua has Maori culture but in a pretty faux way. It also has a lot of thermal activity but you can get that (better) in Yellowstone.
Auckland Museum has a very good Māori section and daily cultural experiences https://hakalegend.co.nz/. NZ is a seafaring nation - the Maritime Museum (bonus right opposite Auckland's main bar area) will guide you through both Polynesian and colonial nautical history - you can even book a trip on the harbour on a waka. All these tours will be touristy but that's the case everywhere.
There are plenty of small tours that offer bespoke experiences if you google.
If you do go to the Bay of Islands make sure you visit Russell or Korarareka the 'hellhole of the Pacific. You could take four days One up to the Bay along the east coast stopping in Whangarei to visit the Hunterwasser Mueum
Hundertwasser Art Centre
Hundertwasser Art Centre welcomes you to experience art and architecture in harmony with nature and individual creativity. Discover the life and the legacy of visionary, painter, ecologist and architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Two days in the BoI then travel back to Akl via Hokianga, Waipoua Forest and Matakohe Kauri Museum. 2 days in Akl to cram in Museums West Coast and a trip on the Gulf - depending on weather. Go to Tron - you should be able to get tickets. If you can't I'd skip it and just go to a bar wherever you are. It'll still be a bloody authentic Kiwi rugby experience.
If you are short of time I'd skip Christchurch and go straight to Queenstown and base myself there.
Apologies for muddying the waters even further
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@dogmeat said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
Rotorua has Maori culture but in a pretty faux way
TBH, I'm going to push back on this (even given my hatred of BoP).
Rotorua gives a pretty good insight into Maori culture that you're not going to get authentically unless you know people and are at the right place at the right time.
The cultural shows and hangi at Whakarewarewa (I think) are actually pretty bloody authentic. I take mates there even though I usually take them back to my marae(s) in the real Bay.
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@Nepia Fair enough. Must've changed since I was last there. My main point though was you can get much the same in Auckland (minus the sulphur) and free up some days on your itinerary.
If @nonpartizan had more time then RotoVegas would be a no brainer for a night but especially considering the July equation I think avoiding the Central North Island in favour of more time in the South makes sense
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If there is no rush on your travel between Auckland and Hamilton these a few ideas a little off the main road and a few towards the west coast in the wider Waikato region.
The Waikato War Driving Tour - Waikato NZ
Discover the stories behind the Waikato Wars on The Waikato War Driving Tour though the Waikato region: Waikato War downloadable apps and resources.
Walking & Hiking tracks - WaikatoNZ
The Waikato region has great Walking and Hiking Tracks. Short easy walking tracks or longer challenging hikes, the Waikato region has a walking trail to suit
You would be surprised at how many Air BnB homes there are out in the rural areas.
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Things to do in the Waikato | WaikatoNZ
The Waikato region has a range of activities and attractions to suit all ages and tastes - from surfing world-class breaks and crawling through caves to wine tasting and heritage trails.
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@dogmeat said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@Nepia Fair enough. Must've changed since I was last there. My main point though was you can get much the same in Auckland (minus the sulphur) and free up some days on your itinerary.
If @nonpartizan had more time then RotoVegas would be a no brainer for a night but especially considering the July equation I think avoiding the Central North Island in favour of more time in the South makes sense
Me personally, I think driving down the island (as part of their 5/6 Auckland days - 5/6 Wellington days time allowance) is a more real slice of NZ than flying Hams to Welly. Plus, then they have a chance to visit the greatest Bay of all.
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@Nepia said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@dogmeat said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@Nepia Fair enough. Must've changed since I was last there. My main point though was you can get much the same in Auckland (minus the sulphur) and free up some days on your itinerary.
If @nonpartizan had more time then RotoVegas would be a no brainer for a night but especially considering the July equation I think avoiding the Central North Island in favour of more time in the South makes sense
Me personally, I think driving down the island (as part of their 5/6 Auckland days - 5/6 Wellington days time allowance) is a more real slice of NZ than flying Hams to Welly. Plus, then they have a chance to visit the greatest Bay of all.
I've done AKL-the Mount-Gisborne-Napier-Wellington by car before, you could easily switch out the Mount and Gisborne for Rotorua. Each leg of the drive is no more than 4 hours or so, quite manageable
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@canefan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@Nepia said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@dogmeat said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@Nepia Fair enough. Must've changed since I was last there. My main point though was you can get much the same in Auckland (minus the sulphur) and free up some days on your itinerary.
If @nonpartizan had more time then RotoVegas would be a no brainer for a night but especially considering the July equation I think avoiding the Central North Island in favour of more time in the South makes sense
Me personally, I think driving down the island (as part of their 5/6 Auckland days - 5/6 Wellington days time allowance) is a more real slice of NZ than flying Hams to Welly. Plus, then they have a chance to visit the greatest Bay of all.
I've done AKL-the Mount-Gisborne-Napier-Wellington by car before, you could easily switch out the Mount and Gisborne for Rotorua. Each leg of the drive is no more than 4 hours or so, quite manageable
Yeah definitely switch out Gisborne for Rotorua, just for the two roads alone - Vegas to Napier is a much easier drive than the driving to Gizzy and then down the coast to Napier.
I like the drive around the Cape to Gisborne but that's a long summer drive. Plus, I needed to take out a second mortgage to afford bacon and eggs in Gizzy before Covid, god knows how much they cost there now.
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@dogmeat said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@Nepia I thought the consensus had moved away from the 6/6/6 Akl/Wlg/Chc itinerary.
July - Desert Road.... Is it worth risking the trip of a lifetime to be stuck in Taupo
Of course not, that's why you go to the Bay.
Not sure on whether the consensus moved or not
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@nonpartizan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
Want to go all the way up to the northern most part of NZ if poss
Cape Reinga is genuinely spectacular, and was one of the best destinations of my adult life.
Lots of great natural beauty in Northland. Tutukaka and Russell are gems. I lived for a while in Mangawhai Heads, and have an affection for that area.
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Yes July might not be the best time for driving on some of the SI roads particularly to Milford. If you do would recommend travelling down the west coast and getting down to the Caitlins south of Dunedin for some good walks.
A jet boat ride on any of the rivers down there would be a highlight for an 18 year old as would a bungee jump -
@canefan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
The Cape is a long way, a day trip by bus from Paihia
Get up and drive there for sunrise, much quicker and great views - bloody cold on the walk down though and you're possibly going to get to experience being in the middle of a cattle drive.
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@Bones said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
@canefan said in Help with a travel itinerary to NZ:
The Cape is a long way, a day trip by bus from Paihia
Get up and drive there for sunrise, much quicker and great views - bloody cold on the walk down though and you're possibly going to get to experience being in the middle of a cattle drive.
Have you driven to the cape from Paihia in a day? How long did it take? Do you have to drive on the beach? Is it an easy drive?
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Cape Reinga is about 2.5 hours from Paihia. So do-able 90 mile beach is a state highway but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are used to it. Not sure of the rental companies policies either.
One option would be to spend two nights in Mangonui, then you could do the Cape Properly. Spirits Bay is awesome. Lots of little side trip off the main road that you can with the extra time available by starting of 40 minutes closer to the Cape. Plus IMO Paihia is one of the shittiest tourist towns in NZ
Nikau Cave & Cafe
