AKL and beyond for a week

[Flashback]

I've read through some of the threads already here, and have found some great ideas for Auckland.

I'm looking at a trip to AKL (AA redemption, 35k miles for J return from PER) and looking at going over for 7-10 days.

I was hoping to get people's ideas on what I should spend the time doing. Obviously to spend the whole time in Auckland would be a waste. Am I best to base myself out of Auckland and do daytrips, or are there other places that would be worth staying overnight.

I then need to look at do I hire a car for the entire trip, or just for when we venture outside of Auckland.

Edit: will probably be in the 2nd half of April.

 

[wrldtrvllr]

Tongariro Crossing - Welcome to The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Tongarriro Crossing just a bit further south of Taupo - quite possibly the best 1day hike in the world, esp if you manage to catch some snow on the mountain tops. Was there in early May just a couple weeks after the 1st snowfalls. Make sure you carry cold weather gear.

Rotorua is also good for a soak in a hot spa - try Polynesian Spa. Polynesian Spa ? Day Spa with Thermal Pools

 

[harvyk]

I'd look at getting a car and driving down to WLG, then get a cheap flight back upto AKL to connect to your flight home.

Give yourself 10 days and I think you could make quite a nice holiday out of it visiting the towns along the way.

 

[Flashback]

I'd look at getting a car and driving down to WLG, then get a cheap flight back upto AKL to connect to your flight home.

Give yourself 10 days and I think you could make quite a nice holiday out of it visiting the towns along the way.

Is it worth going to do the bay of isles?

 

[tuapekastar]

Is it worth going the other day to do the bay of isles?

Yep, IMHO.

Just some options from AKL (these are places I've been, and I don't offer anything more than the usual touristy things - I would, and in some cases have, revisit all these places).

1. North. Stay in Paihia (Bay of Islands) ~3 hours drive from Auckland.

- Whangarei Falls on the drive up
- Pax Ferry to Russell
- Boat trip to the 'Hole in the Rock' (either 'sedate' boat or 'fast and open' boat, but rough conditions are required to make this 'exciting'.
- bus trip to Cape Reinga and back via ninety-mile beach (this is a day trip from Paihia - you usually cannot take hire cars on the beach - it's very hard work climbing the sand dunes but great fun boogie-boarding down )
- Waitangi treaty house

2. South and East - Coromandel Peninsula ~3 hours drive from Auckland

- stay at Whitianga
- Driving Creek Railway at Coromandel Town
- Hot Water Beach
- There might be an 'inland' road across the peninsula (or it could be at BOI, can't recall) can't recall its name, didn't drive it, and unsure if hire cars are allowed anyway

3. South - Rotorua

- we only spent one night here, obviously look at the mud, unsure what else

4. Way South East - Hawke's Bay ~5 or 6 hours drive from AKL

- plenty of accommodation at Napier (I saw a B&B at Havelock North which looked very nice if that's your go)
- we flew and stayed at Waimarama on the beach (wouldn't recommend in your situation - too far from everything ~45 mins drive from Napier)
- wineries (58 of 'em - we ate at a few - v. nice food)
- honey, cheese and chocolate factory, if them's what floats your boat (they were enjoyable enough)!
- Te Mata Peak - highest in the region - good view

Obviously that's just a few suggestions - there'll no doubt be plenty of others with much merit, but that's pretty much the areas I've been.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the great suggestions Chris!

So should I be going to/fro Auckland for each of the places, or start in Auckland.... then go from place to place, and then make our way back to Auckland?

 

[harvyk]

Is it worth going the other day to do the bay of isles?

Absolutely... I was going to mention that as well...

 

[Flashback]

Absolutely... I was going to mention that as well...

Just realised my non-logically typed sentence there ; oops! Must have been thinking about something else as I was typing it

So now we've decided on places to go... we need to map out a itinerary, and how many nights in each place.

 

[Andyzx]

IMvhO
GET OUT OF AUCKLAND! or even better don’t go there.
But if you do try
Mission Bay – 10 -15 minutes drive along Tamaki drive. Sunday is best but a little busy, good food, beach and café, beer etc. Kelly Talton aquarium is on the way. Good view of Rangitoto or paddle out to it with Ferg's kayak’s.
Waiheke Island – great weekend day spend sight seeing, eating and drinking wine very laid back place. Take the ferry from downtown, Quay st, close to Viaduct also good for eating and drinking
Go up Mt Eden, walk to the top great views, extinct volcano – they think :mrgreen:
Wine trail out and around Helensvile / Henderson (North west)

Go to the South Island, Although April is getting a little cooler.
Flight to Chch. – Antarctic centre, garden city, punting on the Avon, trans Alpine railway (very cool), Hanmer Springs thermal pools (very hot), Akaroa (very French)
Outside Chc – drive south to Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook, Queenstown, Te Anau and Doubtful Sound / Lake Manapouri (go down into the power station if you get the chance) then over to West coast, Westport, Greymouth and glaciers. Cross back over to Nelson and Marlborough all good wine country Sva Blanc and Pinot's. Take the coastal route back down to Christchurch. Stop for crayfish at Kaikoura and wine at Waipara. Lots of sight seeing and plenty to do as well (not just Queenstown). Most people say they should have spent 1/3rd in NI and 2/3rds in South Island. 10 days is just about right for a Sth Isl trip. At A$1 = NZ$1.28 spend lots.

 

[notzac]

There are some great bars in AKL that are definitely worth drinking at -

Suite Bar Suite
Nice little underground bar with awesome coughtails and great service

Honey Bar Honey Bar
Great ambience and coughtails, decent wine and champagne list

Also - eat at Dine by Peter Gordon (at Skycity Casino). Fine dining, great food and service and really not too overpriced (considering the conversion rate NZD to AUD).

Can't think of any other reasons I'd want to be hanging around AKL though..

 

[Flashback]

I thought as much re: AKL.

BTW, karens says ZORB!!

 

[futaris]

For a hire car, keep an eye on grabacar, every Tue on grabaseat.co.nz

Usually can get a compact manual or auto hire car from Budget AKL airport for 2 or 3 days, at 29 NZD/day. Select weekends only though. Don't know whether the 2nd week of April will come again though. 30 Apr-02 May, and 08 May-09 May for the next 50 mins...

Rotorua and Taupo are a great region. Haven't done Bay Of Islands yet.

Mission Bay / St Heliers and Waiheke Island are scenic places that are close to the CBD.

 

[notzac]

BTW, karens says ZORB!!

That's not such a bad idea - I've never been game enough to try it myself though

 

[Flashback]

That's not such a bad idea - I've never been game enough to try it myself though

I did it on the Gold Coast once with a friend ; was awesome fun

I did a Contiki 2.5 years ago, and did only the south island myself (although I ended up in WLG and flew out of there) ; all my friends (whom I made on the tour obviously!) that kept on and did the north island also, did the Zorbing (in Winter!) and had great fun!

 

[anat0l]

Well all of the good ideas have been mentioned already.

If you're sick of the "city" style kinds of things (other than climbing up look out points or going up towers and the like), then don't stay in Auckland for too long.

I can also recommend Rotorua - only had time there to see boiling mud pools, but I hear the spas there are well worth it, too.

Waitomo Caves are nice as well, but you definitely won't spend a whole day there. Can't advise on costs etc. because I did it as part of a bus tour. Also not quite sure how to work it into an itinerary.

Matamata is in the North island and is of course where part of the Lord of the Rings was filmed. Haven't been there myself; I'd consider it more just a drive-through point rather than a full stop-and-see place. (Obviously the 12,000 people living in Matamata might think differently ).

I like someone's idea of working down to WLG then flying back up (or, if your AA award will allow it, you could fly directly out from WLG).

Here are a couple of quick Googled ideas of itineraries for AKL to WLG the long way:

• New Zealand: A 14 day North Island Itinerary - TripAdvisor - this is for 14 days, but you can find a couple of things to cut and be just fine
• Tour and Travel New Zealand - Coach and Touring Specialists - NZ

Now if you're less into seeing (cultural) things are more into doing things - apart from drinking wine and zorbing - then perhaps other people may have better ideas what you can do (e.g. extreme sports, etc.)

 

[Grooba]

I spent a few days in Tauranga in 2007 and enjoyed it. Right on the water with a nice main street, quaint small town. A couple of hours drive from AKL.

 

[MissBurrill]

I thought as much re: AKL.

BTW, karens says ZORB!!

ZORB!!

I'd be happy to rent a car and just see where we end up. That's what I did when I drove from Auckland to Wellington. Where to do ANZAC Day in NZ?

 

[bossreggie]

RE Sky Tower.

Don't pay for the ticket which just gives you entry to the viewing platform.

Book dinner/lunch at Orbit restaurant. I have done this a few times. Food is really 1st rate and for 2 will cost less than $100 NZD Well worth it and better than shelling out $40 just for the elevator ride.

I quite enjoy walking around the city. If you can..... Get a ferry to Waiheke island and do the bus tour. The ferry will give you great views of the city skyline and Waiheke is very beautiful.

If you are around on a Saturday. Head to the Matakana region. 1 - 1 1/2 hours north of AKL. Great market on Saturday and some beautiful wineries and places to eat.

I agree Tauranga AND Mt Maunganui 2 & 1/2 Hours South of AKL are worth a look. Good cafes and due to our strong AUD everything is fairly reasonably priced.

Hope this has been helpful.
Shaun

 

[Keith009]

Spend some time in Wellington - fun town! Only a short hop away.

 

[anat0l]

Spend some time in Wellington - fun town! Only a short hop away.

Well, it seems someone spent most of their time at Courtenay Place.

And not much time elsewhere