munitalP
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- Oct 10, 2006
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Dan, most of the things mentioned so far IMHO are tourist traps in NZ... Knowing your love of adventure, this is what I would suggest you do... (I can show you pics of it all
)
Day 1. Arrive in AKL / cab to somewhere in town, have a bit of fun during the time left, Notzacs bars are on the mark, also, theres a couple of extremely good spots on the North Shore as well as Newmarket.
Day 2. Take the ferry to Great Barrier Island - ~75km from AKL. Hiking, diving, whale watching, exploring the area - awesome rugged island unspoilt mainly by man. Tryphena has a good selection of eco-motels and the like.
Day 4. Ferry back to the mainland. Hire car and drive south to Waitomo, ~3 hrs, start with a tour through the glow worm caves, stay local at the hotel
Day 5. Black water rafting at Waitomo - BRING IT ON!!! Drive to Taupo, ~2 hrs. Enjoy some excellent dining in Taupo, go evening Trout fishing on the lake
Day 6. Drive south to National Park, check into the SKOTEL or if the finance's are good, the Chateau. Go up the mountain for the view. Enjoy the bars and dining at the Chateau
Day 7. Take the track from the Chateau and up and over the Tongariro as suggested by previous post - make sure you have some good boots and take a towel - there are hot springs on a northern facing slope with views forever, if in winter, you can push snow into the pools to get the best temperature - yep, seriously! You will need 2 days and you can arrange a pick up at lake Rotoira
Day 9. Drive to Whakatane with a stop in Rotorua to have a look at the Geysers and mud pools and take in a bit of Maori culture, ~ 5 hours drive in total. Whakatane has great motels and great restaurants - I suggest eating at the Whakatane Big Game Fishing Club
Day 10. the highlight of the break - take a tour to White Island - an active volcano approx 60km off shore - this is a must do in your life!
Day 11. Drive back to AKL and home.
Mr!

Day 1. Arrive in AKL / cab to somewhere in town, have a bit of fun during the time left, Notzacs bars are on the mark, also, theres a couple of extremely good spots on the North Shore as well as Newmarket.
Day 2. Take the ferry to Great Barrier Island - ~75km from AKL. Hiking, diving, whale watching, exploring the area - awesome rugged island unspoilt mainly by man. Tryphena has a good selection of eco-motels and the like.
Day 4. Ferry back to the mainland. Hire car and drive south to Waitomo, ~3 hrs, start with a tour through the glow worm caves, stay local at the hotel
Day 5. Black water rafting at Waitomo - BRING IT ON!!! Drive to Taupo, ~2 hrs. Enjoy some excellent dining in Taupo, go evening Trout fishing on the lake
Day 6. Drive south to National Park, check into the SKOTEL or if the finance's are good, the Chateau. Go up the mountain for the view. Enjoy the bars and dining at the Chateau
Day 7. Take the track from the Chateau and up and over the Tongariro as suggested by previous post - make sure you have some good boots and take a towel - there are hot springs on a northern facing slope with views forever, if in winter, you can push snow into the pools to get the best temperature - yep, seriously! You will need 2 days and you can arrange a pick up at lake Rotoira
Day 9. Drive to Whakatane with a stop in Rotorua to have a look at the Geysers and mud pools and take in a bit of Maori culture, ~ 5 hours drive in total. Whakatane has great motels and great restaurants - I suggest eating at the Whakatane Big Game Fishing Club
Day 10. the highlight of the break - take a tour to White Island - an active volcano approx 60km off shore - this is a must do in your life!
Day 11. Drive back to AKL and home.
Mr!