Finding that next great destination, the next place to become big on the b'packer trail, would be the way. Some places are so great for their location/local features, but also so remote as to never be likely to catch a lot of through traffic. Rotorua became popular (in my OP) not only for it's mix of Maori culture and bubbly volcanic stuff (both of which can be found in abundance in other parts of NZ), but for it's location on the main routes south from Auckland. Same for Taupo. They both have a great combination of features, but their location on all roads south is what gives them their numbers - and numbers = dollars!
A few years ago when doing my own b'packing around NZ, I worked at the only real hostel in Waitomo. It was situated just a few km out of the village - something that some people didn't like (because they had to walk to pub/shop), but some prefered for the peace and quiet. Waitomo is up there in the top ten 'must do' destinations, but people tended to make it a day trip en route Auckland/Hamilton/Rotorua. When a huge new purpose built hostel was begun, right next to the pub, everyone said that would be the end of our little hostel, as everyone would choose to stay at the new place. It was interesting how things worked out - ultimately, the extra new accommodation brought more people to the area, and convinced more to stay longer. Kiwi Experience and other operators started to make it a stop over rather than day visit. The shop was able to extend and built a new cafe, the bar tills were ringing late into every night - and our little hostel continued to do well and even gain more visitors. I guess every place has a limit - Waitomo hadn't yet reached it then - probably has now. There are probably many places around like it - if I were you, I'd fill up my backpack one last time and spend six months around the country. Go find that next place.
Good luck!
Rotorua was famous long before it ever was on the main route south of Auckland. Dont think its location is as important as what the place signifies.
Have been discussing Rotorua with my husband and he's in agreeance that Rotorua's not famous for location, actually its a pain in the butt to get to.
Sheesh - this will be one of those posts to which I wish I never replied! I wasn't really saying it was famous for location, just that it picks up a lot of traffic from people headed south. Another example - my folks are retailers in Mt Maunganui, a nice (depending on personal preference) little place that receives well over fifty cruise liners each season. They actually bring little business in to the Mount, because almost every passenger is packed onto a bus and sent over to Rotovegas for the day. I suppose Roto's tourist trade kicked off in the days of the pink terraces - did Kiwi Experience run horse carriages in those days?!
There is a place near where I live that is the nearest thing to the now extinct Pink Terraces - it is almost unheard of because of it's location 30+km from anywhere, no accommodation or public transport. I'm going there tomorrow if it stops raining ;)
NZ beaches are massively underrated. Most people that I speak to in the UK that are heading out there don't really think about heading to the beaches when they are planning a trip to NZ. They are as beautiful as any beaches I have seen worldwide Drovers_Dog, and outside New Years there are hardly anyone on them. The main problem, as someone alluded to earlier, is that they are only swimmable for 4/5 months a year (or a few months more if you are a bit hardy - I was swimming in April this year), and I suppose there are so many other things to see in NZ that are a bit more unique to the country.
trusted partner
