I need help with this itinerary.
I am going to North Island of New Zealand, and I am going to rent a car for 8 days. I have planned itinerary like this:
What do you think of this plan? Is it reasonable? Is it too tight, should I drop something off?
I'd give Coromandel an extra day or there's no point going. BTW if you are coming from further than East Coast Australia you shouldn't be driving the day you arrive.
Base yourself in Taupo for a few nights. Rotorua is only an hour away. The tongariro crossing is an hour and a half away but it can be done; book a shuttle for this, the crossing is not a loop and the car parks aren't safe places to leave cars. This also means that you can check weather the night before to decide whether it is worth going, and if it isn't, do something else.
the last section doesn't make sense, all the way back to Waitomo from Wellington? See the caves from Rotorua or Taupo!
so I'd leave Wellington for another time.
^^ speaks sense. No point going to Wellington for one night. It takes about 8 hours to do that drive.
I'd give Taupo one day, not two and spend two on the Coromandel instead. Overnight at Hot Water Beach.
I'd also spend a full day in Coromandel.
As noted Rotorua/Taupo are close by.
You could make Wellington, but you'd be better off heading back from Rotorua to Waitomo.
Alternatively, Skip Coromandel and he;d straight down to Wellington, but I'd argue one of these 2 needs to go.
Best thing to do in Coromandel is cathedral cove, which is a 40 minute each way walk, hard to do this while flying past in a day.
ok,
thank you for your opinions.
I have changed my plan a little.
I have 2 days more, how you think it is wise to spend those? Where to go? Is it still too short time to Wellington? If I skip Wellington and add one day to Coromandel, I still have one day left..any suggestions?
ok,
thank you for your opinions.
I have changed my plan a little.
I have 2 days more, how you think it is wise to spend those? Where to go? Is it still too short time to Wellington? If I skip Wellington and add one day to Coromandel, I still have one day left..any suggestions?
Probably a better plan. We stayed in a "bach" (which is a New Zealand beach holiday cottage) right on Hot Water Beach. There was a small store across the road, but nowhere to dine or buy decent food for miles, so stock up on the way in Whitianga.
The "Hot Water" only works for a few hours at low tide, so time your visit very well. Also, it only operates in a very, very small location, so pick your spot early, and well. Even a metre to one side and it doesn't work.
The must see here is Cathedral Cove. There's a walk from a carpark just above Hahei (which is a little to the north of Hot water). It's a 45 minute walk down but the rewards are superb - and it's a great walk, so either do this on day one or early on day 2, depending on the low tide time at Hot water Beach.
I'm not a big fan of Taupo, but it is a nicer and cleaner town that Rotorua, which stinks, and is very touristy. However most of the sites you want to see are either in Rotorua, or closer to Rotorua than Taupo. I'd suggest Wai-o-Tapu, which has great thermal scenes, there's the free walk through the main park in Rotorua, and there's also a fabulous forest walk on the edge of Rotorua.
If you're into Lord of the Rings, the set for "Hobbiton" is well worth a visit at Matatmata, north of Rotorua.
Very good details. Thank you Harry.
I actually think, it would be better to drive on the second day to Rotorua. See/do something there in the evening, and then I have the whole third day in Rotorua before driving to Taupo.
Of course I know Lord of The Rings, but I am not a big fan. I have read that Hobbiton is near there, but at the moment it is not on our list.
We would like to see beautiful nature and maybe animals if possible. Is there some awesome nature sightseeing you would suggest? There is few national park on the north island, is there something interesting sites?
NZ has no native mammalian wildlife, wrong country. What you look out for is the small unusual birds, which means walking and keeping quiet.
On the north island I can't think of anywhere for wildlife. New Zealand has amazing natural scenery - beaches, thermal parks, forests, mountains, gorges, rushing rivers, cliffs you name it, but wildlife? No.
Tide times for Hot water beach: http://www.mercurybay.co.nz/activities/hotwaterbeach.php
In Taupo we stayed here - http://www.taupodebretts.co.nz/ Cheap cabins attached to fabulous thermal springs.
Hot water Beach at low tide
Cathedral Cove
Wai-o-tapu