[Familyofmonkeys]

My mum is coming for another visit in November and has asked me to book some day trips or overnight trips for her by coach as she is too nervous to drive here. My ideas so far include a daytrip to Waitomo Caves, and overnight trip to Bay of Islands and maybe a cheap return flight to Wellington for an overnight visit.
Has anyone done any of these/similar trips (looking for idea of costs/booking details etc) or got any other suggestions. Would a daytrip (rather than overnight) to Waitomo Caves give long enough to have a good look round area?

Any help appreciated :)

[gil]

What about Waiheke Island by ferry?
Not much help with your question, sorry,

Gil
x

[jubjub]

A couple of ideas, a Fuller Tour package, either to Waiheke or Great Barrier.

http://www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/155

Have a word with these guys, the nearest one to you is Takapuna or Devonport.

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/i-sites/i-sites_home.cfm

Rotorua is a good overnight one, but she might prefer two nights, most of the hotels down there have leaflets lying around for local tours to spas or the thermal parks. A friends mum regularly comes up to Auckland (from Rotorua)on the bus and says its not toooo bad a journey.

Keep your eye on http://flightbookings.airnewzealand.co.nz/vgrabview/ and maybe an overnight in Napier might be nice?

Not sure about Waitomo, hubby wants to go and do the black water rafting, so would be a day trip for him, but more sedate persuits may take longer!

[dharder]

... and maybe a cheap return flight to Wellington for an overnight visit.

I quite liked the idea of a train trip to Wellington, until I discovered that for all of us, the return trip would be $1200, but anyway, who wants to spend all those hours on a train with lots of kids.... But if we ever find enough babysitters to palm all the children off on, I would still quite like to do that.

We haven't done a lot of day trips yet, we mainly just go walking in the Waitakeres, and then of course the Coromandel is only about 2.5 hours away.

Sorry to be not of much help, but if you find out lots of exciting trips, do let us know :)

Daniela

[Tia Maria]

My inlaws did a trip to Rotorua via Waitomo caves via coach and enjoyed it.

I think it was something along the lines of, set off early morning, a couple of hours later arrive at the caves look at the glow worms have lunch. Set off for Rotorua, arrive late afternoon, go to the Hangi show, stay overnight. Spend the best part of the following day in Rotorua, see the geysers etc. head back, arriving in Auckland early evening (food stop on the way back).

There are various options, adding in an extra night, coming back via Lake Taupo etc And I think you can either have everything booked for you, like shows, hotels etc, or just let them drop you off and pick you up.

There are definitely some nice Waiheke food and wine tours if she likes that kind of thing.

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

My 77 years old MIL just returned from her 3 weeks touring around NZ...so maybe ask my MIL, so PM me if any help..:nice1

[Familyofmonkeys]

Thanks everyone for ideas! Will ask mother and see what sort of thing she fancies doing within budget constraints. Think she would like the idea of a food and wine tour as she is a bit of a foodie.