[Miffy]

Over xmas we are going to do a bit of a "world tour of new zealand" and see some of the north island over 3 weeks.

We are stoping over in the Abel Tasmin area for christmas before crossing to the north proper. so we will prolly have two whole weeks for exploring, with the last few days to travel back down south.

Apart from a general idea of driving north to the very tip, and a day or 2 in Auckland to see the big city lights, and a few nights in Welly to catch up with some mates, we haven't got anything concrete.

I'm looking for must see / do places or intersting places to stay visit. especially warm sunny beaches (for me) and mountain bike tracks / tramping trails (for Ian and possibly me too ...;) )

Ideas and suggestions please :cheers

[kiwidebs]

I'm sure loads of people will give you some fantastic advice. I'd recommend the Rotorua/Taupo areas - and I'm pretty sure there's some fantastic mountain biking in the forests around Rotorua (I've got friends in the area and they're really into their mountain biking). There must be websites and books with this sort of info somewhere. Anyone able to recommend any??

Debs

[ruthyroo]

hiya

For mountain biking around Rotorua try the Redwoods - world class mountain biking tracks just outside town in the forest. You can pick up maps of the routes in the gift shop, and lots of good advice. And make sure you go for a dip at the Polynesian Spa to soothe your aching muscles afterwards! It's about $15 per adult and you can stay in the 4 different pools as long as you like. Good cafes in Rotorua include Relish and Fat Dog to replenish your energy stores. Of the geothermal, all the biggies are good - Waiotapu / Waimangu (on the road to Taupo), or Whakarewarewa Village in Rotorua itself (you get a good, non commercial intro to traditional maori life as well there). The museum is excellent in Rotorua.

Dont know if you are into your wines, but if so Hawkes Bay is well worth a visit. I always recommend people to visit Craggy Range and the Mission Estate - both fantastic, and at opposite ends of the spectrum. And try a range of other ones. Cuisine magazine have an annual winery guide that has become our HB visiting bible (and we're off there this weekend!!) Lunch at Craggy Range... yummmmmm. The Art Deco of napier is worth seeing, but frankly the vineyards / food are the big attraction for me - it lets me get my Euro-fix now that we are so far from France!!

Taupo and the area to the south of the lake around Tongariro National Park is excellent. We did the Tongariro crossing, boy is it hard work but very worthwhile. Try to avoid the weekends as it tends to be mobbed, and defintely go for the shuttle bus option and leave your car at the motel - every car in the carpark had a smashed window by the end of the day... There are lots of other walks in the area, and of course the ski lifts. We stayed at national park, but Tongariro village around the Chateau is good too. Ohakune, round the other side, looked like a good place to stay as well - more choice of restaurants / pubs etc.

Hope that helps

R

[becca]

Hello, I would definetly head for the Bay of Islands (not just because that is where my family live) if you want the warm weather and the gorgeous beaches. Pahia is the tourist centre and you can do the tours of the islands and dolphin watching/swimming trips from there. You can go over to Russell on the little ferry which used to be a whaling port but is now much quieter and prettier than Pahia. The whole area has some lovely beaches and it is worth asking some locals to get to the less touristy spots. Waitangi has a museum etc. as it is where the treaty was signed between the Maori and the English and has loads of cultural stuff. Kerikeri is about a half hour drive further north and is full of craft shops, good restaurants and a couple of wineries. The Rainbow Falls walk just outside Kerikeri is lovely, especially on a hot day as you follow the river through the bush with either a waterfall or cafe at the end depending on which direction you walk it. From here you can take a tour up to Cape Reinga, which I would reccommend as it is a long drive and you get to do the 90 mile beach bit where they drive back along the beach that runs down the west coast with a bit of sand dune surfing thrown in. There are loads of other activities, if that is what you want, including kayaking, sailing, fishing, diving and eating gorgeous fish and chips.

Sorry if this sounds like a brochure, but I lived up there for a year and loads of people seemed to miss it out on their tour which is a real shame as it is really lovely and pretty much the reason my family have all emigrated.

Hope this helps the plans and have a fabulous Christmas, I am very jealous as am still in cold and wet UK. Maybe next year.

[Smiler]

Miffy

Recommend the Cape Reinga tour by coach. Absolutely AWESOME and well worth the pennies. You can sand surf, paddle and get a little boat across to an island (I can't remember the name of) You can't take the hire car on the beach but the coach can go on. Russell and Keri keri are very nice too, lots of nice galleries and craft shops.

BOI beaches are gorgeous and well worth a visit too.

Deborah