[meandthegang]

Hi all
We are flying into Auckland mid Feb for a 15 day campervan reccie trip.

With the limited time we have (and not wanting to spend all day, every day driving) we are thinking the following itinerary:

Auckland - Napier- Gisborne -Whakatane - Tauranga - Coromandel Peninsuala - then a def 5/6 days around the Northland.

Can anyone recommend any definite MUST SEE places or places to steer clear of :confused:

Is this route comfortably possible in the time frame or are we being a bit ambitious?????

Suggestions welcome!!!!!!!!!!! :nice1

The gang x

[Jenny & Mark]

Jenny recommends checking out the following when in Northland:
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?p=75466#post75466

If you have the time in Northland, I found Baylys Beach amazing - over 100 km of unbroken beach.

Even though Jenny lived in Whangarei, I have yet to see Whangarei Falls although it might make a nice pit stop.

Mark.

[bob_the_engineer]

That’s a long long drive (but I guess your on a recci).

One bit of advice if some moron is tailgating you then drive as far as you safely can on the left, either they’ll go around, or they appreciate the gesture and back off. Honestly I’ve seen this so many times it looks really dangerous.

As far as the “steer clear” thing goes, try not to park up for the night anywhere except for a camp site, particularly if your van advertises the fact that it’s from a hire company. There have been a few incidents of really really nasty crimes against tourists who have pulled up by the side of the road for the night. (I think the last two I recall were around Auckland and Northland).

Bob

[Glenda]

Whilst those western Northland places Jenny and Mark recommended are great places to visit (love Waiere Boulders), don't forget to check out the east coast for great scenery and the towns which are usually the favourites for settling down - e.g. Kerikeri, Whangarei, Warkworth and Orewa.

Unless you are in the tourist business, I would leave the Coromandel Peninsula for holidays (roads very narrow and winding, towns isolated). Waihi and Thames (to the south of the Peninsula) are probably the only towns worth visiting here in a reccy.

:)

[Avalon]

To The Gang

As you are going to be in the NApier / Gisborne Area - if you can stretch that to Include a trip down to Havelock North - then you may want to stop for lunch or dinner at Pipi
http://pipicafe.co.nz/pipi_home.htm
They do amazing Pizzas, and you should leave room for their "out of this world" chocolate cake.

You need to go a bit south of Napier, past Hastings.

Its a lot of Driving you want to do - so my advise is do make sure that more than one of you can drive, to avoid tiredness.

If you have a road atlas of New Zealand (defiantely worth getting one NOW if not) - then check the "Distance and time" table at the front. And BELEIVE what it says. We thought they were joking - and that we would easily travel the distance in less time than it said.

Needless to say we were a bit wrong :D

Have a great time.

[Russell & Sharon]

Totally agree! Driving distance times. In January we drove from Gisborne to Clarks Beach South Auckland, it took 7 hours. :roll Two days later we drove up to the Bay of Islands and that took 4 hours! A week later we did it all in revise.

There is some fantastic scenery but with two young boys in the car the journey was no fun.:wah

We were very glad to be back home on back to our beach :yes

[gil]

We have found this handy http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/index.php see the little "Home" menu at the left down the page and click on Times & Distances.
Good luck with yuor reccie,
Gil