Possible Route - things to do places to go when there?

[GYBlues]

Ok so this is the possible route and driving times over a 5 day period in the campervan and we are pretty much tied to the timescale open to us

Tracy and I have 3 kids 3,9 & 12 and we are looking for information on must see places/things to do,either along the way or at each destination.

We are also looking for recommendations for sites to stop overnight and places to eat please.

ChCh - Picton 6 1/4 h

Wellington - Palmerston North 2 1/4 h

Palmerston Nth - Napier 2 3/4 h

Napier - Taupo 2 1/2 h

Taupo - Rotorua 1 1/4 h

Rotorua - Auckland 3 3/4 h

Thanks

Andrew & Tracy

[Fern01]

My advice is to 'Google' the areas you want to see, go to the tourist web sites, the info will be there. THere is always signs on the roadsides if there is camping available.

[4togo]

We are doing the same start and finish in December. But I cannot imagine that there would be any time for seeing places along the way other than from a moving vehicle if you only have 5 days. We booked 4 weeks and are worried to put our 3 and 5 year old through to much driving.

Good luck!

[nickiware]

Are you taking the ferry from Picton to Wellington, that takes a long time you need to add this to your timescale. You are packing a lot into 5 days, top 10 campgrounds are great, especially the one at Taupo.

[Manks]

Hi Andrew & Tracy

In my response to your other post I mentioned a place to stop off on the Chch-Picton route. You may also want to stop at Kaikoura if you want to do a whale watch trip - but if your time is limited, book it well in advance and maybe do a flight/heli ride instead of the boat as it's shorter.

In Picton, if you have a motorhome/campervan, I can recommend the Top 10 Holiday Park - really nice and just 5 mins from the town and ferry port. With the kids you can always play mini golf down by the waterfront.

In Taupo go to the prawn farm (Huka Prawns I think) and go prawn fishing. The kids might like that - although they may get bored after a while if they're getting no action. Early morning is probably best so that the pools haven't been "fished out" and the supply is lacking. Also visit Huka Falls - gorgeous.

At Rotorua go up the gondola and do the luge - great fun. And lovely views of the area. You might also want to do a Maori cultural night where you are fed a traditional Maori hangi - basically a roast dinner cooked underground - yum!

If you're staying with friends in Auckland, they will probably be able to help out there. We jumped off the Sky Tower and did a lot of driving around looking at areas - mainly because we're thinking of a move there if a job situation comes off for me.

[petri]

A few ideas that should be pretty cool with the kids;

Waitomo for the glowworm caves.

Near Rotorua, Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland and Orakei Korako. Waiotapu is more touristic than Orakei but both would be fine with kids.

AA NZ's 101 Must-Do's is actually pretty nice "must-do" guide for New Zealand, http://www.aatravel.co.nz/101/ and there's also very good book available.

[Georgebulldog]

If you have time then the duck tour was great fun in Napier http://duck.hbwinecountryduck.com/ was about 1/2 hour I think & the aquarium was good too www.nationalaquarium.co.nz & the top 10 site is great at Napier http://www.kennedypark.co.nz/

Wellington has to be Te Papa

For Christchurch we have penciled in for next year the arctic centre & Gondolas to Mt Cavendish

hth