New Zealand Travel advice

Hello everyone,

Planning a trip to New Zealand in February and March 2020, flights are booked and accomodation at the start and end.

The question is what to do and where to stay in the middle? So many options we’re spoilt for choice!

Our plan as shown on the map below we’ll be heading off by car from Mount Maunganui on the 2nd March and heading south, we need to arrive into Queenstown by the 8th March.

Any advice on must sees on the route down?

Many thanks

Heidi

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Hi @Heidii I love NZ, I’ve visited North Island and South Island many times.

In Aukland make sure you visit Cornwall Park including Maungakiekie https://goo.gl/maps/WjKfmCGSiDyXCNBn8 for the most amazing views

I personally prefer South Island. Being based out of Queenstown, I would suggest that you visit

TSS Earnslaw for a lake cruise and lunch - wonderful sight seeing on this historic steam ship https://goo.gl/maps/USgm4BNZFkFMbrGk9 https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/cruises/tss-earnslaw-steamship-cruises/

Arrowtown https://goo.gl/maps/GQ2V3Nv9QamkJV9v5

Milford Sound https://goo.gl/maps/WLF19xWizWMea8rY6 - best/cheapest/most playful cruise provider is by Jucy https://goo.gl/maps/mfsxKfCf8aqr4Utr6

@TheEagleEye is a local and perhaps can offer some other suggestions.

Hello @Heidii . I’m a Kiwi and have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand many times.

Is it you and partner and children? What do you enjoy doing and seeing when travelling? Why so long at Mt Maunganui?

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Good Morning!

Thank you for your reply.

We’re at Mount Maunganui for a wedding and once we leave there we’re just two adults heading south.

Whilst at Mount Maunganui we’ll have a few days for trips out maybe around Coromandel or Rotorua.

Our plan is to get to the south by the 3rd, then we have 5 days of exploration before we’re in Queenstown for 4 days.

More time would be great, but unfortunately we dont have it so its about making the most of our trip.

We both enjoy kayaking which looks prettt easy to come across, general outdoors adventure, my partner has mentioned a skydive which i will definately not do but i did do paragliding and enjoyed that.

I also saw the heli hike of Fox Glacier or Franz Joseph Glacier (which will take down the west coast.) But by doing this we miss Christchurch… so many choices.

Thank you for your help!!

Heidi

Good Morning @TheEagleEye

Thank you for your reply.

We’re at Mount Maunganui for a wedding and once we leave there we’re just two adults heading south.

Whilst at Mount Maunganui we’ll have a few days for trips out maybe around Coromandel or Rotorua.

Our plan is to get to the south by the 3rd, then we have 5 days of exploration before we’re in Queenstown for 4 days.

More time would be great, but unfortunately we dont have it so its about making the most of our trip.

We both enjoy kayaking which looks prettt easy to come across, general outdoors adventure, my partner has mentioned a skydive which i will definately not do but i did do paragliding and enjoyed that.

I also saw the heli hike of Fox Glacier or Franz Joseph Glacier (which will take down the west coast.) But by doing this we miss Christchurch… so many choices.

Thank you for your help!!

Heidi

@TheEagleEye i also forgot to mention we like to discover about a places heritage maybe have a walking tour. As you can see there is loads for us to do but we feel very spoilt for choice.

Many thanks for helping :slight_smile:

Hello,

Thank you @PaulPavlinovich .

Milford sound was definately high on our list for when we are in Queenstown, the cruises look amazing!

Cornwall Park will be a lovely thing to do in our first couple of days following a 26hour flight!

Thank you very much for reaching out :slight_smile:

Many Thanks

Heidi

Hello @Heidii .

Seem as you are at Mt Maunganui (known by locals just as “the Mount”) for several days, yes it would be good to visit Coromandel although that means back tracking quite a bit if you drive from Auckland to the Mount. It would have been good to stop on Coromandel somewhere on way down to the Mount. If you are committed to accommodation already at the Mount, sure, go back to Coromandel as there are beautiful areas, especially on East Coast of the peninsula.

Good idea to visit Rotorua during this period too as it isn’t that far. If you have another day free, I suggest visiting Hobbiton at Matamata because it is a really good place to visit, especially if you enjoyed Lord of the Rings, and/or The Hobbit movies.

This route is what I suggest. Leaving the Mount, you could go through Rotorua to Taupo but because you would have already been that route already, I have suggested a different route which isn’t much difference time wise. In Taupo, you could visit the any of these attractions. Near the end of day, I suggest driving to southern end of the lake and stay here. Staying at southern end saves a lot of travel time the following day to head towards Wellington. You can cook own meals in accommodation and if it is nice day, use the bbq and sit right next to lake. Being at southern end of lake, you get the northern aspect and being March, it is good. It is much more peaceful than Taupo.

You can drive to Wellington direct from Taupo or stop off somewhere. In Wellington, staying somewhere downtown is good because it is best to get an early morning ferry crossing. Getting to ferry is very easy drive along the waterfront.

On South Island, my suggestion would be to drive down the west coast, possibly staying at Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. This is a very scenic route. Depending on your timing, stop somewhere else and do some exploring. I know this misses out Christchurch. If you are in to heritage, definitely go to Christchurch, but also Dunedin.

So much to do with not enough time.

I’ve lived in Auckland, Mount Maunganui (my daughter lives there), and Taupo. The sea will be nice when you are there so enjoy swimming and possibly some fishing. Visit the Mount Ocean Sports Club more nice meal. I managed this club for 4 years many years ago. The activities around Taupo are immense. It is the action capital of the North Island, and Queenstown being the action capital of the South Island. I was a paramedic in Taupo for 4 years and my wife and I will live there again when we eventually return to NZ.

Be safe on roads. I’m unsure where you are from, but in NZ, stick to the left of road.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

As @PaulPavlinovich mentioned, Cornwall Park in Auckland is nice, and also the Auckland Domain, and North head in Devonport (another place I lived for many years). Ferry between Auckland city and Devonport is very quick and convenient. The Auckland museum is free to visit most places and it is interesting.

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Awesome @TheEagleEye I might have to keep some of these ideas for my next trip.

Enjoy your time in New Zealand @Heidii the people are generally really friendly.

Paul

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