Excerpt here.
New Zealand / North Island
New Zealand’s North Island.
Itineraries
New Zealand North and South
We're honestly not sure that anywhere in the world is as pretty as New Zealand. New Zealand has incredible beaches, mountains, adventure activities, food, wineries...you name it, they have it. This i…
New Zealand North Island
Most people in New Zealand live on the North Island and it is packed with things to see. In this two-week trip you can sample some of the highlights.Day 1 - Auckland to NorthlandArrive in Auk…
Eat & Drink
Salt
Lovely restaurant with great atmosphere (eat outside overlooking to boats) and food in Whitianga
Garage Project
Great craft brewery in (you guessed it) an old garage / filling station. Located at the heart of Aro Valley; The Taproom at 91 Aro Street features the ever changing line up of GP’s freshest and best.
Mission by the Beach
Nice place to eat right on beautiful mission bay
Stafford Road Wine Bar
Nice selection of kiwi wines and beers as well as small plates.
Eat Streat
Eat Streat is a covered street with a dozen restaurants with outdoor (and indoor) dining all next to each other. The variety makes it easy to stroll and pick a spot for dinner.
Brantry Restaurant Taupo
There are lots of places to eat in Taupo – you can wander around and find one. But this one is a cut above.
More
Rita
In Are Valley right next to the garage project. Fixed three coarse menu so be sure you like what’s being served before deciding.
See
Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve (Cathedral Cove)
Don’t miss the spectacular beach. Park at the Hahei parking area and ride the bus (5$ NZ for parking and bus) to the trailhead. From there it’s a 1:30 minute return walk to the beach. You will wan’t to swim there – change at the changing rooms at the car park before you head out.
Geothermal Valley Te Puia
This is a 70 acre complex that encompasses an old village area where the Maori of the area originally had a large settlement. The area has a lot if interesting geysers and hot springs but the Maori cultural show and other Maori exhibits ( carving school, weaving school) were the highlights.
Old St. Pauls Cathedral
Beautiful church constructed mostly of Kauri wood. Nice on the outside, breathtaking on inside.
Hot water beach
An underground river of hot water flows from the interior of the earth to surface in the Pacific Ocean at Hot Water Beach – a long beautiful white beach located between Tairua and Whitianga. The stunning beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offshore Castle Island, with Pohutukawa lined cliffs at either end of the beach.
Orakei Korako
Orakei Korako is a geothermal area between Rotorua and Taupo. You take a short ferry across a lake to a huge terrace of limestone with a trial up through active geysers. It’s a bit out of the way and quite colorful.
Auckland (War Memorial) Museum
Fantastic collection of Maori artifacts / buildings , but a whole lot more. (seek out the Moa skeleton – hunted to extinction the birds were 9 feet tall). Lots of stuff to see – allow a couple hours
More
Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa)
The National Museum in Wellington is free in a great attraction. Thereare a variety of floors that explore different things including a great World War 1 exhibit that focuses on Gallipoli, as well as sites and artifacts from the Maoris, the natural and other historical features of New Zealand.
Tongariro National Park
This national park encompasses there large volcanoes in the center of the north island an hour and a half south of Taupo. Tongariro is most famous for the Tongariro Alpine crossing, billed as the best day hike in the world. It’s a challenging 12.5 mile one way hike up from forest through lakes, volcanic flows, alpine scenery, and hot springs.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours
OK we admit it – cheesy as this may sound we really enjoyed a visit to the Hobbiton movie set. It helps that I’m a huge dork and fan of the Lord of the Rings but they actually did a nice job with this tour. You wander around the shire with guide and they do the the time to explain some of the movie magic.
Kelly Tarlton Sea Life
Worthwhile aquarium on the water in Auckland. Interesting polar exploration exhibit and aquarium
Do
Auckland Free Walking Tours
A great introduction to Auckland (and New Zealand in general). Your guide will show you the best sights in Auckland and provide invaluable recommendations for the rest of your time here.
Sailing on Lake Taupo
Consider a delightful 2.5 hour sail with Sail Barbary on this beautiful alpine lake under the volcanoes of Tongariro national park.
Stay
Flaxmill Cove B&B
Wonderful room in a lovely setting near Whitianga. Room, grounds, view and nearby beach are amazing
Grand Hotel Mercure
Stylish yet relatively affordable home in a nice part of Wellington. Parking is available
Ponsonby Manor Guest House
Nice homey inn in Ponsonby. Parking is easy on site. There are a lot of restaurants, bars, etc in the neighborhood but it is too far from downtown to walk – which may be a disadvatgae
Braemer Bed and Breakfast
Great downtown location in Auckland which puts you in walking distance off everything
Pohutu Vista B and B
Nice lodging on hill overlooking Rotorua. It’s a bit out of town and a bit hard to find but a nice place to stay
Sails on the Lake
Well located (right on the beach in Taupo – a fairy short distance to downtown, well rated, with a variety of accommodation types (apartments, suites, one and two bedroom)
More
Peace and Plenty Inn
Consider staying in this lovely B and B in Devenport – a lovely victorian village just across the harbor from downtown Auckland with easy ferry connections to downtown
Hilton Lake Taupo
Nice rooms (with a balcony) but a bit far from town to recommend it highly.