N Isl itinerary take 2 - does it work?
May 31st, 2016, 08:16 AM
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N Isl itinerary take 2 - does it work?
We will be visiting NZ for 8 weeks later this year. We are interested in nice scenery, short day hikes, and cultural stuff. We'll skip the extreme sports and long days lying on a beach. We will have a car.
At the beginning of the trip we're planning to spend a couple of days in Auckland, and a few days in Northland. I haven't included that part of our itinerary here.
At the end of our trip we will have almost 2 weeks to work our way from Wellington north to Auckland. It will be the last week of November and first week of December. I have reworked the last two weeks of the trip and would love feedback about whether my revised itinerary works - and suggestions to improve it!
Wellington 3n. Te Papa. Walks to explore the city. The Botanic Garden. City Gallery Wellington.
Ohakune 3n. Tongariro NP short hikes.
Taupo 2n. Huka Falls hike. Boat or kayak to see Maori rock carvings.
Rotorua 1n. Kia Ora guded city walk (Ohinemutu Village), Rotorua Museum, Maori Village visit - Any suggestions about which village to visit. We're interested in the Maori cultural part - we've seen Yellowstone.
Thames 3n. Use Thames as base for exploring Coramandel. Is this a good idea? 1 day Karangahake Windows Walk or Rail Tunnel Loop. Another day the drive to Coromandel, if time allows go on to Cathedral Cove for the Cathedral Cove walk, and loop back to Thames (alt - Thames - Coromandel - return to Thames). Third day drive to Cathedral Cove and do hike, then on to Auckland (alt - do an area hike, and on to Auckland).
Auckland 1n. Explore Auckland the next day, evening flight to LA.
Feedback please!
My questions - Rotorua. I stole a night to make the Coromandel part work. The plan is to drive from Taupo-Rotuorua in AM (1-2hrs?), have afternoon/evening/following AM in Rotorua, then drive to Thames (2.5-3 hours?). Does this sound reasonable?
Thames. Is Thames a good base for exploring Karangahake, west coast of Coromandel, and Cathedral Cove area?
At the beginning of the trip we're planning to spend a couple of days in Auckland, and a few days in Northland. I haven't included that part of our itinerary here.
At the end of our trip we will have almost 2 weeks to work our way from Wellington north to Auckland. It will be the last week of November and first week of December. I have reworked the last two weeks of the trip and would love feedback about whether my revised itinerary works - and suggestions to improve it!
Wellington 3n. Te Papa. Walks to explore the city. The Botanic Garden. City Gallery Wellington.
Ohakune 3n. Tongariro NP short hikes.
Taupo 2n. Huka Falls hike. Boat or kayak to see Maori rock carvings.
Rotorua 1n. Kia Ora guded city walk (Ohinemutu Village), Rotorua Museum, Maori Village visit - Any suggestions about which village to visit. We're interested in the Maori cultural part - we've seen Yellowstone.
Thames 3n. Use Thames as base for exploring Coramandel. Is this a good idea? 1 day Karangahake Windows Walk or Rail Tunnel Loop. Another day the drive to Coromandel, if time allows go on to Cathedral Cove for the Cathedral Cove walk, and loop back to Thames (alt - Thames - Coromandel - return to Thames). Third day drive to Cathedral Cove and do hike, then on to Auckland (alt - do an area hike, and on to Auckland).
Auckland 1n. Explore Auckland the next day, evening flight to LA.
Feedback please!
My questions - Rotorua. I stole a night to make the Coromandel part work. The plan is to drive from Taupo-Rotuorua in AM (1-2hrs?), have afternoon/evening/following AM in Rotorua, then drive to Thames (2.5-3 hours?). Does this sound reasonable?
Thames. Is Thames a good base for exploring Karangahake, west coast of Coromandel, and Cathedral Cove area?
May 31st, 2016, 03:12 PM
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Hi Wendy,
We've done a North Island roadtrip in 2011 and I've been planning a revisit for February, 2017. So some of my advice is from a "been-there, done-that" and other advice is from extensive research.
Karangahake Gorge (BT,DT) can easily be done on the day you drive from Rotorua to Coromandel peninsula. Here's a google map: https://goo.gl/maps/DR813mpi2n22
You may notice that I put the endpoint at Whitanga, and not Thames. I honestly think Whitianga, Cooks Beach, or Hahei would be better bases for the Coromandel. The roads going east-west on the peninsula are very squiggly and you want to base yourself where you'll spend the most time. From Whitianga (for example), you can easily access Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach,and New Chums Beach. You could even spend a day driving a loop to Coromandel town to include Driving Creek Railway and The 309 Road (WaterWorks, Waiau Falls, Kauri Walk). These are in our plans for 2017.
In Ohakune, we are planning a morning renting bicycles to cycle Old Coach Road with the afternoon free to visit the waterfalls along the road to the ski fields (Ohakune Mountain Rd - Mangawhero and Waitonga Falls). On our second full day, we hope to do the jetboat/Bridge to Nowhere/canoe tour. http://www.whanganuiriveradventures....iver-adventure
Whatever you decide, you are sure to have a great time.
We've done a North Island roadtrip in 2011 and I've been planning a revisit for February, 2017. So some of my advice is from a "been-there, done-that" and other advice is from extensive research.
Karangahake Gorge (BT,DT) can easily be done on the day you drive from Rotorua to Coromandel peninsula. Here's a google map: https://goo.gl/maps/DR813mpi2n22
You may notice that I put the endpoint at Whitanga, and not Thames. I honestly think Whitianga, Cooks Beach, or Hahei would be better bases for the Coromandel. The roads going east-west on the peninsula are very squiggly and you want to base yourself where you'll spend the most time. From Whitianga (for example), you can easily access Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach,and New Chums Beach. You could even spend a day driving a loop to Coromandel town to include Driving Creek Railway and The 309 Road (WaterWorks, Waiau Falls, Kauri Walk). These are in our plans for 2017.
In Ohakune, we are planning a morning renting bicycles to cycle Old Coach Road with the afternoon free to visit the waterfalls along the road to the ski fields (Ohakune Mountain Rd - Mangawhero and Waitonga Falls). On our second full day, we hope to do the jetboat/Bridge to Nowhere/canoe tour. http://www.whanganuiriveradventures....iver-adventure
Whatever you decide, you are sure to have a great time.
May 31st, 2016, 04:50 PM
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deShenke,
Thanks for your input. I assume we willspend the AM in Rotorua (I've only allowed for 1 night there) and afternoon driving to Thames - or it could be Whitanga.
I have allowed a full day for hiking in the Karangahake Gorge. We're slow hikers. My husband had a nasty fall a few years ago - it involved a broken neck, broken back, and crushed spinal cord. Fortunately he is able to hike and ski. But we're not fast hikers. Especially in spring - we'll be making lots of stops to check out the wild flowers.
Hmm - Cathedral Cove hike is definitely on our wish list. Hot Water Beach might be fun, but not so much of an interest. New Chums Beach??? I need to do my homework!
If we're really not "lie on the beach" folks, does the west coast make more sense? Is the drive from Thames to Coromandel really nice?
Thanks for your input. I assume we willspend the AM in Rotorua (I've only allowed for 1 night there) and afternoon driving to Thames - or it could be Whitanga.
I have allowed a full day for hiking in the Karangahake Gorge. We're slow hikers. My husband had a nasty fall a few years ago - it involved a broken neck, broken back, and crushed spinal cord. Fortunately he is able to hike and ski. But we're not fast hikers. Especially in spring - we'll be making lots of stops to check out the wild flowers.
Hmm - Cathedral Cove hike is definitely on our wish list. Hot Water Beach might be fun, but not so much of an interest. New Chums Beach??? I need to do my homework!
If we're really not "lie on the beach" folks, does the west coast make more sense? Is the drive from Thames to Coromandel really nice?
May 31st, 2016, 06:41 PM
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Melnq8,
Yes, he gets lots of credit for working very hard, as do all the MD's, PT's and OT's who worked with him. And the adaptive sports folks who have helped him ski and kayak again. But he was also very lucky. If you're going to have a spinal cord injury, this particular type is evidently the one to have. The recovery rate is pretty good. We ski with lots of folks who were not as lucky.
It does mean we leave a bit more time for hikes. And skip the extreme sports. Allowing a full day for a half day hike isn't bad - you get a bit more time to see things as you go by.
I have to say the real issue with this schedule is that I've only allowed 1 night in Rotorua, not fast or slow hikers. We plan to spend the next AM and maybe early PM in Rotorua. There will be no time that day for the Karangahake Gorge treks.
Yes, he gets lots of credit for working very hard, as do all the MD's, PT's and OT's who worked with him. And the adaptive sports folks who have helped him ski and kayak again. But he was also very lucky. If you're going to have a spinal cord injury, this particular type is evidently the one to have. The recovery rate is pretty good. We ski with lots of folks who were not as lucky.
It does mean we leave a bit more time for hikes. And skip the extreme sports. Allowing a full day for a half day hike isn't bad - you get a bit more time to see things as you go by.
I have to say the real issue with this schedule is that I've only allowed 1 night in Rotorua, not fast or slow hikers. We plan to spend the next AM and maybe early PM in Rotorua. There will be no time that day for the Karangahake Gorge treks.
May 31st, 2016, 09:40 PM
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Looks good to me Wendy.
The Huka Falls hike is not long about half an hour each way. Only 1 night in Rotorua seems not enough but then you would have to cut out some of your Taupo time.
Stay in Whitianga please. It's on the prettier side of the peninsula. I think you would get sick of driving that road every day for your day trips. It does'nt look far on a map but they are tricky roads up there.
There is the 309 road which I have not driven for years after a stressful experience in a manual ute with a column change gear stick..that put me off for life!
Pretty sure most of it is still unsealed.
The Huka Falls hike is not long about half an hour each way. Only 1 night in Rotorua seems not enough but then you would have to cut out some of your Taupo time.
Stay in Whitianga please. It's on the prettier side of the peninsula. I think you would get sick of driving that road every day for your day trips. It does'nt look far on a map but they are tricky roads up there.
There is the 309 road which I have not driven for years after a stressful experience in a manual ute with a column change gear stick..that put me off for life!
Pretty sure most of it is still unsealed.
Jun 1st, 2016, 02:06 PM
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Consider Whangamata? Plenty of accommodation, surf beach, lots of shops and cafes etc.
It's very youth oriented/surfer town over Christmas/New Year which is when I avoid it but in December it will be fine.
It is closer to Karangahake Gorge as well.
It's very youth oriented/surfer town over Christmas/New Year which is when I avoid it but in December it will be fine.
It is closer to Karangahake Gorge as well.
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