Prelim itinerary- 12 nights on the North Island

Old Feb 5th, 2016, 06:06 AM
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alg
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Prelim itinerary- 12 nights on the North Island

Hi all-

I've read through many older posts and wanted to get your feedback on our proposed North Island itinerary. We will be traveling in late November and I've heeded the earlier advice from many to stick to one island given the short timeframe. We are in our early 40's and interested in scenery, visting small towns, wine, and just overall experiencing a new place. We will be driving once we leave Auckland.

One item worth noting- we have to fly through Sydney and I originally thought we should add a day or two there (I've never been, my husband has), but I don't think I have any time to spare in the agenda below...except maybe starting our trip a day earlier.

Monday- arrive Auckland in the afternoon; recover from insane flight
Tues- Auckland
Wed- Rotorua
Thurs- Rotorua
Fri- Rotorua
Sat- Taupo
Sun- Napier
Mon- Napier
Tues- Martinborough
Wed- Martinborough
Thurs- Martinborough
Fri- drop car in Wellington and fly back to Auckland
Sat- depart for home

Ok, what would you change?? It seems like we're missing a ton, but there's only so much we can see in 12 days as we don't want to feel rushed. Thanks!
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Old Feb 5th, 2016, 06:26 AM
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Well, other than choosing the wrong island it looks good to me. Unrushed with reasonable drive distances and a decent amount of time spent in each location. Will you be in Wellie long enough to visit Te Papa? A NZ wonder.

We loved Martinborough - stayed at Pinot Villas, excellent.
If you love wine, you'll love Martinborough. It's a sleepy little town with a lot on offer. Plan to eat and drink well.

You might get some Martinborough ideas from my most recent NZ trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ew-zealand.cfm

I suggest you make winery meal bookings in advance so you don't miss out, some have staggered operating hours.
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Old Feb 5th, 2016, 07:37 PM
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I'd knock a day off Rotorua and add it to Wellington; it's a lovely city, and as Melnq8 said, Te Papa is not to be missed.

Lee Ann
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Old Feb 6th, 2016, 07:58 AM
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We went to Martinborough in February of 2015. I wasn't as impressed as Mel was. After looking at her trip report, I think she's more a foodie than I am. Martinborough is flat, really flat. And at that time of year, it was really dry and brown. Hopefully, it will be green in November when you go.

We went wine tasting at Murdoch James which is out of town about 15 minutes and on a slight hill. We continued from there and explored the Ruakokoputuna Caves (you MUST call first!), Putangirua Pinnacles, and Cape Palliser. Be sure to look for the seal colony near the cape - it's easy to miss.

The trip took most of the day and we enjoyed it. We stayed in a really gorgeous, refurbished 1920's cottage (Crab Apple Cottage). Wood floors and fresh flowers in every room - full breakfast makings in the fridge. I think there are better wine areas in New Zealand if you want scenic places - Waiheke Island is a short ferry ride from Auckland is probably best for your North Island trip. (We loved the hills of Moutere, upper South Island, but you'll have to save that for your next trip.) Martinborough didn't do it for me. But our cottage and daytrip saved it.

Will you be going to Waitomo Caves? That would be best done on your drive from Auckland to Rotorua. If you added a night to Napier you could do the Gannet Colony tour (it's tide dependant, so check).

I don't think you really need the night in Taupo - what is it you want to do there? It's a reasonable distance to drive Rotorua to Napier and you drive right through Taupo anyway. You'll pass the turnoff for Huka Falls, so stop for that. Then Taupo for lunch and a brief walk around town. Then stop at Waipunga Falls (lookout right at the carpark). The falls themselves are very different than Huka Falls. And on to Napier. Or maybe you want to take the sailboat to the Maori Carvings at Taupo? Although they aren't "ancient" carvings by any stretch of the imagination, but they are interesting.
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Old Feb 6th, 2016, 01:44 PM
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Martinborough is definitely flat (as is Blenheim, home to some wonderful wine!). We were there in Feb 2015 too, perhaps we crossed paths.

We're not fans of the NI in general, but we did enjoy Martinborough, although it pales in comparison to the SI, no arguments there.
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Old Feb 6th, 2016, 02:27 PM
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PS - not a foodie, I'm the pickiest eater on the planet, but definitely appreciate a good drop, which is what Martinborough is all about.
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Old Feb 6th, 2016, 04:27 PM
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When you get over here, pick up the annual Cuisine Magazine guide to wineries and wine regions. Their website is also a good resource.
https://www.cuisinewine.co.nz/

While in Auckland, if it's sunny, consider taking the ferry over to Waiheke Island, to explore its vineyards and beaches. To get around the island, you can rent a car, take taxis, or take the bus, which will take you to, or at least close to, some wineries with great views and wine. Fuller's Ferries, which operates one of the Waiheke ferry services, offers a Waiheke Vineyard Hopper tour (gets so-so reviews on Trip Advisor). If you go, don't miss Onetangi Beach. Some of the ferries between Auckland and Waiheke stop in an Devonport, a pretty, historic suburb of Auckland.
https://www.cuisinewine.co.nz/region...aiheke-island/
These two ferry companies leave from the downtown ferry terminal:
https://www.fullers.co.nz/destinatio...aiheke-island/
http://www.explorewaiheke.co.nz/
These two wineries with restaurants are relatively close to Waiheke's Matiatia Wharf ferry terminal. I'd take a bus or taxi to get to them, as it's an uphill walk. But you can easily walk down from them on a wooded path, will take about 15 minutes:
http://cablebay.nz/
http://www.mudbrick.co.nz/

Villa Maria Winery near the Auckland Airport is worth visiting. Their reserve wines are among the country's best. They also have a winery and tasting room in Marlborough. Their wines are made from grapes sourced from around the country, chardonnay from Hawkes Bay and Gisborne, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir from Marlborough, amd so on.
http://www.villamaria.co.nz/cafe-and...nd-cellar-door

There are a lot wineries in greater Auckland, which you can get to after you pick up your rental car, that is, it you want to take the time and trouble, given your limited number of days. When I was there in November, I enjoyed visiting a couple of wineries in Kumeu, but I was mainly there to visit the nearby gannet colony at Muriwai. Auckland's West Coast is beautiful.

Pity you don't have time to visit the scenic Bay of Islands, as you "interested in scenery, visiting small towns." Kerikeri, Paihia, Russell fit the bill. It's home to few wineries and, certainly, not a wine destination like Martinborough or Napier. It's also out of the way, and, I understand, you can't see everything!

I agree with Lee Ann, I'd shave a day off Rotorua. It's interesting and unique, but very touristy.To avoid the smell of sulphur, considering staying a bit out of town. Most people go there for a Maori hangi, geothermal activity, and Whakarewarewa Forest, but the Rotorua Museum is also worth a visit.

I like Martinborough also, been there three times. It'll fit your bill of "visiting small towns." I think two nights would be sufficient. I DON'T like Rimutaka Road that you must travel on to get from Martinborough to Wellington. I agree Wellington is beautiful and interesting, reminds me of San Francisco of many years ago, spend a day taking exploring the waterfront and Te Papa, take the Cable Car up to Botanic Garden.

On our first trip to NZ 20 years ago (I live here now), we also focused on the North Island, but at the last minute, I decided we needed to visit Marlborough (I also love wine). So we caught the ferry over from Wellington, rented a car, visited a few wineries, had lunch at one, then turned returned to Wellington on the ferry--all in one day. We had a great time, and the ferry crossing was calm (which is not always the case) and gorgeous. I wouldn't recommend a same day trip, but an overnight might be doable for you. Otherwise, leave it for your next NZ trip, to the South Island.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 09:57 AM
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I see I'm in the minority with regards to Martinborough. Small town, it is - population around 1500. To be very honest, I was expecting "quaint" and what it was, was ugly. Open Googlemaps for Martinborough and plop the little yellow doll on one of the central streets. I noticed the webcam for streetview is February 2015 - same time we were there.

I can't think of another place in New Zealand I would describe as ugly. Our accrued time in the country is 2.5 months, both islands, end to end. We go there for stunning scenery and this didn't cut it. I just want the OP to be forewarned.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 11:04 AM
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alg
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Thank you all for the thoughtful replies. I will take your suggestions and tweak our itinerary. I may add a day to Auckland so we can explore the wineries in that area and retool the time in Wellington. And I wish we had time for the South Island, but from what I've read I think it needs 2+ full weeks to do it any sort of justice (although I'm very tempted by the ferry to Marlborough!)

Thanks again!
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 12:42 AM
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While in Hawkes Bay, don't miss the drive to Te Mata Peak. The view is great.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Mata_Peak

It's been a while since I've been to Hawkes Bay, but I especially enjoyed Craggy Range Winery and its restaurant, Terroir.
http://www.craggyrange.com/
There are so many good wineries in Hawkes Bay.

My guess would be there are three times as many wineries in Hawkes Bay than Martinborough, so more to visit.

Have you a preference for red or white, or a particular varietal? Hawkes Bay does some wonderful Syrahs, and Bordeaux-style blends. Martinborough is especially renowned for its Pinot Noirs. I can't comment on the whites, as I mainly drink red. Some of Martinborough's wineries are only open by appt., such as Escarpment and Dry River, which are both good. Don't miss Martinborough Vineyard, Ata Rangi, Palliser, none of these need an appt. My husband, a gewürztraminer fan, loved the one made by Poppies (Poppy Hammond used to be the winemaker at Dry River). Taste Martinborough is on November 20.
http://toastmartinborough.co.nz/
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 05:09 AM
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Love Poppies! Don't miss it. Excellent place for lunch and wine, and Poppy is an inspiration.
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