We've picked out a few places and have sort of a plan...wondering if its a good one and have lots of questions. We're plannning on staying in Aukland the day we arrive then taking a boat to Coromandel. Stay two days there, renting a car and heading to Rotorua. Is this worth seeing if I've already spent a week at Yellowstone in the U.S.? Is the maori show there worth seeing? Then heading to Hawkes bay/napier for a day or so at the wineries. Driving back to Aukland next for a plane to Brisbane. Our interests are outdoor things--hikes, kayaking, beaches, biking--will we get that at these places? Any clean budget hotel anyone would recommend? Any other suggestions? Thanks!!

Can't help with most of your questions, as I've only been to the NI once, but for cheap clean accommodation, check out the Bella Vista Motel chain.

www.bellavistamotels.co.nz/

At the risk of getting flamed, I wasn't that impressed with Rotorua, but then I've spent lots of time in Yellowstone.

I also was disappointed with Rotorura. Unlike Yellowstone, it is all built up and not in the wilderness.

One Maori show is worth doing. Two Maori shows are not. They are all the same. On my last two nights in NZ, I stayed in Auckland to prepare for the flight out (I was home swapping in Whangerai in Northland). When I said I was going to the Auckland Museum, the guy at the concierge desk said, "Oh, you have to see the Maori show!" Slowly I turned around and said to him, "Look. I've been on the North Island for 2 1/2 weeks and I've seen the Maori show--in fact two of them."

The Auckland Museum was very interesting. I did not see the Maori show. LOL.

My trip was mostly concentrated in Northland. At the beginning I did a swing down to Rotorura and then back via Waitaimo Caves (one glow worm cave is enough; same deal as the Maori shows). Then I drove past Lake Taupo and the volcanos which I found more interesting than Rotorua(got great photos on a clear day!) and to the house in Whangerai. I did 2 nights out at Cape Reinga, but, other than that the trip was mostly day trips from Whangerai. Northland (the NW tip area of the North Island) does not get a lot of American tourists because the group tours do not go there.

I did not go to Coromandel at all.

My trip to NZ was the 3rd back to back home exchange. I did two in Australia before I got to NZ and was gone 9 weeks total.

I would love to go back either to the southern part of the North Island or the South Island if anyone wants to home exchange with me. Heh heh!

This year I am exchanging in Finland.

You have a bit of an answer on Yellowstone Vs Rotorua and the sulphurous smell driving into the place was enough to make me not stop.
There are some national park type places away from the town centre a bit and more natural than touristry.

Hawkes Bay is a long drive and then back for some wineries when there are quite a few just north of Auckland running up to Warkworth, a lovely area all that.

http://www.travelplanner.co.nz/ - do a Ctrl click on distances and then click on the next page link and you'll get a handy map for distances/times - not much in the way of US interstate highways in NZ.

And have you checked availability of hire cars in Coromandel Town where the ferry goes to?, and if not returning to place of hire, could be some big extra charges.

We liked Rotorua; though we haven't yet visited Yellowstone, it's pretty interesting seeing steam coming out of places you wouldn't expect.

We went to the Maori concert and hangi at Te Puia http://www.nzmaori.co.nz/ and had a really good time. There are a couple of other shows - Tamaki and Mitai, I think - that get good reviews. Do not attend a hangi at a hotel; one of the things we liked about Te Puia was the cultural setting.

Lee Ann

Again, my experience was "If you've seen one Maori show, you've seen them all." I did see the one described above and then went to a dinner show in Rotorura. It was the same thing with food.

That may be true, but since it sounds like the OP hasn't seen any Maori shows, I thought I would recommend the one we saw.

Lee Ann

I thoroughly enjoyed me day of wine tasting at Waiheke Island, just 45 minutes by ferry from Auckland. It has about a dozen vineyards, some very highly rated like Te Phau and Goldwater.

Sorry - should add. You could rent cycles at Waiheke tho some vineyards are on uphill slopes.

I was just warning the poster not to accidentally sign up for two Maori shows (what I did). I agree that you should do one (part of the NZ experience) but just not two.

As I said on other posts ... I think those who are disappointed in Rotorua don't realize that you have to get out of the city to see the incredible scenery. Waimangu Volcanic Park was a highlight of a trip filled with beauty. To me, it's a "must-see." We're returning on our next trip.

I haven't been to Yellowstone, but I've been to Yosemite, Queenstown, and lots of other breathtakingly beautiful places. I stand by saying that the area surrounding Rotorua is fantastic, with other-worldly, spectacular scenery. The city is simply a base from which to explore (although the lake walk was interesting).

We enjoyed a Maori hangi. But I agree -- it's one of those tourist things, very similar to a luau, to be experienced once.

I did go out of Rotorura to the park. Yellowstone is much more spectacular. On the other hand, those volcanic peaks and Lake Taupo were really spectacular--at least to me. It is all personal preference. Hey, I don't want to disparage NZ. It is a fantastic place and I had a wonderful time.

No one has mentioned that the OP is probably tryng to do too much in 6 days. I would drop one of the locations..probably Napier.

I didn't realize you could take a boat to Coromandel, sounds interesting. I stayed a few days around Kuatunu at the Drift In. The owner is an excellent cook! http://www.coromandelfun.co.nz/driftin/
Nearby are nice beaches for walking, shells and you can visit Cathedral Cove as a day trip (recommended).

Rotorua, I liked it, and I've been to Yellowstone, visited Waimangu Valley, "Whaka/Te Puia", the Buried Village, the outdoor mineral baths, and played golf, a few courses have geothermal hazards. I think two days is fine, one for Waimangu and one for the rest.