7 days in New Zealand
 

Hello,

I'll be traveling with family to New Zealand and Australia next month, and am finally finding time to make travel plans. Included is my five year old son with special needs who is still not able to walk independently, but is too big to be carried. I figure i will pack a stroller and do the best that we can.

I have sent off inquiries to different travel companies, but want to check to see if it is possible/reasonable to rent a car and travel from Auckland and back in the seven days that we have. We are planning on spending two nights in Auckland, then i found an itinerary that has us going to Coromandel Peninsula (1 night);
Tauranga (1 night);
Hobbiton to Rotorua (2 nights)
Waitomo Caves to Hamilton (1 night)
Hamilton to Auckland (1 night) then fly out to Sydney.

What are your opinions? Is it doable? Is the driving reasonable given that we will have a toddler in the car?

I really appreciate any information. Thanks!

When in April? This page indicates if you contact Hobbiton two weeks in advance they will provide you with a complementary golf cart that will make the attraction more accessible:
https://www.newzealand.com.au/tours/...ovie-set-tour/
Best to contact them directly:
http://www.hobbitontours.com/contact-us/

Though it won't necessarily rain, please prepare for wet weather.

What are the dates, Travelmom?
April is pretty busy here with Easter, school holidays (14- 29 April) and Anzac Day (public holiday for WW1 and WW2 on 25th)and the World Masters Games 21-14 April. Auckland can get booked out and there is already news on TV about the chronic shortage at this time.
I'd get bookings made ASAP.
It's a good itinerary in that you are not going too far each day but the 1 night stays could be a bit hectic. I'd plan some 2 nighters so you can get a whole day for sight seeing and not having to pack up and check out all the time.
Auckland - 2 nights
Coromandel OR Tauranga - 2 nights. If you post the attraction you want to see I can work out the best route/places to stay.
Hobbiton - Rotorua 2 nights. Depending if you are in Coromandel or Tauranga the trip to Hobbiton will either be 1 or 2 hours drive. Book a tour for Hobbiton as it gets very popular there.
Rotorua -Waitomo 2 nights. I'm suggesting this as Rotorua-Waitomo is 2 hours drive so then you are limited to an afternoon tour (book this in advance as well)and then back in the car to travel to Hamilton.
Waitomo to Auckland is about 2 hours so that's doable.
Hope you enjoy your time in NZ!

I would nix the Tauranga night and stay 2 nights on Coromandel Peninsula, preferably the Cooks Beach, Hahei area. This will give you ample opportunity to visit Hot Water Beach at low tide. Now whether you dig your own pool, or people-watch, you are guaranteed a good time. Cathedral Cove is stunning, and stroller-friendly until the last few meters/beach. Bring a picnic and make a half-day of it.

Take the passenger ferry to Whitianga to get supplies or just to see what's there. I wish I had longer to explore Shakespear Cliffs/Lonely Bay, but that would be an option as well.

Thank you so much. We will be arriving April 24 and leaving to Sydney May 1.