Bay of Islands/Paihia to Auckland?
Jun 15th, 2019, 09:47 AM
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Bay of Islands/Paihia to Auckland?
hi....I am currently planning a February 2020 trip to NZ for a group of 4 "older" adults. Our flight from NA will arrive in Auckland in the early morning, and we plan to continue to Bay of Islands by air the day we arrive, in order to start our holiday there. Although we are planning to rent a car for the bulk of the trip (driving all the way to Christchurch), it appears that we cannot rent a car in Bay of Islands and take it (at least affordably) that far. Nor can we even rent a car in Bay of Islands and take it, affordably, to Auckland, our second stop (drop off fee around $200). Not sure we want to fly back to Auckland and noticed that there is an intercity bus available. Would love some input as to our best option. Thanks in advance.
Jun 15th, 2019, 03:41 PM
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How much time will you have for you entire trip? And where else do you plan on going? Most importantly. where do you plan on going after Bay of Islands?. In other words, do you have time to spare? Because, as you know, driving from Auckland to Christchurch (including interisland crossing by ferry) will take a while. Are you not planning on spending any time in Auckland? How long will you be in Bay of Islands?
The first time my husband and I visited Bay of Islands, we first stayed in Auckland, then rented a car, drove up, spent about five nights up there and then returned south to continue our trip through the North Island. Our second visit to the Bay of Islands, we didn't want to do that long drive again, so we flew up to Kerikeri, rented a car for our days there, turned in the car, and then flew back to Auckland. It was so much easier! I can't remember if we rented a car from Auckland and then continued with a driving trip, or if we caught an onward flight..
A couple of friends of mine, both in their 80s, traveled by Intercity bus from Auckland to Paihia a couple of years ago, also in February, and found it easy. Though it was rainy, they had a great time, staying in Russell. If they could do it, I think you can.
Have you checked if you can do one-way car rental from Whangarei, which is about an hour south of Paihia? Also, there's a new express budget bus service from Auckland to Whangarei, called Skip. Supposedly, it's owned by Intercity.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...ectid=12163946
https://skip.travel/
I have no personal experience with the Skip bus. I have taken Intercity on the South Island. I found it reliable. If you book early enough, you should be able to get cheaper fares on Intercity.
The first time my husband and I visited Bay of Islands, we first stayed in Auckland, then rented a car, drove up, spent about five nights up there and then returned south to continue our trip through the North Island. Our second visit to the Bay of Islands, we didn't want to do that long drive again, so we flew up to Kerikeri, rented a car for our days there, turned in the car, and then flew back to Auckland. It was so much easier! I can't remember if we rented a car from Auckland and then continued with a driving trip, or if we caught an onward flight..
A couple of friends of mine, both in their 80s, traveled by Intercity bus from Auckland to Paihia a couple of years ago, also in February, and found it easy. Though it was rainy, they had a great time, staying in Russell. If they could do it, I think you can.
Have you checked if you can do one-way car rental from Whangarei, which is about an hour south of Paihia? Also, there's a new express budget bus service from Auckland to Whangarei, called Skip. Supposedly, it's owned by Intercity.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...ectid=12163946
https://skip.travel/
I have no personal experience with the Skip bus. I have taken Intercity on the South Island. I found it reliable. If you book early enough, you should be able to get cheaper fares on Intercity.
Last edited by Diamantina; Jun 15th, 2019 at 03:43 PM.
Jun 16th, 2019, 09:31 AM
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Thanks so much for the detailed response. We will be in New Zealand for 25 days (not including travel time). Our plans include 2 nights in Bay of Islands (we will arrive there at 9:30 a.m. from our overnight flights), and 3 nights in Auckland, and then we head south. Our plans include no more than 2-3 hours of driving on any given day that we are moving from place to place, and are staying at each stop either 2 or 3 nights. Our last night with the car is in Christchurch, after which we are going to fly to Queenstown. From Queenstown (after 3 nights there) we will fly home, via Auckland.
I think we will look at either the bus or flying back to Auckland from Bay of Islands. The bus for seniors (3 of us are over 60) is $1! I would prefer not to give up a 1/2 day travelling but we will watch the flight fares and see if that works for us. I will look at the Skip bus option as well.
Any other thoughts from anyone else will be much appreciated.
I think we will look at either the bus or flying back to Auckland from Bay of Islands. The bus for seniors (3 of us are over 60) is $1! I would prefer not to give up a 1/2 day travelling but we will watch the flight fares and see if that works for us. I will look at the Skip bus option as well.
Any other thoughts from anyone else will be much appreciated.
Jun 17th, 2019, 03:45 AM
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"The bus for seniors (3 of us are over 60) is $1!"
Wow! Short of hitchhiking, how can you beat that? I would take that bus fare ASAP. This way, you'll fly up to save time then return via the land route (which is not so scenic). If you fly back to Auckland, you'll have to catch transport from the airport into the city, which will take at least a half hour, so factor this into your travel times, as well. If you catch the early morning bus, you'll get into Auckland around midday, and won't have to wait too long to check into your accommodation.
Two nights in the Bay of Islands is not much, given that you'll be exhausted on your arrival day. Can you do three nights in the Bay of Islands? What do you plan on doing?
I think you'll want to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which is about a half hour walk or five minute drive from Paihia's dock. This is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Waitangi Day will be celebrated here on Thursday, Feb 6
I think you'll also want to catch the ferry to the pretty village of Russell.
You might want to see the historic Mission Station in Kerikeri.
Many people also visit the giant kauri trees of Waipoua Forest. While you can catch a tour to Waipoua Forest, I think it's best to self-drive as you can stop along pretty Hokianga Harbor.
About kauri:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...aipoua-forest/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...e-mahuta-walk/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kauri/
About Hokianga Harbor.
https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/editoria...venly-harbour/
If you'd like to visit a kauri forest closer to Paihia, there Puketi forest:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...-nature-trail/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...ahuta-forests/
Cruises into the Bay of Islands to see dolphins or visit "hole in the rock" are also popular ( I never got a chance to do this as the ocean was rough on both my visits).
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...dolphin-cruise''
Another popular excursion is to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach.
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...ty-mile-beach/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...erenga-wairua/
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...ty-mile-beach/
We enjoyed driving up to Doubtless Bay and the pretty little fishing village of Mangonui
Wow! Short of hitchhiking, how can you beat that? I would take that bus fare ASAP. This way, you'll fly up to save time then return via the land route (which is not so scenic). If you fly back to Auckland, you'll have to catch transport from the airport into the city, which will take at least a half hour, so factor this into your travel times, as well. If you catch the early morning bus, you'll get into Auckland around midday, and won't have to wait too long to check into your accommodation.
Two nights in the Bay of Islands is not much, given that you'll be exhausted on your arrival day. Can you do three nights in the Bay of Islands? What do you plan on doing?
I think you'll want to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which is about a half hour walk or five minute drive from Paihia's dock. This is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Waitangi Day will be celebrated here on Thursday, Feb 6
I think you'll also want to catch the ferry to the pretty village of Russell.
You might want to see the historic Mission Station in Kerikeri.
Many people also visit the giant kauri trees of Waipoua Forest. While you can catch a tour to Waipoua Forest, I think it's best to self-drive as you can stop along pretty Hokianga Harbor.
About kauri:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...aipoua-forest/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...e-mahuta-walk/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/kauri/
About Hokianga Harbor.
https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/editoria...venly-harbour/
If you'd like to visit a kauri forest closer to Paihia, there Puketi forest:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...-nature-trail/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...ahuta-forests/
Cruises into the Bay of Islands to see dolphins or visit "hole in the rock" are also popular ( I never got a chance to do this as the ocean was rough on both my visits).
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...dolphin-cruise''
Another popular excursion is to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach.
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...ty-mile-beach/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...erenga-wairua/
https://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/bay...ty-mile-beach/
We enjoyed driving up to Doubtless Bay and the pretty little fishing village of Mangonui
Last edited by Diamantina; Jun 17th, 2019 at 03:52 AM.
Jun 17th, 2019, 02:18 PM
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I left one of Northland's most unusual, yet popular, attractions off the above list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasser_Toilets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasser_Toilets
Dec 4th, 2019, 03:46 PM
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hi again! A couple of follow up questions as we continue to plan our February trip:
- we have 2 1/2 days in Queenstown at the end of our trip. We are not thrillseekers so don't expect to be bungee jumping or anything remotely like that! We are considering a day trip to Milford Sound by organized tour, but would appreciate any thoughts on that. It seems like a very long day but the reviews of these trips are good and I think that part of the island is worth seeing.
- we are travelling from north to south, so realize that we will experience different kinds of weather. Any help on how to pack and what kind of clothes to bring would be much appreciated!
Ruth
- we have 2 1/2 days in Queenstown at the end of our trip. We are not thrillseekers so don't expect to be bungee jumping or anything remotely like that! We are considering a day trip to Milford Sound by organized tour, but would appreciate any thoughts on that. It seems like a very long day but the reviews of these trips are good and I think that part of the island is worth seeing.
- we are travelling from north to south, so realize that we will experience different kinds of weather. Any help on how to pack and what kind of clothes to bring would be much appreciated!
Ruth
Dec 5th, 2019, 01:25 AM
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I see you have 25 days in New Zealand. Will you be visiting Te Anau? Because this is the gateway to Milford Road and Sound, so both self-drives and coach tours from here are much shorter. If not, then, yes, you should do an all-day coach tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound. If it's too long of a day for you and, if you can afford it, take a scenic flight back, that is, coach-cruise-fly. Scenic flights are weather-dependent, meaning they can be cancelled if flight conditions are unfavorable, in which case, you'd returning to Queenstown on the coach.
Milford Road and Sound are definitely among New Zealand's top sites. I would not miss them. Please be forewarned that Fiordland is one of New Zealand rainiest areas, so even in summer it can be wet, but the flip side is when it rains there are more waterfalls. But it's just as likely to be sunny. In case of rain, I would bring a fleece and a rain jacket with a hood, quick-dry pants are better than jeans or other cotton pants. But if it's that wet, you can just stay inside the cabin of the boat. The stops the coach tour makes will be short. You won't be walking a lot. Don't let the wrong clothes get in the way of havng fun!
We've had a warmer than average spring and early summer (though in some parts of the country there has been flooding). However, I expect the warming trend to continue. February should be warm and sunny.
Milford Road and Sound are definitely among New Zealand's top sites. I would not miss them. Please be forewarned that Fiordland is one of New Zealand rainiest areas, so even in summer it can be wet, but the flip side is when it rains there are more waterfalls. But it's just as likely to be sunny. In case of rain, I would bring a fleece and a rain jacket with a hood, quick-dry pants are better than jeans or other cotton pants. But if it's that wet, you can just stay inside the cabin of the boat. The stops the coach tour makes will be short. You won't be walking a lot. Don't let the wrong clothes get in the way of havng fun!
We've had a warmer than average spring and early summer (though in some parts of the country there has been flooding). However, I expect the warming trend to continue. February should be warm and sunny.
Dec 9th, 2019, 05:31 PM
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Sorry I’m late, but want to point out that a south to north one way car journey will not incur a one way fee, for example starting in Queenstown and ending in Auckland.
Also, the interisland ferries sell out in the summer, and have rising ticket prices as time passes. Normally international rental car companies do not allow their cars on the ferries so don’t pay in advance for the car unless you are sure you can take it on the boat.
Also, the interisland ferries sell out in the summer, and have rising ticket prices as time passes. Normally international rental car companies do not allow their cars on the ferries so don’t pay in advance for the car unless you are sure you can take it on the boat.
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