Hi All,
Doing a self-drive from Auckland-Coramandel-Rotorua-Lake Taupo-Tongarino (ret to Auckland). We are hoping to get a bit off the tourist route- can you recommend any NZ charm along the way, like villages or easy to find stops?
Also would appreciate your suggestions & experience with activities that include cultural, local artisans, day trip cruises, etc. Have hiking ideas, but always like more. Don't be shy about telling me which to avoid, as well. I've been all over newzealand.com-but there's alot of advertising to sift through.

Thank you!

If you're at all fans of splendid art deco architecture, then the town of Napier is must-see. It's one of the premier art deco locations in the world and IMO it's a candidate for designation as a World Heritage Site.

I think Napier is too far for us: we have only 8 days on North Island and will be mostly central, around Rotorura (near Taupo) and also Tongariro Nat'l Park.
Best tips would be for Coromandel Peninsula, which will be our first stop. Hahei, Pauanui, Tairua and other towns have been mentioned online but would love to hear from people who've been to these towns or can suggest less well-known spots.

Also, I have bookmarked many activities from newzealand.com.--I'm assuming these would be all super touristy, given the access to book. Not cheap either. Can anyone comment on:

1. Ti-Puia Maori buffet & performance (evening)-$110 each, worth it? How's the food selection?
2. Waimanu Volcanic Valley: this site seems to have many different options: hiking, boat cruise,
3. Chris Jolley's Maori Rock Carvings Tour (Taupo)
4. Short walks near Mt. Ruapehu (Tongariro)-the full circuit of the Alpine Crossing is too long
5. Waitaia Sea Cave Tour (Coromandel)
6. Okahune Trail Road e-biking (Tongariro)

I usually figure activities out by looking at various towns, but NZ is another planet for me! All suggestions welcome, esp those that aren't onto tourist circuit (eg newzealand.com)

Thank you!
Pepperment

We did a nice half hour easy walk in Pureora State Forest called the Totara Loop. One of the nicest patches of native forest for little effort. Very near to Turangi .