My family includes my wife, 2 daughters (9 and 23) and our son (11). We will be in Auckland for 3 days and then driving to Lake Taupo for 4 nights at a timeshare. Would love to get some ideas of things to do in Auckland, on the drive to Taupo and maybe some day trips from Taupo. This is our first visit to New Zealand so we really could use your suggestions. We will be in NZ from Nov 23 until Dec 1.

Thanks in advance!

What are some of your interests?

We spent 10 days on the North Island in 2004; you might find some activity ideas by looking at our pictures and trip report at http://community.webshots.com/user/ElendilPickle

Rotorua and Tongariro National Park are both close to Taupo.

Lee Ann

On the Taipo segment, one way go through Rotorua, and one way via the Waitomo caves.

Would you be able to stay a night in Rotorua?

A helpful site:


http://www.auckland.world-guides.com/


Some of the best places I found were from just wandering around Auckland. It is a large and sprawling city. Watch out for speed cameras! I liked Christchurch and Dunedin if you get to the South Island. You don't take hire vehicles on the ferry but drop off one at one side and pick up another one at the other side.

Wandering around the waterfront in Auckland is a great thing to do. I would also highly recommend doing a harbor tour. We did one with Fullers Auckland (it goes right out of the Ferry Building) that was 1 1/2 hours and just perfect. The other thing we did was to book an all day tour with Bush and Beach (bushandbeach.co.nz) called "The Best of Both Worlds". We got a city tour in the morning and then a tour out to the west coast to see waterfalls, beaches, and rain forest. It rained most of the day, but it was a lot of fun.

I would agree that if you get a chance to go to Rotorua it would be great. We spent one night there and went to a traditional hangi dinner (Maori cultural show and dinner) at the Tamaki Maori Village. It was fabulous! If you can, I would strongly encourage you to do that. You can check out my trip report on the North Island at this link:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=3

Enjoy your time there!

jcasale - The correct URL for your report is http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34857935

Don't miss Rotorua - the Polynesian Spa was very pleasant for relaxing and Hells Gate for bubbling mudpools. The Hangi was a nice cultural evening and fun for all ages. As for Auckland, the harbour is very pleasant and the surrounding Islands.