I won't go into details, but after congratulating ourselves on booking our entire month long trip to New Zealand for February 2010, we discovered we are actually flying home a full week later than we thought. (Yes, folks, it's called a brain fart.)

We have split our time in half between the islands, and I would like to keep the South Island portion of the itinerary intact which means I am seeking opinions on how to modify our North Island plans. (We spent a month on the South Island in 2008 and have never been to the North Island.) It's a wonderful dilemma.

We might consider more time on the South Island, but right now I am trying to make it easier on myself by looking at where we could place additional time toward the end of our trip. We plan to spend more time in Auckland in order to visit Rangitoto and Waiheke Islands. Please comment on our existing plans by letting me know where you think we could best spend these extra days. We are in our mid-fifties, enjoy hiking, good food and fine wine.

Thanks

2 nights - Wellington
1 night - Martinborough
2 nights - Napier
3 nights - Lake Taupo area
1 night - Rotorua
3 nights - Coromandel Peninsula
4 nights - Bay of Islands
1 night - Auckland

If only my brain farts were like that!

I can't help with the NI, other than to suggest you add a few nights to the one night stays on your existing itinerary, but if you decide to revist your SI plans...

Thanks Melnq8. I knew you would respond.

If we add time on the SI it will be Te Anau and Golden Bay. We're squeezed at the top due to the fact that we want to hit the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival. If anyone has an opinion as to whether we could pass on the festival, let me know.

Nice problem!

Beyond Bay of Islands you could go farther north, like the Karikari Peninsula, Matai/Doubtless Bay, and then come back down the west side and see the kauri trees, Dargaville/Hokianga, and the west coast beaches such as Muriwai or Bethell's Beach.

You haven't listed National Park where the volcanoes are, ie Mt. Ruapehu and the Tongariro Crossing. This is a bit of a backtrack from Taupo if you are going via Napier, but it would be worthwhile.

Thanks, mlgb. We are planning to do the Tongariro Crossing and are actually staying near Turangi. Sorry I wasn't more specific. I like your suggestion to keep on heading further north. It saves us some drive time if we decide to go up to Cape Reinga and we'll still have time for leisure on the way down the west coast.

I had a hard time finding lodgings near the west coast, I wound up in a nice B&B in Helensville for a few nights.

http://www.helensville.co.nz/malolo.htm

Here are my North Island photos from the most recent visit
Mostly North Northland and West Coast.

Reminds me that I love the Ngawha Hot Springs, very rustic. There are two now, one is full of awful baubles and tat. The one I visit is a bit more natural I think it's called Ginns. They are mud bottomed seeps apparently used by the Maori warriors.
http://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann...ndNorthIsland#

Hi PJ!

I believe you have the honor of being the first poster to have this problem! (usually it's the other way around).

Since you like wine, how about extra time in Martinborough? With 25 or so wineries, that should keep you busy -- besides, you can only visit a so many a day when driving!

I'd probably put an extra day in Rotorua as well; one day checking out thermal activity (including being immersed in some soothing waters at one of the spas) or the Agrodome Sheep show, or Wai-O-Tapu, or Waimangu Valley.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie
Certified Kiwi Specialist

hi wlzmatilda! Wonder if you had any ideas on a driving plan for the SI for about 8-9 days. flying from Cairns possibly into Auckland then flying into CC. Was wondering if the Coromandel area is worth spending a day in? Was looking at PJTravels itinerary but we want to do more of the SI. thought about making somewhat of a cirlce or figure eight and hitting-Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunnedin. Trying to maximize our time as well as minimize our driving. Thanks

Thanks again for all your replies and ideas. Sorry for the delay in responding but I have been away at beautiful Donner Lake in the California Sierra.

So far we have decided to add a night in both Rotorua and Martinborough, and possibly another in the Lake Taupo region. That's 3 down, 4 more to go. If we add another night in the Bay of Islands (for a total of 5) we are left with 3 nights to work our way down the west coast back to Auckland.

Any thoughts about staying out on Waiheke Island or around Warkworth on our way up to Bay of Islands from Coromandel?

mlgb - You had earlier recommended a homestay in Coromandel. I have not been able to find any photos of the inn. Might you have some?

Drift In has a listing on bnb.co.nz
The photo is the view from the outdoor patio, the bedrooms do not have views. You can email them with questions.
The accomodation is more like a homestay, you would have a separate bathroom and bedroom, and share the living dining area with the host. She is an EXCELLENT cook, breakfast was included and I do recommend that you include dinner at least once. BTW there is a dog on property if there are any allergies.

http://bnb.co.nz/coromandel/results/....html?lid=1324