I have a few questions for you NZ experts: I'm leaving a day to travel from Coromandel Town to Napier. Once past Whakatane (too soon?), there doesn't seem to be many places in which to overnight.

Should I drive #2 thru to Gisborne, overnight, then on to Napier? Or should I overnight in Whakatane then drive to Napier the following day?

Or - plan C - drive 33, overnighting in Waihau Bay (there's a b&b there that looks nice) then on to Napier? That looks to be a long way around

We have to be in Napier to meet up w/friends, so skipping Napier isn't an option.

I would say, given your time constraints and the options you have presented, you should overnight in Whakatane and then drive to Napier by way of the inland route that passes Rotorua and Taupo.
Regarding your other options. Sounds like you have already done your research and know you have two choices if you would like to see more of the Bay of Plenty, such as Whakatane, Ohope and Opotiki, and continue to Gisborne on Poverty Bay. At Opotiki, an hour east of Whakatane, you can take the faster inland route SH2 to Gisborne, or continue all the way around the East Cape (your Plan C).
We did the East Cape drive 8 or 9 years ago, but we have not done the SH2 drive to Gisborne, so I can't tell you how it is except it must be beautiful yet demanding as it goes through Urewera National Park. See this link:
http://www.opotikinz.com/opotiki_to_...eka_gorge.html
You should also check this link if you do this SH2 drive:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/curr...eka-gorge.html

You're correct, Plan C (East Cape drive/SH35) would be the long way around. It would take you about 13 hours to drive from Coromandel town to Napier by way of the East Cape. See these itineraries with times (the times might be off a bit):
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/get...ane-napier.cfm
http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealan...ier/day-5.html
Also check these links:
http://www.gisbornenz.com/pacific-co...coast-highway/
http://www.waihaubay.co.nz/tour_east_cape.shtml

The East Cape drive (SH35) is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, because of its remoteness, its forests, and stunning coastal views. Also, the East Cape remains a stronghold of Maori culture, yet, unlike Rotorua, it is not touristy. You're right, there aren't many places to stay along here, but there are a few.
The drive from Gisborne to Napier is also nice, but has some demanding stretches. The drive takes about 3 hours. The area around Mahia Peninsula is especially pretty.

Are you going soon? Because you should be aware that there is some flooding in Coromandel. There was also a tornado near Tauranga.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=11179123

Thanks, Diamantina - fantastic info! I'll be busy researching the websites you've supplied me. Mountainous, twisty roads don't bother me - I'm from British Columbia!

Not going to be there till late March

if you are going to drive from Taupo to Napier, do remember to fill up with petrol before you leave town. [there's a petrol station just before the Napier turning].

We felt very smug as we left Taupo and passed the "no more petrol for 160 kms" sign as we had just filled up!

And just because you come from BC doesn't mean you will be immune to the twists and turns of the NZ roads, especially in the area you are talking about. We live in a country district in the UK and thought that we were pretty savvy about non-motorways and dual carriage-way driving, but the area between Corolmandel and Napier challenged even us.

as for accommodation, i can thoroughly recommend staying in B&Bs - we stayed in some great ones, including in Thames [at the base of the Coromandel peninsular] and Napier. I can give you further details if you'd like them.

Glad to be of help.

I love B.C.! My husband and I contemplated a move to the Sunshine Coast years ago (Gibsons-Roberts Creek-Sechelt, etc.). We've often said New Zealand's South Island is a bit like a compact version of B.C. , with some features of Alberta.

I've met many folks from B.C. living here in Dunedin. There are so many Canadians living here, that upon hearing a North American accent, one generally asks (if curious), "Are you from Canada?" and not "Are you from the U.S.?" My husband's co-workers tell him that people from the U.S. don't seem to mind being mistaken for Canadian, while Canadians are happy you've recognized they're from Canada.

Is this your first visit to NZ?

If so, when driving in NZ you won't have to worry as much about wildlife collisions, which is something that always concerns me when driving in the wilds of B.C., or Alberta (or California, for that matter). Possums, hedgehogs, rabbits, domestic pets, and livestock occasionally enter the roadway, but it's no way as big of a worry. In California, I always had to watch out for deer, racoons, foxes, and coyotes when driving home. especially at night. Still, it's best to avoid driving after dark on NZ's country roads.

Remember to stay on the left. It's especially confusing when coming out of parking lots and re-entering country roads when there is no one else on the road (it's easier to remember when there's someone to follow). NZ Transportation has painted arrows on the roadway as reminders, but not everywhere. Some folks used to driving on the right will tape a reminder to the dashboard to stay left. My friends from San Francisco who visited recently bought "L-plates" (learner's plates) to adhere to their windshield hoping other drivers would be more patient with them (I don't think this is allowed unless you have an actual learner's permit, so they could have been fined if found out). I only rode with them once while they were here--just two minutes to the nearby grocery. When they pulled out of the parking lot they entered the wrong side of the road and started to drive off.

Also, no turns at red lights. While we now live in Dunedin, my husband's first job in NZ was in Gisborne, where the roads are less crowded. During his first weeks, he made left turns at red lights when he could. He couldn't understand why people were giving him strange looks. It's illegal here!

My husband says one of the scariest roads he's driven was the gravel road to Bella Coola, B.C. with its switchbacks, drop-offs, and steep grades (luckily, this was about 30 years ago, before I knew him). Because you're from B.C. you'll also be used to driving in the rain--a useful skill for NZ.

Have a great time in NZ!

I live in Napier - in my younger days lived, stayed or camped at your other destinations.

1. Make sure you have full petrol tank before you depart, and tell some your plans.
2. The East Cape journey is best taken over several days - it's spectacular, isolated, and if you see the chance of a lifetime you have no time to partake.
3. Whakatane through Waioeka Gorge to Gisborne is the most used route. It is beautiful but winds round and round between steep cliffs and river - plenty of places to take a rest. I think it would take about two or more hours. Then you have less than three hours drive to Napier, on another windy road.
4. If you travel from Whakatane to Rotorua - Taupo - to Napier, the journey will take about three hours on good road. You travel over four very high ranges but the road is well constucted.
5. While in Napier take your camera to the Mission Vineyard, Church Road, and have morning tea - or a meal. The view is spectacular, and the food is the best. As you would axpect they sell very nice wine.
6. In Napier hire bikes and ride some of the beautiful bike pathways. The locals all say good morning/afternoon as they pass, so be ready for it. They also ring the bike bell as the come near to a walker. There is 33 kilometres of tracks to chose from.... in town, waterfront, country, swamplands, wineries. A good stopoff place is the Puketapu Hotel.
Napier is a bit of a playground - boats, food, fruit, walks, wineries.
Have great holiday!

Another little thought - travelling south out of Tauranga, turn off and visit a beach called Maketu. It's spectacular. I can recommend the cafe overhanging the estuary. You can also picnic or camp. From Maketu you get a great view up and down the Bay of Plenty and for a great distance - sureal view.

Close to Whakatane are the Awakere Hot Springs and Pools - they also have a good camp ground with store and cabins or motels.

Whakatane is a small township - nice. It is the gateway for trips out to White Island.
Over the hill is Ohope Beach. It's beautiful... the warning, there are no shops just one or two stores, but NO places to eat (all closed); last March we found most of it was closed with the most owners gone home and local children at school.

We had a great week in Whakatane and stayed in lovely apartments across the road from the I-Site.

Quite a while ago when the USD was stronger I did the East Cape drive and spent the night at Hicks Bay. The prior night was at Awakere as mentioned above. Don't expect luxury or value, but if the weatherbus good it's a spectacular road.

Thanks to all! Got all the info I needed - and more!
This will be our first visit to NZ & are really looking forward to it.
I do understand that much of the SI is very similar, though smaller, to BC. As a matter of fact, several friends have suggested we shouldn't go because we already live among what we will see. HAH! Using that criteria, we would eliminate a number of places & thus miss out on the real pleasures of travelling - meeting the people!
Thanks to all for your kind & informative responses.

You're welcome and I hope you have a great time. Make sure you have plenty of time to drive around as the weather can be unpredictable, causing hiccups for travel plans. This summer, November-December-January-so-far, has been incredibly wet. Winter was overall drier. Late summer/early autumn, February-March-April-early May, tends to bring milder weather.

Yes, you'll find the SI similar to BC only a lot smaller, compact. Glacier-covered mountains, blue lakes and fast-flowing rivers, fiords, rugged rocky coastlines with big bull kelp whipping around the rocks, forested mountains next to the sea. There are even cultural similarities between the Maori and BC's First Nations tribes. See:
http://www.spiritwrestler.com/catalo...php?cPath=2_18

But you'll also find delightful differences. More sheep. More long sandy beaches. On the North Island, easily accessed active volcanoes. Native vegetation and wildlife are also distinct: big tree ferns; nikau palm; cabbage trees; kowhai trees drooping with yellow flowers (the unofficial national flower) bloom in late winter/early spring; and now in summer pohutakawa and rata are covered with radiant red blossoms. The world's only alpine parrot (the Kea); a variety of penguins, kiwis and other birds that cannot fly live here.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/

arjay - one of the best things that you can do when you arrive is to buy a decent map book. The ones you get in guide books are not detailed enough. The one that we bought has not only maps of the whole of NZ, but also more detailed maps of populated areas, city plans, tourist information, and perhaps most useful, a handy guide to driving times. We found ours in a petrol station just outside Auckland - it cost about $27 but it was money well spent.

another tip is to keep a look out for the wonderful cafes that can be found not only in towns and villages, but also along the road side. Almost without exception they sell lovely homemade food and terrific coffee. Not a Little Chef or Happy Eater in sight.

hope you have a great trip!

oops - I should have said that the map book is the New Zealand Travellers Road Atlas, published by kiwimaps.com.