North Island: Activities & Logistics Advice Please
 

Hi All,
Doing a self-drive trip to North Island (then on tour in South Island): Coromandel: Paunui (2 activity days), Lake Taupo (2 activity days) & Tonarino Nat'l Park (2 activity days). Need advice on activities/driving time logistics, what can you recommend at:

- COROMANDEL: (from Panuanui): worthwhile hikes. What's your opinion on Cathredral Cove; Gemstone; Bay Mares Leg hikes.
- TAUPO (staying in Lake Taupo area): Are 2 activity days enough for: *Must dos": A Maori Carvings Tour (by boat/not kayak); Maori Show (not too touristy) or your thoughts on not to be missed Maori Museums; we need specific recommendations, newzealand.com has many, but unsure which are best. Your intell appreciated!
At Taupo: we also want to go to Waimangu Thermals: do we have time for boat cruise & the hike in one day?
And would like to fit in HUKA FALLS HIKE. Is all this possible incl driving between and returning to Lake Taupo hotel?
- TONGARINO (staying in National Park): 2 activity days: all hiking/cultural activities appreciated.

We are a bit overwhelmed by all the choices on new zealand.com so your experiences & guidance would be helpful. Also concerned about logistics of driving in between must-do activities at Lake Taupo. Let us know if we are being unrealistic about timing!
Many thanks!

The North Island museums with the best collections of Maori art and artifacts (known here as "taonga", translated as treasures) are in the Auckland War Memorial Museum (in the lovely Domain) and Te Papa on Wellington's attractive and lively waterfront. I would say these are not to be missed. Will you be going to either city?

Regional museums can have fine, smaller collections and can often be more reflective of local iwi. Rotorua Musuem, for example, has a good collection, but it has been closed, however, Rotorua's Maori Crafts & Arts School, Te Puia, is worth a visit. Some of the finest contemporary Maori carvers and weavers are based in and around Rotorua. Maybe you'll pass through Rotorua on your way to Taupo?

I see Taupo, which is on your travel agenda, has a museum, but I've not been to it (or maybe I have, but it would have been many years ago).

The main attraction in Rotorua is Te Puia. Nothing confusing about that.

https://www.tepuia.com/