North Island Itinerary for Second Visit?
 

I am a very lucky traveler to be visiting New Zealand for the second time.

First trip we had just enough time to drive to Rotorua and discovered Mount Mauganui (which I loved) and meandered back to Auckland, where we only spent a day.

This trip I have a lot of pockets of time- one 3 days and the other nearly a week and I would love any suggestions of how you would spend your time.

I am so enthralled with the beach community aspects of Mount Maunganui that I would consider revisiting it, but I'm sure you experts will recognize my plea and suggest an alternative?

I was thinking of Wellington for a weekend, and some more days in Auckland. What do you reckon?

Thanks so much. Any and all ideas welcome and greatly appreciated and I would be happy to help any of you all if I ever can.

My budget is "save as much as I can" and my tastes are "clean and safe" and my tolerance for dirving is about 2 hours max.
h/s

In view of the fact that you liked the Mount on your previous trip I would suggest a small itinerary that is very diverse and takes you back to the Mount but with lots to see on the way. Auckland down the Pacific Coast highway running south east, goes thru Miranda where there is an interesting bird sanctuary, small sanctuary headquarters with displays, some of these birds migrate to and fro from Siberia so it's an important site. Then there are some great thermal hot pools a short distance from there. On to Thames, an old gold mining town, you could go up the coast from there and over towards Whitianga or just south of Thames turn east and go over the Coromandel Ranges and onto some lovely towns with beautiful coastlines and beaches. Tairua, Pauanui and then Whitianga, Hahei is also delightful. Then coming back keep on the same road and on down to Waihi, then Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.From there you can return to Auckland via Paeroa or go thru Rotorua again and across to Waitomo if you haven't already visited there. There are so many sealed roads off the main highways that are full of discoveries and of course much quieter to travel on. You will have plenty of stops with these ideas and no long drives of two hours or more.
Auckland has much to see and do, a trip downtown to the info centre on the America's Cup pier will give you lots of ideas to explore.
I like Wellington, it is compact and easy to get round by foot, the museum is a must see, also a trip across the harbour to Days Bay is nice, some of the coastlines are dramatic, and Martinborough, a little further north is a thriving wine growing area.
Have a nice time.

Hi Hot and Sweaty

I wish I could say that of NZ at the present moment but we are experiencing a series of winter-like storms with snow tonight down to 600 metres in the South Island and even cold here in the sunny Bay of Plenty.

Glad you enjoyed the Mount - my playground as a young fellow -something about the summer, girls and the beach!

Kathy has made some good suggestions but I would like to know what time of the year you are planning to visit NZ in as my recommendations would take into consideration activities and the weather.
Regards

Kerry

Thank you Kathy and and Kerry for taking the time to help me!

To be more specific I'll be leaving in about a month. The first 3 days will be the last of October. The "big chunk" will be between Nov 12-19.

Thanks for your great suggestions and your time. h/s

Now I'm thinking Nelson?

What about the North Islanf in May or June?