North Island Itinerary Help?
 

Going to New Zealand in January for a wedding and planning a North Island road trip with a friend after (doing south island before the wedding). We've booked an airbnb in Whitianga already but looking for some advice on how we should spend our remaining days. We are hoping to stay in one place for the remaining nights as we've been moving around a bunch. Should we stay in Taupo or Rotorua as a good home base to explore? And where/how do we fit in the Waitomo Caves? Hoping to avoid a lot of 4 + days of driving.

DAY 1: leave Auckland midday and go to Coromandel Peninsula, overnight at airbnb in Whitianga

DAY 2: exploore Coromandel, overnight in Whitianga

DAY 3: drive to Hobbitown, then Rotorua, overnight in Taupo or Rotorua?

DAY 4: overnight in Taupo or Rotorua?

DAY 5: overnight in Taupo or Rotorua?

DAY 6: drive back to auckland, fly back to US at 5pm