Rotorua or not?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rotorua or not?
Have had some great advice here on NI route but struggling to fit everything in!
We have 9 nights.
Will fly into Auckland and collect car to drive straight up to Doubtless Bay (for 3 nights' relaxation after busy 2 weeks in SI). Then slower drive back to Auckland area and 4th night in Kumeu, possibly.
Next day drive to Tongariro area for 2 nights to do the Crossing.
That leaves 3 nights.
Should we miss out Rotorua and drive directly to Coromandel Peninsula for 2 nights and back to Auckland for final night?
Will we have seen enough volcanic scenery in Tongariro?
Our flight is an early one so will afternoon and evening of day 9 be enough to get a (very brief) flavour of Auckland?
Looking forward to hearing your advice.
Solly
We have 9 nights.
Will fly into Auckland and collect car to drive straight up to Doubtless Bay (for 3 nights' relaxation after busy 2 weeks in SI). Then slower drive back to Auckland area and 4th night in Kumeu, possibly.
Next day drive to Tongariro area for 2 nights to do the Crossing.
That leaves 3 nights.
Should we miss out Rotorua and drive directly to Coromandel Peninsula for 2 nights and back to Auckland for final night?
Will we have seen enough volcanic scenery in Tongariro?
Our flight is an early one so will afternoon and evening of day 9 be enough to get a (very brief) flavour of Auckland?
Looking forward to hearing your advice.
Solly
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi guys,
I'm adding this comment to bring the topic back up to the top! Advice on our NI trip would be very much appreciated. Should add that we means me and my husband, in mid 50s, like scenery, wildlife, walking but don't like overly touristy places and crowds. We'd like to see volcanic landscape and features but also like coastlines.
Solly
I'm adding this comment to bring the topic back up to the top! Advice on our NI trip would be very much appreciated. Should add that we means me and my husband, in mid 50s, like scenery, wildlife, walking but don't like overly touristy places and crowds. We'd like to see volcanic landscape and features but also like coastlines.
Solly
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 11,349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
solly, I posted a trip report (the beginnings of one) from our trip there this summer and finished the New Zealand North Island portion, which included Rotorua. If you click on my screen name, you should find it.
We too were trying to decide on where to go in our limited time there, and decided on Rotorua. My trip report has the details of what we did there...maybe it will help you decide one way or another. We loved NZ and hope to return again sometime soon.
We too were trying to decide on where to go in our limited time there, and decided on Rotorua. My trip report has the details of what we did there...maybe it will help you decide one way or another. We loved NZ and hope to return again sometime soon.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Florida 1. Thanks. I've read your trip report on NI and now I'm even more undecided! You spent all your time in Auckland and Rotorua - the two places which I've been tempted to skip - and clearly enjoyed them.
I suppose the question for other Fodorites is can we see similar features to ones in Rotorua elsewhere, particularly in the Tongariro National Park/Taupo and/or driving south from Auckland to Tongariro NP (Turangi) or north from Taupo to Coromandel?
I suppose the question for other Fodorites is can we see similar features to ones in Rotorua elsewhere, particularly in the Tongariro National Park/Taupo and/or driving south from Auckland to Tongariro NP (Turangi) or north from Taupo to Coromandel?
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have finalised our NI trip now and have decided to spend 3 nights in Doubtless Bay. Then a night just north of Auckland en-route to Rotorua. 1 night in Rotorua. 2 nights near Tongariro Park to do the Crossing and then back to Auckland for last 2 nights.
Thanks for all your help.
Thanks for all your help.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My daughter lived in Rotorua for a few years so we had the opportunity to visit several times. It's a lovely, peaceful little town with a wealth of geothermal activity, but nothing to see/do beyond that. One day is more than enough. It is very different from Tongoriro.
BTW, we were very outdoorsy, mid-50s when we did the crossing. However in-shape you are -- work on it more before you go. That is an incredibly worthwhile but incredibly strenuous day hike, much more so than the literature leads you to believe, specially on the way down. Bring a ton of sunscreen with you on the hike, a ton of water, and prepare to be wowed.
BTW, we were very outdoorsy, mid-50s when we did the crossing. However in-shape you are -- work on it more before you go. That is an incredibly worthwhile but incredibly strenuous day hike, much more so than the literature leads you to believe, specially on the way down. Bring a ton of sunscreen with you on the hike, a ton of water, and prepare to be wowed.