desertchick

I might sound crazy but.....my husband and I think we are at a stage of travel with our 11 and 9 year olds where we really don't have to plan for everything and want to end up where we end up. Sounds good, but maybe I need a bit of hinting. So....assuming we are heading out of of Rotorua and have 2 more full days before needing to fly out of Auckland to Queenstown (mid morning on that 3rd day after leaving Rotorua), where would you go?? Imagine us finding blue skies and lots of green!!!....(we live in the desert of Arizona), Coromandel Peninsula....Lake Taupo?? We'll be active in the south, so I guess really want to see the beauty of the north, where would you go? And, will I find a place to stay when I get there??!!

mlgb

It depends what time of year, is it a holiday in NZ. You can get an idea now by checking some websites such as wotif or the YHA hostel website.

In my experience, a lot of small places may close up the office and hang up the No Vacancy time after about dinner time. There are also rural towns where there really is very limited accommodation and just driving won't necessarily find you anywhere near a motel. To me this sounds like a recipe for disaster.

mlgb

HUH????

desertchick

mlgb: what is that below your response? Friend of yours??? We will be there end of May into June. I guess my question is less about accomodation and more about an opinion of where to go from Rotorua? I've not read much about the Coromandel Peninsula or the countryside heading there. Books seem sort of vague...any recommemdations?

dotty

Hi, desertchick,

I think head for the Coromandel. It's not too far from Auckland, a bonus. Check out the two websites for further information on what to do, etc. I assume you are coming to NZ this year and not 2012.

http://www.thecoromandel.com/

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...del-peninsula/

Dot

mlgb

I have no idea about that response below mine!

If the weather forecast looks clear then Coromandel should be fine, I wouldn't want to go in the rain though since some of the roads up to the middle or north end are very twisty. I liked the area round Cathedral Cove and Kuatonuo. There isn't much of a beach at Whitianga or Thames, the two main towns.

You could also head to the north of Auckland, ie Bay of Islands, go up the east and back down the west. There are probably more things to see in that area, which might be good if it isn't beach weather. Paihia/Russell, then down the west coast to the Waipoua Kauri forest.

desertchick

Thanks so much!!!