sollyuk

Would appreciate some help with choosing a good place to stay for 3 or 4 nights in March. Will have had busy 17 days in South Island and want to spend some of 9 days in North Island in a beach area. Suggestions for self-catering apartment/bach for 2 would also be helpful.

DalaiLlama

Waihi Beach, and if you can't find accommodation near the beach, there is the nearby village of Kati Kati, with a pub and several nice motels with kitchen etc. Kati Kati also has a sizeable grocery supermarket. Nice area, not overly touristy at all.

sollyuk

Thanks. Waihi Beach looks good. We like places that are quiet and not overly touristy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for beaches in Hawkes Bay or is the drive up to Russell worthwhile? We're used to swimming in the sea in the UK but what would the sea be like in early March?

mlgb

Most beautiful swimmable beach in NZ...Matai Bay. But that is in far Northland, Doubtless Bay area/Karikari Peninsula.

Not a lot of lodgings nearby but there is a holiday park

http://www.whatuwhiwhitop10.co.nz/

sollyuk

Thanks, mlgb.

Doubtless Bay area looks fabulous but am put off at prospect of four and half hours drive, without stops, each way! What do you think about the Coromandel area?

sollyuk

Has just occurred to me that because we have reversed our journey (due to flight availability from UK)we'll now be looking for our beach location in early March rather than Feb. Will this make prospect of swimming uninviting?

mlgb

Nice beaches around Kuaotunu and east of there on BlackJack Road. NOT Whitianga!

Try bnb.co.nz for lodging in Kuatunu.

mlgb

I think early March will be okay, too.

PS I know that it is possible to swim off Kuaotunu but I think the water is warmer up there in Northland. And it will take you just as long to get to Coromandel.

sollyuk

Thanks to both of you.

Although all the suggestions look good we have settled on going up to Doubtless Bay area, hoping that it may be a little warmer in the sea a bit further north in March!

After this we're heading down to Tongariro where we plan to do the crossing. Potentially, we have 2 days to go from Doubtless to Tongariro. As we will have driven straight to Doubtless from Auckland (after a flight from Queenstown) mid/late afternoon we will probably want to take our time for the drive back. Do you have any suggestions for a stopover about half way and any ideas for things to see en route? We will be returning from Tongariro via Taupo and Rotorua so will probably keep west on the journey south.

mlgb

I think I'd spend the bulk of the first day's drive on the west coast Rt 12, thru Opononi (best fish and chip shop has the dolphin on the roof) and quick stop in Waipoua Forest, then you're going to have to cut over again to 1 and back thru Auckland no matter what. Kumeu is an option and not far from the west coast beaches, if you're pretty early then you could drop bags there and go out to Muriwai (Gannets). The westerly route from Auckland to Tongariro thru Waikato wasn't all that interesting (the REAL Cambridge is a cute little town, spent the night there once on the way back to Auckland after visiting Tongariro). All I can remember is a few interesting veg stands and getting a traffic ticket for speeding...DON'T speed..it's really easy to do if your car doesn't have speed control.

There is a historic train route and spiral there, I'm not sure exactly how to get to it. You do see a few big trestles along that route

You can click around in the DOC website and see if there's anything of interest

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/...aniapoto-area/

Also this
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/...henua-viaduct/

sollyuk

mlgb
Thanks, again. Some great advice and bnb website you recommended has been very useful. Think we'll stay at Doubtless Bay for 3 nights and then Kumeu on way south to Tongariro. Still haven't decided return route to Auckland. Will open new topic.

SB_Travlr

Bit late replying to this, Solly -- hadn't seen this thread before. We've just spend four terrific days in Paihia, staying at the Blue Pacific apartments. Living/dining room, well equipped kitchen, comfortable bed, daily housekeeping, and best of all, a terrace overlooking the stunning Bay of Islands. We loved it, and it was nice to be just a short distance into town or to ferry over to Russell to eat.

Two very special trips we did from there: a Salt Air flight and minibus trip up to Cape Reinga. Such a stunning trip, we loved it. Not cheap, but worth it for a very memorable experience. We also spent a day sailing the Bay of Islands on catamaran Carino, including about an hour surrounded by a school of bottlenose dolphins. Another outstanding day. Paihia is a bit shorter drive than all the way up to Doubtless Bay -- the roads are windy and not quick to drive.

sollyuk

Thanks. Will check these ideas out.