New Zealand, North and South Island

A trip from February 27, 2004 to March 21, 2004, travelling to Tauranga, Auckland, Waitomo, Ngongotaha …
This trip entails alot of driving, but you are able to … More  
This trip entails alot of driving, but you are able to see all the hot spots of the North and South islands! We did this trip in 2004 so not much should have changed since then. This drive basically does a loop from the North to the South back to the North Island again.
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Location:
Auckland, Hanmer Springs...
Day:
02/27/2004 to 03/21/2004
Category:
Transportation, Hotel...

Fri 02/27/04 (day 1) - Tauranga, Auckland

There are many hotels or homestays in the area. For ex: Ambassador Motor Inn: http://www.ambassador-motorinn.co …More  
Hotel
Tauranga
Fri Feb 27 12:00am - Sat Feb 28 12:00am
 
Sea Kayaking: www.gokayaking.co.nz; and check out Hot Water Beach! (http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Australia_Pacific …More  
Thing to Do
Fri Feb 27 3:00am - Fri Feb 27 11:00pm
 
Ezi Rent Depot, 14 Rennie Drive, Airport Oaks Phone: 0800 244 732 We had a Group A hatchback for 21 days at …More  
Transportation
14 Rennie Drive
Auckland, New Zealand
0800 244 732
Fri Feb 27 8:00am - Fri Feb 27 9:00am
 
DAY 1: drove from Auckland-Tauranga (Auckland-whitianga 2.5hrs; whitianga-Tauranga 2.25hrs) 3.20 hours
Transportation
Auckland
Fri Feb 27 10:00am - Fri Feb 27 5:00pm
 

Sat 02/28/04 (day 2) - Waitomo

Abseil Inn (B&B homestay in Waitoma)--any room here is great and they have the best breakfast!
Hotel
709 Waitomo Caves Road
Waitomo, New Zealand
64 7 878 7815
Sat Feb 28 12:00am - Sun Feb 29 12:00am
 
This is a MUST! Go Black Water Rafting: www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz
Thing to Do
Sat Feb 28 3:00am - Sat Feb 28 11:00pm
 
Tauranga-Waitoma takes 2:30 Hrs
Transportation
Sat Feb 28 10:00am - Sat Feb 28 4:00pm
 

Sun 02/29/04 (day 3) - Ngongotaha, ROTORUA

B&B Homestay highly recommended! Waiteti Lakeside Lodge
Hotel
2 Arnold Street
Ngongotaha, ROTORUA, New Zealand
0064 7 357 2311
Sun Feb 29 12:00am - Mon Mar 1 12:00am
Notes
The couple here are from England and they make a great breakfast!
 
The Luge and Gondola are a must!! www.skylineskyrides.co.nz; Explore Rotorua in a Bi plane! : http://www.redcat …More  
Thing to Do
Sun Feb 29 3:00am - Sun Feb 29 11:00pm
 
Waitoma-Rotorua 2:45 Hr drive
Transportation
Sun Feb 29 10:00am - Sun Feb 29 4:00pm
 

Mon 03/01/04 (day 4) - Taupo

The Lake--awesome place! not on the lakefront but is still a great location. We stayed in a self contained unit …More  
Hotel
63 Mere Rd
Taupo, New Zealand
+64 7 378 4222
Mon Mar 1 12:00am - Thu Mar 4 12:00am
 
The Hukajet is a must!! www.hukajet.co.nz; Swim in Lake Taupo as well because the water is crystal clear; The …More  
Thing to Do
Mon Mar 1 3:00am - Mon Mar 1 11:00pm
 
Rotorua-Taupo ~1.40 hrs
Transportation
Mon Mar 1 11:00am - Mon Mar 1 2:00pm
 

Fri 03/05/04 (day 8) - Blenheim

Homestay: St Leonards is highly recommended!! great place.
Hotel
18 St. Leonards Road, RD 1
Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand
Fri Mar 5 12:00am - Sat Mar 6 12:00am
Notes
The family here is so inviting and they have their own farm (deer, pig, chickens...). Their children are adorable and they welcome you like you are family. Great breakfast as well.
There is alot of winetasting in this region and it's just a beautiful area. I would have spent an extra day …More  
Thing to Do
Fri Mar 5 3:00am - Fri Mar 5 11:00pm
Notes
䉬敮桥業⁩猠瑨攠桥慲琠潦⁷楮攭杲潷楮朠䵡牬扯牯畧栮⁙潵’汬⁦楮搠愠灬敡獩湧⁳敬散瑩潮映捡晥猬⁲敳瑡畲慮瑳Ⱐ灵扳Ⱐ獨潰猠慮搠杯汦⁣潵牳敳⸠䍨慲慣瑥爠慣捯浭潤慴楯渠楳⁡湯瑨敲⁂汥湨敩洠摥汩杨琠–⁥癥特瑨楮朠晲潭⁨潭敳瑡祳⁴漠扯畴楱略⁨潴敬献
 
This drive was way too long. I'd turn it into 2 days if I were to do it again
Transportation
Fri Mar 5 8:00am - Fri Mar 5 7:00pm
 
We took The Lynx: 3/8/04 3:30-5:45 and then back on 3/19 11:30-1:45; $200NZ roundtrip. Must check in at least …More  
Transportation

0800 802 802
Fri Mar 5 3:00pm - Mon Mar 8 6:00pm
 

Sat 03/06/04 (day 9) - Hanmer Springs

I would have just stayed in Kaikora. Too much driving today otherwise. Go Whale Watching (http://www.whalewatch …More  
Thing to Do
Hanmer Springs, New Zealand
Sat Mar 6 3:00am - Sat Mar 6 11:00pm
Notes
䭡楫潵牡⁩猠愠扡獥⁦潲⁷楬摬楦攠數灥物敮捥猠潦⁡汬楮摳†ጠ楴’猠慬獯⁡⁧牥慴⁰污捥⁴漠敡琠捲慹晩獨⸠䄠睨慬攠睡瑣栠瑯畲⁣慮⁴慫攠祯甠瑯⁳敥⁍楮步Ⱐ䡵浰扡捫⁡湤⁓潵瑨敲渠剩杨琠睨慬敳楸楮朠楴⁷楴栠摯汰桩湳⁡湤牣慳⸠奯甠捡渠慬獯⁷慬欠瑯⁳敥⁦畲⁳敡氠捯汯湩敳⁡湤⁳灹渠扩朠獥慢楲摳⁳畣栠慳潬汹浡睫猬⁡汢慴牯獳⁡湤⁰整牥汳
 
Blenheim-Kaikora-Hanmer Springs 2 Hrs
Transportation
Sat Mar 6 8:00am - Sat Mar 6 3:00pm
 

Sun 03/07/04 (day 10) - Christchurch

Hanmer Springs-Christchurch ~3hrs
Transportation
Christchurch, New Zealand
Sun Mar 7 10:00am - Sun Mar 7 2:00pm
Notes
䡡湭敲⁓灲楮杳⁩猠愠摥獴楮慴楯渠景爠牥污硡瑩潮⁡湤⁩湤畬来湣攮⁙潵⁣慮⁳潡欠楮⁴桥⁨潴⁳灲楮杳爠瑲敡琠祯畲獥汦⁴漠愠牡湧攠潦⁳灡⁴桥牡灩敳⸠併瑤潯爠慣瑩癩瑩敳⁡牥⁡汳漠愠䡡湭敲⁳灥捩慬瑹⸠䙯牥獴⁷慬歳Ⱐ桯牳攠瑲敫歩湧Ⱐ瑲潵琠晩獨楮本整⁢潡瑩湧Ⱐ扵湧礠橵浰楮朠慮搠杯汦⁡牥⁳潭攠潦⁴桥灴楯湳㬠周攠卯畴栠䥳污湤’猠污牧敳琠捩瑹Ⱐ䍨物獴捨畲捨⁩猠慮⁥湴敲瑡楮楮朠浩硴畲攠潦⁲敦楮敤楦敳瑹汥⁡湤⁣畬瑵牡氠數捩瑥浥湴⸠噩獩琠桥物瑡来⁳楴敳Ⱐ浵獥畭猠慮搠慲琠条汬敲楥猬⁡湤⁥湪潹⁴桥⁨楧桬礠摥癥汯灥搠牥獴慵牡湴⁳捥湥
 

Mon 03/08/04 (day 11) - Aoraki Mount Cook Village

Mount Cook Village lodge---book in advance as not much else is in the area!
Hotel
Aoraki Mount Cook Village, New Zealand
+ 64 3 435 1809
Mon Mar 8 12:00am - Tue Mar 9 12:00am
Notes
the weather here can be questionable so be prepared for anything! is worth the trip regardless though. Especially if you love to hike. The glaciers are amazing to see. We had perfectly clear weather so wish we had 2 fulls days to spend! We stayed at units that were down the way from the main Lodge. Huge rooms and great views of Mt Cook.
 
Christchurch- Mt Cook---gorgeous drive! Check out Lake Tekapo on the way. There are countless hikes to take at …More  
Transportation
Mon Mar 8 10:00am - Mon Mar 8 2:00pm
Notes
The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is an entertaining mixture of refined lifestyle and cultural excitement. Visit heritage sites, museums and art galleries, and enjoy the highly developed restaurant scene; The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do in the area. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.
 

Tue 03/09/04 (day 12)

stay at The Point in Queenstown (http://www.thepoint.net.nz/). Nice quiet spot right on the lake!
Hotel
Queenstown, New Zealand
Tue Mar 9 12:00am - Thu Mar 11 12:00am
 
 
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Talk about this trip (2)
What is the cost of this trip? Air fare from Minneapolis, St Paul round trip to New Zealand??
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Hi,
This is great! This will be so helpful to us when planning our own trip. Did you make all hotel/car reservations prior to arriving?
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