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Touring North Island

(4 Posts)
Greatnan Fri 31-May-13 17:32:03

I am already planning my week's tour of North Island before I go on to South Island to spend six weeks with my family.
So far, I have planned an itinerary that I hope will take in many of the most beautiful areas, but I am always open to suggestions. I have incorporated the Whanganui River because Jess gave us such a good description.
I will pick up a hire car at Auckland airport and drive to Tauranga. Rotarua and Taupo, then Wanganui, staying one or two nights in each place. I will return the car to Wellington airport and take the ferry to Picton, where my daughter will meet me. Her husband might be the captain!
I am flying with Malaysian Airlines - I used them often when my other daughter lived in Malaysia. I am having an overnight stop each way in Kuala Lumpur, just to break up the 40 hour journey.

I am off to Egypt next month for two week's snorkeling, and in July I am taking my sister on a cruise on the River Moselle. Then I will have to start replenishing my travel fund! Good job I spend so little at home.

wisewoman Fri 31-May-13 17:44:43

When we toured NOrth Island we had a wonderful time in Napier which is an Art Deco town. We were so lucky that (unbeknown to us) there was a festival on. The whole town was full of twenties cars driven by people dressed in twenties clothes. It was amazing. Sadly I can't remember what the date of the festival was. We found the tourist information stops really helpful and had some really lovely accommodation on our trip. Enjoy your trip I am quite jealous. All those wonderful beaches - and the sunshine. I hope we can go back some day.

Greatnan Fri 31-May-13 17:51:35

Napier gets a very good write up in my guide book, so I will see if I could fit it in between Taupo and Wanganui.

jeanie99 Sat 01-Jun-13 03:55:55

We had two weeks on each island and had a wonderful time driving round hiring a car like you intend.
We traveled up to the bay of islands in the north island and saw the Tall Ships race went to a hangi to celebrate the day which was great fun. Rotarua if I remember is the place with the terrible egg smells and sulphar, we had intended staying longer than we did as I just couldn't stand the smell. My eyes ran and it was like having a cold, I have no idea how people live there.