(February 17 to 20th - then March 10th to March 25th)
"As mentioned North Island was to be a different experience. We had 3 nights in Wellington staying at an Airbnb in the City centre with a view of the motorway bringing all the commuters into work. Roughly 77% of New Zealand's 4.8 million people live on the North Island"
Hiring a car in Wellington, a Toyota Corolla (another automatic), and dropping it off in Auckland turned out to be a relaxing way to enjoy the North Island. Immediately on leaving Wellington it was obviously more populated, more towns and cars and far less camper van travellers.
We booked Airbnb accommodation as we went. Having arrived somewhere we'd then find another place for a few days later. It was flexible and once into the swing of it, it was pretty easy. Margaret would put her post on Facebook at the end of each day.
Our highlights were:
➣ 1. Napier (+ cycle)
➣ 2. Scenic roads: Napier to Taupo / around Tongariro Nat Park / Coromandel peninsula
➣ 3. Rotorua (+ Maori village)
➣ 4. Hobbiton (Matamata)
➣ 5. Thermal pools (inc. Hot Water beach)
- see lots of photos down the page for more details.
Total distance driven: 1517 kilometres.
After many friendly Airbnb stays (see particularly Thames: Bruce Greaves link) arriving back in Auckland we enjoyed Eileen and Tim's hospitality once more, to end our trip in the best possible way.
What a great experience.
We have already noted some additional places we'd like to see in New Zealand. And maybe those we'd love to re-visit.
You never know .... ?
NORTH ISLAND photos & videos >>>
1. Napier
Welcome to the art deco capital of New Zealand
Hiring bikes in town we cycled along the coast towards Cape Kidnappers. Passing wetlands and coastal communities, the path was wonderful, and apart from the occasional cows, perfect for bikes.
54 kms round trip - a great day's ride.
2. Scenic roads
VIDEO >
VID 2019.03.21 Wide load on Coromandel peninsula We were behind this and it was crazy.
Tongariro National Park: Mount Ngauruhoe aka Mount Doom in 'Lord of the Rings' movies
3. Rotorua area (+ Maori village)
VIDEOS >
VID 2019.03.18 Craters of the Moon
VID 2019.03.18 Smokin' Craters of the Moon
VID 2019.03.18 Frying Pan Lake. Waimangu
VID 2019.03.19 Pohutu geyser erupting. Te Puia, Rotorua
Craters of the Moon. ABOVE and BELOW
Waimangu Volcanic Valley. ABOVE Frying Pan Lake. BELOW Crater Lake
Lake Rotorua, full of ducks
The Rotorua museum was closed
Fence on fire? No! Hot springs by the side of the road in Rotorua
Maori Village: Mitai
VIDEO>
VID 2019.03.18 maori
The Mitai Maori Village experience was a great night out. Cultural performance and hangi meal (cooked for hours over hot stones) with an entertaining host for the evening.
4. Hobbiton (Matamata) Movie Set
5. Thermal pools
LEFT: Spa Thermal Park, Taupo RIGHT: Kerosene Creek
ABOVE & BELOW: Hot Water Beach (very HOT), Coromandel Peninisula
How about some pictures of Wellington >
Oriental Bay, Wellington
Te Papa Museum
LEFT:
Terracota warriors
BELOW:
Extraordinary Gallipoli Exhibit
ABOVE: The Weta Workshop. Movie special effects. Especially Lord of the Rings.
And, my precious, there's gollum > RIGHT.
And finally back to Auckland and Eileen and Tim's
Party Time
"As mentioned North Island was to be a different experience. We had 3 nights in Wellington staying at an Airbnb in the City centre with a view of the motorway bringing all the commuters into work. Roughly 77% of New Zealand's 4.8 million people live on the North Island"
Hiring a car in Wellington, a Toyota Corolla (another automatic), and dropping it off in Auckland turned out to be a relaxing way to enjoy the North Island. Immediately on leaving Wellington it was obviously more populated, more towns and cars and far less camper van travellers.
We booked Airbnb accommodation as we went. Having arrived somewhere we'd then find another place for a few days later. It was flexible and once into the swing of it, it was pretty easy. Margaret would put her post on Facebook at the end of each day.
Our highlights were:
➣ 1. Napier (+ cycle)
➣ 2. Scenic roads: Napier to Taupo / around Tongariro Nat Park / Coromandel peninsula
➣ 3. Rotorua (+ Maori village)
➣ 4. Hobbiton (Matamata)
➣ 5. Thermal pools (inc. Hot Water beach)
- see lots of photos down the page for more details.
We booked Airbnb accommodation as we went. Having arrived somewhere we'd then find another place for a few days later. It was flexible and once into the swing of it, it was pretty easy. Margaret would put her post on Facebook at the end of each day.
Our highlights were:
➣ 1. Napier (+ cycle)
➣ 2. Scenic roads: Napier to Taupo / around Tongariro Nat Park / Coromandel peninsula
➣ 3. Rotorua (+ Maori village)
➣ 4. Hobbiton (Matamata)
➣ 5. Thermal pools (inc. Hot Water beach)
- see lots of photos down the page for more details.
 |
| Total distance driven: 1517 kilometres. |
After many friendly Airbnb stays (see particularly Thames: Bruce Greaves link) arriving back in Auckland we enjoyed Eileen and Tim's hospitality once more, to end our trip in the best possible way.
What a great experience.
We have already noted some additional places we'd like to see in New Zealand. And maybe those we'd love to re-visit.
You never know .... ?
NORTH ISLAND photos & videos >>>
1. Napier
What a great experience.
We have already noted some additional places we'd like to see in New Zealand. And maybe those we'd love to re-visit.
You never know .... ?
NORTH ISLAND photos & videos >>>
1. Napier
 |
| Welcome to the art deco capital of New Zealand |
Hiring bikes in town we cycled along the coast towards Cape Kidnappers. Passing wetlands and coastal communities, the path was wonderful, and apart from the occasional cows, perfect for bikes.
54 kms round trip - a great day's ride.
2. Scenic roads
VIDEO >
VID 2019.03.21 Wide load on Coromandel peninsula We were behind this and it was crazy.
|
| Tongariro National Park: Mount Ngauruhoe aka Mount Doom in 'Lord of the Rings' movies |
3. Rotorua area (+ Maori village)
VIDEOS >
VID 2019.03.18 Craters of the Moon VID 2019.03.18 Smokin' Craters of the Moon
VID 2019.03.18 Frying Pan Lake. Waimangu
VID 2019.03.19 Pohutu geyser erupting. Te Puia, Rotorua
|
| Craters of the Moon. ABOVE and BELOW |
|
| Waimangu Volcanic Valley. ABOVE Frying Pan Lake. BELOW Crater Lake |
|
| Lake Rotorua, full of ducks |
 |
| The Rotorua museum was closed |
 |
| Fence on fire? No! Hot springs by the side of the road in Rotorua |
Maori Village: Mitai
VIDEO>VID 2019.03.18 maori
The Mitai Maori Village experience was a great night out. Cultural performance and hangi meal (cooked for hours over hot stones) with an entertaining host for the evening.
4. Hobbiton (Matamata) Movie Set
5. Thermal pools
 |
| LEFT: Spa Thermal Park, Taupo RIGHT: Kerosene Creek |
|
| ABOVE & BELOW: Hot Water Beach (very HOT), Coromandel Peninisula |
How about some pictures of Wellington >
 |
| Oriental Bay, Wellington |
Te Papa Museum
LEFT:
Terracota warriors
BELOW:
Extraordinary Gallipoli Exhibit
And, my precious, there's gollum > RIGHT.
And finally back to Auckland and Eileen and Tim's
 |
| Party Time |
The North Island looks fantastic too! Rotorua looks particularly beautiful, but I'm sure your highlight will have been Hobbiton! ;)
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