bdspider Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 I'm wanting to do a upper North Island road trip in late Nov/early Dec. Hopefully will have about 2 weeks of unstructured exploring, definitely wanting to go up through Northland, visit Auckland, Hamilton, Coromandel, BoP, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay, Napier and thereabouts. Keen to know what's cool to do, especially sights that aren't in travel guides and don't have brochures at the iSites. I love going to zoos/reserves/bird parks/farm parks/wildlife rescues (as long as they're not too scummy and run down). Will surely go to Auckland and Hamilton Zoos, Kelly Tarltons, Living Art's and Napier Aquarium. What else do you North Islanders recommend? Edit: Oh and also I scuba dive and would love to do some, but gear is too heavy to bring... Might bring my wetsuit, if it's worth it. If you dive & know where I can borrow/hire gear & wanna do a swim with me, let me know :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 in northland, especially in summer i would head to dargaville & go north up the west coast & see Tane Mahuta & the three sisters etc & go onto opononi & omapere. if your into massive sand dunes that is the place to be. carry on over the ferry at rawene & onto taipa, coopers beach & mangonui & down to kerikeri & paihia. it's a fantastic area of the country in summer, just be security conscious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 There are some awesome beaches around the place, just drive along through random towns and take a turn off towards some nick town beach and enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 I recommend Mount Bruce wildlife reserve in Tararua, I used to go there all the time as a kid and loved it, I presume (and hope) it's still as good. The bridge to nowhere in the Wanganui national park is a great drive Up here there's the Whangarei heads which I've always felt is my place, the stone store in Kerikeri, and the sand dunes in Opononi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 If you like animal parks there's Ti Point Reptile Park near Leigh. Also in the area is Goat Island marine reserve for diving (gets really busy though at the weekends!) I quite like Butterfly Creek as well (butterflies, fish and crocodiles ) And you should visit Odelia and myself if you have the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 See how many other clubs you can visit too. Might give you ideas of things to do in your own club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 If you like animal parks there's Ti Point Reptile Park near Leigh. Also in the area is Goat Island marine reserve for diving (gets really busy though at the weekends!) I quite like Butterfly Creek as well (butterflies, fish and crocodiles ) And you should visit Odelia and myself if you have the time is that the Goat Island, out from Hahei beach? spent a few holidays there as a kid, never went diving unfortunately, snorkling was good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted September 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 If I don't get to dive, I could settle for snorkelling. I just looooove seeing what's under the waves. Not sure if I'll get a chance to visit clubs or all the people I'd like though. Yes, butterfly creek is another must, and the reptile park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 National Aquarium sometimes dose dives in their tanks... sharks and rays Do you like scallops? Keep in touch as I have most dive gear (size dependant) at Coromandel...busy time of the year for me but you may be able to borrow the bach at Waitete Bay (google or search in Coromandel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted September 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Thanks Barry, I will keep in touch when we have more idea of what dates. I'm not really a huge seafood catcher, as I don't really know how to prepare it very well. My main aim in diving is just looking and taking photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Visit ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 is that the Goat Island, out from Hahei beach? spent a few holidays there as a kid, never went diving unfortunately, snorkling was good though. Might be a different one - Hahei is in Coromandel eh? I'm talking about Goat Island north of Auckland by Leigh... snorkelling is cool though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Up here there's the Whangarei heads which I've always felt is my place, i live there If I don't get to dive, I could settle for snorkelling. I just looooove seeing what's under the waves. . Dive tutukaka takes you out to the poor nights, top 5 or 10 in the world is it not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 There's a bed available here if you would like one. The room has its own exit door so you can come and go as you please. We're also very central without being in the city. I also love Leigh so would be happy to take you up there for a day trip to snorkel. At this stage I don't think we are going away over the holidays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 There's quite a good book by Peter Janssen called Worth A Detour which has quite a lot of interesting places to visit which are off the beaten track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 i live there I used to live in Taurikura a few years ago and loved it, I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for another farm job out that way but the opportunities are fairly limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepsound Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 There's the Urewera national park too, with many native birds species, native forest (love trees with thick mosses and lichens on theirs branches) and the beautiful lake Waikaremoana and Waikareiti (short and great walks). And you can dive in fresh water Panoramic shot : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Waikaremoana.jpg http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/te-urewera/activities/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted November 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Alright, one week til our trip Don't suppose there's anyone who has Mondays free & wants to do a fish shop crawl? We'll contribute to petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 in coromandel: cathedral cove near hahei and climb mt paku in tairua auckland: west coast beaches, i recommend bethels beach and muriwai. north head (wartime tunnels) is cool too. northland: tiritirimatangi lsland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 When are you in Hawke's Bay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted November 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 When are you in Hawke's Bay? Don't know yet. Just gonna go where the wind takes me. Change of plans though, we're going straight to Tauranga on the 15th, not hanging about in Auckland that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 if you get a chance waitomo caves is worth a look and the marokopa land bridge and falls is awesome too just a bit further along the road from waitomo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malevolentsparkle Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 marokopa land bridge and falls is awesome too just a bit further along the road from waitomo +1 almost as good as the waitomo caves and free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 +1 almost as good as the waitomo caves and free! didnt pay for the caves when i went there as i have family in king country with local iwi friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 the marokopa land bridge and falls is awesome too just a bit further along the road from waitomo Yeah these are beautiful and totally free and not generally full of tourists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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