Any suggestions for where to stay for one night travelling from Wellington to Auckland, and suggestions of things to see there for a few hours?
Any suggestions for where to stay for one night travelling from Wellington to Auckland, and suggestions of things to see there for a few hours?
Hmmm, probably the National Park (go up Ruapehu on the chairlift) or Taupo are about half way. Both places are full of great things to do. My favourite in Taupo is to go up to the end of Spa Road and park and then walk along the footpath that starts by the hotel which ends at a hot stream as it joins the Waikato. There are usually people sitting in the hot water at all times of year. It's ace.
Got to be Taupo, loads to do, or just sit in a hot tub and relax.
If you stop at Taupo, then the huka falls are worth visiting, but unless you want to walk around there only takes about 15mins (you could ride on the huka jets if you want to try a speedboat?).
Near there is also "Craters of the Moon" which might be worth a visit if you want to see some thermal attractions.
Been told that the "prawn fishing" is good as well, haven't tried it yet though?
The drive from Taupo down to the desert road is really scenic as well.
Ian
Are any of these walks do-able with a pushchair. ...Taupo area all sounds fab, but we'll have to give the hot tub bit a miss as can't take 3 tiny tots in with us unfortunately...will have to save that one until they are much older
We did the same journey when our boys were 7 and 10yrs. As neither are patient or good travellers we needed to stop for a while in the middle of each section.
We made it from Auckland to Rotorua in one go. Stopped for a ride on the luge but with little ones you could visit the farm show opposite the chairlift and have snack or lunch.
Then we headed of to Napier via Taupo. Quick stop in Taupo for yet more food...growing boys ! - and the best views ever
It was along journey with plenty of 'how much further' but not too bad. They managed to snooze abit too.
Napier to Wellington felt further. We stopped at a wildlife sanctuary somewhere around Masterton I think?
We have done the journey down the west side too but that took even longer.
Hope that is useful, I'm sooooo envious
Going from Taupo to Napier is a great scenic drive, but is longer than going from Taupo to Wellington via the Desert road and the scenery this way is pretty good to
And agree that going west is also a longer route.
If you are interested, Taupo to Wellington via the Desert Road takes us approx 4.5-5 hours if you don't stop on the way.
Ian
Possibly Mount Bruce, just before Masterton (http://www.mtbruce.org.nz)?
Broke up the journey from Napier to Wellington for us too. But it did seem a long way and I wish we'd done the Desert Road instead... but it was winter and we were feeling wimpy!
You're right Debbie P. just checked web site and that was the place.
It was winter for us too and although the Desert Road looked amazing with the snow falling we were glad the police were doing regular patrols just in case....
So yup next time we wimped out too