Road Trip Plans!
Hello blog!
I just wanted to give an update on what I’ll be doing with my remaining time here in new Zealand and I’v decided to go on a road trip! Since I’ve been living in the south island all this time, I thought it’d be a shame to completely skip out on all of the cool things to see and do in the north. Therefore, my good friend Lauren and I will be traveling around the north island during our last week here in New Zealand. The itinerary is as follows…
Day 1 (Nov 3): 3 hours driving
Arrive in Auckland at 10:50am
Pick up campervan
15 Jimmy Ward Crescent, Auckland Airport
Call them to pick us up: +64 9 256 9441
Drop off a bag of luggage at Alex’s dorm and say hi
Depart Auckland at 12:00pm
Drive to Bay of Islands (3 hr 4 min)
Arrive at 3:04pm
Ideas: http://www.baybeachhire.co.nz/pdfs/bbh_pricelist_aug2019.pdf
Kayaking or stand up paddle boarding independently
Spend the night at Bay of Islands (campsites about 20 mins away)
Te Corner campsite, 5 spots
Te Ponga Park, Okaihau, 5 spots
Lindvart Park, 6-10 spots
6 Pagoda Lodge and Camping North, $15-18, Kitchen, Laundry, Showers, Toilets, BBQ and Internet facilities
Showers
Paihia public shower on the beach
Day 2 (Nov 4): 5.5 hours of driving
Depart Bay of Islands at 7:00am
Drive to Hahei (5 hr 19 min)
Arrive at 12:20pm
Vegetarian festival: Landlyst Road, Golden Valley, 10 am- 4 pm, it's free entry!
Cathedral Cove
Coastal walk: easy 1 hr 30 min walking track
Hot Water Beach
Visit between 4:45 and 8:45 pm (low tide is at 6:45 PM)
Free showers at Hot Water Beach (but apparently soap is prohibited)
Sleep in Hahei
Free campervan campsite at Beachfront Reserves, Cooks Beach
Free campervan campsite: Flaxmill Bay Ferry Landing
Day 3 (Nov 5): 3.5 hours of driving
Depart Hahei at 10:00am
Drive to Karangahake Gorge (1 hr 30 min)
Arrive at 11:30am
Short walks
Depart at 1:30pm at the latest
Drive to Hobbiton (1 hr 3 min)
Arrive at 2:30pm
Hobbiton tour at 2:40 PM (booked under Lauren’s name)
Depart at 4:45pm
Drive to Rotorua (1 hour)
Arrive at 5:45pm
Free geothermal hot pools!!
Sleep in Rotorua
Camp at Government Gardens Thermal Area: free overnight camping, no toilet, no showers (spots fill up fast so we have to get there early, 15 spots)
Camp at Lakefront Carpark for overnight free camping: no toilet, no showers, 3 spots
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools campsite: kitchen, toilet, showers, $16-18 to stay
Can shower at Rotorua aquatic center for $3 (must wear bathing suit)
Day 4 (Nov 6): 1.75 hours of driving
Spend the day in Rotorua
Ideas: https://www.backpackerguide.nz/rotorua-guide-for-backpackers/
Visit the Buried Village
More hot pools!
Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park (do this)
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Maori Village
Hike Redwood Forest (and this)
https://redwoods.co.nz/walk/long-walks/ and shorter walks and lake walks
Depart Rotorua at 7:00pm
Drive to Tongariro National Park (1 hr 43 min)
Arrive at 8:45 pm
Can sleep in lots of places near/ in national park for free
Or pay $10-18 to park at Whakapapa Motor camp, toilets, BBQ, showers, $10-18
Showers
Showers and potable water at Tokaanu Marina PDS at South end of Lake Taupo
Hot shower at Genesis aquatic center 8:30 AM - 6 PM, near lake taupo
Hot shower + towel + sauna access at Skotel Hotel near Whakapapa motor camp for $10
Day 5 (Nov 7): 3.5 hours of driving
Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19.4 km round trip; 7-8 hr round trip)
9 AM shuttle, shuttle returning all afternoon 1.30-2.30-3.30-4.30-5.30pm
Drive to Taranaki around 4-5 PM (takes 3.5 hours to get there)
Arrive at Taranaki between 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM
Sleep at Taranaki
Dawson Falls Carpark
Stratford Plateau Carpark
Potaema Carpark
North Egmont Carpark
Showers in Taranaki
Stratford Swimming club, $3 to shower, closes at 7:30 PM
Todd Energy aquatic center, $5.50 to swim and shower
Beach cold showers in New Plymouth
Day 6 (Nov 8): 5.5 hours of driving
Explore Taranaki
Leave for Hawke’s Bay at 4 PM (takes 5.5 hours to get there)
Arrive at Hawke’s Bay at 9:30 PM
Sleep at Hawke’s Bay
Perfume Point Carpark, 5 spots
Westshore Beach reserve carpark, 5 spots
Foreshore reserve carpark, 6-10 spots
Bay View Snapper Holiday Park, $15-20, toilets, showers, laundry, BBQ
Eskdale Holiday Park, $7-14, kitchen, toilet, showers, BBQ, laundry
Shower at Ocean Spa for $3.50 or Napier Hot Shower for $3 (near information site)
Day 7 (Nov 9): no driving
Explore Hawke’s Bay and Napier
Cape Kidnappers
Te Mata Peak
The Longest Place Name in the World
Marine Parade: 3 km long boardwalk
Sleep at Hawke’s Bay
Perfume Point Carpark, 5 spots
Westshore Beach reserve carpark, 5 spots
Foreshore reserve carpark, 6-10 spots
Bay View Snapper Holiday Park, $15-20, toilets, showers, laundry, BBQ
Eskdale Holiday Park, $7-14, kitchen, toilet, showers, BBQ, laundry
Shower at Ocean Spa for $3.50 or Napier Hot Shower for $3 (near information site)
Day 8 (Nov 10): 5 hours of driving
Leave Hawke’s Bay between 10 AM-12 PM (takes 5 hours to get to Auckland)
Arrive in Auckland between 3 PM and 5 PM
Lauren needs to be at Auckland airport around 4:30 PM for flight at 7:30 PM
Day 9 (Nov 11) - Just Annie
Day trip ideas:
Waitomo Caves
Great Barrier Island
Piha, Karekare Rainforest
Drop off campervan at 5 PM
15 Jimmy Ward Crescent, Auckland Airport, PH: +64 9 256 9441
Day 10 (Nov 12) - Just Annie
Depart New Zealand at 7:45pm
