A friend recently visited from Japan and we spent several days exploring the central North Island from a base in Rotorua before flying up to Auckland for another couple of days. It seemed to take huge planning for a fairly short trip – New Zealand has changed so much in the 25 years since I last lived here – and I wanted to share a few insights that might benefit fellow travelers.
After arriving at Rotorua airport, we rented a small hatchback from Europcar. There are several companies and we chose Europcar based on price despite not being familiar with it. Happily, the service representative was really flexible and everything turned out well. We also made a good decision to pay a bit extra for a removable car navigation system. It wasn’t exactly cutting-edge AI but it saved us repeatedly.
Our hotel was the Sudima Lake Rotorua. We were quite satisfied but it was a balance of pros and cons. On the positive side were the really friendly staff, good location and general quietness. On the needs work side were the room’s pretty beat up carpet and bathtub and the hike to the front area. The selection may have reflected the large discount we received by reserving through Booking.com.
Central sightseeing stuff
Our main tourist thing in Rotorua was a visit to the Te Puia geothermal attraction. We opted to forego the tour, due to language issues for my friend (prerecorded audio guides, please), but note that the entry fee is the same either way. The volcanic lakes, mud pools and Pohutu geyser were impressive but the kiwi house was less so due to the small, crowded space. Rainbow Springs might be better for kiwis.
We also made one day trip to see Waitomo Caves. They were really memorable and well worth the long drive, and often confusing road signage. Our other day trip was to Lake Taupo. We had wanted to take the Huka Falls cruise there but somehow managed to time it while the boats were out of the water for their three yearly maintenance check (seriously). Unfortunately, there was no information on their Website.
Instead, we drove out to see Huka Falls from the bridge. They are only about 10 minutes north of Taupo. The falls are more of a long cascade and the massive volume of water traps a lot of air bubbles, creating a beautiful blue, green color. We also took the Ernest Kemp lake cruise out to the Maori carvings (photo at the top of the page). It was really enjoyable, even without the complimentary wine. The Great Lake Walkway was also nice for a stroll.
Auckland and Waiheke
In Auckland, we stayed at the Grand Millennium, a full-fledged four star hotel with all the trimmings. Usually I wouldn’t have the budget for this kind of place but again we received a significant discount by reserving through Booking.com. That didn’t extend to the mini-bar though – $9 for a small bottle of very average beer. But what are you going to do when it’s late and you’re thirsty?
Our main activity in Auckland was a trip out to Waiheke Island, which can be reached in about 40 minutes by Fullers Ferry. Waiheke has several walkways and beaches and is great for soaking up a little nature. We had planned to rent bikes in the early afternoon and slowly pedal to the far side of the island but were amazed to find both cycle shops were already closed. Ok, lesson learned: ring in advance in NZ.
Fortunately Waiheke has an excellent bus service. Our last thing for the day was a visit to the Mudbrick Winery on the top of a large hill. When we mentioned this to our super-helpful driver, he took a detour so we could reach the top in time to see the sunset. Thank you! At Mudbrick, we had some great red wine, cheese, olives, bread and other snacks before walking back to the ferry under a starry sky. Nice.
Please note:
All information above is provided purely for your convenience. I have no connection with these businesses and your experience with them may be completely different.
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