full itinerary about my road trip around the north island

from 26/12 to 31/12

Northland

·         Mangawhai Clifftop Walk Mangawhai Beach, Mangawhai, Kaipara District, Northland. The walk starts around 3/4 of the way down Mangawhai Beach itself.  If you are standing in the car park, head left basically.  It'll take around 15 minutes (or so) to reach the DOC track.

·         Pataua South Road, Pataua, Whangarei, Northland. You'll find Pataua South Road off Whangarei Heads Road, and the car park is down Mahanga Road. 

·         Piroa Falls - Waipu Gorge Scenic Reserve

Waipu Gorge Road, Waipu, Whangarei, Northland. As part of the Waipu Gorge Scenic Reserve, you’ll find this signposted on State Highway 1 by the Brynderwyns. Head up the Waipu Gorge Road until you reach the carpark (about 7km up).

·         Mimiwhangata Coastal Farm Park Mimiwhangata Road, Whananaki, Whangarei, Northland To get there, the Mimiwhangata Road is after the Ngahau Bay turn-off.  You'll find parking at the end of the road (behind Okupe Beach by the toilets).  You'll then need to walk around 200 metres to the Mimiwhangata Beach from there (allow ten minutes as it's over a small hill) and it's signposted.

·         AH Reed Memorial Kauri Park Whareora Road, Whangarei, Northland

·          Hundertwasser Art - Toilets / Museum Gillies Street, Kawakawa Far North, Northland

·         Russell?

·         Mission Station - Kerikeri Stone Store 246 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri, Far North, Northland

·         Discoverers Garden Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri, Far North, Northland

·         Matauri Bay Road, Matauri Bay, Far North, Northland

·         Ninety Mile Beach Kaka Street, Ahipara, Far North, Northland

·         Cape Reinga - Walks

·         Koutu Boulders Waione Road, Koutu, Far North, Northland. Head approximately 6kms towards Kaikohe from Opononi. The Koutu Loop Road will be on your left, follow this around and where the seal ends it’s another km further to take you to Waione Road. Approximately 100 metres further (past the macrocarpa trees on the corner) park on the left by the old cattle yards. You can access the beach from here.

·         Kai Iwi Lakes Domain Road, off Kai Iwi Lakes Road, Kaipara District, Northland. Park near Kai Iwi Lake at the track marker, near the Kai Iwi Lakes Road/Domain Road

·         Waipoua Forest - Tane Mahuta .State Highway 12, Donnellys Crossing, Far North, Northland. Signposted, off State Highway 12

·         Pouto Lighthouse - Pouto Point Pouto Road, Pouto, Kaipara District, Northland . Getting to Pouto Point | Drive to the end of Pouto Road until you reach the beach

From 01/01 to 13/01

Coromandel

·         New Chums Beach, Whangapoua, Eastern Beaches, Coromandel Peninsula. Drive to Whangapoua Beach, then get walking!

·         Opito Bay - Opito Point Pa Opito Bay Road, Opito Bay, Eastern Beaches, Coromandel Peninsula

·         Hot Water Beach Road, Hot Water Beach, Mercury Bay, Coromandel Peninsula

·         Cathedral Cove Grange Road, Hahei, Mercury Bay, Coromandel Peninsula

·         Orokawa Bay, Waihi, Coromandel Peninsula

·         Marthas Gold Mine – Waihi Within walking distance from the township

·         Karangahake Gorge State Highway 2, Waikino, Waihi, Coromandel PeninsulA. The car park is clearly signposted off State Highway 2.

Bay of Plenty        

·         Haiku Pathway - Main Road, Katikati, Bay of Plenty The Haiku Pathway walk begins just by the bridge as you enter Katikati or from the park walkway beside Robert Harris on the main street. 

·         Mt Maunganui Hot Saltwater Pools Adams Ave, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga-Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty

·         Kohi Point Walk Whakatane to Ohope, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty You can access the Kohi Point Track from either Ohope Beach, or Whakatane.

·         Otarawairere Bay Otarawairere Road, Ohope, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, Via car, head along to Otarawairere Road and walk around 30 minutes down the trail, from the car park to the beach

·         Tarawera Falls River Road, Kawerau, Bay of Plenty Head to River Road then over the Waterhouse Street bridge and onto the forest itself. Turn right at the intersection onto Tarawera Road.  It will take a good 30 minutes to drive to the forest on a dirt track to the entrance to the Falls. The forest roads will firstly signpost the turn off to the Tawarewa Lake (another walk), but for the Falls continue on until you reach the car park.

·         Zorb Rotorua Cnr Western Rd & State Highway 5, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

·         Kerosine Creek Old Waiotapu Road, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty Approximately 30km south of Rotorua (just south of Lake Rotowhero) and head down Old Waiotapu Road).  2.2km along the forestry road, stop on the side of the road and you'll see a path heading downstream

·         2. Enjoy the Hot Thermal Springs in Rotorua “In Rotorua all you can do here is eat, sleep, and spa,” our waiter told us one evening. Indeed, when you visit Rotorua, the thermal experience is everywhere.  It steams up from the pavements; there are geysers fields,  mud pools, fumaroles and hot springs.This thermal activity makes itself known in every corner of the city, and is the reason for the area’s famed sulphur scent.  And one of the best thermal experiences you can have is at the world renowned Polynesian Spa, voted as a world top 10 spa

·         6. The Burried Village in Rotorua The explosion of Mt Terewaka over a century ago burried the whole village, including what was considered a natural wonder of the world, the pink and white terraces.And before the recent earthquake in Christchurch earlier this year, it was New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster

·         Waiotapu Stream - FREE Hot Springs, Hot Pools State Highway 5 (between Rotorua and Taupo), Rotorua, Bay of Plenty South of Rotorua (about 40 km) you'll find the signs for the Waiotapu Loop Road.  Depending on which entrance you take, keep driving (past the Waiotapu Thermal Park if necessary) and stop at the small bridge.  Head down the banks and you've reached the secret spot that is often spoken about, but not often visited

Central Plateau

·         Aratiatia Rapids - Aratiatia Dam Aratiatia Road, Taupo, Central Plateau You’ll find the Aratiatia Dam off State Highway 5.  Once on Aratiatia Road itself, you'll find it by the bridge around 5kms further down the road. 

·         Spa Park - Huka Falls Walkway Spa Road (or alternatively Huka Falls Road), Taupo,

·         Taupo Bungy 202 Spa Road, Taupo, Central Plateau

·         Taupo Great Lake Walkway Lake Terrace, Taupo, Central Plateau Can be walked in either direction at the city end of Lake Terrace (from the harbour entrance) or Wharewaka Street out by Taupo Airport.

Taranaki

·         Mokau Beach Mokau, Northern Taranaki, Taranaki

·         Pukerangiora Scenic Reserve - Where Ghosts Walk Waitara Road, Waitara, Northern Taranaki

·         Take Waitara Road off the main road to Waitara itself (from New Plymouth).  You'll find the reserve signposted, close to the banks of the Waitara River.

·         Mount Egmont - Northern Slopes Egmont Village Egmont Road, Rahiri, New Plymouth, Taranaki You will find the turn off to the northern slopes signposted on Junction Road (not far from New Plymouth in the Egmont Village).  16kms along this road you'll find the DOC information centre, right on the mountain

·         The Forgotten World Highway State Highway 43 (East Road), Stratford to Taurmarunui, Stratford, Taranaki Drive from Stratford to Taumarunui along the Forgotten World Highway.  This is a glorious stretch along State Highway 43 with bush clad hills, tucked away townships and oozing with history and personality.This is easily considered a day trip as the 155 km SH 43 Highway weaves through sub-tropical rainforests and more than 30 noted sites of significant interest. It will take about 3 hours to drive or more (we recommend more so you can stop off and explore along the way).  You'll head over mountain saddles, past farmland, forest and native bush, the one-way tunnel and along a river gorge.  Pretty awesome viewing.Stop by and say hello to the locals at the Whangamomona Pub (a coal mining town from yesteryear) and see the remains of the old flour mill and river boat landings. They are a friendly bunch.  Or, get adventurous and trek The Bridge to Somewhere trail.At Stratford and Taumarunui, the official "Forgotten Highway" is marked with a large display board and there's teal/yellow signs dotted along the way showing points of significance.  In Stratford, the Highway starts from the roundabout (Broadway and Regan Street corner). You can access Mt Damper Falls from this route too.

·         The Glockenspeil Broadway Road, Stratford, Taranaki On Stratford's main Broadway Road, see a "live" automated puppet performance in the clock tower.  Showing several times day as the Glockenspeil clock strikes 10am, 1pm and 3pm (and sometimes 7pm too), the shutter doors open to reveal Romeo and Juliet.

·         Dawson Falls Manaia Road, Stratford, Taranaki

·         Hollard Gardens 1686 Upper Manaia Rd, Kaponga, Stratford, Taranaki

Manawatu-Wanganui

·         Te Apiti Windfarm - Wind Turbines Saddle Road, Ashhurst, Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui

·         Foxton Beach - Manuwatu Estuary Holben Parade, Foxton Beach, Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui

Wellington

Wairarapa

·         Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve Cape Palliser Road, Martinborough, Wairarapa Drive 13 km along Whangaimoana Road from the Lake Ferry turn-off (about an hours drive from Martinborough).

·         Castlepoint Scenic Reserve Masterton Castlepoint Road, Masterton, Wairarapa

Hawkes Bay

·         Ocean Beach - Hawkes Bay Ocean Beach Road, Hastings, Hawkes Bay

·         Ocean Havelock Ocean Beach Rd, 4294, Nuova Zelanda

·         Napier

East Coast

·         Rere Falls - Rere Rock Slide Wharekopae Road, Gisborne, East Coast On Wharekopae Road, around 50 minutes drive from Gisborne (and around 10 minutes past the Eastwoodhill Arboretum

·         Tolaga Bay Tolaga Bay Wharf at sunset. At 660 metres long, this claims to be the longest wharf in the Southern Hemisphere.

·         Cooks Cove

·         East Cape Lighthouse E Cape Rd, East Cape 4087, Nuova Zelanda SUNRISE!!!

·         Papatea Bay

Waikato

·         Te Waihou Walkway - Blue Springs Whites Road, Putaruru, South Waikato, Waikato The walkway starts from Whites Road (although there is another access upstream from Leslie Road, which would be better if you are hauling a kayak with you and much faster by foot)!  On Leslie Road, the carpark is at the bottom of the hill on the right.

·         Ruakuri Caves - Waitomo Caves, Natural Tunnel Tumutumu Road, Waitomo, South Waikato, Waikato The Ruakuri Caves are part of the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve (more than 100 hectares of DOC land) and you’ll find the entrance about 4 km from Waitomo Village, sign posted at the roundabout.

·         Marokopa Falls Te Anga Road, Piripiri, South Waikato, Waikato These falls are just a few minutes drive along Te Anga Road (which is quite some 25kms from Waitomo), so best to make the most of your visit and explore them all: Piripiri Caves and the Mangapohue Natural Bridge

·         Mangapohue Natural Bridge Te Anga Road, Piripiri, South Waikato, Waikato

·         Ocean Beach - Kawhia Ocean Beach Road, Kawhia, South Waikato, Waikato Follow Ocean Beach Road through regenerated forest to the coast

·         Bridal Veil Falls - Waireinga Waterfall Kawhia Road, Raglan, Waikato Head past Te Mata then turn left on to Kawhia Road (it's a no exit road). Keep going and you will see the Bridal Veil Falls carpark.

·         raglan beaches:

·         Manu Bay 8km west from Raglan town lies the world-famous surf break Manu Bay. The long, peeling left-hand break, said to offer one of the longest rides in the world, featured in the 1966 surfing film Endless Summer. Ride the waves or grab a grandstand view of the action.

·         Te Kopua Beach Cross the footbridge from town to this popular family spot. Swim in the calm waters of the estuary or indulge in Raglan’s most famous summer pastime — taking a leap from the footbridge.

·         Ngarunui (Ocean) Beach Located 5km west of town this wide expanse of black sand beach lends itself to lazy beach walks and picnics in the sand. It’s also a popular spot for surfing, bodyboarding and swimming. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards during high season. Access from Wainui Road or Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive.

·         Whale Bay Just a little further on from Manu Bay sit the challenging breaks of Whale Bay and Indicators. Not recommended for beginners or the faint hearted. If surfing’s not your thing take a walk along the rocks and enjoy the picturesque scenery. Bring a picnic and watch the spectacular sunsets.

·         Hamilton

·         Back to auckland!!!!!! 13 evening or 14late morning