Holidays in New Zealand - Self Drive Tour of North Island

First night stop is Whangarei staying at the three star rated Cherry Court Hotel - self contained studios or one or two bedroomed apartments. Swimming pool and spa, breakfast room and licensed restaurant across the road.

Day 6: head due west to the other side of the island to pick up Route 12 that runs through the sub tropical rain forest of Waipoua and admire the giant Kauri Trees that still remain rising to over 70 feet tall and once used as ships masts. A must see stop is at the Kauri Museum at Matakohe - allow at least 4 hours - a fascinating outdoor and indoor museum of the original Pioneers that settled here and the local industries that grew here only to die because of the loss of the Kauri forests being depleted so quickly. Your night stopover is in a typical hotel, the Salty Dog Inn in the pleasant town of Warkworth, a riverside town on the Kowhai coast about 75 miles south-east.

Pauanui:

Day 7 & 8: head south now past Auckland and on to Coromandel Peninsular – this was a gold rush area – now, tourism is the business. Coromandel town is small and cute and there are the gorgeous beaches of Little Beach and Kennedy Bay - slow going on rough roads but worth the effort - you need a two night stay at Pauanui staying at the Pines Motor Lodge or the up market Hotel Mercure Grand Puka Park resort staying in chalets within 25 acres of native bush - supplement is £36 per room per night. Don’t forget to visit the Hot Springs beach just a few miles north you can hire a shovel and dig your own hot bath in the sand!!

Rotorua:

Day 9: Past the Bay of Plenty - call into the gold-rush town of Waihi before getting to Tauranga and then head for Rotorua - for its volcanic activity and geysers.The town is located on Lake Rotorua, once a vast volcano crater. This is a very touristy town and the smell of bad eggs from the constant popping mud springs can take some getting used to. We think the visit should be kept to a one night stay to take in the Maori Culture villages - the best one, in our opinion, is the Maori owned and managed rather than the more slick version run by the city. Your stay is at the lakeside Plaza Hotel - attractions are heated pool, spas, restaurant and several bars.

Napier:

Day 10: South past Lake Taupe - fancy some Fly-fishing? Then on to Napier, a lovely little beachside town and in the centre of Hawke Bay vineyards. Napier is known for its Art Deco buildings but take lunch at one of the famous Vineyards in the area.

Stay two nights at the Blue Water Hotel facing the ocean OR a friendly quiet Motel, the Fountain Court, which has a small pool and high quality one bedroomed apartments.

Wellington:

Day 12: Just a drive of 179 miles via the historic Danish settlement of Dannevirke to Wellington the country’s capital city which has a new acclaimed History and folklore museum on the harbour front and there are a host of things to see and do.

From here you take the ferry to South Island or fly back home. If you wish to stay in the city - you do need to book in advance for most of the better quality hotels such as the West Plaza Hotel in the centre of the city.