3 days in NZ? What should we do?

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Driver T

Hells Bells! - 3 days - you'll have time to do almost nothing.
However, let me try to be helpful
Accommodation is easy, only one place to stay at in Rotorua that caters for people such as yourself, and that is Best Inn, at 1068 Whakaue Street, Rotorua, phone or fax 0064 7 437 9769. (It's owned by Rotorua's longest-serving tour coach driver and his wife, so they really know what's going on and can be of enormous help to you. )There is cheaper accommodation, and there's more expensive, but this place is the best value for money.

As another suggested, Tamaki Tours is good (say Hi to Mike and/or Win, and tell them Pahau sent you), but a smaller, more intimate version of the same that's just as good, but in a superior setting is Rotoiti Tours (not a tour but a cultural experience). Say Hi again and say Pahau sent you.

The thermal activity in this area is world famous, but you have something the same at various locations through the States. Here it is compacted into a reasonably small area.
The better places are Waiotapu, Orakei Korako, Waimangu and the Buried Village.
Other sights: Mokoia Island, Redwood Memorial Grove, Paradise Valley, the Agrodome and Rainbow Springs. (Rainbow Farm is a copy of the Agrodome - I suggest the Agrodome over the Farm.)
Trip to avoid; Mount Tarawera in a 4x4. (Not value for money.) However if you get the opportunity to fly over it, go for it.
If you can afford it, extend your flight by helicopter to White Island and visit the throat of an active volcano. Ian and Etsuko at Best Inn can arrange this for you.
A Farm and Forestry tour used to operate, but the owner moved out of town, and I can't say if another has started up.

Either on the way down from Auckland or on the way back, take the coach that goes to Waitomo Limestone Caves. The RO/AK trip is normally about 3 hours, but going via Waitomo makes it an all day trip. (I find these caves not as good as Waiomio, in Northland, but you won't have time to see these.)

Don't try it by rental car. You'll get so stressed in the different driving patterns that you won't see anything and you'll end up each day physically and mentally exhausted. Besides, the coach drivers will tell you all about what you are looking at as you go through the country. (If they don't, tell them that they must - for your benefit - after all, you've paid them for this service.)
Rotorua is easily searched on Google, try it, you may come up with some good ideas.

emmybob3

Definitely go to Rotorua if you have time. i think it's about 4 hours south of auckland. go on a harbour cruise around auckland (through fuller's ferries http://www.fullers.co.nz/) and definitely go to waiheke island for at least the day. there's lots of vineyards and wineries there and absolutely stunning scenery.

enjoy nz!

Aunty Doreen

Rotorua is awesome!!! Lots to do here. Lots of places to stay.

The Millenium Hotel is about $159 per room per night including a full cooked breakfast. Its really nice and central with a big indoor heated pool. We always stay here as we know we will get a good room and great service.

You could rent a car and do all the tourist attractions like:
- Whakarewarewa Thermal Park
- The Maori Village
- Skyline Gondola's
- The Luge - little carts that zoom down the mountain on concrete tracks - lots of fun.
- Shop till you drop.
- Great cafes.
- A boat trip to Mokoia Island
- Museums & art galleries.

It takes about 3-4 hours to drive from Auckland to Rotorua, so maybe a connecting flight might be quicker.

Enjoy your stay in NZ.

Unefemme

For Rotorua, there is a wide variety of activities for you to choose from, it depends on what your personal preferences are.

There is the famous Agrodome, which is a "Sheep and Farm Show", and i quote, "world-class agricultural theme park with all the adventure activities".
You can also do bunjy jumping if you're into extreme outdoor stuff. Or, if you don't want such intense activities, there are tours where they take you to see the geysers, mud pools etc of Rotorua.

To end the day, there are lots of nice restaurants, some of which even provide entertainment, usually in the form of a Maori dance.
Happy travels! :)

lilrockstah

Rotoruas a great place to stay for both fun and accomadation. Although you say you don't want the too adventurous stuff, some of Rotoruas attractions aren't that "hard out". You can do plenty of things on water: Kayaking, jet ski, sailing, fishing, waterski, Zorbing and of course the thing it's known for: the rotten-egg-smelling bubbling mud!!
A great site to go on is www.rotoruanz.com , it tells you the attractions, accomadation and all round "Rotorua stuff".
Good Luck

Must goto S.Island specially Queenstown and Fiordland area. Australia was a waste of time sry.

czzchen

Auckland is huge, try rent a car first at the airport. there are many rental companies, cheaper one you can find a board of list near the Vistor's information desk just in the arrival terminal. same way to get yourself an accommodation. don't know what you mean by B&B exactly, B&B in New Zealand is normally quite expensive.

I would recommend you to drive to Rotorua, only 3 1/2 hours away from auckland, depends on the traffic. well, many aucklanders do go there for a one day trip. then, spend a night in the skycity casino, where you may find a lot of fun. you don't have to gamble there, but just go and take a look the best casino in New Zealand.

you may try to just get around in Auckland, places like new market, a shopping street with heaps of international gourmet.

try not to stay in Northshore, where is way to far from the airport and city centre, and trouble getting around.

3 days in New Zealand, if you don't mind taking a flight to the south island, like Chirstchurch then to queenstown, which I would recommend, and you may also flight out back to Australia, you may find more fun in South.

or try to join some 3 day tours.

here is a website you may browse around and plan your trip

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/driving-routes/auckland/

not much to do in New Zealand, but the best is get around and enjoy the beautiful nature of Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud. enjoy!

Teff

Rotorua would have to be your best port of call if you are only here for two days, however if you like it you should come back again for a big stint there are lots of fun things to do!!

Check out Tamaki Tours in christchurch, they do a wonderful Maori cuture show: http://www.maoriculture.co.nz/Maori%20Village/Home

Look when you get to Rotorua it is really a tourist town, there are heaps of things to do, there are information desks everywhere and not everything has to be paid for, although because it is a touristy town most things are overpriced a bit lol.

But yeah check out the information bureau, and make sure you go to Tamaki tours!! Its great!! and then Email me and tell me what you thought lol, I like to hear success stories lol:

teff@tyc.co.nz

golden holden

There are lots of wildlife parks in Rotorua (trout springs) there is a thermal wonderland (Whakarewarewa) that is awesome to go and look at...there are also heaps of B and B places down there...enjoy your stay..

yankidee_1

Try sex

sweneysteve

Go to Australia instead, better place to visit by far. The roads here in NZ suck and that's being kind. Service of any kind does not exist. Everything here is way over priced and of low quality. I have to live here since I am on contract from the USA, other than the beaches and scenery there isn't any reason to visit., you can see any beach and mountains in the US are better.

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