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Auckland, New Zealand
Done
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Paihia, New Zealand
- Bay of Islands Hole in the Rock Cruise — full day (~5 hrs on the water). Book via Fullers GreatSights or similar. Passes through 144 islands, Cape Brett lighthouse, the Hole in the Rock arch. Dolphins frequent. Do this on Day 1 or 2 for weather flexibility.
- Cape Reinga Day Trip — full day, ~10 hrs. Take an organised tour — do not self-drive as Ninety Mile Beach (which the tour goes along) is excluded from all rental car insurance. The tour handles logistics, stops at Te Paki Sand Dunes (sandboarding), and reaches the cape where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific. Genuinely dramatic headland.
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds — 1–2 hrs, morning of departure day. Historically the most significant site in New Zealand — where the nation was founded. Good Māori cultural context before the rest of the trip.
- Worth Knowing
Paihia is small and relaxed. The Bay of Islands itself is the attraction, not the town
Cape Reinga tour is a long day — do it when you have full energy
April is shoulder season, weather is generally good but bring a layer for the boat
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Auckland, New Zealand
Intercity bus going Paihia > Auckland
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Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
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Hobbiton Road, New Zealand
- Hobbiton Day Tour from Rotorua — pre-booked, organised coach departs Rotorua. The movie set is immaculate and unexpectedly impressive even if you're not a LOTR devotee. ~5 hrs including transport. Do on Wed 01 Apr.
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Rotorua, New Zealand
- Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (~45 min south by taxi/tour) — the most visually spectacular geothermal park in NZ. Champagne Pool, acid-bright terraces, sulphur lakes. Lady Knox Geyser erupts at 10:15am daily — time your arrival. Allow 2 hrs.
- Te Puia — combines geothermal features (Pohutu Geyser erupts regularly) with the NZ Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Watch master carvers and weavers at work. 2–3 hrs.
- Tamaki Māori Village (evening, pre-booked) — best of the evening cultural shows. Hangi feast and full cultural performance. ~3 hrs. Book ahead, fills up fast.
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Taupō, New Zealand
- Huka Falls — 10 min walk from car park, extraordinary volume of turquoise water forced through a narrow gorge. Free. Do this on arrival afternoon (~30 mins total)
- Craters of the Moon — free geothermal walkway, more raw and lunar than Wai-O-Tapu. 45 min loop. Do next morning before the bus.
Worth Knowing
- Taupō town has good coffee for a small place. Lakefront walk worth 30 mins
- The lake is the size of Singapore — a collapsed supervolcano
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Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand
Waterproof jacket
warm mid-layer (fleece or down)
waterproof trousers
sturdy hiking boots (not trail runners — scree sections need ankle support), 2.5–3L water
high-calorie food
sun protection
gloves and hat for the ridge, headtorch just in case.
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Wellington, New Zealand
- Te Papa Museum — NZ's national museum, free entry, world class. Budget 3 hrs minimum. The Māori collection (Te Ara Poutama) and natural history galleries are exceptional. Don't rush this.
- Weta Workshop Unleashed — interactive film industry experience (LOTR, Planet of the Apes, Avatar). ~2 hrs. Must book ahead. Best for a rainy afternoon.
- Mount Victoria Lookout — walk up (30 min from the CBD) or taxi. Best city views and a LOTR filming location (Frodo hiding from the Ringwraith).
- Cuba Street — the city's arts and food spine. Good for dinner, drinks, and wandering.
- Courtenay Place — Wellington's best restaurant concentration. Best food scene per capita in NZ.
- Oriental Parade — flat waterfront walk from Te Papa, good morning option.
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Picton, New Zealand
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Nelson, New Zealand
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Motueka, New Zealand
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Nelson, New Zealand
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Lake Matheson, New Zealand
If no car, we need to determine how we do this - might be a tour ran from FJ
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Franz Josef, New Zealand
Helicopter to top of glazier, alex knob hike, FJ glaicier hike, glow-worms in old mineshaft
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Wānaka, New Zealand
Roy's peak, Wanaka tree, climbing, coffee, car rental, op shop shopping
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Queenstown, New Zealand
Earnslow burn hike (paradise town LOTR locations ernslow burn, hike, luges, Fergburger, canyon swing
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Milford Sound, New Zealand
Milford Sound Day trip from Queenstown
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Queenstown, New Zealand
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Mount Cook, New Zealand
Drive to mt cook in rental car, hooker valley track, tasman lake
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
stargazing, church of the good shepeard, Mt. john summit walk, bard, rent car
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Return car, grab bus to christchurch
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Timaru, New Zealand
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Christchurch, New Zealand