Exploring the Eastern bays and beaches of the North Island is one of the less travelled tourist routes, but no less beautiful. We have a suggested 11 day itinerary to ensure you see the best parts of this lovely part of New Zealand – the first part of the country – and the world, to see the light of each new day.
- Exploring an active marine volcano – White Island
- Awesome pancakes just outside Waihi
- Landyachting thrills and spills at Blokart Heaven
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
Day 1-3 Depart Auckland heading south on SH 1, then turn onto SH2 at Pokeno, heading for the mining town of Waihi, at the very southern end of Coromandel Peninsula. Waihi is your entry point to the Bay of Plenty, and you can spend your first night at the 5 star Waihi Beach TOP 10 Holiday Resort. Since there are many activities and attractions in the Waihi area, you may want to spend more than one night here. Take a Martha Gold Mine Tour or visit the Waihi Gold Mining Museum to get a taste of the local history, or go on the Goldfields Train Ride between Waihi and Waikino. If you love pancakes, don’t miss the Flip ’n Beach Café and Pancake Den on SH 2.
Day 4-5 When you have had your fill of exploring the Waihi area, take yourself around the Bay to the region’s centre, Tauranga and check in at Papamoa Beach TOP 10. In the vicinity of Tauranga are plenty of activities and places to visit, including the Spring Loaded Fun Park at Te Puke. Jet boat action on the Kaituna River, helicopter rides along the coastline or a guided kiwifruit farm tour. More great options in the region include spending at day at Mount Maunganui, locally known as “the Mount”, enjoying on the water fun at Waimarino Adventure Park – New Zealand’s only kayak theme park. If you have anyone in your party who really enjoys an adrenaline charge, don’t miss Blokart Heaven, just down the road from your accommodation. Papamoa is the only place in the world you can experience land sailing on a purpose built speedway track, or for slightly more sedate beach action, take a seaside horse trek.
Day 6-7 Head round the Bay of Plenty to Whakatane and check into the Ohope Beach TOP 10. Don’t miss the awesome seafood caravan on the side of the road with delicious mussels. White Island is New Zealand’s only active marine volcano 46 kilometres from Ohope Beach. If you want to have a closer look you can take a White Island Dive trip, or do the full White Island 6 hour tour. You can also dolphin and whale watch, or dive in and swim with some of the largest schools of dolphins in the world. This is also the perfect place to go fishing for Kingfish, Yellow fin Tuna, Snapper, Terakihi and some of the best trout fishing New Zealand has to offer.
Day 8-9 From Whakatane head down SH 2 towards Gisborne via the Waioeka Gorge, about a 2.5 hour drive from Opotiki. En route you can turn off just after the Manganuku Bridge to see the Rere Falls and Rock slide, about 50km from Gisborne on the Wharekopae Road. Tracks in the area take you to Motu Falls, and the Whinray Reserve Bush Walk.
On reaching Gisborne, check into the Waikanae Beach TOP 10 and plan your stay. You might want to check out the East Coast Museum of Technology, do a side trip up the coast to Tolaga Bay and sample some of the local wines, visit the site where explorer Captain Cook landed on December 9, 1769 at Kaiti beach, or visit the Morere Hot Springs set in beautiful native bush.
Day
10-11 Now that you have seen the best this part of New Zealand has to offer, choose your route home, either back up to Opotiki, then via Hamilton to Auckland, or head further south to Napier/Hawkes Bay, then back to Taupo, Hamilton and Auckland. If you choose to head south, make a night of it at Kennedy Park TOP 10 Resort in Napier, or Hastings TOP 10.