The TSF Travel Tips Thread
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@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan Thanks! We had a potential plan of visiting Russell for the sake of NZ history, so the caves would fit with a trip there via the ferry from Paihia.
Definitely want to go to Waitangi. Staying in Russell has lots of character, we usually stay in Paihia which has more eating options and is more central
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@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Cape Reinga is really stunning. Definitely check it out. There are lots of nice bays (Cooper's Beach) on the way up there. Russell is lovely, worth spending some time there. Walk over to some of the northern bays, then come back to the Duke of Marlborough hotel for a drink while watching the sunset. All down the east coast (e.g. Oakura) is really beautiful. Tutukaka is a nice spot.
Heaps of scenic walks around those locations. Mangawhai Heads cliff walk is worth it too. Matakana is a nice spot for lunch, and nearby Tawharanui Regional Park is worth visiting.
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@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Cape Reinga is really stunning. Definitely check it out. There are lots of nice bays (Cooper's Beach) on the way up there. Russell is lovely, worth spending some time there. All down the east coast (e.g. Oakura) is really beautiful. Tutukaka is a nice spot.
I was thinking about the Cape for next holidays. What is the best way to get there? I've heard of people taking bus tours from Paihia but it's a long day. Where is the closest biggish town where you can stay and use as a jump point?
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@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Recently completed a Northland road trip. Really good. Beautiful area of the world.
Any tips? Our US flight got cancelled so we managed to get most of our money back (still a bit to go, but our travel agent is working on it), and opted for a week in Auckland with a 3 day road trip around Northland at the start and another 3 days around BoP after. We want to go to Cape Reinga to say we did, and stop by Waitangi because we probably won't be up that way again, but what else do we want to look to in the 3 days?
We just did the Tauranga Gisborne drive on SH2. Beautiful, Gisborne is pretty small but if you love outdoors stuff its pretty
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@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
What is the best way to get there?
It made for a long day, but we enjoyed driving up there and back, and visiting different spots on each leg.
Where did you stay?
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@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
I was thinking about the Cape for next holidays. What is the best way to get there? I've heard of people taking bus tours from Paihia but it's a long day. Where is the closest biggish town where you can stay and use as a jump point?
In terms of size and distance, Kaitaia is the obvious place for any plans around a day trip to Cape Reinga (that's our current plan), and Kerikeri is the obvious place for Paihia - they are the biggest towns in Northland other than Whangarei (then Dargaville and Kaihohe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northland_Region has a table in size order).
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@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
In terms of size and distance, Kaitaia is the obvious place for any plans around a day trip to Cape Reinga (that's our current plan), and Kerikeri is the obvious place for Paihia - they are the biggest towns in Northland other than Whangarei (then Dargaville and Kaihohe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northland_Region has a table in size order).
There are some nice beaches to stay at between Kerikeri and Awanui.
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@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan Paihia. Would stay further north, and then go to Russell on the way back, if I did it again.
We have small kids, 4 to 5 hours drive at the most is the limit. Kaitaia sounds like the way to go. Is it easy driving to the Cape?
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@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Godder said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
In terms of size and distance, Kaitaia is the obvious place for any plans around a day trip to Cape Reinga (that's our current plan), and Kerikeri is the obvious place for Paihia - they are the biggest towns in Northland other than Whangarei (then Dargaville and Kaihohe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northland_Region has a table in size order).
There are some nice beaches to stay at between Kerikeri and Awanui.
Good to know! Our current plan, subject to change at a whim, is to fly into Auckland, grab a rental car, drive up to Whangarei, stay the night (day 1). Then drive to Kaitaia, stay the night (day 2). Then we drive to Cape Reinga and back down to Kerikeri, stay the night (day 3). Day 4 we go to Waitangi and possibly Russell, and then drive to Auckland.
That said, we only have Google to go on for drive time, so local advice is gratefully received.
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@Tim said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan Yeah, the main roads are pretty good. It's about 3 hours from Paihia. Google estimates 1h45min from Cooper's Beach. Think there's a Ramada resort in the next bay. Would be a lot nicer than Kaitia.
Yeah I looked at that just before and it would suit Mrs CFs high standards. The 1.45 drive from there definitely appeals. Do you need an off road vehicle or will a road car suit?
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@canefan My friend hired a cheap Hyundai hatchback when he got to Auckland, and that was fine. No 4WD needed between Auckland and the cape. If you want to go out to the east coast from Russell then there are some roads through bush that are a bit hairy, but they can be avoided if you plan for it.
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@Machpants The some of us did the sand dunes too. Too bloody hot that day for me to be walking up those dunes.
I would also drive back to Auckland via the west coast to take in Opononi and then Tane Mahuta. If you are never going back up north best to tick off all the boxes.
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