Hi all hope everyone is save and well at this point of time. I'm in Auckland and I've got some time off next week and I want to go travel around the North Island, in between Whangarei to New Plymouth roughly speaking. I've never traveled locally in New Zealand anyone have any recommendations?
I'm kind of keen on checking out Hobbiton and Waitomo caves.
Any locals know any of hidden gems, appreciate all comments!
Support New Zealand businesses all!
Sight Seeing, Recommendations
LJaeden on 11/06/2020 - 13:12
Comments
Near Waitomo - 29kms away is Marakopa Falls. You can stay in a Hobbit Hotel in Waitomo - Woodlyn Park. Taupo Bungy and swing are offering special deals. Kerosene Creek south of Rotorua - free natural hot springs and waterfall. Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park. Zoom Ziplines at Skyline Rotorua (only open Friday to Sunday at this stage). Dive Tatapouri - swim with sting rays in Gisborne.
checkout www.bookme.co.nz and https://dealsforkiwis.co.nz/ for some discounts.
if you drive down to New Plymouth via the coast, take SH43 to Taumarunui, it's an interesting road, it's called the Forgotten World Highway, maybe carry onto National Park or Turangi for the night.
Hamilton Gardens are a nice place to stop.15km north of Waitomo there is Kiwi House at Otorohanga, also this town has an unique and superb museum (only opens half day Sunday).
Within the village itself there are some very nice DoC walks a bush walks, Lookout walk(rolling landscape of King Country), Ruakuri bush walk(best at night to see glowworms), natural bridge walk (giant arch limestone feature) plus the Marokopa Fall (large in NZ standard).
Beyond the free stuffs most caves here are commercialized, ranging from easy to adventure experiences:
Ruakuri Cave: modern caving experience, superb engineering work only solar powered cave in Southern semi-sphere and great place for wedding photo shots
FootWhistle cave: illustration of good old days caving tools plus a super relaxing Japanese tea break
Waitomo Glowworm Cave: legacy cave running tour for 100+ years, visited by Queen Elizabeth II back many many years ago, 'stargazing' with boat ride
Spellbound Caveļ¼operated by I would call local cave business entrepreneurs it is a two caves experience, one with boat ride and other with Moa remains
Troll Cave: story telling cave, kid's choice (this is a man made cave and only one mentioned here without glowworm)
Lost World: 100m abseiling down an big deep hole, explore the organic unpaved cave with glowworm and climb long vertical ladders back to ground
Glowing Adventure: the only tour in the region run by owner operator so would present some different perspective
Beyond underground on the sky there is also a zipline tour: 12 zip lines on a working farm, present the best of local view at speed of just about 50km/h
All above experiences keep you dry, the wet tour is also extremely popular at Waitomo most involving a harness, a helmet with light, a wet suit and a tube and activities inside cave will involve but not limited to rock climbing, jump off a waterfall, tubing under glowworm light, water slides, abseiling and flying fox:
Blackwater Labyrinth
Blackwater Abyss
Lost World all day Epic
Kiwi Cave Rafting
Tumu Tumu cave
Haggas Honking Hole
St Benedict's CavernsAs someone work and lived in the Watiomo village for past two years I have been to most but not all caves mentioned, no choice is a bad choice as all experiences have been carefully crafted and market tested for years. Quoting 80s campaign 'Don't leave town till you've seen the country.' Enjoy!
Waiheke Island.