©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

This edition written and researched by

Brett Atkinson,Sarah Bennett, Lee Slater

AMAZING ROAD TRIPS26

BEST TRIPS

NEW ZEALAND’S

MAP LEGEND

SYMBOLS IN THIS BOOK CONTENTS

Tips from Locals

Top Tips

Link Your Trips

Trip Detour

5 Eating

Family

History & Culture

Food & Drink

Outdoors

Essential Photo

Walking Tour

4 Sleeping

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Welcome to New Zealand ............... 7

New Zealand Classic Trips ............. 8

New Zealand Highlights .................12

If You Like... ................................... 22

Need to Know ..................................24

City Guides ..................................... 26

New Zealand by Region ................ 30

ON THE ROAD

AUCKLAND & THE NORTH ......................32

1 Northland & the Bay of Islands ... 6–8 Days 36

2 East & West Coast Explorer ................3 Days 52

3 Coromandel Peninsula .......... 4–5 Days 62

4 Waiheke Island Escape ....................2 Days 74

ROTORUA & THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND ................84

5 Taranaki Wanderer ................3 Days 88

6 Tongariro National Park Loop .......... 3–4 Days 96

% Telephone Number

h Opening Hours

p Parking

a Air- Conditioning

i Internet Access

W Wi-Fi Access

v Vegetarian Selection

s Swimming Pool

c Family-Friendly

Walk Track/Path

River/CreekIntermittent RiverSwamp/MangroveCanalWaterDry/Salt/Intermittent LakeGlacier

BeachCemetery(Christian)Cemetery (Other)ParkForest

Sportsground

International

Cliff

Capital (National)Capital(State/Province)City/Large TownTown/Village

State/Province

StepsPlaza/Mall

PedestrianOverpass

Tunnel

Walk RouteLinked TripTrip DetourTrip Route

Airport

UndergroundTrain Station

Train/Railway

Cable Car/Funicular

Transport

US Interstate Hwy US National Hwy

California State Hwy

ReservationUrban Area

Trip Stop

Tram

Trip Numbers

2

#9

Walking tour

Trip Detour

Hydrography

Areas

Boundaries

Population

Routes

Highway Route Markers

[Ù97

VUÓ5dk44

Trips

Parking

1

LaneTertiary

TollwayFreewayPrimarySecondary

Unsealed Road

place-holdermap

Walk Track/Path

River/CreekIntermittent RiverSwamp/MangroveCanalWaterDry/Salt/ Intermittent LakeGlacier

BeachCemetery (Christian)Cemetery (Other)ParkForest

Sportsground

International

Cliff

Capital (National)Capital (State/Province)City/Large TownTown/Village

State/Province

StepsPlaza/Mall

Pedestrian Overpass

Tunnel

Walk RouteLinked TripTrip DetourTrip Route

Airport

Train/Railway

Cable Car/ Funicular

Highway Marker

ReservationUrban Area

Trip Stop

Tram

Trip Numbers

Walking tour

Trip Detour

Parking

LaneTertiary

TollwayFreewayPrimarySecondary

Unsealed Road

Transport

Hydrography

Areas

Boundaries

Population

Routes

Highway Markers

Trips

Note: Not all symbols displayed above appear on the maps in this book

CONTENTS

7 Thermal Discover ........... 5–6 Days 104

8 Waves & Caves to Whanganui .........5 Days 120

WELLINGTON & THE EAST COAST ...........132

9 North Island Southern Loop ... 3–4 Days 136

a Pacific Coast Explorer ..............5–7 Days 144

MARLBOROUGH & NELSON ..........................160

b Kaikoura Coast .................. 3–4 Days 164

c Sunshine & Wine ................5–7 Days 172

d Tasman & Golden Bays ...... 3–4 Days 184

e Going West: from Picton to Westport ....... 2–3 Days 194

Rotorua &the Central

North Islandp84

Wellington& the EastCoastp132

Queenstown& the South

p288

Canterbury& the WestCoastp202

Marlborough& Nelson

p160

Auckland &the North

p32

3

Contents cont.

CANTERBURY & THE WEST COAST ..........202

f The West Coast Road ................... 6–8 Days 206

g Alpine Pacific Triangle ............. 3–4 Days 220

h Coast to Coast .................. 2–3 Days 228

i Two Passes ....... 4–5 Days 236

j Inland Scenic Route .................. 4–6 Days 246

k Alps to Ocean .... 3–4 Days 262

l Southern Alps Circuit ............ 12–14 Days 270

QUEENSTOWN & THE SOUTH ....................288

mMilford Sound Majesty .............. 3–4 Days 292

n Central Otago Explorer ............. 2–4 Days 304

o Southern Scenic Route ...................5–7 Days 314

p Otago Heritage Trail .................... 4–6 Days 328

q East Coast Express ...............5–7 Days 338

DRIVING IN NEW ZEALAND ...............348

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Blenheim It’s easy to visit Marlborough’s vineyards

without straying too far from the highway

Location Caption details to go hereLocation Caption details to go here

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5–7 DAYS432KM / 268 MILES

GREAT FOR…

HJG

BEST TIME TO GONovember to March

when the weather’s

best, but expect

crowds during

January

IESSENTIAL PHOTO

The jetty at Kerr Bay,

Lake Rotoiti

KBEST FOR WINE TOURS

Marlborough’s

world-class wines and

unstuff y cellar doors

Sunshine & Wine

This tour around the sunny top of the South Island serves up a

seductive blend of wineries, alfresco dining and gentle leisure

activities.

12

Blenheim

Motueka

Picton4 3

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NelsonSun, sand, culture and

artisanal markets

128 kmPelorus BridgePrecious river-flat

forest and gorgeous

swimming holes

54 km

Nelson Lakes National ParkLakes framed by forest

and mountains

299 km

RenwickIn the thick of Marlborough’s winegrowing area

391 km

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

173

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O C E A N

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T A S M A NS E A

Milford Sound

MarlboroughSoundsGolden Bay

OtagoPeninsula

CapePalliser

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CatlinsConservation

Park

Abel TasmanNational Park

FiordlandNational

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Foveaux Strait

Cook Strait

HaastPass

Mt Owen(1875)

Mt Murchison(2408m)

Aoraki/Mt Cook(3754m)

Te Anau

Fox Glacier

Masterton

Omarama

HanmerSprings

Twizel

Franz Josef Glacier

Arrowtown

Collingwood

MilfordSound

Murchison

Haast

Wanaka

Manapouri Lumsden

Alexandra

Gore

Tuatapere

Levin

Oban

Milton

Waimate

Palmerston

Winton

Bluff

PunakaikiReefton

Arthur'sPass

Karamea

Oamaru

Timaru

Balclutha

Woodville

Kaikoura

TakakaMotueka

Richmond

St Arnaud

MethvenMt Hutt

AshburtonAkaroa

Lyttelton

DannevirkeWaipukurau

Ross

Whataroa

GlenorchyCromwell

JacksonBay

Clyde

Lower HuttPicton

Dunedin

PalmerstonNorth

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Greymouth

Hokitika

Westport

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Blenheim

Christchurch

Invercargill

Porirua

WELLINGTON

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Waipara

Geraldine

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19 Inland Scenic RouteSurvey NZ’s highest mountain,

golden highlands, surreal blue

lakes and bucolic countryside.

4–6 DAYS

21 Southern Alps CircuitA seriously grand tour taking in

sublime scenery and stacks of

sights. 12–14 DAYS

22 Milford Sound MajestyAbsorb magnificent lake,

mountain and forest scenery en

route to NZ’s ultimate reveal.

3–4 DAYS

12 Sunshine & WineA seductive blend of wineries,

alfresco dining and gentle

leisure pursuits. 5–7 DAYS

24 Southern Scenic RouteThe long way around through

quiet farmland and wildlife-

rich, often weird coastlines.

5–7 DAYS

15 The West Coast RoadA spectacle of epic wilderness,

flinty history and big, blue

ocean. 6–8 DAYS

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T A S M A NS E A

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S O U T HP A C I F I C

O C E A N

GreatExhibition Bay

HaurakiGulf

Bay ofPlenty

HawkeBay

Bay ofIslands

KaiparaHarbour

Hen &ChickenIslands

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CapeReinga North

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National ParkMt Ruapehu(2797m)

Mt Taranaki(Mt Egmont)

(2518m)Ohakune

Cambridge

Helensville

Opononi Kaikohe

Russell

OpunakeHawera

Stratford

Kerikeri

Dargaville

Kaitaia

Drury

Raglan

Pukekohe

Waitomo CavesOtorohanga

Huntly

Thames

Whitianga

TolagaBay

Wellsford

Wairoa

Whakatane

Opotiki TokomaruBay

Ruatoria

HicksBay

WoodvilleDannevirke

WaipukurauWaipawa

Te KahaTe Araroa

Kawhia

Auckland

PalmerstonNorth

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NewPlymouth

Taupo

HastingsNapier

Te Kuiti

Hamilton

Rotorua

Tauranga

Gisborne

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Turangi

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1 Northland & the Bay of Islands Coastal scenery,

Māori culture and NZ history all

combine on this northern

odyssey. 6–8 DAYS

7 Thermal DiscovererSteaming volcanic thrills, Māori

culture and the wonders of

Tolkien. 5–6 DAYS

10 Pacific Coast ExplorerEverything from beaches and

islands to sunny vineyards and

art-deco architecture. 5–7 DAYS

11

1010

NEW ZEALAND

Lighthouse. Allow two and a half hours for the winding 179km journey from Opotiki.

6 East Cape Lighthouse Around 10km east of Hicks Bay is Te Araroa, a lone-dog village with a few shops, a petrol station, and a beautifully carved marae (Māori meeting house). The geol-ogy changes here from igneous outcrops to sand-stone cliff s, all blanketed by dense native bush. More than 350 years old, 20m high and 40m wide, Te-Waha-O-Rerekohu is allegedly NZ’s largest pohutukawa tree, and it dominates the Te Araroa schoolyard. From Te Araroa, drive out to see the East Cape Light-house, the easterly tip of mainland NZ. It’s 21km (30 minutes) east of town along a winding, mainly unsealed road, with a 25-minute climb (750 steps!) to the lighthouse.The Drive » Returning from the lighthouse to SH35, travel through rough-hewn farmland to Tokomaru Bay (79km),

stopping to see the fascinating Māori-style interior at St Mary’s Church in Tikitiki (24km from Te Araroa). Dominating the inland horizon is Mt Hikurangi (1752m), the rst spot on Earth to see the sun each day.

7 Tokomaru Bay With a broad beach framed by sweeping cliff s, sleepy Tokomaru

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OAST 1

0 PACIFIC COAST EXPLORER

151

WHY THIS IS A CLASSIC TRIPBRETT ATKINSON, WRITERFor sheer diversity, this exploration of New Zealand’s Paci c fringes is hard to beat. Tauranga and nearby Mt Maunganui combine as a vibrant city, while traditional Māori values underpin more remote areas further east. The islands of Whakaari and Moutuhora are essential day trips, and Gisborne, Napier and Hastings all off er summertime beaches and some of the country’s most established and respected vineyards.Top: Tauranga beach

Left: Market at HastingsRight: Mt Maunganui

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#e 0 40 km0 20 miles Mangawhai Heads. Pay tolls

for the Northern Gateway Toll Road on SH1 online at www.nzta.govt.nz.

2 Mangawhai HeadsMangawhai village lies on a horseshoe-shaped harbour, but it’s Mangawhai Heads, 5km further on, that’s really special. A narrow sandspit stretches for kilometres to form the harbour’s south head, sheltering a seabird sanctuary. There’s an excellent surf beach, best viewed while traversing the Mangawhai Cliff Top Walkway. Starting at Mangawhai Heads, this walking track (around two to three hours) off ers extensive views of the ocean and the coast. Make sure you time it right to return down the beach at low tide. Other attractions around

1 Auckland Framed by two harbours, NZ’s most cosmopolitan city spreads vibrantly across a narrow coastal isthmus. Explore Auck-land’s ocean-going per-sonality at the New Zea-land Maritime Museum (p83), or shoot the breeze on a sailing adventure on a genuine America’s Cup yacht with Explore (%0800 397 567; www.explor-enz.co.nz; Viaduct Harbour). Other waterborne options include a ferry across the Waitemata harbour to

the heritage Edwardian and Victorian archi-tecture of the seaside suburb of Devonport, or a sea-kayaking excursion to Rangitoto island, a for-ested volcanic cone. Back on land, try our walking tour (p82), or for the best view of Rangitoto, stroll along Takapuna Beach on Auckland’s North Shore or ride a bike around the bays along Tamaki Drive.

The Drive » For the rst leg of 104km, depart across the Auckland Harbour Bridge heading north on SH1. North of Warkworth, turn into Wayby Valley Rd continuing on to

2 East & West Coast Explorer

Explore to the northeast and northwest of NZ’s biggest city, Auckland.

7 Thermal Discoverer

From Auckland, head south through the North Island’s volcanic centre.

LLLIINNNNKKK YYYOOOUUURRR TTTRRRRIIPPP

1Northland & the Bay of Islands

Known as the ‘Winterless North’, the traditionally milder weather of this area is only one good reason to venture north of Auckland. The Bay of Islands combines Russell’s heritage charm with boat cruises and marine adventures leaving from busy Paihia, and further north the attractions become even more remote and spectacular, leading all the way to the very top of the North Island at Cape Reinga.

AUC

KLAND

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LAND &

THE BAY OF ISLAN

DS

3938

Look out for the Classic Trips stamp on our favorite routes in this book.

1 Northland & the Bay of Islands ... 6–8 Days 36

7 Thermal Discover ........... 5–6 Days 104

a Pacific Coast Explorer ..............5–7 Days 144

c Sunshine & Wine ................5–7 Days 172

f The West Coast Road ................... 6–8 Days 206

j Inland Scenic Route .................. 4–6 Days 246

l Southern Alps Circuit ............ 12–14 Days 270

mMilford Sound Majesty .............. 3–4 Days 292

o Southern Scenic Route ...................5–7 Days 314

5

OUR WRITERS

BRETT ATKINSONBorn in Rotorua, and now resident in Auckland, Brett Atkinson has been tripping around New Zealand for most of his life. For this 1st edition of New Zealand’s Best Trips, he ventured to sleepy harbours in Northland, negotiated coastal roads around Coromandel, and quaffed the best of Wellington craft beer. Together with his wife, Carol, he’s explored many countries independently behind the wheel of a car.

My Favourite Trip 1 Northland & the Bay of Islands I love this area’s diversity, especially the differences between the east and west coasts. It’s also a poignant journey packed with many family memories.

SARAH BENNETTSarah grew up in Marlborough, but her life-long love affair with Wellington has left her loyalties divided between North and South. What is constant is her obsession with NZ road trips, which keeps her and husband, Lee, on the road in their little campervan for around four months each year. Their mountain bikes always come with them, as do hiking boots, a hot water bottle and the laptop (of course) because it’s not always sunshine and wine.

My Favourite Trip f The West Coast Road because few things make me happier than unspoilt New Zealand wilderness.

LEE SLATERLee embarked on his first NZ road trip just after moving there from the UK in 1999. What soon became blindingly obvious was the difference between the two country’s roads. Swapping 20-mile traffic jams on multi-laned highways for empty, winding roads cut through some of the world’s most impressive scenery has been a tough job. Upgrading from pup tent to campervan with his beau, Sarah Bennett, has softened the blow somewhat.

My Favourite Trip j Inland Scenic Route because it’s filled with the things that make me sing: mountains, lakes and Central Otago pinot noir.

Read more about Sarah at: https://auth.lonelyplanet.com/profiles/sarahbennett39

Read more about Lee at: https://auth. lonelyplanet.com/profiles/leeslater41

Although the authors and Lonely Planet have taken all reason-able care in preparing this book, we make no warranty about the accuracy or completeness of its content and, to the maxi-mum extent permitted, disclaim all liability arising from its use.

Published by Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdABN 36 005 607 9831st edition – Sep 2016ISBN 978 1 78657 025 3© Lonely Planet 2016 Photographs © as indicated 201610 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Printed in ChinaAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, and no part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher. Lonely Planet and the Lonely Planet logo are trademarks of Lonely Planet and are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Lonely Planet does not allow its name or logo to be appropriated by commercial establishments, such as retailers, restaurants or hotels. Please let us know of any misuses: lonelyplanet.com/ip.

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