North Island Dos and Don'ts

Always travel with someone who knows the area very well as local knowledge is ALWAYS the best. Safety in numbers, yes. Always remain with your group if on a guided tour, wandering off and doing your own thing may upset the natives and so as the old saying goes, IF IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO. Light, waterproof jacket, sunhat, or compact umbrella wouldnt go astray and a pair of good walking shoes and some 'gummies' wouldnt go amiss either. Also, boil water if in a hotel or camping ground or buy bottled water.

at the harbour every few days there is a wild dolphin that comes in and swims with the locals - great fun

My hometown, and a fantastic wee place it is. Not the most pumping off places, on a world scale, but friendly people, plenty of good food and a handful of good restaurants - particular the Two Chefs and the local Indian. On State Highway 3, it's a nice stopover. Have dinner, go to the local pool, or a beach (Ohawe is nice, or Waihi), then take the surf highway (#45) around the coast to New Plymouth.

The most beautiful place in the world!! paradise! very small beach community on the west coast. muriwai beach, the main beach is good for swimming and beginner surfers as there are lifeguards on duty in the summer, and maori bay which is where most of the locals surf. There are no lifeguards at maori bay and strong rips. There's a top shop for takeaways and the bottom shop (Sand Dunez Cafe) has excellent food and ice cream. There's a caravan park for campers and horse riding centres on ohia road as well as "Only Fools and Horses Homestay" . Many hidden beauties in this little paradise.

Te Mata is a great place. Around here you will find a place called Magic Mountain, also there is Te Mata Peak (I think). There are horse treks available as well as farm stays. The locals have a fairly decent club there (as in bar / fishing / hunting etc). They are known to have some cracker gigs on occasion. If you get some altitude there you can view the sunset over three harbours and two mountains, very special, if you are super lucky you can watch the sun flash green on its way out... not so much a flash, more a fade through Red, Gold, and Green. I kid you not, it's a natural/scientific thing to do with the atmosphere.