North Island What to Expect

As New Zealand cities go, it is quite modern. There is a distinct contrast with other 'burbs of Auckland, the money is conspicuous (less dirty kids with no shoes). Compared to other places around the world though, a quiet back water. Not as good as its inhabitants believe.

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.

If you're in Wellington there's a few places you really must see. The Aro Cafe is one such place, that not only serves excellent coffee, but has groovy magazines, fantastic food (including kick ass yoyos) and an atmosphere that's hard to duplicate.
Another place is the bucket tree at the top of the cable car at the start of the Botanical Gardens. It's a giant tree - climb it and sit on top of it to marvel at Wellington. Brilliant spot to have a picknik, and completely safe!
Lastly, there this fantastic children's bookshop in Lyall Bay. It's small, it's dinky and it's ideal to do an afternoon's browsing in it.

Watch out for the local street kids

A gorgeous lake in the heart of the land of the Tuhoe, children of the mist. Renown for its resident trout population and deer stalking, otherwise there are ample tracks to use to trek through the bush and enjoy nature.

The car ferry will save a long drive.

Always have a bullet proof vest and a loaded firearm with you

the most amazing bay with the most amazing beach around the corner (omaha). omaha would b mi favourite beach in nz. white sand. lovely estuary. although doesnt hav much to do. there is a nyc bay u can walk to from the southern end of the beach. and u will find pink sand there

Once the capital of New Zealand, Auckland is a large city in terms of surface area because everybody still has a dream of their own backyard and house. Hence the distances that must be travelled to find cheap homes and supplies are huge. Very little in the way of public transport except buses and the Britomart, if you don´t have a car it is difficult to get around. The domain, albert park, the war memorial museum, Mt Eden, One tree hill and Rangitoto, are just some of the attractions to see. Auckland is also known as the city of sails not because it hosted the Americas Cup but because one in 34 people had a boat from the 70´s (Auckland had a population of approx. 800 000).

A rural town just off the main road heading towards Gisborne. There are a few amenities there including a cinema which has sadly closed down.

The car ferry will save a long drive.

Always have a bullet proof vest and a loaded firearm with you

the most amazing bay with the most amazing beach around the corner (omaha). omaha would b mi favourite beach in nz. white sand. lovely estuary. although doesnt hav much to do. there is a nyc bay u can walk to from the southern end of the beach. and u will find pink sand there

Once the capital of New Zealand, Auckland is a large city in terms of surface area because everybody still has a dream of their own backyard and house. Hence the distances that must be travelled to find cheap homes and supplies are huge. Very little in the way of public transport except buses and the Britomart, if you don´t have a car it is difficult to get around. The domain, albert park, the war memorial museum, Mt Eden, One tree hill and Rangitoto, are just some of the attractions to see. Auckland is also known as the city of sails not because it hosted the Americas Cup but because one in 34 people had a boat from the 70´s (Auckland had a population of approx. 800 000).

A rural town just off the main road heading towards Gisborne. There are a few amenities there including a cinema which has sadly closed down.

Whakatane is in the center of the Bay of Plenty region and renown for its sunshine, excellent beaches, many surrounding orchards ( fresh fruit and veges are easy to come by) and the charter fishing fleet. There are big game boats targeting the tuna and marlin during the summer, not to mention huge white island kingfish with lots of other stuff in between. Rotorua and the hot springs are just down the road as well as the lakes and rivers which are full of trout.

Te Araroa is the nearest town to the East Cape Lighthouse (only 26 km down a metal road). There are two shops to buy stuff at, there is a sports club, a rugby field, a post office, a petrol station and a pub/hotel. Te Araron has one of the oldest and possible largest Pohutukawa tree living there next to the school and marae. There is a Manuku Honey factory down the road which sells delicious stuff. Te Araroa is a magical place because you are literally so far from Gisborne and Opotiki (the largest cities) that one really notices how clean the air is.

Visit the fabulous Chow restaurant for the two for one meal on Monday night. $12.00 lunch menu. Go to Yoga for life to stretch out your aches and pains and learn effective breathing techniques. Have a chinese massage in Cuba street. Excellent foot reflexology there too. Go to Kaffee Eis for a divine chocolate ice-cream and look at the beautiful Oriental Bay Harbour. Get an amazing hair cut at Hair by the Sea in Petone and look at the magnificent view out the window while your at it.

at new years- take a good sturdy pair of shoes that you don't mind getting sand in, but will protect you from glass. there's usually a liqour bn on too, so buy your own and bring it up, then stay somewhere and drink BEFORE you go out.

stop..grab a coffee...take a piss ....and keep on heading to where you're going!