Travelling through NZ with my lovely mother.

**Joni** · 19th May 2008, 13:02

I am so happy! My mother is coming to see me in December... will be HUGE! As by then I will have been without any family in NZ for almost 5 years... So to see her will be a great treat for me!

I will be going up to Auckland to meet her, and then we will be driving back down to Chch. I will take the scenic route and show her a bit of NZ as we go... I reckon the trip will take us 7 or 8 days. The route I plan to take is:

Auckland
Coromandel
Tauranga
Taupo
Rotorua
Wellington
Maybe Nelson if time allows
Kaikoura (Divvo and I are taking her swimming with the dolphins)
Chch

There is only one solid plan in Kaikoura thus far....besides that I only have a few other ideas of what we can do, as I don’t know the areas that well... so please can you share your ideas of what we can do in those cities (tourist type stuff and off the beaten track as well). Just keep in mind my mother is not very strong, so long tramping type walks won’t work for her.

I need to start booking stuff as December is always a little busy!

Any advice and recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

**Colapop** · 19th May 2008, 13:08

Coffee in Wellytown - My treat!

**jrandom** · 19th May 2008, 13:11

Let's do a Coro loop! Your mum can pillion on Betty, and I'm sure some NI KBer will lend you a bike to follow us on.

Al · 19th May 2008, 13:14

That is fantastic news Jo!

**Joni** · 19th May 2008, 13:15

Originally Posted by jrandom

Let's do a Coro loop! Your mum can pillion on Betty, and I'm sure some NI KBer will lend you a bike to follow us on.

Thanks mate....

My Mother will only pillion with Divvo or Kick, as she knows I trust them with my life (read: it took me a few months to convince her to go up to Kaikoura on Divvos CB)... so I dont see her jumping on the back of your bike, unless I start with the PR job now! I dont know your riding well enough to sell her on it.

I love the idea though, not sure if her older body (and sore knees) can handle a long trip though, not even sure about kaikoura yet.

**jrandom** · 19th May 2008, 13:19

Originally Posted by Joni

My Mother will only pillion with Divvo or Kick, as she knows I trust them with my life...

Well, fly one of them up here, then, they're welcome to borrow the bike for the day. Can't beat a GSX1400 for pillion comfort!

Originally Posted by Joni

I love the idea though...

Well, the offer's there, etc, stay in touch...

**Lissa** · 19th May 2008, 13:19

Not really sure what you can do in Welly, but if you do something even lunch somewhere... let me know, will be good to see you and your mum!

**sunhuntin** · 19th May 2008, 13:19

which way are you going from rotorua to wellington? if you pass through wangas [more scenic than the desert road] i can suggest the durie hill towers, virginia lake [an hour walk, give or take, with lots of seats]
she may not be able to manage the tallest durie tower, but should manage the smaller one ok. that ones better for photos as well.

hmmm... what else? if shes interested in bikes, the roads used for the races. if you come down the paraparas, then gordons bush could be a nice walk as well [also about an hour, no seats, but lovely and shaded, and lots of native bush and bird life.]

**Cajun** · 19th May 2008, 13:34

Originally Posted by Joni

Tauranga

Tauranga has a the mount beach, and also the Mount itself for good views of tauranga and the ocean.

But honestly not a huge amount here tourist stuff in tauranga, since most of that is stuff is in rotovegas. Its more of a seaside town, with the stuff that goes along with that.

Not to sure if either of you guys been to tauranga before. fire me a pm if ya want to know more Joni

**Joni** · 19th May 2008, 13:35

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

which way are you going from rotorua to wellington?

Not sure yet... however Wanganui is an option.

Wellington and Auckland are not as difficult as Tauranga, Taupo or Rotorua for me though... I have never been in Tauranga and only been in the other 2 briefly... so really need advice!

Lissa, it would be great for my mother to meet you and Sean, its important for her to meet my friends!

edit: Neal... she loves scenery, so if Taurange is as lovely as I have heard, then she will love it. Thats why I chose it as an option.

**tri boy** · 19th May 2008, 13:43

Hi Joni,
Hope your mum enjoys her stay. Maybe keep local flora/fauna in mind. Any creatures like Tuatara, Kiwi and NZ Seals etc will add to the Kiwi experience.
Rotovegas is good for a giggle obviously due to the tourist traps/mudpools etc.
White Island off Whakatane is worth a look, and a 1/2 day fishing trip in summer catching Cod/Snapper can be memorable.
Push the outdoor experiences if the weather holds.
Helicopter ride through a valley and Jetboating, Waitomo Glowworms etc etc etc
(or just hang outside the Wairoa public bar if you want to see REAL Kiwi native experiences).

**Cajun** · 19th May 2008, 13:44

Originally Posted by Joni

edit: Neal... she loves scenery, so if Taurange is as lovely as I have heard, then she will love it. Thats why I chose it as an option.

What type of scenery?
ocean?
water?
bush?
countryside?

got plenty of idea's which happy to show you two while here if interested

**Joni** · 19th May 2008, 13:47

Originally Posted by tri boy

Hi Joni,
Hope your mum enjoys her stay. Maybe keep local flora/fauna in mind. Any creatures like Tuatara, Kiwi and NZ Seals etc will add to the Kiwi experience.
Rotovegas is good for a giggle obviously due to the tourist traps/mudpools etc.
White Island off Whakatane is worth a look, and a 1/2 day fishing trip in summer catching Cod/Snapper can be memorable.
Push the outdoor experiences if the weather holds.
Helicopter ride through a valley and Jetboating, Waitomo Glowworms etc etc etc
(or just hang outside the Wairoa public bar if you want to see REAL Kiwi native experiences).

She loves nature... so flora and fauna are great! Thank you!

I would love to take her fishing. Dont laugh but I dont know where Whakatane is though...

If you have more ideas, please dont say etc etc... because I dont know enough to know what etc means...

Where is waitomo? Are glowworms a good thinng in your opinion...

Your advice has really helped.

**Cajun** · 19th May 2008, 13:49

Whakatane is 1hr south of tauranga.

http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-glowworm-caves.aspx
(Waitomo Caves is 2 hours south of Auckland, 1 hour south of Hamilton, and 2 hours west of Rotorua. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are situated 8km along Waitomo Caves Road, off State Highway 3. )

**Blackbird** · 19th May 2008, 13:50

Hi Jo

Will probably see you in ChCh before you head up this way before your Mum but Jennie and I take it as a given that you'll both stay with us in Coro

Cheers,

Geoff