Help needed - interesting places to visit in NZ

[Motu]

I lived on Waiheke Island and was totaly blasie about it - I walked over a totaly deserted gravel road every morning and got a panoramic view of Auckland from the top of the hill,on the way home I saw out to Gt Barrier.If I rode home in summer I'd look down at the beach,if I saw our car parked there I would go and have a swim and picnic dinner with the family.Tourists would come over and go..like...wow! I was like...so what? I gotta earn a bloody living in this dump!

[Blackbird]

Bob, if they have time, they should go up to the Coromandel Peninsula which is (sort of) between Tauranga and Auckland. Breathtaking scenery, unspoiled and lots to do: http://www.thecoromandel.com/coromandel.html. With all the stunning bike roads up there, it will drive him mad in a car!!!

I'll be up there this weekend with another Kiwibiker website member with a 'bird, plus a 'bird owner from the UK who is honeymooning up there! Birds of a feather etc....

Geoff

[marty]

who was bitching? i've been all round the world, and i love THIS place. bob was asking for non-tourist things to do. i did forget about the luge at rotorua though - that is cool fun. a lot of non-tourist things need a local guide to maximise the time spent (same anywhere in the world). hey if they wanted/had time, i'll take them waterskiing at karapiro, or a pillion ride over hobbitville way...

[FROSTY:Me]

Bob--Ill see if I can dig up one of those touristy web site things.
There tons to do all over this country.
Thres bike racing -um Bike racing -ohh and bike racing.
Wellywood welll for me the highlight was Te Papa -its a meuseum but really cool.The night life is pretty good down there too.
Taupo has bungy jumping ,quad rides ,sailing ,jetskis,and a bunch more.
Rotovegas has much the same thing --If hes staying in a motel tell him to make sure he gets one with a thermal spa pool.
Auckland has Kelly Tarltons,The skuytower,cool vinyards,harbour cruises,and a whole bunch more.
Id suggest he heads up to the bay of islands if hes into cool scenery -that place rocks.
Now if hes a biker wanting good bike roads --well then MAYYYTE
then we'd be talking a whole new kettle of fish.

[Rainbow Wizard]

Tauranga: The Mount, Tauranga Historic Village, The Gables.

The village is gonzo, and I think by The Gables you mean The Elms Mission House.
For $100 per person you can go on an all day dolphin watch cruise aboard a 60 foot cat that will eventually have a sail.

[Skyryder]

Sounds like your mate is goin to the wrong island! :spudwhat:

Definately, but with wife and kids the Coro loop has be one of the places to visit.
Do the loop so that the coast is on the left side. That way if you want to stop and look at the view or whatever there is no sitting in the middle of the road etc. Take your time on this. Great trip.

Skyryder

[riffer]

There's also the Elvis Museum in Hawera.

I'm serious here...