Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - North Island in January - another "please critique my itinerary" thread

My gf and I will be in New Zealand from the 11th-27th Jan, arriving to and leaving from AKL. Our entire combined experience of NZ is a weekend I spent alone in Auckland, 5 years ago :)

We've got 5 nights booked in Auckland already and have a good idea what to do in and near there. Then from 16th-26th we'll hire a car. We want to spend a few hours visiting friends down in Palmerston North, otherwise we're after countryside and coastline, spectacular views and great walking. I've come up with this itinerary and would welcome any comments.

16th Jan: leave Auckland and drive to Taupo
17th+18th Jan: Taupo and surrounds, lots of walking
19th Jan: visit friends in Palmerston North, then drive to Napier
20th Jan: full day in Napier and surrounds
21st Jan: drive to Tauranga via a stop in Rotorua
22nd Jan: drive to Coromandel via Whitianga
23rd Jan: full day in Coromandel + surrounds
24th Jan: long drive to Whangarei
25th Jan: full day in Whangarei and surrounds
26th Jan: Whangarei to AKL

We're staying at the JetPark near AKL on the 26th, flying out on the 27th.

My gf and I will be in New Zealand from the 11th-27th Jan, arriving to and leaving from AKL. Our entire combined experience of NZ is a weekend I spent alone in Auckland, 5 years ago :)

We've got 5 nights booked in Auckland already and have a good idea what to do in and near there. Then from 16th-26th we'll hire a car. We want to spend a few hours visiting friends down in Palmerston North, otherwise we're after countryside and coastline, spectacular views and great walking. I've come up with this itinerary and would welcome any comments.

16th Jan: leave Auckland and drive to Taupo
17th+18th Jan: Taupo and surrounds, lots of walking
19th Jan: visit friends in Palmerston North, then drive to Napier
20th Jan: full day in Napier and surrounds
21st Jan: drive to Tauranga via a stop in Rotorua
22nd Jan: drive to Coromandel via Whitianga
23rd Jan: full day in Coromandel + surrounds
24th Jan: long drive to Whangarei
25th Jan: full day in Whangarei and surrounds
26th Jan: Whangarei to AKL

We're staying at the JetPark near AKL on the 26th, flying out on the 27th.

Hmmmmm....not sure Whangarei is worth the trouble, but others may disagree. There are nicer areas north of AKL, with shorter drives (Matakana, Goat Island, Orewa etc.).

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Hmmmmm....not sure Whangarei is worth the trouble, but others may disagree. There are nicer areas north of AKL, with shorter drives (Matakana, Goat Island, Orewa etc.).

+1, I agree completely. Skip Whangarei (unless you have friends/family there).

If I am heading anywhere past Auckland it is either Matakana & Surrounds (Vineyards), Goat Island/Omaha (Beach), or waaay up north to the Bay of Islands / Kerikeri / Russell / etc...

We thoroughly enjoyed this museum on the North Island and think it is worth consideration:
http://www.kauri-museum.com/

South of Napier there is an area of high cliffs and walking trails that is called Cape Kidnappers.

We REALLY enjoyed the Bay Of Islands. Spent a couple of nights there and would have not had such an enriching trip without visiting the historical town of Russell and the Treaty Grounds:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=Treaty+museum+NZ+bay+of+islands&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waitangi.net.nz%2F&ei=n4f7TvnRBenKiQKH272YDQ&usg=AFQjCNFzGKtmS_n_WFtLTeE0Tkwxfkpk2w&cad=rja

Wellington is also quite nice. Might want to cut down the Auckland stay be a night or two and see a bit more of the North Island. Yes it is a bit of driving but some interesting sites out there!