TheBigLebowski
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Government Gardens Thermal Area
A nice way to spend a few hours.
Free entry. Park well maintained and you can view thermal activity without having to go to one of the commerical enterprises.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Huka Falls Walkway
Very enjoyable and got some amazing pics of the Huka Falls.
A memorable day.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
The Redwoods
A strange experience as we hike through redwood forests at home but the birdlife was so different.
Close your eyes and stand still & you hear a delightful chorus of birdsong. Nice cool place on a hot day.
Worth going through the redwoods to the other areas. We chose an easy hike of about 3 hours.
For us it the giant redwood forest was less exciting than hiking through native NZ rainforest & because of the height of the trees, there were fewer scenic vistas but good views back to Rotorua.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Rental Car Village
Couldn’t fault it for the money.
Outstanding customer service. No frills older vehicle but seemed well maintained.
Small station wagon with basic camping equipment plus mattress in the back. It’s ideal because their vehicles don’t have any signage indicating it is a rental which makes them less of a target for opportunist break-ins. We only planned to stay in the back if we couldn’t get other accommodation, but found it comfortable even for our old bones. Proved very useful for a quick snooze after some of the tougher hiking trails. Bedding pack was clean & the plates cups flatwear & so forth looked fairly new.
After using other more expensive rental companies during our previous trips to NZ, we’ll definitely use this company again. A nice homely touch was the honesty box for basic items at company's premises with proceeds going to local hospital.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Mt Taranaki ▷
Mount Taranaki Summit Track
This hike is not for the faint hearted.
I'd only recommend it on a nice day with good weather forecast so you can experience the great views. It's exhilarating to get to the top of this stunning mountain. Make sure you are fit, are properly outfitted and do your homework before embarking on this hike.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village ▷
Tama Lakes
Check the weather forecast because you want a clear day with no rain forecast to experience the great views.
Trail well maintained. Start early and allow enough time and come properly prepared.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Blue Lake Track
Very good track.
Well maintained. Signs easy to follow and beautiful views. Stopped to swim in the lake which was surprisingly chill for a such a hot summer day.