auckland to the bay of islands

...take the scenic route with apex car rentals. Sample extract from "New Zealand Driving Holidays" guidebook Auckland to the Bay of Islands chapter.

Rich in history and culture, Northland’s sub-tropical coastline features kilometres of golden beaches, giant sand dunes, tranquil harbours, a myriad of islands and large tracts of ancient kauri forest to explore. The birthplace of the nation, it was the landing place of the great Maori adventurer Kupe, the seat of NZ’s first government, and where NZ’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840. The three-day journey, with the optional one-day excursion to Cape Reinga, begins in Auckland. We travel the Twin Coast Highway to Paihia, take part in a traditional Maori ceremony, savour Kerikeri’s gastronomic delights, take a cruise through the Bay of Islands, explore historical Russell, collect mussels from rocks in Mitimiti, and walk amongst giant kauri trees in the Waipoua Forest.

day three: paihia to auckland via the hokianga and waipoua forest

Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations

“Morning!” chirps Bob. We arise earlier on this, our last day, and travel across to the west coast and Rawene, a picturesque harbourside town located on the tip of a peninsula. There are many noteworthy buildings here, including Clendon House, but we make a beeline to The Boatshed Café. Built on stilts overhanging the harbour we breakfast on its terrace, watching mist rise from the mangroves as water laps gently beneath our seats.

A hoot from the vehicular ferry heralds its departure and we decide to take a side-trip, chugging across the Hokianga Harbour to Kohukohu. We drive through Panguru to the wild ocean beach at Mitimiti, where the misty peaks of the Warawara Forest roll down to meet the dunes.

And here – by fortune or design – we meet a local man, Tipo Cash. He shows us around his marae and onto the beach sharing riveting stories about the chief who was killed on a rock giving Mitimiti its name, the graves of Chinese flax workers in the dunes, and legends of the Waitaha.

A keen fisherman, Tipo reckons drag netting for mullet using traditional methods is the most popular activity in these parts. “Have a go,” he urges, but instead we help gather mussels off the rocks for the elders...

Please click the link to download the full Auckland to Bay of Islands scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way

To read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of the following links:

• Auckland to Bay of Islands and Northland
• Cape Reinga and the Far North
• Auckland's West Coast Beaches
• Waiheke Island
• Auckland to Whakatane and the Bay of Plenty
• East Cape and Poverty Bay
• Whakatane to Hawkes Bay
• Rotorua - Maori Culture and Adventure Activities
• Hawkes Bay to Wellington
• Wairarapa- The home of Martinborough Wine
• Wellington to New Plymouth
• New Plymouth to Auckland

• Picton to Christchurch
• Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
• Christchurch to Queenstown
• Queenstown fabulous Queenstown
• Christchurch to Dunedin
• Dunedin to Te Anau
• Stewart Island
• Fiordland to Milford Sounds
• Central Otago
• Queenstown to Greymouth
• Greymouth to Nelson
• Murchison
• Nelson to Golden Bay
• Nelson to Picton

purchase nzdh online

If you would like to purchase a copy of this stunning nz pictorial guidebook online please click here (RRP $24.95 NZD plus postage)

view today's best deals for auckland to bay of islands rental cars

With apex rental cars the longer you hire the lower the daily rate. Please click the link to view today's best auckland to bay of islands rental car deal.