desmondo84

Hi
Planning a long weekend in January with two young kids. We've only real been to the corlmandel since we arrived a few months ago. don't want to drive too far wwith the boys so was thinking Mt maunganui.. Was wondering what folk thought of It and if any other suggestions?
Cheers.

Pom_Chch

Hi Desmondo!

I haven't been to the North Island yet but we are planning a trip up in March 2015 so have been researching different areas.

Have you thought about Northland? Paihia is just over 3 hours from Auckland and is a good base for exploring the top of the North Island. Lots of snorkeling, beaches etc. I'm not sure how old your kids are but they may like Action World (Action World Paihia - Adventure Activities and Fun for the Family) Also check out Kidz Go for advice:

Northland family holidays. Whangarei, Paihia : activities, attractions, accommodation, holidays with the kids.

If the likes of Paihia is too far to drive check out Whangarei or Tutukaka (north east of Whangarei), which will be about 2 hours drive from Auckland. There's a place an hour north of Auckland called Goat Island that makes a good stop off on the way up that has some good snorkeling.

Hope that helps

Parnell

The Mount is only 2/3 hours drive and you can break it up with a stop in the Gorge just past Paeroa.

Kids sleep most of the way with the new straightened roads

We are down that way at Papamoa 2nd week of January for a few nights.

escapedtonz

Mt. Maunganui is beaut. I live 10 mins away. I'm there often with the family on walks, on the beach or exercising, motorbike. Highly recommended for a visit.
Very very busy now till after New Year. Road closures and liquor ban in place. It's the place to be if you're a youngster!

Builder UK

Paihia is is nice, I spent a few days there.

Went over to Russell and to The treaty grounds, some nice restaurants in Paihia and Russell too

We stayed in the beachside holiday park in a sleepout, nothing glamorous, hired a couple of kayaks went out in the bay with some beers about 200/300 metres, thought I was being attacked by a shark, fell out of the kayak into about 3ft of water.

Was funny at the time

A Rush And A Push

Mangawhai Heads about 1.5 hours north of centrel Auckland is nice, there's a big ocean beach with rock pools, good walks etc but also a very safe shallow harbour beach, great for small kids. Loads of lovely spots up that east coast north of Auckland - Langs beach, Waipu Cove, Snells Beach etc.