Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:00 am
#1
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Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Wotcher. 
We're still mulling over the last 6 days of our recce in April. We're spending the first night of our last week just outside Masterton, and are then heading up to Taupo / Rotorua. We're thinking about taking more the inland route and skipping Napier / Hastings. Still have to check one of our large scale maps to see if the train line (which we're taking from AKL to Welly) goes too close, and maybe we'd just see the same countryside all over again.
Given the choice, would you do more of an inland route from Masterton to Taupo (there's not a whole lot along the way, it looks like) or go via Hawkes Bay?
We're still mulling over the last 6 days of our recce in April. We're spending the first night of our last week just outside Masterton, and are then heading up to Taupo / Rotorua. We're thinking about taking more the inland route and skipping Napier / Hastings. Still have to check one of our large scale maps to see if the train line (which we're taking from AKL to Welly) goes too close, and maybe we'd just see the same countryside all over again.
Given the choice, would you do more of an inland route from Masterton to Taupo (there's not a whole lot along the way, it looks like) or go via Hawkes Bay?
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:05 am
#2
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Wotcher.
We're still mulling over the last 6 days of our recce in April. We're spending the first night of our last week just outside Masterton, and are then heading up to Taupo / Rotorua. We're thinking about taking more the inland route and skipping Napier / Hastings. Still have to check one of our large scale maps to see if the train line (which we're taking from AKL to Welly) goes too close, and maybe we'd just see the same countryside all over again.
Given the choice, would you do more of an inland route from Masterton to Taupo (there's not a whole lot along the way, it looks like) or go via Hawkes Bay?
We're still mulling over the last 6 days of our recce in April. We're spending the first night of our last week just outside Masterton, and are then heading up to Taupo / Rotorua. We're thinking about taking more the inland route and skipping Napier / Hastings. Still have to check one of our large scale maps to see if the train line (which we're taking from AKL to Welly) goes too close, and maybe we'd just see the same countryside all over again.
Given the choice, would you do more of an inland route from Masterton to Taupo (there's not a whole lot along the way, it looks like) or go via Hawkes Bay?
What is the purpose of your reccie, to have a look around places you might live, or sightseeing?
The train goes along the western side (through National Park) and the road you would normally drive along is the Desert Road, on the eastern side of the mountains. The scenery is quite different, and pretty spectacular if you are into snow covered volcanoes...
If you are not thinking you might live in Hawkes Bay, then it is excellent for sightseeing. Wineries, art deco buildings, orchards, rolling green hills, often very hot and dry weather.
Last edited by Apple12; Mar 2nd 2007 at 1:13 am.
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:46 am
#3
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Hi Maz,
What is the purpose of your reccie, to have a look around places you might live, or sightseeing?
The train goes along the western side (through National Park) and the road you would normally drive along is the Desert Road, on the eastern side of the mountains. The scenery is quite different, and pretty spectacular if you are into snow covered volcanoes...
If you are not thinking you might live in Hawkes Bay, then it is excellent for sightseeing. Wineries, art deco buildings, orchards, rolling green hills, often very hot and dry weather.
What is the purpose of your reccie, to have a look around places you might live, or sightseeing?
The train goes along the western side (through National Park) and the road you would normally drive along is the Desert Road, on the eastern side of the mountains. The scenery is quite different, and pretty spectacular if you are into snow covered volcanoes...
If you are not thinking you might live in Hawkes Bay, then it is excellent for sightseeing. Wineries, art deco buildings, orchards, rolling green hills, often very hot and dry weather.
Gosh, now I'm really stuck! 
I love snow-covered volcanoes and everything that I've seen about Hawkes Bay too!Our trip is for settling more on a place to live, and also to look around as tourists as well.
One thing I don't like about where I live now is that I don't enjoy looking around the area... *sigh*We're looking primarily to settle in Welly, but Auckland if Welly doesn't work out. Not overly interested in settling anywhere other than either of those two places.
Mar 2nd 2007, 3:38 am
#4
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Hi there
We visited Napier on our recce in 2005 and really loved the place. It was No2 on our choices alongside Tauranga simply because of the weather and the relxed lifestyle. In the end we decided that the downsides to Napier (mainly distance from the main airport for visitors from the UK) outweighed the upsides. We opted for Tauranga in the end but, as a result of securing work, we ended up spending 3 months in Auckland. We then both found work in Tauranga and bought our house here.
Auckland - It is a big city and hsa all the + and - that go with it. Relatively easy to find a job for both of us. Traffic and pace of life is like any other big city. It's not the worst city I have been to by any stretch and the N Shore beaches etc are lovley. But oh that Harbour bridge! If you need to cure constipation (which I didn't!) try commuting over it every day on a motorbike!
Wellington - A much nicer city than AKL but the weather always seems to be so much worse than anywhere else especially in winter. Wind and rain made it a no brainer for us.
New Plymouth - nice city with friendly people but too far from the AKL airport and that permanent cloud over Mt Taranaki and the west coast beaches put us off.
Napier - Lovely town with very nice laid back people. Wonderful vineyards and rolling countryside. Great climate. No beaches in the city and such a long way from AKL airport and anywhere else.
Gisborne - Much the same as Napier but with brilliant beaches, even more laid back people and even more remote than Napier
Rotorua - Very smelly. Lots of tourists all year round. Nice place to visit but not to stay
Taupo - Such a beautiful place and very friendly. Busy all year round with passing through travellers. Great for skiing in winter and lakeside hols in summer. Our dream place to go when we decide to retire. Certainly 'do-able' from AKL airport.
Tauranga - Great beaches. 2 hours from AKL airport. Work available all year round. Good climate. big enough to be busy and find work but not too big like a city. Full of Kiwi tourists in summer ( jan only)
All in all we felt that Tauranga was our best choice. It won't suit everyone I realise but it's good for us.....
Hope this helps
Paul
We visited Napier on our recce in 2005 and really loved the place. It was No2 on our choices alongside Tauranga simply because of the weather and the relxed lifestyle. In the end we decided that the downsides to Napier (mainly distance from the main airport for visitors from the UK) outweighed the upsides. We opted for Tauranga in the end but, as a result of securing work, we ended up spending 3 months in Auckland. We then both found work in Tauranga and bought our house here.
Auckland - It is a big city and hsa all the + and - that go with it. Relatively easy to find a job for both of us. Traffic and pace of life is like any other big city. It's not the worst city I have been to by any stretch and the N Shore beaches etc are lovley. But oh that Harbour bridge! If you need to cure constipation (which I didn't!) try commuting over it every day on a motorbike!
Wellington - A much nicer city than AKL but the weather always seems to be so much worse than anywhere else especially in winter. Wind and rain made it a no brainer for us.
New Plymouth - nice city with friendly people but too far from the AKL airport and that permanent cloud over Mt Taranaki and the west coast beaches put us off.
Napier - Lovely town with very nice laid back people. Wonderful vineyards and rolling countryside. Great climate. No beaches in the city and such a long way from AKL airport and anywhere else.
Gisborne - Much the same as Napier but with brilliant beaches, even more laid back people and even more remote than Napier
Rotorua - Very smelly. Lots of tourists all year round. Nice place to visit but not to stay
Taupo - Such a beautiful place and very friendly. Busy all year round with passing through travellers. Great for skiing in winter and lakeside hols in summer. Our dream place to go when we decide to retire. Certainly 'do-able' from AKL airport.
Tauranga - Great beaches. 2 hours from AKL airport. Work available all year round. Good climate. big enough to be busy and find work but not too big like a city. Full of Kiwi tourists in summer ( jan only)
All in all we felt that Tauranga was our best choice. It won't suit everyone I realise but it's good for us.....
Hope this helps
Paul
Mar 2nd 2007, 4:07 am
#5
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Excellent, thanks so much Paul! I hadn't actually thought too much about the remoteness from the airports, to be honest, but it's a very good point. Karma sent for all those synopses, very much appreciated!
Mar 2nd 2007, 5:12 am
#6
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
I loved Napier, I really liked the Art Deco buildings and it has a nice sea front. Dan wasn't that fussed, could take it or leave it. We enjoyed driving around Hawkes Bay, nice scenery. We were there in the October and it was scorching so lots of sun screen if you do go
Mar 2nd 2007, 11:40 am
#7
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Well as you're not really thinking of living in Napier and you have a finite amount of time on your recce, maybe don't bother with it and go when you're living in NZ. Personally I like napier as I love Art Deco, though the Art Deco is only really spectacular as it's concentrated and because everywhere else in NZ is so drab-looking (IMHumble one, as you know). It's also nice to see the area because it too looks a bit different to much of the rest of the North Island and I love scorched fields and brown landscapes. Not keen on the verdant. But once you've done the Art Deco trail, had a vino while admiring the brown and marvelling at the Med-style weather, driven up to Te Mata peak and possibly paraglided off it, that's it really. Time to start the 5 hour journey back to the next town.
And that bleedin' Desert Road. Nice mountain, shame about the several hours.
Am I helpful?
And that bleedin' Desert Road. Nice mountain, shame about the several hours.
Am I helpful?
Mar 2nd 2007, 12:33 pm
#8
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
We didnt rate Napier at all. Very dissapointed with the art deco (Miami much better IMHO) and not really much for the kids to do 
Anyway each to there own
Anyway each to there own
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:12 pm
#9
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Super, thanks all for the replies! They do help, honest. It's almost a little difficult to get in the mind-set of sorting all this out with below-freezing temperatures and constant snow (yes, it's still coming down). Must motivate myself! 
Jack, thank you for the comment that there's not much for the kids to do. That's very important for us as ours is an only child.
Cheers all!
It's almost a little difficult to get in the mind-set of sorting all this out with below-freezing temperatures and constant snow (yes, it's still coming down). Must motivate myself! Jack, thank you for the comment that there's not much for the kids to do. That's very important for us as ours is an only child.
Cheers all!
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:28 pm
#10
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Maz I know we only went out there for 2 and bit weeks and have little on the ground knowledge ect. but Napier was really the only place we saw teenagers hanging around and vandalism.
Thats not to say there wasnt any anywhere else but thats the only place WE noticed any.
For me that was a sign saying "not much to do here if your a kid" if you know what I mean.
Thats not to say there wasnt any anywhere else but thats the only place WE noticed any.
For me that was a sign saying "not much to do here if your a kid" if you know what I mean.
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:46 pm
#11
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
just worth noting that the speed restrictions are very strict and are enforced, stuck to 50 mph on a lot of the mountain roads.
and it takes foookin forever to get anywhere.
took us 6 hours to drive from Roturua to Wellington suburbs - and that was whilst taking risks with the speed.
the roads can be very steep and windy - so whilst it might look like a 'we can drive there by the afternoon and have a walk around' its more a 'bloody heeeeeeeeeeeeelll, how much longer, get there, sleeeeeeeep'.
So you really are looking visiting one place at a time. And not forgetting when you take a drives such as from Roturua to Taopo you go through some wicked geothermal areas (such as Craters of the Moon) and there is of course the waterfalls. Oh yes, and puzzle world, lava glass world, and er, climbing frame 'world'. So you will be stopping off a lot to take in those sites.
(And they give you about 5 metre warning before a turn off to an attraction, so be on your guard and add an hour to your days journey just for 'finding a place to do a 360 in!).
hope you find thats constructive advice btw, it was meant to be
and it takes foookin forever to get anywhere.
took us 6 hours to drive from Roturua to Wellington suburbs - and that was whilst taking risks with the speed.
the roads can be very steep and windy - so whilst it might look like a 'we can drive there by the afternoon and have a walk around' its more a 'bloody heeeeeeeeeeeeelll, how much longer, get there, sleeeeeeeep'.
So you really are looking visiting one place at a time. And not forgetting when you take a drives such as from Roturua to Taopo you go through some wicked geothermal areas (such as Craters of the Moon) and there is of course the waterfalls. Oh yes, and puzzle world, lava glass world, and er, climbing frame 'world'. So you will be stopping off a lot to take in those sites.
(And they give you about 5 metre warning before a turn off to an attraction, so be on your guard and add an hour to your days journey just for 'finding a place to do a 360 in!).
hope you find thats constructive advice btw, it was meant to be
Mar 2nd 2007, 1:53 pm
#12
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
Yep that mountain road from Napier to Taupo whilst stunning (if your the passenger 
) is very long, winding and bloody steep. There are loads of overtaking spots though and the road is good. Its just that I wouldnt recomend the driver taking in the scenery too much. Its a long way doooooowwwwn
Also there is nothing and Im mean nothing for a long, long way. So if you need the bog, the wildlife gets it
) is very long, winding and bloody steep. There are loads of overtaking spots though and the road is good. Its just that I wouldnt recomend the driver taking in the scenery too much. Its a long way doooooowwwwn Also there is nothing and Im mean nothing for a long, long way. So if you need the bog, the wildlife gets it
Mar 2nd 2007, 6:18 pm
#13
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Posts: 5,763
Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
just worth noting that the speed restrictions are very strict and are enforced, stuck to 50 mph on a lot of the mountain roads.
and it takes foookin forever to get anywhere.
took us 6 hours to drive from Roturua to Wellington suburbs - and that was whilst taking risks with the speed.
the roads can be very steep and windy - so whilst it might look like a 'we can drive there by the afternoon and have a walk around' its more a 'bloody heeeeeeeeeeeeelll, how much longer, get there, sleeeeeeeep'.
and it takes foookin forever to get anywhere.
took us 6 hours to drive from Roturua to Wellington suburbs - and that was whilst taking risks with the speed.
the roads can be very steep and windy - so whilst it might look like a 'we can drive there by the afternoon and have a walk around' its more a 'bloody heeeeeeeeeeeeelll, how much longer, get there, sleeeeeeeep'.
So you really are looking visiting one place at a time. And not forgetting when you take a drives such as from Roturua to Taopo you go through some wicked geothermal areas (such as Craters of the Moon) and there is of course the waterfalls. Oh yes, and puzzle world, lava glass world, and er, climbing frame 'world'. So you will be stopping off a lot to take in those sites.
(And they give you about 5 metre warning before a turn off to an attraction, so be on your guard and add an hour to your days journey just for 'finding a place to do a 360 in!).
(And they give you about 5 metre warning before a turn off to an attraction, so be on your guard and add an hour to your days journey just for 'finding a place to do a 360 in!).
I most definitely do, thank you so much Kate!
Yep that mountain road from Napier to Taupo whilst stunning (if your the passenger ) is very long, winding and bloody steep. There are loads of overtaking spots though and the road is good. Its just that I wouldnt recomend the driver taking in the scenery too much. Its a long way doooooowwwwn
Also there is nothing and Im mean nothing for a long, long way. So if you need the bog, the wildlife gets it
) is very long, winding and bloody steep. There are loads of overtaking spots though and the road is good. Its just that I wouldnt recomend the driver taking in the scenery too much. Its a long way doooooowwwwn Also there is nothing and Im mean nothing for a long, long way. So if you need the bog, the wildlife gets it
Thanks for the input, very much appreciated.
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:15 pm
#14
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Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
My Kiwi friend has just sent me a map of NZ and her suggested itinerary, which includes Napier and Hawkes Bay. I said we really don't have the time to go there! She said she only suggested it cos the climate is better there.I agree with Paul it's too remote. We went to Gisbourne (for Millenium )and that felt remote!
Paul - Karma to you- great post.
Maz we might bump into you at some point! Our route is:
10th -12th April- Auck
12-15th Tauranga
15-17th Wellington. 17th Marton- kiwi friends
18-19th Auckland
19th-21st Singapore - home a quick visit cos we only have 2 weeks leave!
Paul - Karma to you- great post.
Maz we might bump into you at some point!
Our route is:10th -12th April- Auck
12-15th Tauranga
15-17th Wellington. 17th Marton- kiwi friends
18-19th Auckland
19th-21st Singapore - home a quick visit cos we only have 2 weeks leave!
Mar 3rd 2007, 4:52 pm
#15
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: Thinking of skipping Naper/Hastings on our recce - thoughts?
My Kiwi friend has just sent me a map of NZ and her suggested itinerary, which includes Napier and Hawkes Bay. I said we really don't have the time to go there! She said she only suggested it cos the climate is better there.I agree with Paul it's too remote. We went to Gisbourne (for Millenium )and that felt remote!
Paul - Karma to you- great post.
Maz we might bump into you at some point! Our route is:
10th -12th April- Auck
12-15th Tauranga
15-17th Wellington. 17th Marton- kiwi friends
18-19th Auckland
19th-21st Singapore - home a quick visit cos we only have 2 weeks leave!
Paul - Karma to you- great post.
Maz we might bump into you at some point!
Our route is:10th -12th April- Auck
12-15th Tauranga
15-17th Wellington. 17th Marton- kiwi friends
18-19th Auckland
19th-21st Singapore - home a quick visit cos we only have 2 weeks leave!
