{"id":5165,"date":"2018-04-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=5165"},"modified":"2020-04-02T05:35:12","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T19:35:12","slug":"top-five-auckland-road-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/new-zealand\/road-trip\/top-five-auckland-road-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"TOP 5 AUCKLAND ROAD TRIPS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Auckland<\/a> is home to some fantastic road trips, many of which are perfect for quick weekend getaways. Here are five of our favourites.<\/p>\n

1. Papamoa Beach Resort<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

3hr drive from Auckland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Papamoa Beach Resort is sprawling and beautiful. It\u2019s located right on the beachfront and spread over 16+ acres of land, with more than 250 campsites and 37 other accommodation options, including beach-facing luxury villas. Whether you\u2019re looking for a luxury weekend getaway with your partner or a family camping trip in a true kiwi-style setting, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n

Your hosts, Bruce and his lovely wife Donna, have owned this property for the past 30 years, having bought it from Bruce\u2019s parents, and the love they\u2019ve put into it is obvious. Unwind with a drink or two as you watch the sun go down from the patio of your seafront villa.<\/p>\n

What to do:<\/em><\/strong> Go surfing on the beach or check out the Mount\u2019s trendy cafes and restaurants, which are only a 17-minute drive away. Head to the Adrenalin Forest<\/a> to claim your bragging rights or race your mate on a Blokart. Or pack a lunch and take a bike ride around Papamoa\u2019s tree-lined waterways.<\/p>\n

Right on the beach – Papamoa Beach Resort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

2. Pacific Rendezvous Tutukaka<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

2hr, 45min drive from Auckland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perched high on a headland, with spectacular views on all three sides of the peninsula, the Pacific Rendezvous is an ideal weekend getaway. With access to two private beaches, tennis courts, a pool, and a spa, you\u2019ll have lots of fun to choose from. Go diving for the day or bring back some fresh fish to cook for dinner in your self-contained apartment \u2013 you\u2019ll feel right at home. There are also great restaurants down at Tutukaka village if you don\u2019t fancy cooking dinner.<\/p>\n

The owner, Ross, is a charismatic guy who\u2019s owned the place for a number of years and has developed quite a reputation with the regulars.<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/em><\/strong>Go snorkelling on the Poor Knights Islands or get a little more adventurous and go scuba diving for the ultimate Poor Knights experience. Take a walk along the pristine beaches and immerse yourself in the panoramic views. Learn to surf on Sandy Bay or hire a kayak for the day and go exploring.<\/p>\n

What a view! Pacific Rendezvous Tutukaka.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

3. The Heads Omapere<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

3hr, 45min drive from Auckland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head off to the breathtaking Hokianga Harbour for some exquisite M\u0101ori hospitality. Nestled close to the harbour, with spectacular views out to the ocean, it\u2019s the perfect place to explore the un-explored. Lose yourself in the magnificent Kauri trees and learn about the region\u2019s rich history and culture as you trek to T\u0101ne Mahuta \u2013 the largest kauri tree known to stand today. After a long day, come back to your home base for a soak in the outdoor spa. Then treat yourself to dinner at the on-site restaurant \u2013 it\u2019s 20% off until September 2018.<\/p>\n

The owners, Shane and Philippa, are passionate about the local M\u0101ori history and culture and happy to share their knowledge. Make sure you stop by for a chat.<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/em><\/strong>Take a guided night tour through the Waipoua Forest with a local M\u0101ori guide, hire a jet ski and zip around the harbour at incredible speeds, or take a water taxi over to Opononi, grab a board and slide down the sand hills. There are also plenty of bush walks and cycle trails that you can explore at your own\u00a0leisure.<\/p>\n

Pool or beach \u2013 take your pick! The Heads Omapere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

4. The Dunes Golf Resort<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

3hr drive from Auckland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nestled in the small tourist town of Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula, this resort has everything you need (and more!) for a weekend getaway. It\u2019s the perfect escape from city life, whether you\u2019re looking to polish up your golf skills or just want to relax and unwind. A 15-minute drive will take you to the centre of all the local activities. And the on-site restaurant and bar are just the ticket for indulging in some good food and wine after a long, hard day at the beach.<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/em><\/strong>Bush walks, fishing, diving, swimming, tennis \u2013 take your pick. Admire local art at the Fluke Studio or soak up the sun on one of the many nearby beaches.<\/p>\n

With views like this, keeping your eye on the ball might be a struggle. The Dunes Golf Resort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

5. Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

2hr, 15min drive from Auckland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get lost in this secluded hideaway. Nestled among the slopes of Mt Pauanui, this resort has everything you need to spark up a new romance (or rekindle an existing one). Pamper your special someone in an intimate setting with superb local cuisine and beautiful views. Or for some You Time, go fishing or polish up your golf skills on the 18-hole golf course. Later, come back for an afternoon at the spa and feel your worries melt away as you relax in the sauna.<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/em><\/strong>If you\u2019re feeling active, hike up Mount Paku\u2019s volcanic peak. Or head over to Whangamata Beach \u2013 NZ Herald\u2019s readers rated it the best in New Zealand.<\/p>\n

A secluded getaway \u2013 Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n Check out more Auckland deals <\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Auckland is home to some fantastic road trips, many of which are perfect for quick weekend getaways. Here are five of our favourites. 1. Papamoa Beach Resort 3hr drive from Auckland Papamoa Beach Resort is sprawling and beautiful. It\u2019s located right on the beachfront and spread over 16+ acres of land, with more than 250 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":5167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[775,761],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5165"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5165"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5307,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5165\/revisions\/5307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}