Dave and I pinky swore that we would road trip once a month to ensure we see this amazing country in the four short years we are here. The North Island is probably 12 hours drive from tip to toe and about 4 hours from east coast to west. A lot like Canada, each coast is very different offering spectacular drives on two lane roads. Lots to see.
We chose Rotorua – three hours south of Auckland – as our second weekend away and I loved the drive. The city eventually gave way to patch work farms – parcels of land stitched together at the seams – and those eventually gave way to lush, rolling hills and valleys.
Affectionately called “Roto-Vegas” by locals, I immediately understood the moniker. Rotorua feels like Niagra Falls – spectacular views and sites with flash, strip malls, too many places to buy a tractor (explain that please) and fast food smack in the middle. Although unsure how I felt about the whole thing at first, I quickly forgave the flash. This is an amazing place to see and experience.
The Geo-Thermal sites are among the must-sees and with four in the immediate area, we needed to pick one. Te Puia offers the best of everything – mineral terraces, the Southern Hemishpere’s largest geyser, mud baths, a living Maori village, a kiwi sanctuary, carving and weavering demonstrations and a partridge in a pear tree. Loved it.
We chased our geo-thermal overload with a massive walk around the Blue and Green Lakes. THIS was spectacular – in retrospect, we should have packed a picnic and spent the day here. Absolutely stunning – one of my very favorite walks ever…despite getting a bit lost.
The forests here have a magical quality that I am not sure I can capture with words. Trees 
are covered in a sweet moss with tiny leaves, vines swooping overhead and the canopy is so broad that only the slightest bits of sunlight sneak through. The girls and I both said we half expected to see fairies.
And there are other parts of the forest that feel prehistoric. I think it is the silver ferns – a palm-like tree that shows up everywhere mingled with evergreens and leaved-trees.
We capped our day with a visit to Hell’s Gate for a mudbath followed by a mineral bath. When in Rome, 
right??
Day 2 we did the Rotorua Canopy Tour complete with ziplines – the girls LOVED it. The sweeping views and being that close to some indigenous birds – having them eat out of our palms! – was amazing. Highly recommend.
And being the food-obsessed person I am – Aorangi Peak was unreal. Famous for its lamb and beef dishes, I tossed my “no red meat” out the window and indulged. We all did. You must reserve in season – completely worth the spend.