Travel Planner for Cathy Small

Helensville was named one of New Zealand's 'Top Ten Small Towns' by a national magazine. It’s just 40 minutes from downtown Auckland, but has all the hallmarks of a classic country town – green pastures, historic architecture and a friendly population of down-to-earth people. The town has two museums – one devoted to pioneer days; another that honours vintage machinery. Close to Helensville you’ll find naturally heated pools for swimming and water slides. Other local attractions include vineyards, beaches, horse riding, golf courses and boats that can show you around the immense Kaipara Harbour.
Functional facts: Approx. population 2230, information centre, good range of shops and services, limited accommodation.

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest population centre, is poised between two enormous harbours and dotted with extinct volcanic cones. The region is a fusion of four cities – Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere – with cultural elements that span from Polynesia and Asia to the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. While Auckland acts as a gateway to New Zealand, it’s also a destination in its own right. Visitors can explore the islands of the Hauraki Gulf by ferry or charter boat, walk the forest tracks of the Waitakere Ranges, follow wine trails and enjoy the relaxing pleasures of urban life by the sea.
Functional facts: Approx. population 1.3 million, international airport, cruise ship port, several i-SITE visitor centres.

If you’re exploring the Coromandel Peninsula, you’ll soon come to Whitianga – the main town in Mercury Bay. When native forests were being harvested on the peninsula in the 1800s and early 1900s, Whitianga was a timber port. Ships from Europe came to load up with kauri. Today, Whitianga depends on fishing, farming and tourism for its prosperity. Accommodation is plentiful for much of the year, but the town gets busy over the summer holiday period. You’ll find a great choice of places to eat and drink. Dolphins live in the bay and sometimes frolic around the wharf. A passenger ferry provides a link with the Cooks Beach side of the harbour.
Functional facts: Approx. population 4000, i-SITE Visitor Centre, good range of shops and services.

Coromandel takes its name from the HMS Coromandel, which dropped anchor here in 1820 to load kauri logs for the English navy. The trunks of young kauri trees are very straight and strong - ideal for ships' masts and spars. The Coromandel’s other treasure, gold, was discovered around 30 years later. Although the serious mining days are over, the town has New Zealand’s last fully functional stamper battery - still on its original site and working on a daily basis. Coromandel also has many restored Victorian buildings. Other local attractions include a narrow gauge mountain railway, mining museum and the Coromandel Coastal Walkway.
Functional facts: Approx. population 1450, i-SITE Visitor Centre, good range of shops.

If you’re exploring the Coromandel Peninsula, you’ll soon come to Whitianga – the main town in Mercury Bay. When native forests were being harvested on the peninsula in the 1800s and early 1900s, Whitianga was a timber port. Ships from Europe came to load up with kauri. Today, Whitianga depends on fishing, farming and tourism for its prosperity. Accommodation is plentiful for much of the year, but the town gets busy over the summer holiday period. You’ll find a great choice of places to eat and drink. Dolphins live in the bay and sometimes frolic around the wharf. A passenger ferry provides a link with the Cooks Beach side of the harbour.
Functional facts: Approx. population 4000, i-SITE Visitor Centre, good range of shops and services.

Waihi is the home of the richest gold mine in New Zealand. The Martha Mine was opened in 1878 and is still producing about a million dollars worth of gold and silver every week. The mining company conducts regular weekday tours of the open pit site. A vintage railway runs between Waihi and Waikino, where you can find relics from the early gold rush days. Around the town you’ll notice some wonderful old buildings. Waihi is proud of its history and has a heritage trail that points out places of interest. There is an ever-increasing number of cafés and restaurants in the recently revived town centre.
Functional facts: Approx. population 4700, information centre, good range of shops and services.

Tauranga is the largest city in the Bay of Plenty and one of the fastest growing population centres in the country. Downtown Tauranga has several historically significant areas to view during a scenic walk around the area. The Strand waterfront area has undergone a major redevelopment in the past few years, and is home to a number of cafés, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, as well as a range of accommodation options. Tauranga’s harbour is in evidence almost everywhere you go, providing the urban area with an attractive waterfront setting. Fishing, sailing, diving and dolphin tours are easy to arrange, or check out one of the local beauty spots – McLaren Falls or the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park.
Functional facts: Approx. population 103,635, i-SITE Visitor Centre, domestic airport

Many New Zealanders own holiday homes at "The Mount", a stylish surf town that takes its name from the large dormant volcano that dominates the local landscape. From the base of the mountain, a white sand surf beach stretches as far as the eye can see. On the harbour side of the town is Pilot Bay, a safe swimming spot for families and a launching pad for boats and kayaks. There's plenty to keep you occupied here – surfing, beach walks, big game fishing, dolphin watching, hikes up and around the mountain and swimming in the naturally heated salt water pools. Accommodation options range from private holiday homes to sophisticated serviced apartments and hotels. Dining options are equally broad.
Functional facts: Approx. population 18,645, visitor centre, domestic airport (Tauranga).

Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so volcanic activity is part of the city’s past and present. The city is also the tribal home of the Te Arawa people, who settled in lakeside geothermal areas more than 600 years ago. Entertaining in any weather, and at any time of the year, Rotorua promises to keep you captivated with geothermal phenomena and special cultural experiences. Geysers, boiling mud pools, marae stays, hangi feasts, an authentic pre-European Maori village and indulgent spa therapies will provide plenty of content for your emails home. Rotorua also has a well-developed adventure culture – everything from sky diving to zorbing.
Functional facts: Approx. population 76,000, i-SITE Visitor Centre, domestic airport.