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  | Two Blondinis   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 4370
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: NZ Holiday ideas? Posted: 26 November 2007 at 8:10pm
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   DH and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary (and 5th wedding anniversary)in March.
 We have 5 days annual leave each and $900 worth of air dollars but here's the thing... we don't know where to go!  lol
 We're taking Caitlin with us so has to be reasonably family friendly.
 We want a nice relaxing holiday, so not to any of the major centres.  We loved Bay of Islands and Gisborne but we've been there before.  A nice beach holiday would be good    nothing too flashy like Mount Mauganui tho!
 Any ideas without breaking our budget?  We'd prefer to pay for everything (getting there and accom) with the air points if possible.
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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 8:14pm | 
 
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   Paraparaumu beach is nice    What about Palmy North?    Nice nice motels and walks around here but no beach nearby    Guess it depends what you like, really!
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  | caliandjack   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 10 March 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 12487
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 8:19pm | 
 
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   What about Hanmer Springs, hot pools are great time to relax. They have a fab mini golf course, and maze that  Caitlin might enjoy.
 Or try Hawkes Bay, Splash Planet in Hastings is great for the kids, so is the Aquarium in Napier and there is the vineyards for mum and dad.
 
 
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       [/url]  Angel June 2012
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  | aimeejoy   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Dannevirke
 Points: 6415
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 8:33pm | 
 
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   Yep, HB is great! Lovely weather, lots of vineyards like fleury said, the beach is a big crap (stoney) but its not far out to one of the nice beaches (like Ocean Beach or Waimarama). Would you be hiring a car? 
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     Aimee
 Hannah 22/10/05
 Greer 11/02/08
 
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  | Bubbaloo   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 3041
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 8:35pm | 
 
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   Whangamata (sp) is nice we hada great time there and the accommodation was reasonably good to and a awesome beach to go with it.
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       Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08
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  | AnnC   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Taranaki
 Points: 6796
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 9:01pm | 
 
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   I must say you cant beat the bay of islands but the coromandel like whitianga is really nice too and relaxing. You could do hot water beach an2 take in a walk or two and also go horse treking if you wanted to. We went there a few times (pre brooke and Rhyley)
 
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     Ann
     Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10)
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  | Two Blondinis   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 4370
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 9:22pm | 
 
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   if we decide to stay on the North Island we'd probably use our car and spend up on the accommodation.  Failing that we'd use the points for our flights and stay in a backpackers or something
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  | Redbedrock   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Wellington, New Zealand
 Points: 1153
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 9:40pm | 
 
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   What about the Catlin's, you could fly to Dunedin and then head south to Invercargill, beautiful beaches, great coves and lots of cheap accommodation, then you get to Invercargill and can stock up on civilisation again before carrying on on the road along the coast and up the mountains to Te Anau.  Absolutely my favourite road trip we have done in NZ, next to the East Cape trip, staying at a homestay in Anaura Bay for a special night on your anniversary
 Edited by Redbedrock
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  | baalamb   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 1820
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 10:29pm | 
 
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   We've had a look into a trip to Napier - definitely child-friendly! Heaps of family things to do there.
 South Island - I've always wanted to go to Chch for a holiday or Kaikoura. Haven't looked too much into those places though.
 
 Have fun planning!
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  | fattartsrock   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 6441
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 November 2007 at 10:31pm | 
 
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   Kaiteriteri up nelson/tasman way is BEAUTIFUL, the sand is golden, it is beautiful, untouched and perfect!
 Love Akoroa as well..
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     The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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  | Glow   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 19 February 2007
 Location: Waikato
 Points: 2259
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 8:27am | 
 
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   I say Able Tasman/Nelson too, with its post card perfect golden bays.
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     Mummy of Two BoysB: 2004
 K: 2007
 
 
 
 
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  | Jennz   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Wellington
 Points: 1897
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 9:20am | 
 
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   Yeah definitely Kaiteri- its stunning there. You can either stay there or theres a motel in Motueka called the Nautilis that we stayed at last time we were there that is nice and family friendly. You can fly into Nelson and Mot/Kaiteri is about a 45 minute drive around the coast.
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     Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3    | 
 
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  | tishy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 17 August 2007
 Location: Wellington
 Points: 3941
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 9:36am | 
 
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   Coromandel! Hahei/Whitangia location is absolutely gorgeous. 
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  | FionaS   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 17 April 2007
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 5117
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 9:38am | 
 
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   Hahei is absolutely wonderful.  We love it around there.  Some of the bays around KeriKeri are gorgeous too.  
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     Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley
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  | .Mel   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 14 January 2007
 Location: Orewa
 Points: 9078
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 10:43am | 
 
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   I'd check out this website as they've done all the research for you eg:  travelling with children etc...they've got some good ideas
Kidz Go Theres this one too:
Travel with kids Happy planning!! 
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     Mr Mellow (16)
 Miss Attitude (8)
 Destructa Kid (3)
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  | Maya   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 16 September 2003
 Location: Sydney
 Points: 23297
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 27 November 2007 at 3:08pm | 
 
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   Go South Island! That way it will feel like a REAL holiday!
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       Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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