Quote:
Originally Posted by kelvinkayesha
As far as touristy---I think your partner will get a pleasant surprise. It's only touristy around Rotorua really---Yes there are some tourists---just like there are everywhere around the world---but really in my opinion---Tauranga & Mount Maunganui are mainly popular with New Zealanders---who come from other North Island areas---for their summer holidays---however mostly that's only from Christmas time, for about a month---the rest of the year is really very laid back---Te Puke is not touristy---it is mainly an agricultural township---so close to the less populated beaches---eg: Pukehina---miles & miles of beach often with just a couple of fishermen
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LOL! Thanks for reminding me Kelvin - I'd forgotten what 'touristy' means in the UK. I still remember a Bournemouth beach on a sunny day where there was so little space you couldn't put a towel down without encroaching on your neighbour...
Jen - we actually aim for towns that we think might be a bit 'touristy' simply because we're more likely to find a choice of cafes there! The ONLY places we've found that might be considered 'touristy' in the UK sense are Mount Maunganui (which I will say is my most unfavourite place - sorry Mount Maunganui-ists!), Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, and, as Kelvin says, Rotorua (head for the park on a Saturday morning to see the locals playing bowls and croquet - very English!). Other than them - well, we have pictures of someone resembling Ursula Andress emerging from the waves on a deserted beach, horses galloping through the waves on a deserted beach, motorcycle trail bikes racing along a deserted beach.... get the picture?
Oh - and roads - get out of Auckland and you'll wonder where all the traffic went.