My Trip from Wellington to Mt Ruapehu winter 2012

Heading off from Wellington City where I picked pick up my rental car . It was Just a short drive to the Wairarapa region. Where I was able to visit a number of vineyards in Martinborough, I also had time to call into the Paua Shell Factory at Carterton. I stopped over for the night at my accommodation. The next day I travelled on to the Taranaki region which is dominated by Mt Taranaki (Mt Egmont). I stopped off in New Plymouth for the night . New Pymouth which is a coastal city but has a mountain within 30 minutes drive so I went to the mountain for a days snowboarding great fun , . The city was great with museums and art galleries cafes and lots of cool bars to hang out . After a night of fun. I took off the next day to the Central Plateau region and the Tongariro National Park to visit Mt Ruapehu for some skiing I checked in to the Pipers ski lodge in national park village. They had a great package which included dinner, bed and breakfast and ski hire and all the gear as well as transport to Whakapapa ski field. It was such a great spot and good value so  I decided to stay for three days. They had a great bar at the lodge and open fire to warm up after a days skiing lots of international travelers and kiwis alike to chat to and the skiing was great. Rather then heading back the way I came . I set off to Lake Taupo , home of the country's largest lake, There was plenty to do in Taupo . I took a scenic flied with Taupo float plane that afternoon and spend the night in the many bars and clubs  The next day  I  drove  down the centre of the island to the Rangitikei for lunch then  it was a pleasant drive back to wellington .It was a great trip with great skiing and .good company and it was all on my back door step . Taking the time to visit the Wairarapa and Taranaki and Lake Taupo made this ski trip one to remember .I did the whole trip in just 7 days and the cost is a lot less then flying overseas .The good thing was that the driving did not take up all my days and there was every thing to see from coast line to mountains to vine yards So if you are living in wellington  or heading via Wellington on your trip to NZ  and want a great New Zealand holiday try this  itinerary 

 You will love it

Cheers  Steve campell

Wellington