Tongariro National Park Travel Forum

Hello, we are a bunch of guys who would like to visit NZ. We have a lot of general information but we would like to have some info about spots who are worthwhile seeing and not commercially exploited

Is there some one who could give us some spots???

Thanks in advance

I thoroughly recommend the Coromandel Peninsular. Although it is a popular place for people to visit, I really believe it has not been exploited and isn't at all commercially overrun. But this means transport can be inadequate over there.
Oh and get over to the west coast of the North Island to the black sand beaches for example Piha and Bethells out of Auckland or a bit further south go to Raglan which is a lovely little town west of Hamilton. Raglan is fantastic, small and full of musicians.

ooops I just realised this question is in the Tongariro forum, sorry!

LOL Pam! I decided to place my response here too as the question has been written three times....

You seem to have located at least three places that are worth seeing in NZ. Tongariro is great expecially in summer to do the one-day crossing. I did this last summer. In winter you can ski here. Coromandel is also a lovely place with lots of bush walks.
Taupo is good although I recommend that you spend more time in Rotorua than Taupo as there is more to see and do there. Rotorua is very commercial but is still worth seeing for the cultural aspects.
I suggest you spend some time in a National Park like Abel Tasman (near Nelson in the South Island). Northland also has a lot of less commercial places to explore.
Feel free to email me with more details about what you have planned and I can help you further.

Regards,
Rhianon

I agree that Rotorua is worth a visit. So often people say we aren't going to Rotorua because it is too commercialised. That may be true but it is still worth visiting to taste the Maori Culture. There aren't many places where you can see this stuff and Rotorua has ensure authenticity of what they display.
Taupo is fun to do skydiving there.

A bunch of Guys - hanging around Tongariro - arrhh the memories. Whakapapaiti hut is a great day walk away from the crowd. There are some Caves to explore in the Tongariro State Forest.(location is kinda secret - so finding them will be an adventure).
How about 4-5 days canoeing in the Whanganui National Park. Very quite and well away from the tourist crowd (unless you go Christmas week).
Have fun!