The Great New Zealand Touring Route
get to taupo on the great new zealand touring route
The Great New Zealand Touring Route (GNZTR) is renowned as one of New Zealand's best driving experiences. The circular route offers the opportunity to experience the very best of the North Island in one compact area following two well established touring routes, the Pacific Coast Highway and the Thermal Explorer Highway.
The Great New Zealand Touring Route comprises of 7 regions - Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Waitomo, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Ruapehu.
The regional Tourism Organisations that are members of these touring routes are as follows, Tourism Coromandel, Tourism Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay Incorporated, Visit Ruapehu, Destination Lake Taupo, Destination Tourism Rotorua Marketing and Waitomo. 
Thermal Explorer Highway
The return journey to Auckland takes on the Thermal Explorer Highway from Hawke's Bay through the centre of the North Island into areas of Lake Taupo, Ruapehu, Rotorua and Waitomo.
Thermal wonderlands are a feature of the Thermal Explorer along with sublime food and wine experiences. You'll see steaming geysers, bubbling mud pools and some of the largest silica terraces in the world along this touring route. Without a doubt this touring route takes in the very best of the countries thermal activity. When you reach Hawke's Bay you can kick off your shoes dine alfresco amidst the vines.
More than 40 vineyards are clustered around the river plains behind Hastings, and most have a cafe or restaurant. Some visitors choose to cycle from one to the next; others team up with a local tour operator, to avoid the need to drive. 
The Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway is well signposted along the entire route, giving a safe and easy way to navigate through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery New Zealand has to offer. Be among the first people to see the sun as it rises majestically over the Pacific, casting its first rays over the stunning white sand beaches along the length of the Highway.
Experience pure escapism!
Sample of the world's best seafood, innovative cuisine and award winning wines and indulge yourself in one of the many luxurious accommodation establishments along the way.
Enjoy the diverse and unique heritage within the region. You'll find an abundance of buildings from another era, ancient Maori pa sites, countless historical delights and the living heritage of the stories and faces of the local people.
Marvel at the talents of the local artists and share with them the environment that so inspires them - the slice of the Pacific paradise that is the Pacific Coast Highway.
For more information about the GNZTR and the two touring routes go to www.gnztr.co.nz
