We are taking a Tauck tour through New Zealand, November 2010, and are planning a pre-tour stay in Bay of Islands. Unfortunately, there are no IHG properties in Bay of Islands. Therefore I am looking for hotel/B&B recommendations, please.

Thanks.

Denise, any chance you'll be in Auckland the same time we are on November 30/December 1?

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm back lurking again now that we've booked another Regent cruise for May of 2010. I happened to see this thread and wanted to suggest the bed and breakfast that Brown & Keene booked for us on our two week trip around New Zealand a few years back. It is the Tio Bay Lodge in Russell, Bay of Islands on the web at www.tiobay.com. It is a really charming out of the way place run by lovely people and located right on the water. The owners have their own boat and will ferry you wherever you want to go. We loved New Zealand!

Hi Peggy,

We are in the very preliminary stages of research and planning. We may very well be in Auckland on those dates. I will be sure to let you know once more firm plans are in place.

Thanks for your suggestion, Sundial. Looks lovely. There are several properties in both Russell and Paihia that look very appealing. It will come down to location and, of course, rates. Fortunately, our USD goes very far against the NZD, which will give us more leeway.

I have no doubt that we, too, will fall in love with New Zealand. A trip long in the wishing for that next year will become reality.

We stayed at the Tio Bay Lodge also in 2005. Ngaire had told us about it. It was very nice. It was a bit off the beaten track and a little tricky to find. I think we only stayed there for one night, which was not enough. The drive up there from Auckland was beautiful but very hilly and curvy, and driving on the "wrong" side of the road was a bit of a challenge given that everyone behind us wanted us to take the curves faster.

I remember that they prepared a nice rack of lamb dinner for us. We were the only guests at the time.

It was interesting because when we were up there, we saw the Mariner, which had just left Auckland, where we had disembarked.

If you have any questions, ask away, and hopefully we'll remember.

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Eugene and Gail

Oops, Denise--looks like I forgot to look at what year you're going. We're going to be there this year (2009). Sorry to miss you, but you'll love New Zealand.

Sorry to miss you, too, Peggy. Some other time our travel plans will coordinate.

Thanks for your input, Eugene.

Denise, Us Dingbats on DINGO debark the Navigator on Dec. 1. What fun a LCT get-together would be in Auckland!