FK73,
Good timing with your post. I've been doing some flying with Classic Flyers at Tauranga for the last two weeks and today I did a cross-country in an Airtourer to New Plymouth and then back to Tauranga via Turangi at the south end of Lake Taupo. The first time in my life that I've flown across a country from coast to coast (and back)!
Excellent legs for basic map and compass flying and an interesting leg over Lake Taupo - about 20nm. As flyinkiwi said, nice cafes at New Plymouth and Tauranga and the Classic Flyers Museum is definitely worth a visit. Ask nicely and they will show you the airworthy aircraft in the other hangars. Tauranga is not THAT busy and ATC are very helpful - just study the VFR procedures in advance.
I42