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New Zealand's North Island combines spectacular scenery with good food and world-class comfort. Among are Ninety Mile Beach (upper left, clockwise), downtown Aukland, Cape Regina lighthouse and Hole in the Rock. You can also experience the ancient Maori culture (lower left), starting with a traditional greeting.

Have you been looking for something different that everyone in the family will enjoy? Then you should think about going to New Zealand.

The country is composed of two islands, North and South, and is a wonderful place for a family visit. This trip focuses on the North Island.

Air New Zealand provides non stop service three times a week from Honolulu to Auckland. Fares start from $814, plus tax, and are seasonal. Remember New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere and seasons are the opposite of ours. Each traveler needs his own passport.

The best bet for seeing the country at your own pace is to rent a motor-home and drive around. Various sizes are available from a one-berth van sleeping two people up to a thee-berth van accommodating six.

Your Hawaii driver's license is all you need. After clearing immigration and customs make a quick call to the motorhome company and off you go.

If you don't feel adventurous enough to drive a motorhome, Regal Travel can book you a car rental or even set up an escorted tour to enjoy this wonderful country.

A three-hour drive north takes you to the beautiful Bay of Islands. While there, you can take a ferry ride from Paihia to Russell, take a catamaran sail to Cape Brett and the "Hole in the Rock" and swim with the dolphins, or visit the Waitangi Treaty House.

Two days later and you are off north for a two-hour drive to Kaitaia the main center for the "winterless north." Purchase a bus tour for Ninety Mile Beach.

You can "surf in your bus" at the water's edge, toboggan down giant sand dunes, visit the Kauri forest or visit Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.

Two days later, motor back through Auckland to Rotorua, site of most geothermal activity in New Zealand. Visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its bubbling mud pools and erupting geysers. Take the kids to the Agrodome to see how a sheep farm is run.

Nonstop action for the kids with bike riding, downhill luge runs, bungy jumping and off-road four-wheel-drive activities are available.

At the end of the day, drive back to your motorhome camp and relax in the geothermal pools located on the grounds.

After a few days of enjoying Rototua, drive to Waitomo and raft through the glow-worm caves or try the black water rafting trip.

On the way back to Auckland, stop at Matamata and visit the Alexander family farm — the site of Hobbiton in the movie "Lord of the Rings."

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Though most of Hobbitton has been dismantled, some hobbit holes and structures still exist and can been seen on the tour, which operates daily.

Upon returning the motor-home in Auckland, spend a couple of nights in this City of Sails.

A must visit with the kids is Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Arctic Exhibit.

See the sharks, rays, eels and fish of New Zealand, then see the King and Gentoo penguins in the arctic exhibit.

Great memories and plans for the next trip back to this wonderful country await you.

Mike Malinowski is the manager of Regal Travel Hilo. He has traveled extensively in New Zealand and is a certified KIWI specialist. For information, call him at 566-7421.