Hi, it's best driving, renting a car & from Auckland to rotorua is 2:40 mins by car or close to 8 hrs via a bus which will be a whole day wasted if travel by bus. If your staying one day you not gonna see much, we stayed 3 nights in rotorua & required more & were happy what we did. The same applies when going to Piahia Bay of Islands, from rotorua it's 5 1/2 hr drive, so many windy roads, plenty of things to do, good luck & enjoy ur holiday in April.

there are several hole in the rock cruises fas tjet if you do not mind the bumps The hole in the rock cruise which is more sedate and you often encounter dolphins The cream trip that goes around the islands and also in the hole in the rock They are all great trips note if the weather is rough you will not go into the hole just beside it

Sorry we were not there for New Years Eve - spent it in Auckland. Great fireworks there from the Sky Tower building!

I would suggest Russell, its a little quieter but either is great