north island new zealand road trip itinerary

Kate Abroad

10 Day North Island New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary (2024)

New Zealand is a small country but that doesn’t mean you can see it quickly, instead, it’s best to split your time by island and this 10 day North Island New Zealand itinerary is a great place to start.

This itinerary is really the highlights of the North Island as it’s impossible to see the whole place North Island in 10 days. However, if you have a bit more time, there’s a 2 week variation that squeezes more in.

The itinerary is designed to start in Auckland , which is the easiest place to fly into, and end in Wellington so you can jump on the ferry and continue on with my 10 day South Island itinerary for a total 3 week trip.

If you don’t have time for the South Island, then you can return to Auckland for your flight home.

To save a bit of money on this trip, I’d suggest looking into a bundled attractions pass which includes Rotorua hot springs, the Hobbiton movie set and a bunch of other top NZ activities you might want to do on this road trip.

How to get around the North Island on this itinerary

To be honest, this really only works well as a North Island road trip itinerary.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you could travel by bus (see my full guide to New Zealand by bus ) but you will need to allow a few more days as there are limited intercity bus services each day.

I would recommend picking up your vehicle on the morning of day 4 when you leave Auckland. You won’t need a vehicle to get around Auckland and Waiheke Island is a ferry trip from central Auckland. You can save money by not paying for those days, plus you’ll avoid the hassle of Auckland parking. 

If you’re renting a campervan/motorhome/RV, I can tell you it’s almost always going to be cheaper to book cheap central accommodation in Auckland for the first 3 nights than paying for hireage for an extra 3 days plus paying for an Auckland campground that will be far from the city centre plus paying for Ubers/public transport to get in from the campsite.

Likewise, if you aren’t going to the South Island, it’ll be cheapest to do a one-way hire and drop off your car/van as soon as you get to Wellington as there are no central campgrounds in Wellington and you don’t need a vehicle to explore the city.

You can check out rental car prices and book on RentalCars.com

Where to stay on your 10 day North Island road trip

This itinerary works equally well for campervanning or driving and booking nightly accommodation. I have included both campground and hotel/motel accommodation options for each location. 

It’s worth noting that big hotels are only really available in Auckland, Wellington and Rotorua. Outside of there, it’s mostly small motels.

If you usually use points to book chain hotels, you won’t have any luck.

The 10 day North Island road trip itinerary

Days 1-2: auckland.

Start your trip off with two days of exploring New Zealand’s biggest city. If you’re coming from further afield than Australia, you might want to make this a slow start and give yourself some time to get over any jet lag.

The main activities for these days are a trip up the iconic Sky Tower (New Zealand’s tallest building) to see views of the city and exploring the waterfront. 

I especially love the Britomart area which is full of cafes, bars and boutique stores.

While at the sky tower, you could also check out the All Blacks exhibition to get a sense of our national obsession with rugby. Or try the reverse bungy or skyjump for something a bit more adventurous.

If you’re up for venturing a bit further afield, you could take a trip out to Piha, the rugged west coast beach not far from Auckland.

Swimming is not recommended here; we literally have a TV show – Piha Rescue – dedicated to saving tourists who get caught in the rough conditions at Piha.

Alternatively, jump on the ferry to Devonport to visit the more family-friendly North Shores beaches .

There are also some good walks around Auckland. Mount Eden or One Tree Hill are short options that will get you good views for not much effort. Otherwise, head to the Waitakere Ranges for serious hiking.

• Luxury: Hilton Auckland
• Mid-range: Holiday Inn Express
• Budget: Attic Backpackers

Day 3: Waiheke Island 

On day 3, jump on the ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island. The island is in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf less than an hour’s ride from the city.

A return ferry trip to Waiheke Island costs $46 per adult (sometimes there are specials) and ferries run hourly. You can buy tickets at the wharf or online . Advance bookings are a good idea on weekends, in summer or on public holidays.

The highlights of Waiheke Island are the wineries and galleries, and you can either walk, hire bikes or jump on an organised tour to get between them. My favourites are Mudbrick and Stonyridge.

Waiheke is also a beachy spot with lots of options for sunbathing, coastal walks and kayaking or paddle boarding.

If you’re visiting in summer, take the bus to Oneroa Beach and spend some time in or on the water there. You can easily hire boards or kayaks from Kayak Waiheke.

This is a day trip so you can stay in your same Auckland accommodation from Days 1-2.

Day 4: Coromandel

Drive time from Auckland to Coromandel (Whitianga):  2.5-3 hours

Distance: 200km

The Coromandel Peninsula is where many North Islanders come for holidays because of the miles of beautiful swimmable beaches.

I grew up going to Whangamata and Pauanui which are great family beaches in the Coromandel. 

However, the main attractions for visitors and the places you absolutely must hit up on your 10 day north island road trip are Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach which are just south of the town of Whitianga. 

You might recognise Cathedral Cove from the Narnia movies as the rock archway has become one of New Zealand’s most famous photo spots .

Hot Water Beach is known for its warm water rock pools which are heated by thermal hot springs and mean you can swim year-round.

If you’re ok with ait of extra driving, I’d recommend spending some time driving around the coast and checking out all the beaches along the way.

• Luxury: Esplanade Apartments
• Mid-range: Beachside Resort Motel
• Budget/Camping: Harbourside Holiday Park

Day 5: Hobbiton 

Drive time from Coromandel (Whitianga) to Hobbiton (Matamata): 2.5 hours

Distance: 170km

Whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fan or not, visiting Hobbiton is a must-do experience in New Zealand. The cute hobbit-sized houses make great photos if nothing else. 

You can do the standard movie set tour or time your visit for the second breakfast or evening banquet options. The food spread almost looks like something from Harry Potter.

Hobbiton is the main event of Day 8 so if you aren’t interested in staying long there you could spend the morning exploring more of the Coromandel or push on to Cambridge which is a really pretty small town in the Waikato region of the North Island with lots of great food options.

Find more ideas in my Waikato road trip guide .

• Luxury: Villa Walton Bed & Breakfast
• Mid-range: Broadway Motel
• Budget/Camping: Opal Hot Springs Holiday Park

Day 6: Waitomo

Drive time from Hobbiton (Matamata) to Waitomo: 1.5 hours

Distance: 100km

Today it’s time to visit Waitomo Caves. On the way, stop at Mount Pirongia and/or Otorohanga.

Mount Pirongia is a great day hike for the committed tramper, otherwise, you can do shorter walks in Pirongia Forest Park, find the trail details on the DoC website.

Otorohanga is the Kiwiana capital of New Zealand and you’ll notice that when you drive past the giant kiwi on the way into town.

While you’re there you can see the Kiwiana Walk which takes you through the history of some of New Zealand’s cultural icons. There are real live kiwis too at the Otorohanga Kiwi House.

The Waitomo caves are a huge favourite of mine since childhood, although I still can’t remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites! Either way, you can see both at Waitomo as well as glow worms. Plus, there is black water rafting which is cold, dirty and heaps of fun!

If you aren’t keen on fitting into a tube, then you can do guided walking tours of the caves. The Waitomo Caves Tours Guide has a comparison of the different options available.

• Luxury: Waitomo Boutique Lodge
• Mid-range: Woodlyn Park Motel
• Budget/Camping: Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park

Day 7: Rotorua

Drive time from Waitomo to Rotorua: 2 hours

Distance: 150km

Rotorua is the number one tourist location on the North Island because it offers a mix of cultural and natural attractions plus lots of adventure options.

One thing you need to be aware of when you visit Rotorua though is that it stinks like rotten eggs. That’s the sulphur from the geothermal hot springs . The benefit is that you can go soak in the springs at Polynesian Spa or see the geysers around town and near the lakeside. 

Other than spas and geysers, you can check out some fun and thrill-seeking activities like the zorb or the luge or mountain biking. Or just take a ride up the gondola to enjoy the views.

Rotorua is also known for Maori culture as it’s a place of historic significance and the home of the Arawa tribe.

There are plenty of cultural experiences on offer, which allow you to learn about Maori culture and history. Just please don’t go thinking modern Maori live in grass huts or cook all their food in the ground.

• Luxury: Pullman Rotorua
• Mid-range: ibis Rotorua
• Budget/Camping: Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park

Day 8: Tongariro

Drive time from Rotorua to Tongariro (National Park): 2 hours 15 minutes

Distance: 180km

By the time you get to Day 8 you will have seen coastal New Zealand, city New Zealand and farming New Zealand, so now it’s time for mountains.

As you approach Tongariro, you’ll see views of the perfectly conical Mount Ngaurahoe which features as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies.

Tongariro National Park is famous for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the most popular day hike in New Zealand with phenomenal views.

If possible, plan to get to Tongariro in time to devote a full day to the walk (it’s about 8 hours).

There are affordable shuttle options to help you get to/from each end of the trail.

If you don’t have time or want to hike or the weather packs in, then you can simply enjoy exploring the cute mountain towns of Ohakune and National Park. Make sure to grab one of the famous eclairs from the dairy in Ohakune.

In winter, it’s also possible to ski on the slopes of Ruapehu, using National Park as your base. All gear can be hired either in the towns or on the mountain and lessons are available. You can also buy day passes for the lifts on the mountain.

• Luxury: Chateau Tongariro
• Mid-range: Mountain Heights Lodge
• Budget/Camping: Tongariro Holiday Park  

Days 9-10: Wellington

Drive time from Tongariro (National Park) to Wellington: 4 hours

Distance: 330km

Day 9 will be the biggest driving day as you cover half the length of the North Island, so you’ll need at least one extra day to see New Zealand’s capital city. 

On your way from Tongariro to Wellington, you could stop at Otaki (for cafes and outlet shops) or the Kapiti Coast beaches (for walks and swimming). I wouldn’t bother stopping at Palmerston North.

There are so many things to do in Wellington but the top of your list should be Te Papa , the national museum located on the waterfront which contains so many stories of New Zealand’s history.

Don’t miss a trip on the iconic red Wellington cable car that runs from the main street of Lambton Quay up to the historic suburb of Kelburn.

I’d recommend taking the cable car uphill then walking down through the Botanic Gardens. You can buy your tickets online here .

You can also check out the city beaches around Oriental Bay and enjoy ice-cream or fish and chips on the beach.

Wellington is a foodie city and obsessed with coffee. To discover the best the city has to offer, head to the laneways which contain lots of art, awesome cafes and hidden cocktail bars .

• Luxury: Bolton Hotel
• Mid-range: Quest The Terrace
• Budget: The Marion Hostel
• Camping: Capital Gateway (this is a train ride from the city)

Find more options in my Wellington luxury hotel guide , Wellington Airbnb guide or Wellington camping guide .

Alternative: 1 week North Island itinerary

Having only one week in the North Island is really pushing it to squeeze everything. I’d recommend taking the full 10 days or even better, 2 weeks so you can properly see everything.

However, if you are really short on time, then you could skip Wellington and spend only one day in Auckland. The best parts of New Zealand are outside the cities after all and cutting the southernmost point will really reduce your driving time.

Alternative: 2 week North Island itinerary 

This extended itinerary fits even more in but is very action-packed. It works because many of these places are more about natural attractions than activities, so you don’t need as much time there.

For a more slow-paced option, you could take the 10 day itinerary and add extra days in the Coromandel and Rotorua.

• Waiheke trip

As a kiwi, it’s hard to narrow down my favourite parts of my home country to a short itinerary. There’s so much to see and do and there’s no wrong way to see New Zealand.

If you try this 10 day North Island New Zealand itinerary, I’d love to hear what you think. Let me know in the comments below.

Happy travelling!

New Zealand Travel Resources

• Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
• Pre-book your tickets to attractions on Get Your Guide
• Find awesome day tours on Viator
• Compare prices on cars and campervans at RentalCars.com
• Sort your New Zealand dollars with a Wise currency card

Kate is the founder of Kate Abroad. She has travelled to nearly 40 countries from Austria to Vanuatu, and lived in 3. She's on a mission to empower other Gen Zs and Millenials travel affordably by sharing helpful travel guides, stories and tips to over 200,000 readers.

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The Ultimate New Zealand North Island Itinerary: Road Trips from 2 Days to 2 Weeks

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New Zealand’s North Island is stunning. It has some of the best beaches in the country as well as hot springs, geothermal parks, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, wineries, and island sanctuaries.

Outdoor activities are popular, and you can hike, swim, snorkel, sail, surf, bike, and engage in numerous adventure activities like skydiving or jet boating.

It’s the best part of the country to learn about Maori culture and to sample delicious food and coffee at the many restaurants and cafes in the cities. It’s also home to the magical Hobbiton Movie Set!

Three-quarters of New Zealand’s population lives here and it includes the country’s largest city, Auckland, in the north of the island, and Wellington, the capital city, in the south.

We’ve driven between Auckland and Wellington five times and have spent months living in the Northland and Wellington regions.

Below I share our most recent 10-day North Island itinerary (easily reduced to one week) as well as suggestions for trips ranging from two days to two weeks or more. There is also a handy map with everything mentioned.

North Island Itinerary Suggestions

North island road trip tips, map of our new zealand north island itinerary, our north island itinerary, day 1 – 3 hahei, coromandel peninsula (3 nights), day 4 – 6 lake taupo (3 nights), day 7 – 9 te awanga, hawke’s bay (3 nights), day 10 wellington (1 night +), more places to visit in north island , more new zealand posts.

These are my North Island itinerary suggestions for different trip lengths. They assume you are travelling between Auckland and Wellington (or vice versa).

Auckland is where most international flights arrive, although the much smaller Wellington airport has connections to Australia. Wellington is where the ferry to Picton on the South Island departs.

We’ve only spent a short amount of time in Auckland and aren’t huge fans. As most visitors are in New Zealand for natural beauty, I think there are better places to visit.

If you have limited time, just spend a night in the city to recover from jet lag and then continue with these itineraries.

That said, we are fans of the beaches and wineries of Waiheke Island , which is just a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, and a few days there is never a bad idea. 

2 Day North Island Itinerary

If you need to traverse the island in the quickest time possible, you could technically drive from Auckland to Wellington in one day (about eight hours), but it’s best to break up your journey.

When we made this trip in two days, we stayed overnight near Turangi on the southern shore of Lake Taupo . It was quieter than Taupo town (on the north shore) and on the fastest route.

We stayed at a lovely BnB outside town called Omori Lakehouse . We had a private room and bathroom with a stunning lake view as well as use of the owner’s living space. The owners were very friendly and left us beer and brownies as well as providing a continental breakfast with homemade jam.

It was a pleasant stopover and we had a pizza dinner nearby at Floating Rock Cafe on a winery.

We broke up the Taupo to Auckland day with a stop at the Hobbiton Movie Set in The Shire where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies were filmed. 

1 Week North Island Itinerary

If you have a week for your self-drive North Island road trip, you could follow our 10-day route below but reduce the stays from three nights to two nights.

We had plenty of relaxation time, so you could still do most of the things we did. For example:

• Coromandel Peninsula – 2 nights
• Lake Taupo – 2 nights
• Hawke’s Bay – 2 nights
• Wellington – 1 night

In the 10-day section, I discuss some alternatives to these destinations.

Another option which we followed on our first trip to New Zealand:

• Rotorua – 1 night
• Tongariro National Park – 2 nights
• Wellington – 2 nights

If you are continuing south beyond Wellington, check out our picks for the top things to do in the South Island .

10 Day North Island Itinerary

This is the Auckland to Wellington itinerary I detail below.

• Coromandel Peninsula – 3 nights (stay at Tatahi Lodge )
• Lake Taupo – 3 nights (stay in a holiday rental )
• Hawke’s Bay – 3 nights
• Wellington – 1 night + (stay at QT Wellington )

You could replace one or two of the nights in Taupo with Rotorua, especially if you’d like to visit a Maori village.

If you aren’t interested in wineries, swap Hawke’s Bay with Tongariro National Park , one of the most stunning places on the North Island.

In the summer you can hike the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing and in winter you can ski on Mt Ruapehu . I’ve written more about the park at the end of this post. 

2 Week North Island Itinerary

I recommend following the 10-day itinerary but starting with three nights in the Bay of Islands , which is four hours north of Auckland in Northland. See our guide to the best things to do in Bay of Islands .

We spent three months just outside Russell , a charming historic town that makes the best base for exploring the bay. 

It’s a long drive from Russell to Hahei in the Coromandel , but we did it at the start of this road trip, and it took us 6.5 hours plus a lunch break.

With the extra night, you can add time in Auckland, Rotorua, or Wellington.

3 week+ North Island Road Trips

If you have more than two weeks for your North Island itinerary, there are plenty more places to explore. 

This route includes many New Zealand must see destinations .

You could do a loop of the North Island by following the itinerary below and then continuing up the west coast after Wellington to:

• Tongariro National Park – For hiking and skiing on a volcano.
• New Plymouth and the Taranaki region – For beaches, art, hikes and an iconic volcano.
• Waitomo – For glowworm caves, waterfalls, gorgeous green countryside and nearby Hobbiton.
• Raglan – For surfing, waterfalls, and beach horse rides.
• Waiheke Island – For beaches, wineries, and a tropical island vibe near Auckland.

Read more about these North Island road trip ideas at the end of the post.

Back to Contents

A self-drive road trip is the best way to explore the North Island. 

We rented our car with Apex , which is a good option for longer rentals. We liked that they didn’t charge for one-way rentals, changing drop-off locations, or an additional driver.

For shorter rentals, search on Rental Cars for the best deals.

Renting a campervan is also a popular way to explore New Zealand, but you can only stay overnight in campsites or designated freedom camping spots.

Remember that in New Zealand you drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Simon picked up a Vodaphone SIM at the airport on arrival, and I later bought a Spark SIM. Both are fine, but Spark seems to have slightly better coverage in rural areas.

Phone signal isn’t available everywhere, so it’s best to download Google Maps offline so you always have access to directions (which are fairly simple in New Zealand—there aren’t a ton of roads!). 

I recommend packing a water bottle (we always travel with a few  Vapur flexible bottles  as they are light and foldable when empty) and a  travel coffee mug  or thermos.

Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking as you’ll do a lot of it in New Zealand. Most of the time I was fine in my Allbirds wool runners , but I was glad for hiking shoes on the muddier trails. (See my Allbirds review for more details on these super comfy shoes).

You can make this New Zealand road trip at any time of year. We drove it in June, which is early winter.

We had one beautiful, sunny day on the Coromandel, and the rest of our time was mostly cloudy and often rainy.

Temperatures ranged from 10ºC to 16ºC (50ºF – 61ºF). In general, the north is warmer than the south. 

The best weather, especially if you want some beach time, is in the summer from January to March. January is busy as it’s the school holidays, so I recommend February and March instead.

This North Island itinerary starts in Auckland but doesn’t include any time there. If you are arriving on a long flight, allow at least a night in the city to recover before you drive.

Auckland to Hahei Drive: 2 hours 15 minutes / 163km (101 miles)

The Coromandel Peninsula is a detour from Auckland if you are heading south to Wellington, but it’s well worth it and is one of the best places to visit in North Island.

Once you’ve left Auckland’s outskirts behind, it’s a lovely if windy drive through forests and mountains with rocky peaks.

We chose to stay in the cute beach town Hahei which is the perfect base for the Coromandel’s main attractions on the east coast— Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach .

It gets packed in the summer, but mid-week in winter it was very quiet. The town centre is tiny with just a handful of businesses—a shop, cafe, takeaway, ice-cream shop, and a few watersports companies.

We had dinner on our first night at The Pour House , a craft brewery that makes excellent beer and tasty food (including a creative vegetarian pizza).

Hahei Beach is one of my favourites in New Zealand. It’s a gorgeous long white sandy beach with rocky promontories at each end and views of craggy offshore islands.

We enjoyed sunset walks, sunrise runs and swims, and a relaxing afternoon reading in a quiet corner.

Cathedral Cove

Please note that the Cathedral Cove Walk Track is currently closed due to storm damage, please check current updates .

Cathedral Cove is the main attraction in the Coromandel, so it’s best to get an early start to avoid the crowds.

In winter, we had it to ourselves by leaving at 7.30am for the 40-minute walk from town. It’s best at low or mid tide.

The mostly paved walk is fairly easy, although it’s steep in parts, with some beautiful sea views on the way.

Steps lead down to Mares Leg Cove , a gorgeous powdery sand beach backed by white limestone cliffs chiselled by the elements and gnarled pohutukawa trees growing sideways out of the rocks.

From the beach, you walk through a natural rock archway for a view of the beach and sea stacks on the other side framed by the cave opening.

I was worried it might be overrated, but it’s a magical place.

On the way back we took a few of the side trails—the loop trail to a lookout (2km/30 minutes return) takes you through the forest to a platform high above the sea with fantastic views of the rugged coastline and clear turquoise water.

There are also shorter walks (5 minutes each way) to beautiful sandy Stingray Bay and boulder-filled Gemstone Bay , where you can follow a snorkel trail.

I braved the chilly water and was rewarded by seeing a giant stingray as well as banded wrasse, red moki, and crayfish.

With all the detours we ended up walking 11km (7 miles) with 2 hours 40 minutes of walking or four hours including breaks. In summer you’ll likely want to linger on the beaches even longer.

Shakespeare Cliff Lookout

After a morning at Cathedral Cove, we drove 15 minutes to Shakespeare Cliff Lookout.

The last section of the windy uphill road is gravel, but it’s worth it for the 180º views of Lonely Bay , Cooks Beach , and Maramaratotara Bay . 

Hot Water Beach

On our second full day, we made it to Hot Water Beach for sunrise.

There’s a hot spring under a small section of this unique beach where you can dig your own spa bath (only two hours either side of low tide).

It gets incredibly crowded in summer, but in winter there were only a few others around.

Digging a deep hole isn’t as easy as it looks (our bath was more of a puddle), but it was atmospheric to sit in hot water surrounded by steam with the waves crashing and the sky lit up in streaks of pink.

Drive to Coromandel Town

After a shower and breakfast, we left for a loop drive to the other side of the Coromandel Peninsula.

We started on the 309, a windy narrow gravel road that made me car sick. It goes deep in the bush and feels far away from everything.

A few worthwhile stops are the Waiau Kauri Grove , where a peaceful 15-minute loop walk takes you past some of these giant trees, and Waiau Falls , a pretty little falls with a pool that looked enticing for swimming.

We had lunch in Coromandel Town , an old gold town that still has some heritage buildings.

There’s not much going on, but we did enjoy the creative vegetarian lunch options at Wharf Road Cafe which unfortunately is temporarily closed.

UMU Cafe looks like a good alternative with tasty pizza and lunch bowl options.

You could also take a scenic train ride on the nearby Driving Creek Railway , but the times are limited in winter and we missed it.

We drove back on the 25, a sealed road with beautiful coastal views and plenty of opportunities for beach stops. I’d wanted to detour to New Chums Beach , but you can only reach it at low tide.

We ended up taking a short walk at Matarangi Beach , a long white sand beach typical of the area, but the weather wasn’t great. Rings Beach and Kuaotunu Beach are also supposed to be pretty.

Hahei Accommodation

We stayed at Tatahi Lodge , which I highly recommend. It has a range of accommodation for all budgets including a backpackers, motel rooms, and holiday cottages.

It’s set in pretty gardens and is a one-minute walk from the pub, five minutes from the beach, and 40 minutes from Cathedral Cove.

The friendly staff gave us all the information we needed on the area and lent us a shovel and beach towels. The only downside is we only got 5GB of internet free, but it was enough for our stay.

We stayed in a two-bedroom cottage with a log cabin vibe. The decor was a little dated, but it was comfortable and spacious with a kitchen and small garden with BBQ and outdoor furniture.

Hahei to Taupo Drive: 4 hours / 281km (175 miles) plus stops (1 hour 15 minutes)

Our next destination was Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island.

The winding drive through the forest-covered mountains of the Coromandel was beautiful before we reached flatter plains and farmland. Past Matamata the scenery became more dramatic again with lush green rolling hills.

We made three stops—for coffee (and to eat our packed sandwiches) in Matamata, at the Blue Spring Putaruru , and for a quick walk in Rotorua .

I also highly recommend stopping at the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata. Even if you aren’t a Lord of the Rings fan, the cute hobbit village is a picturesque place to wander with incredible attention to detail.

You need to book the two-hour walking tour in advance , but if you book it for early afternoon, it fits well in this itinerary. There’s an average cafe there for lunch, or you can stop in Matamata.

Blue Spring Putaruru

As we’d visited Hobbiton on a previous North Island road trip, we chose to take a break at the Blue Spring in Putaruru , which is just after Matamata and 40 minutes before Rotorua.

We parked at the Leslie Road car park and strolled along the river for 10 minutes to reach the colourful main pool (and toilet).

The incredibly pure water is bright blue and full of floaty green vegetation, creating a magical feel.

You can continue along the river on the Te Waihou Walkway (1 hour 30 minutes each way), but we were a bit concerned about the signs warning of car break-ins.

Our next stop was Rotorua , which is a popular stop on many North Island road trips, so you may want to spend a night or two here.

The sprawling town is renowned for its geothermal activity—you can see steam emerging from the drains and smell the sulphur in the air.

It’s the best place in the country to learn about Maori culture—at Whakarewarewa Maori village you can take a guided tour and see a cultural performance.

As we’d visited previously and recently experienced a Maori performance at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands , we just made a quick stop at Kuirau Park .

At this free city park you can see geothermal activity like a large pool of steaming water and bubbling mud pools.

It doesn’t compare to the experience at the paid geothermal parks (which we’ll visit soon), but it’s worth a quick stop.

Taupo is a lakefront town, one hour from Rotorua. There are some excellent geothermal destinations to explore on the way, but we chose to return to these the following day.

Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and is a popular spot for watersports in the summer.

It’s also a hub of adventure activities like skydiving (which we did here on our first trip to New Zealand), bungy jumping, and jet boating.

As we were visiting in winter, we focused on hot springs, waterfalls, and geothermal parks.

We mostly self-catered, but we did have a good-value lunch at Cafe Baku near the waterfront, which has a huge range of cabinet food including veggie options.

Wairakei Terraces Thermal Spa

On our first evening in Taupo, we relaxed after the drive at the hot pools at Wairakei Terraces .

Sunset would be ideal but the lighting was also atmospheric at night as we soaked in a series of large terraced pools of varying temperatures. It’s open to over 14s only. Entrance is usually $27 but we got a Grabone deal for $15.

Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

On our first full day in Taupo we drove 45 minutes back towards Rotorua for some geothermal action.

There are a number of geothermal parks, but we chose Wai-o-Tapu as it’s known for having the most colourful pools. Tickets are $32.50 and currently can only be bought online.

We arrived at opening at 9am and had the place to ourselves. The full trail around the park is 3km and took us an hour, although you could spend longer if you read all the information signs.

It’s a unique and fascinating place with steam rising from the ground, bubbling mud pools, collapsed craters, and many colourful hot pools.

Champagne Pool is the largest hot spring in New Zealand and Devil’s Bath is an unreal neon green.

There’s also an eruption of Lady Knox Geyser at 10.15am daily at a separate site a short drive away, but we didn’t make it in time.

A few minutes’ drive from Wai-o-Tapu is this free site where you can see mud spurting out of a large pond. It’s definitely worth a stop.

Kerosene Creek

Our final stop on our first day was Kerosene Creek , a 10-minute drive from Wai-o-Tapu (towards Rotorua).

The last five minutes is on a horrible gravel road full of potholes, so I wouldn’t recommend it after rain in a normal car.

There are plenty of hot springs in the area, but this is the only hot river I found, and it’s free.

It’s a unique experience to soak in the warm, shallow water surrounded by forest.

It gets busy so it’s best to visit early, but you can just keep walking down the river to find a quiet spot to yourself. The most popular section was under a small waterfall.

Spa Park and Huka Falls

Our second day in Taupo didn’t go entirely to plan as it rained all day.

We’d planned to park at Spa Park just outside town where there’s a free natural hot spring in the banks of the river.

From there we’d walk on the riverside track (60–90 minutes each way) to Huka Falls , return, then soak in the pools.

Instead, we drove to Huka Falls and did a short walk along the river, and then drove to Spa Park.

Huka Falls is a wide and thunderous mass of water that erupts into a bright blue river.

In the afternoon we drove 25 minutes to Kinloch , a small lakeside village that’s much less developed than Taupo town.

There’s a cycle and walking trail along the lake and it seemed pleasant, but honestly, in the rain we couldn’t see much!

Taupo Accommodation

We stayed at Janey B’s on Botanical (unfortunately no longer available), a one-bedroom apartment under a friendly family’s home a five-minute drive outside Taupo town.

We didn’t mind being outside town as all the activities we wanted to do were a drive away anyway, and we’re not huge fans of Taupo town.

For alternatives search for more holiday rentals in Taupo here .

Taupo to Te Awanga Drive: 2 hours / 156km (97 miles)

Our next destination was Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s east coast, which is known for its wineries and Art Deco architecture. You’ll also find good food and some beautiful walks.

In winter, it’s best to visit on a weekend if possible, as not all wineries are open during the week, especially in Te Awanga .

If you’re not a wine fan, you might prefer to head south to Tongariro National Park instead for hiking in summer or skiing in winter.

It’s an easy, stunning drive from Taupo over the mountains. There’s no petrol on the way so fill up in advance.

It’s a remote area and the only place we stopped was at the sign for a scenic lookout which leads to a view of a large dramatic waterfall.

Te Awanga Estate

Hawke’s Bay is a large area that includes the towns of Napier and Hastings plus the surrounding countryside.

I found it difficult knowing where to stay and ended up choosing Te Awanga , a small seaside village, as it was a flat cycle ride to three wineries (you could even walk).

On the day we arrived, we started with lunch at Te Awanga Estate , a casual winery with views of the vineyard and sea beyond.

It was busy and chaotic on a Saturday and we really should have booked, but we managed to get a table outside.

We enjoyed a vegetarian version of their platter, which featured an array of dips, pickled vegetables, nuts, fruit, and bread, and a tasty pie of the day (chile and cheese was the veggie option), along with the local specialities—Syrah red and Chardonnay white wines.

Te Awanga Beach

After lunch, it was still too early to check in to our accommodation, so we went for a walk on the pebbly beach which is popular with surfers.

The small village consists mostly of baches (holiday homes) plus a shop, takeaway, and the waterfront wineries.

Elephant Hill Winery

Our first full day was our winery day. Despite the pouring rain we ventured out on our bikes (you can rent from Coastal Wine Cycles ) for an easy (if wet) 15-minute cycle on the limestone bike path along the seafront.

If you find yourself based in Napier you can also hire bikes from Tākaro Trails Cycle Tours .

At Elephant Hill you must book a seated tasting ($20 for four wines) and it was a relaxed, informative experience in their modern tasting room.

The view of the sea would have been amazing if we could have seen it!

We focused on the Syrah and Chardonnay again and ended up treating ourselves to a bottle of their Stone Syrah.

We spent an hour there and could have lingered longer over the generous pours.

Clearview Estate Winery

It was a five-minute cycle back to Clearview Estate where we’d booked a table for lunch.

It’s set further back from the sea, so the view isn’t as good, but the rustic dining room was cosy and we appreciated the fireplace.

It was our favourite meal in Hawke’s Bay. We shared halloumi with roasted vegetables, spinach and feta filo parcel, and polenta chips with aioli.

We liked that you could order half glasses of wine to sample their many Chardonnays (the White Caps was oaky and buttery enough to satisfy Simon).

We’d planned to cycle further down the coast to the seafront Hygge Cafe in Clifton for coffee and cake, but the rain was miserable so we spent the afternoon relaxing at our apartment instead.

You could also cycle inland to the wineries near Havelock North , but this will be a hillier route.

We started our second full day with a wander around Napier .

This small city was rebuilt in Art Deco style after an earthquake in 1931, and the streets are still lined with pastel-coloured buildings with geometric motifs.

There are quite a few tempting coffee shops in Napier, so we stopped in at Georgia on Tennyson , before driving to the suburb of Ahuriri for a seafront walk past sea wall murals.

Havelock North

A 25-minute drive from Napier is Havelock North , a boutiquey village on the outskirts of Hastings .

It’s supposed to be one of the most desirable places to stay in the area, but honestly, we didn’t find it that exciting or attractive. Perhaps if we were into shopping we would have enjoyed it more.

It is close to some great wineries and hikes, though.

Craggy Range Winery

Craggy Range is an upmarket winery next to the craggy Te Mata mountain .

We had lunch in the stylish restaurant where the fine dining menu uses local, seasonal ingredients, including produce from their garden.

Although vegetarian options were limited, we did enjoy our halloumi and green bean starter and baked gnocchi with black garlic main. Simon was a fan of their Reserve Chardonnay.

Te Mata Peak

We’d originally planned to hike the 5-kilometre Giant Circuit at Te Mata , but the steep trail was too muddy and slippery after days of rain.

Instead, we drove to the peak and took a short walk for spectacular views of the jagged limestone peaks, bumpy green hills, and down to Craggy Range Winery.

I definitely recommend a longer hike here if the weather is good—it’s the most scenic part of Hawke’s Bay.

Ocean Beach

Our final stop was Ocean Beach , a 30-minute drive from Te Mata and Te Awanga, but it’s well worth a detour with beautiful views of undulating green hills on the way.

Ocean Beach is gorgeous—a long, wide, golden sand beach backed by small dunes and larger green hills.

It feels quite remote and is undeveloped except for a collection of simple wooden baches. I would love to stay here. 

Hawke’s Bay Accommodation

We rented a large studio apartment underneath a family home in Te Awanga.

It was a two-minute walk from the beach and came with free bikes but unfortunately, the accommodation is no longer available.

Alternatively, if you have the budget, you could stay in a luxury cottage on a vineyard at Craggy Range .

The views are stunning here and you’ll have easy access to their restaurant and tasting room. 

Te Awanga to Wellington Drive: 4.5 hours / 323km (201 miles) plus 15 minutes of breaks

It was a beautiful drive down the SH2 to Wellington, especially after Featherston over the dramatic Rimutaka Hill .

There are lots of options for stops on the way, although we only stopped for coffee.

We were tempted to add an extra night at Castlepoint , a remote beach town with a scenic lighthouse, but the weather put us off.

If you want more wine, Martinborough is also worth a night or two (we visited as a side trip from Wellington). Why not try this Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington ?

It’s a smaller wine region than Hawke’s Bay with flat, easy cycling to many nearby wineries (don’t miss the platters at Poppies).

Alternatively, drive through Palmerston North (where you can visit the New Zealand Rugby Museum ) and down SH1 to the Kapiti Coast.

If you have time, you might want to stay in one of the beach towns—we love Paekakariki .

On this trip we spent a week in Wellington staying with friends, but if you have limited time in the country, you’ll probably only want a night or two here.

We do love this compact capital city (we’ve since spent a few months here), but most people come to New Zealand for nature and will likely want to get on the ferry and head to the South Island (see our best East Coast South Island road trip stops and the best South Island activities ).

A few of our favourite things to do in Wellington include the Wellington Botanic Gardens (and the cable car ride up there), a walk along the waterfront to Oriental Bay , the Sunday morning Harbourside Market , the view from Mount Victoria , learning about native birds at Zealandia , and seeing seals on the Red Rocks Walkway . 

Check out these other scenic Wellington walks .

You’ll find some of the best food and coffee in the country here. We love coffee tasting flights at Hangar , hot chocolate at Scopa , seaside brunch at The Botanist or Maranui Cafe in Lyall Bay , vegetarian tasting menus at Hillside Kitchen , and wine at Noble Rot .

Wellington Accommodation

Although we stayed with friends on this trip, we have visited Wellington multiple times. Our favourite place to stay is the stylish boutique hotel QT Wellington .

It has the perfect location opposite the Te Papa museum with harbour views.

Rooms are creative and comfortable (Harbourview Gallery rooms are best) and there’s cool artwork throughout the hotel.

If you have longer than 10 days to travel the North Island, consider adding one or more of these destinations. You could even loop back to Auckland by following these places north. 

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is one of the most spectacular places on the North Island with three active volcanoes in a wild and beautiful landscape.

It’s most famous for the challenging (and very busy) day hike, the Tongariro Crossing .

We visited in early spring when the route was still covered in snow, but there are plenty of other hikes in the area.

We stayed in Whakapapa , the tiny village nearest to Mount Ruapehu and its ski resort.

Our room at Skotel Alpine Resort was simple but had wonderful views of the symmetrical dome of Mount Ngauruhoe , which stood in for Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings films.

Our picks for the area include:

• Tama Lakes hike – An incredible walk to two volcanic crater lakes. The 17.8km trail took me just over four hours plus breaks. It starts next to the Skotel (they rent poles which were useful for the last section).
• Skiing or snowboarding at Mt Ruapehu – While I hiked, Simon spent a day on the slopes. It’s a unique opportunity to ski on a volcano, but the resort does get busy (avoid weekends and July school holidays). Shuttles run from the village. You can also ride up the gondola just to enjoy the magnificent views.

New Plymouth and Taranaki

New Plymouth is a small seaside city in Taranaki , a region on the west coast that is usually overlooked by visitors and even Kiwis.

We soon fell for the green countryside, black sand beaches, cool art, and most of all, the perfectly conical volcano, Mt Taranaki .

Hiking to snow-capped Mt Taranaki in late winter and seeing it reflected in Pouakai Tarn is one of my top North Island experiences.

Read my guide to the best things to do in New Plymouth and Taranaki for more details. 

Waitomo Caves is one of the top tourist attractions in the North Island.

The typical 45-minute cave tour , which we did, includes a walk through an impressive cave and boat ride under a magical sky of glowworms, which glitter like fairy lights.

It’s a commercial operation and the magic is often ruined by the constant flow of tour groups but visiting when the borders were closed, we really enjoyed it. There are also longer cave tours in the area.

Nearby, we also loved the Ruakuri Bushwalk (you can see glowworms here at night), Mangapohue Natural Bridge , and Marokopa Falls , my favourite waterfall in New Zealand.

Raglan is a small surf town on the west coast with a cool vibe. In the area we recommend:

• Horse riding on Ruapuke Beach – Horseback was a fun way to experience this remote jet black beach. We did the trip with Wild Coast who were fantastic.
• Te Toto Gorge – A scenic platform overlooking the gorge with sea views.
• Bridal Veil Falls – A beautiful 55 metre waterfall with four different viewpoints.
• Dinner at Ulos – This quirky, colourful restaurant is run by a friendly Japanese family and has delicious Japanese/Korean food with veggie options.
• Brunch at The Shack – A cool cafe with delicious food.

The impressive Hamilton Gardens are only 45 minutes away—we stopped here on the way to Auckland. You could spend half a day exploring the many gardens including Maori, Japanese, Italian Renaissance, Chinese, Indian, Tudor, and surrealist.

Waiheke Island

This dreamy island would make a good first or last stop in the country as it’s only a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland .

Many people visit on a day trip, but if you like beaches and wineries, you might want to stay longer. Our picks include:

• Man O’ War Vineyard – The food is just ok, but the wine is excellent and the beachside location is wonderful. It’s a windy but beautiful drive on a gravel road to get out here.
• Poderi Crisci – An authentic Italian restaurant on a vineyard in an undeveloped part of the island. Our favourite meal on Waiheke—expect to linger.
• Casita Miró – Delicious tapas and wine with vineyard and sea views and a colourful mosaic design.
• Wine tasting at Mudbrick – It’s worth a visit to this upmarket winery to enjoy the lovely gardens and stunning views. Walk up the hill to the helicopter landing pad for 360º views of the island.
• Cable Bay Vineyard – We enjoyed our mezze platter here, but the views are what people come for.
• Little Palm Beach – My favourite beach on Waiheke is beyond the rocks at Palm Beach and has a secluded feel backed by cliffs (it’s popular with nudists). The walk above Palm Beach also has a lovely view.

There are some amazing holiday homes on Waiheke. We stayed at Te Kereru Onetangi , a spectacular architecturally designed house surrounded by native forest with views of Onetangi Beach below (a 15-minute walk away). We loved the birdsong, sunlight, secluded feel, modern design, and many terraces.

Bay of Islands

A beautiful area of beaches and islands in Northland. Taking the ferry or water taxi to Urupukapuka Island is our top recommendation for the area.

We also spent six days learning to sail a yacht with Great Escape and then sailing ourselves around the islands.

See more recommendations for activities in Bay of Islands New Zealand .

I hope this New Zealand North Island itinerary has given you some ideas for your trip.

There are many fantastic options, but this route is an excellent mix of beautiful beaches, relaxing hot springs, fascinating geothermal parks, stunning hikes, and delicious wineries.

Read more of our tips for exploring beautiful New Zealand.

• 25 Beautiful Places to Visit in New Zealand

North Island

• 22 Fun Things to Do in Wellington
• 8 Stunning Wellington Walks Not to Miss
• 15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Bay of Islands
• 15 Best Things to Do in New Plymouth and Taranaki
• Exploring Beautiful Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands
• Learning to Sail in the Bay of Islands (While the World Falls Apart)
• Visiting the Magical Hobbiton Movie Set

South Island

• 25 Best Things to Do in South Island NZ
• 20 Unmissable Things to Do in Wanaka
• 17 Relaxing Things to Do in Queenstown
• Queenstown to Milford Sound Scenic Flight: The Most Beautiful Half-Day Trip in New Zealand
• 12 Best Road Trip Stops on the East Coast of the South Island
• 24 Best Things to Do in Nelson
• 23 Best Restaurants and Cafes in Nelson, New Zealand
• The Ultimate Guide to Abel Tasman National Park
• Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail: The Ultimate Guide to New Zealand’s Spectacular New Bike Ride
• A Detailed Guide to Walking the Queen Charlotte Track in New Zealand

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Thanks so much for this! I am just following your itinerary for my NZ north island trip. It’s so detailed!!

Could you please let me know the starting point of your Cathedral cove walk?

Reply ↓

We walked from our hotel in Hahei, Tatahi Lodge. Unfortunately, the walk is currently closed after major damage in a cyclone.

Great list! We’re planning a New Zealand trip for whenever that’s possible again and this will come in handy. It’s been on our list for a long time so super excited to start the early planning stages.

Hi Erin, thanks for this wonderful post in these difficult times. Maybe to have something to look forward to in the future: could you do an update post on your current packing list? I am always so interested in the little details (and it helps to mentally look forward to better days where travelling is hopefully possible again).

Thanks & all the best

Hi Jayden, it’s funny you should say that – I’m just working on that right now and it’ll be out by next week!

Here’s our updated packing list: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/carry-on-travel-packing-list/

Great details! Gorgeous land. We’ve always wanted to travel New Zealand, just haven’t made it over yet….it is on our Bucket List!

I hope you make it to NZ one day! It’s such a beautiful country!

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