2 week North Island itinerary and travel guide

Sep 23

These are my favourite places to explore in the North Island, covered in two weeks

WINE, BEACHES, HOT SPRINGS — what more could you want from a road trip?

You could argue that the South Island of New Zealand is more beautiful, but the North Island is as diverse as and has more pizazz in the form of geothermal activity and volcanic cones.

I’ve driven laps around the North Island and still haven’t got sick of it. In this two week itinerary, I’ve included some of my favourite places to visit and things to do.

The best things to see in the North Island are beaches, geothermal activity, and Maori cultural experiences. These are the things, in my mind, that really set the North Island apart from the South.

So, I have tried to build this itinerary around the best of all of these things.

I have included some of the more off-the-beaten-track destinations that I love, as well as the more popular attractions. For me, there is a lot of magic to be found on quiet beaches and peaceful forests.

I hope this gives you inspiration for exploring Te Ika-a-Māui.

This itinerary contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you make a purchase through those links. Thanks for your support!

A few tips for visiting the North Island

You can easily do this itinerary in either a campervan/motorhome or in a rental car, staying in Airbnbs and motels. A campervan will let you get a bit more adventurous if you’re up for it — there are some amazing coastal camping spots in the North Island.
Two weeks is the perfect amount of time for a road trip around the North Island. This gives you enough time to experience the top things to do in the North Island, while not having to rush, skip places, or have long driving days.
Driving times in New Zealand can be deceptive. The distances are long and the roads can be narrow and winding, which means it takes longer to get places than you would initially think from looking at Google Maps. Always allow yourself more time than you think you need to get from A to B.

14 day North Island itinerary overview

Day 1-2: Stay in Auckland and take a day trip to Waiheke Island
Day 3-4: Road trip around the Coromandel Peninsula
Day 5-6: Visit Rotorua
Day 7-8: Go hiking in Tongariro National Park
Day 9-10: Wellington
Day 11-12: Explore New Plymouth and Taranaki’s Surf Highway
Day 13: Waitomo
Day 14: Raglan

Day 1-2: Auckland and Waiheke Island

Auckland is the obvious place to start your trip, as your international flight will probably land here.

Auckland itself isn’t the most compelling place to visit, but it’s worth a night or two just to get your bearings and visit Waiheke Island.

My favourite parts of Auckland are Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road, both of which have great places to eat and shop.

I also love climbing up Maungawhau/Mount Eden, where you can get a great view of the city.

TOP PLACE TO STAY IN AUCKLAND

Hotel Britomart is my top pick for Auckland hotels

Check rates

Stay: Hotel Britomart is my top hotel pick of Auckland’s boutique hotels

Eat: I love K Road restaurants like Candela, Coco’s Cantina, and Otto.

Drink: Head up to The Churchill gin bar for a sunset drink (who needs to go up the Sky Tower with views this good).

Day 3-4: Coromandel Peninsula

From Auckland, make your way to the Coromandel Peninsula.

I’m biased (this is my home region), but I think the beaches in the Coromandel are some of the best in the whole country.

A highlight is New Chums Beach, which involves a 20 minute walk to get there, but Cathedral Cove is also world famous for its beauty.

Hahei makes a nice base for exploring, and I also have a soft spot for Tairua.

DON’T MISS

If you do the full loop around the Coromandel, you’ll pass by Luke’s Kitchen in Kuaotunu. Stop in for lunch.

WHERE TO STAY

Something special | Wairua Rainforest Retreat, in the forest near Hahei

Campervan | There are many wonderful camping spots on the Coromandel — my favourites are Waikawau Bay, Opoutere, and Pauanui (the last two are free for self-contained campervans only)

Day 5-6: Rotorua

Rotorua is a fairly essential place to stop in the North Island.

The town itself is pretty touristy, and nothing overly special — although Kuirau Park is a cool spot to see some geothermal activity for free.

If you’re trying to decide between staying in Taupo and staying in Rotorua, I do think there’s a bit more to do in Rotorua. A lot of the things to do in Taupo are similar to the activities in Rotorua. I think you can easily cover Taupo in a day, and don’t need to spend a night there if you’re short on time.

Taupo also has some geothermal attractions, we well as Huka Falls and the Waikato River. In my honest opinion, Huka Falls is cool but maybe not essential to see. It’s pretty busy, quickly seen, and just a big waterfall. Taupo is also a funny little town. It has a pretty lakeside location, but the lakefront is weirdly lined with fast food joints and not much else (although if you want a scenic place to eat Burger Fuel, this is it).

You’ll drive past Lake Taupo on your way south, so you can stop and check out a couple of viewpoints on the way.

I personally find Tongariro National Park more interesting, and even in terms of lakes there’s a bit more stuff south of Taupo town

I think if you’ve seen some geothermal stuff around Rotorua you can happily skip staying in Taupo.

ROTORUA MUST DOS

The one thing you have to do in Rotorua is bathe in thermal waters. Try Secret Spot for a fun experience, Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools for lakeside pools, or for a free hot lake swim check out the Tarawera Trail.

WHERE TO EAT IN ROTORUA

ANI’s Gin Bar & Tapas serves uniquely New Zealand food.

WHERE TO STAY IN ROTORUA

Something special | A little outside of Rotorua is Oakridge Glamping, if you want something rustic and close to nature.

Campervan | Orakei Korako offers camping in their carpark for free, if you pay to visit the park. You can park here overnight and visit the park first thing in the morning.

At the Waikite Valley Hot Pools, a similar deal applies — there is a fee for camping, but this includes entry to the hot pools and you even get access to the hot pools before they are open to the general public.

Day 7-8: Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park, in the heart of the North Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The national park is most famous for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which traverses the moonlike landscapes and skirts past emerald green lakes.

This hike is a full day undertaking, though. If you’re looking to experience a little of the park, head to the national park visitor centre.

There are a number of shorter trails that leave from here. They aren’t as spectacular as the Tongariro Crossing, but you’ll still get to see views of the Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, and see the gorgeous flora of the area.

WHERE TO STAY NEAR TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

The nearest town is Ohakune, but you can find plenty of accommodation in the villages or rural areas around the park.

Another option, if you don’t find places near the park, is to carry on down to the town of Whanganui. I love Whanganui and think it’s nice to swing through for a night, and it gets you a little closer to Wellington.

Day 9: Tongariro to Wellington

A visit to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is a great stop on any North Island itinerary.

Wellington is definitely one of New Zealand’s cooler towns, with a pretty natural setting next to the harbour and some great places to eat, drink, and get to know New Zealand history.

Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand, is free to enter and has many exhibitions on New Zealand's history, art, and culture.

WHERE TO STAY IN WELLINGTON

I love staying at QT Wellington,

Check out more boutique hotels in Wellington.

Day 11-12: New Plymouth and Taranaki

Taranaki is one of my favourite regions in the North Island.

It’s the perfect place to road trip around. The Surf Highway curves around the coast and you can turn down almost any side road and end up at an epic black sand beach.

The waves here are wild and rugged, which is why it’s so famous among surfers, but you can still enjoy beach sunsets, long walks, and swimming when the surf is calmer.

Then there’s Mount Egmont National Park, which is an almost circular park surrounding the mighty peak of Mount Taranaki.

Hiking up the summit is the premier walk in the region, but you can only tackle it on a good weather day in summer, and it’s a full day hike.

A half day hike option is the walk up to the Pouakai Tarns, the reflective pools that mirror the peak of Taranaki on calm days.

New Plymouth itself is a pretty standard town, but there are a couple of highlights.

Chief among these is the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre for contemporary art — it’s pretty impressive for a small town gallery. Pukekura Park is also a very beautiful place to go for a walk.

WHERE TO STAY IN NEW PLYMOUTH

Something special | Ahu Ahu Villas

Campervan | Taranaki is a welcoming region for camping. I loved camping at the Three Sisters/Tongaporutu Domain freedom camp.

Day 13: Waitomo

Drive to Waitomo and explore the famous glowworm caves.

Take a guided boat tour or go blackwater rafting through the caves.

Visit other attractions like the Waitomo Museum of Caves and the Waitomo Discovery Centre.

Day 14: Stop by Raglan

Find more New Zealand itineraries

New Zealand essentials

SIM CARDS: I recommend getting a Skinny SIM card when you arrive

FIND WALKS AND HIKES: The DOC website is the best resource for all trails, scenic campsites, and mountain huts

BEST APPS: Campermate for finding campsites, Gaspy for saving money on petrol

LANGUAGE: English but be prepared for some local quirks

Thanks for reading this far! I hope this itinerary helped you plan a trip around the North Island. Here are some other articles that might come in handy with planning your trip:

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ROAD TRIPS AND ITINERARIES