Honeymoon Road Trip Escape to New Zealand's North Island - 7 Days

Highlights

• Take a tour of the Weta Workshop, an award-winning film effects company
• Go for a swim at Hot Water Beach, where geothermal activity heats the water
• Hike to Cathedral Cove, a secluded beach with dramatic limestone caves
• Soak in geothermal mud and acidic sulfur waters at Hell's Gate in Rotorua
• Fly high above Mount Tarawera on a small-group scenic floatplane experience

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Dinner at Ahi Restaurant

Welcome to New Zealand! You've landed in Auckland, a city surrounded by volcanoes and situated between two harbors, the sparkling Waitemata and the brooding Manukau. More than 500,000 sailboats and yachts have nicknamed it the "City of Sails."  While it's not the capital, this is New Zealand's largest city, so it's a great place to start. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your accommodation. Drop your bags and decide how to spend your free afternoon. In Auckland, you can choose between joining the energy of city life or escaping into nature.

For supreme views of Auckland, scale the 1,075-foot (328 m) Sky Tower with its dizzying observation deck, or make your way to Mount Eden, one of the city's 48 volcanic cones. This evening, you'll taste the best of seasonal New Zealand cuisine at Ahi, a chic restaurant that honors passionate suppliers and growers from across New Zealand. Savor a handful of ever-changing dishes paired with wine, each telling an authentic food story of Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand).

Day 2: All Blacks Rugby Experience, Weta Workshop, Drive to Coromandel

This morning, you'll dive into New Zealand's beloved national sport as you see what it takes to be an All Black. This is your chance to learn stories behind some of rugby's most famous players and historical moments. Your guide will take you through state-of-the-art displays combining sound, images, interactive technology, and activities. You'll not only learn about the country's passion for rugby, but will experience the All Blacks haka (ceremonial war dances), and tackle interactive zones.

From there, experience a world where the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred. Best known for their work on the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the Wētā Workshop is a five-time Academy Award-winning film effects company, and you can explore their creative process of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy filmmaking with a 90-minute tour. Then, it's time to collect a rental car and say farewell to Auckland. You'll travel south along the Seabird Coast, taking around three hours to reach the Coromandel Peninsula. You'll arrive in time to catch a sunset along the specular coastline. 

Day 3: Glass Bottom Boat Tour, Visit Hot Water Beach, Hahei & Cathedral Cove

Today, you'll explore the best of the coastline of Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, including its most famous site—the secluded Cathedral Cove—starting with an aquatic tour. Explore the volcanic rock formations and sea caves in a glass-bottom boat and spot many different species of marine life, such as colorful fish, stingrays, octopuses, and more. You can either watch the marine life through the glass or get in the water for some swimming and snorkeling.

In the afternoon, visit the creatively named Hot Water Beach, where geothermally heated water seeps through the sands. At low tide, dig a hole and create your own mineral pool. The beach has golden, fine sand and is an ideal relaxing place. Here, you'll find cute cafés and art stores, including Moko, which has a great range of local Indigenous arts and crafts for sale. After, travel north to Hahei, where you can walk 30 minutes each way—through the native bush—to reach the beautiful Cathedral Cove, a romantic beach with dramatic limestone caves and arches.

Day 4: Free Time, Coromandel Peninsula Hike

The Coromandel Peninsula extends from Waihi in the south to Port Jackson in the north. The west coast is lined with steep pohutukawa-covered cliffs, while the east side offers an abundance of golden sandy beaches and inlets. Today is flexible so you can explore as you please. You could spend the day relaxing at Whitianga and Mercury Bay, take the ferry over to Cooks Beach and Flaxmill Bay, or dive into history with history buildings and the heritage museum in Coromandel, a former gold rush town.

While the peninsula is famous for its windswept beaches and peaceful bays, its beauty extends inland to its rivers, gorges, and tracts of lush rainforest, punctuated by remains of the historic gold mining boom. This afternoon, choose from various scenic hiking trails. Since you walked to Cathedral Cove yesterday, today you can take a short walk to Shakespeare Cliff Lookout, which offers a panorama of Mercury Bay, or hike 45 minutes to the Kauri Block Track, just outside of Coromandel Town. From this reserve, you'll be treated to views of the coast and the Coromandel Range.

Day 5: Drive to Rotorua, Visit Hell's Gate, Pō Culture & Te Puia Experience

Jump behind the wheel and cruise three hours south to Rotorua. Set within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a wonderland of geothermal activity, complete with boiling mud pools, steaming geysers, and natural hot springs perfect for soaking and relaxing. Rotorua is also a great spot to experience New Zealand's fascinating Māori culture, hospitality, and food. Start at the otherworldly Hell's Gate to soak in geothermal mud and acidic sulfur waters. Feel the healing properties that local Māori have used for over 800 years as warm mud opens and clears your pores.

Later, immerse yourself in Māori culture, starting with a guided tour of the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute. Enjoy Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner, cooked underground using thermal heat. Finally, a cultural performance will take place in a beautiful house, Te Aronui a Rua. After a traditional welcome, you'll be treated to a waiata (song) and mōteatea (traditional chant). Finish the experience with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by the natural elements.

Day 6: Mountain Jade Workshop, Wai Ariki Spa, Mount Tarawera Scenic Floatplane

This morning, you'll have the rare opportunity to meet New Zealand jade artists in their studio. Gain an in-depth introduction to pounamu—the art of carving jade—with a private visit covering jade's rich history and cultural significance. Watch the carving process, select your piece, and learn how to string your honeymoon keepsake into a necklace. After, relax with an indulgent session at Wai Ariki Spa. Under the guidance of the local iwi (tribe), you'll move from hot to cold, mud to water, and air to steam to maximize the benefits of your two-hour restorative journey.

End the day admiring the beauty of Rotorua's wild geothermal activity from above in a floatplane. This small-group excursion takes you above Mokoia Island and over Mount Tarawera's volcanic peak, rising 3,680 feet (1,121 m). Continue south, over the Waimangu Valley, to view other natural landmarks like Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater, and the Wai-O-Tapu reserve. Follow the Waikato River to the hidden valley of Orakei Korako, then land on the river, where you'll swap to a boat and then begin a land-based exploration of Rotorua.

Day 7: Free Time, Depart Rotorua

On your final day, you'll have free time to explore Rotorua at your own pace. Choose to experience the natural wonders of this active volcanic region—or get active. You could start your day exploring Rotorua's famous geysers, bubbling mud holes, steaming vents, and sulfurous pools at Wai-O-Tapu. Explore the nearby redwood forests that are popular with hikers and mountain bikers, or step up the adrenaline at Velocity Valley Adventure Park, where you can go static skydiving or ride a giant swing.

Finally, your brilliant honeymoon across New Zealand comes to a close. Drive to the airport with enough time to return the rental before departing for home or your next destination. Safe travels!

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