New Zealand North Island Highlights - 14 Days

Highlights

• Take boat rides around Auckland Harbour and the Coromandel Peninsula
• Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set as you make your way to geothermal Rotorua
• Seek an adrenaline kick with the high-speed Huka Jet in a volcanic valley
• Enjoy a progressive dinner as you hop between wineries in Hawke's Bay

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Sunset Dinner Cruise

Kia ora! Welcome to New Zealand's North Island. Your adventure begins in Auckland, where a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. New Zealand's self-proclaimed "City of Sails" is the country's largest metropolitan area. With two bustling harbors and more than 500,000 sailboats and yachts, it's not hard to see why. Drop off your bags then use the rest of the day to explore this city that's a haven for both city-lovers and adventure-seekers. You could pop into a handful of museums and galleries, or venture out to Mount Eden for panoramic city views.

Day 2: Full-Day Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges Tour

Most of Auckland's top landmarks and sights can be seen in a morning, so after breakfast pack a day bag and meet your guide for a whirlwind tour of the city. You'll marvel at the 50 dormant volcanic cones throughout the city, and take in its two harbors once more, before venturing beyond the city limits to explore the Waitakere Ranges and its rainforest and beaches. The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park offers over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of diverse native forest and coastline, and it's just a 40-minute drive from the city.

Pristine bush, rich wildlife, and rugged black-sand beaches collide, and your visit will start at the Arataki Visitor Centre, where you'll learn about New Zealand's native plants and animals. From here, take in breathtaking panoramic views from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean, then set off for a rainforest walk. Follow a trail, walking among fern and kauri trees, then swap the forest for the beach. Visit the wild and rugged Piha on the west coast, where you can swim or lounge on the black-sand beaches, before returning to the city.

Day 3: Drive to Whitianga via Coromandel & Drive Creek Railway

Collect a rental car this morning and set off for the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island's east coast. Enjoy the views as you wind around the Firth of Thames on the three-hour drive to this favorite holiday destination. Before Whitianga, stop at the Driving Creek Railway. Owner Barry Brickell dreamed of establishing a pottery workshop and built a railway to access the clay. Now, visitors can experience this unique attraction with a one-hour train journey through the replanted native kauri forest. Pottery is still produced here, and you can watch artists at work.

You're now in the Coromandel Peninsula, a region that extends from Waihi in the south to Port Jackson in the north and features dramatic bush-clad mountain scenery. The west coast of the peninsula offers pohutukawa-covered cliffs, while the east coast is known for its golden sandy beaches and inlets. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at Whitianga and Mercury Bay, or take the small foot ferry over to Cooks Beach and Flaxmill Bay. 

Day 4: Cathedral Cove Cruise

Today you'll cruise around the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula's volcanic coastline, exploring its many beaches and sea caves. Begin your journey at Whitianga Wharf, where you'll board a 28-foot (8.5 m) cruiser. From here, set off to explore Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, including the picturesque Cathedral Cove. Next, travel past Shakespeare Cliff and the golden sands of Cooks Beach. You can go on a snorkeling excursion in the marine reserve and spot many species of fish, crayfish, stingrays, and octopus. Or, stay dry and watch the vibrant underworld on a screen.

Day 5: Explore Hahei & Hike to Cathedral Cove, Visit Hot Water Beach

Yesterday you saw Cathedral Cove, a stunning beach with dramatic limestone caves and arches, from the water. Today you'll reach the natural sight by foot. Make your way to Hahei, a place with close connections to the local Māori people. You can see the sites of two of their pa (fortified villages), which are now reserves, and set off on a 30-minute walk (each way) to reach Cathedral Cove. Take off through the native bush at the northern end of Hahei Beach. Alternatively you could rent kayaks.

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.

Day 6: Drive to Rotorua via Hobbiton, Māori Feast & Performance

Today you'll journey three hours south to Rotorua, New Zealand's famous geothermal city. This area is one of the world's most active volcanic regions, and you'll find bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and signs pointing to natural hot springs. Your scenic journey passes through J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth. Set in the heart of the Waikato region's farmland, you'll reach The Shire and the Hobbiton Movie Set, where you can explore Bilbo's house and drop into the Green Dragon Inn to sip ale, cider, or ginger beer.

This evening, you'll experience traditional entertainment and seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pa (village), a space of towering tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and a forest-formed amphitheater. Te Pa Tu (formally called Tamaki Māori Village) shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural aspirations across four hours of celebration and food. Upon arrival, share seasonal kai horotai (delicacies) such as roasted tuna, creamy paua (abalone) on rewena (bread) crostini, and foraged greens.

Day 7: Free Time, National Kiwi Hatchery Tour

Rotorua is located within one of the world's most active volcanic regions, and today you'll get to experience some of the action. You could spend your morning at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, one of the area's most colorful volcanic attractions, or let nature work its magic with an invigorating soak in natural mineral hot springs at the Polynesian Spa. Or, if adrenaline rushes are your thing, head to the Velocity Valley Adventure Park for static skydiving or a ride on a giant swing.

Day 8: Drive to Taupō, Huka Falls Jet

When you're ready this morning, make the hourlong drive to Taupō through the heart of the Central North Island volcanic plateau, passing through the thermal region's Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Taupō sits at the edge of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, and a volcanic caldera formed by a massive eruption 25,600 years ago. This is the North Island's capital of outdoor activities—here, you can go bungee jumping, jet boating, take helicopter flights, or skydive.

In the afternoon, set off for an exhilarating excursion to Huka Falls, where the Waikato River propels 58,000 gallons (220,000 l) of water per second. In a state-of-the-art jet boat, you'll zip past cliffs and trees at an incredible 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), bracing yourself for the adrenaline rush of 360-degree spins and passing clouds of steam where hot springs meet the river. On the way you'll pass the Huka Prawn Park, the perfect stop for lunch before your thrilling adventure. 

Day 9: Māori Rock Carvings Cruise, Kaituna Whitewater Rafting

Enjoy a relaxed morning sailing across Lake Taupō toward the 33-foot-high (10 m) Māori rock art, only accessible by boat. These pieces were created by Matahi Brightwell, a traditional Māori carver, in 1980. The largest depicts Ngatoro-i-rangi, a celebrated Māori hero and tohunga (spiritual leader). Enjoy the scenic ride across the lake to the unique artworks, then enjoy your time on the water exploring quiet bays before returning to shore.

Day 10: Drive to Napier, Hawke's Bay Progressive Winery Dinner

Today, you'll make the three-hour drive to Napier, a coastal city set among the vineyard-grooved landscape of Hawke's Bay. In 1931, a violent earthquake and subsequent fires destroyed most of the commercial heart, and the people of Napier rebuilt their city with an Art Deco flare. Drop into one of the many cafés for a fantastic cup of coffee with cake, then get your steps up exploring Napier's famous Art Deco Quarter and the Norfolk pine-lined coastline. You can also meet freshwater and marine life at the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Later today, embark on an interactive and progressive food and wine journey. Enjoy scenic drives through Hawke's Bay's vineyards as you hop from a winery to one of New Zealand's top winery restaurants, enjoying a progressive three-course meal along the way. Then, enjoy panoramic views from Te Mata Peak while sipping a glass of sparkling wine as the sun sets. 

Day 11: Visit a Winery, Art Deco Architecture Tour, Gannet Safari

Today you'll explore Hawke's Bay, which offers a Mediterranean climate, Art Deco style, and the nation's first winemaking region. Your guided tour will likely begin with a visit to Mission Estate—touted as the birthplace of New Zealand wine. Take a walk around the vines, then head into Napier town to see prominent Art Deco landmarks during a 1930s vintage car tour. Spend an hour discovering the city's architecture, including the Napier Municipal Theatre—one of the best known Art Deco Buildings in the world.

After, you could rent a bike and explore over 125 miles (200 km) of bike-friendly trails, or relax on one of area's many beaches, such as Ocean or Waimarama, which are patrolled by lifeguards during the summer. Another option is to take a tour focused on local produce, chocolate, cheese, or honey. You can also take a special bird-watching safari, where you'll meet Cape Kidnapper's gannet colony—the largest of its kind in the world.

Day 12: Drive to Wellington, Free Time, Visit the Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary

Today you'll cross the Rimutaka Ranges as you make the four-hour drive south to New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, and your final destination. Set off early to make it to the vibrant cultural city for a late lunch. Then, in the afternoon make the journey on New Zealand's only funicular railway, the historic Wellington Cable Car. Take in city and harbor views from the Kelburn Lookout, visit the Cable Car Museum, and explore Space Place at Carter Observatory. If you have time, return with a downhill walk via the beautiful Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Day 13: Explore Wellington, Optional Half-Day Middle-earth Tour

A melting pot of art, culture, food, and fashion, windy Wellington is a cosmopolitan city and home to the country's government. Today you can choose to take a self-guided exploration or the city, or join a Middle-earth tour. If you choose the former, start at Te Papa Museum for a history lesson, then step down Cuba Street in search of some of the city's best vintage stores. Take a break for coffee at a café then snap a photo with the Beehive, New Zealand's parliamentary debate chamber. End the day at a quirky laneway bar, or find an underground art show.

Alternatively, "The Lord of the Rings" fans can follow the Hobbits' footsteps with an afternoon small group journey through Middle-earth. Your local guide and fellow fan will take you to film locations, such as Rivendell, the River Anduin, and the Gardens of Isengard. 

Day 14: Depart Wellington

It's time to say goodbye to New Zealand! If you have time before your flight, visit the fascinating Te Papa Museum or the Wētā Workshop, where you can see the design studio behind "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," and "Avatar."

Then, make the short drive to the airport with enough time to return your rental car before your departing flight home or onward. Safe travels!