New Zealand North Island Adventure - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Free Time

Kia ora! Welcome to New Zealand's North Island. Begin your adventure in Auckland, where a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Relax before heading out to explore the country's largest city. With two bustling harbors and more than 500,000 sailboats and yachts, it's easy to see why Auckland is nicknamed the "City of Sails." Get your bearings with a stroll around Wynyard Quarter, a newer area with a daily fish market—try the huge mussels or the famous oysters—then check out one of the restored tramways and go for a ride.

Venture up Mount Eden, the highest point of the city at 645 feet (197 m), for views over both the Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Sea, and all of the volcanic cones that make up Auckland. Later, you might like to visit the Britomart neighborhood, known for its bars, restaurants, designer shops, and a little local market open on Saturdays.

Day 3: Waiheke Island Day Trip

Today, board a ferry from downtown Auckland and enjoy a 40-minute cruise through the Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke Island, New Zealand's famous wine island. With hot, dry summers and stony soils, it boasts the perfect conditions for high-quality wines, and its award-winning boutique wineries produce cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, cabernet franc, and more recently, chardonnay. You'll find vineyards, wineries, and olive groves spread across the island, and many, such as Stonyridge, Passage Rock, Mudbrick Vineyard, and Te Motu Vineyard, offer tastings. 

Waiheke Island has a Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus, so you can work your way around the island at your own pace. Choose to stay on for a scenic 90-minute loop tour of the island or hop off at any of the 16 stops to explore vineyards, restaurants, shops, art galleries, beaches, and nature walks. Here, you'll find everything from rugged, bush-clad bays to white-sand beaches, and a large population of writers, poets, and artists make this island a creative place, too. Visit the Waiheke Community Art Gallery to see works by local, national, and international artists and shop reasonably priced art and gifts.

Day 4: Drive to the Coromandel Peninsula, Visit Cathedral Cove & Hahai Beach

Pick up a rental car this morning and say farewell to the "City of Sails." You'll travel south along the Seabird Coast, taking around three hours to reach the Coromandel Peninsula on the east coast. Enjoy the views of mountains and sea around the Firth of Thames as you make your way to this favorite holiday destination. Take a self-guided tour of the region that extends from Waihi in the south to Port Jackson in the north and features dramatic bush-clad mountain scenery, steep pohutukawa-covered cliffs, golden sandy beaches, and secluded inlets.

Venture to Cathedral Cove, a popular beach with a dramatic cave. There's a 90-minute walk from the northern end of Hahai Beach, or you can paddle there by kayak. Make a stop at Whangapoua and New Chums Beach, too, known as one of the top-rated beaches in the world. Despite its reputation, this locale is still considered a not-to-be-missed hidden gem. Enjoy the evening at your leisure, and prepare for more exploration tomorrow.

Day 6: Drive to Tauranga, Glowworm Cave Kayaking Excursion 

Jump back behind the wheel this morning and make your way 2.5 hours south to Tauranga, the largest city in the Bay of Plenty and one of the fastest-growing population centers in the country. Begin the fun at Mount Maunganui, also known as "The Mount," which is the colloquial name for the relaxed beach town that occupies a peninsula at the southern end of Tauranga Harbour. The peninsula is actually a huge sandbar, with a sheltered bay on the inner harbor side and a magnificent surf beach on the ocean side.

At the very tip of the peninsula is a dormant volcano, Mauao, which rises to 755 feet (230 m) above sea level and offers several trails. Huge views of the harbor, beach, and the Pacific Ocean make the rugged climb worthwhile. Later, embark on an evening glowworm kayaking tour, entering a cave where these bioluminescent creatures illuminate the soaring ceilings. Your paddling adventure includes refreshments, beautiful scenery, fantastic birdlife, and, of course, plenty of dazzling glowworms.

Day 8: Drive to Rotorua, Tour Wai-O-Tapu, Buried Village & Hell's Gate

New Zealand is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the tectonic plates are always moving. Nowhere is this more evident than in Rotorua, where the constant geothermal activity includes erupting geysers, steaming fumaroles (vents), mud pools, and hot geothermal springs. Today, make the one-hour drive south to Rotorua, and brace yourself—it's going to smell like sulfur!

Stop first at Wai-O-Tapu, considered to be New Zealand's most colorful and diverse geothermal attraction. Afterward, continue to the Buried Village, an excavated village showing firsthand insight into the chaos and mayhem that transpired on the night Mount Tarawera erupted. 

Finally, visit the Hell's Gate Geothermal Park and join a guided or self-guided walk to explore the 50 acres (20 ha). Follow the footsteps of ancient Māori warriors through the swirling clouds of steam, past the hot pool where the Māori princess Hurutini lost her life, and see the violent geothermal activity of the Inferno and the Kakahi Falls, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. After, soak in geothermal mud and acidic sulfur waters to experience the healing properties that Māori have used for over 800 years. The warm mud will open and clear your pores.

Day 9: Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery & the Agrodome

Day 10: Skyline Gondola Ride & Polynesian Spa

This morning, you'll ride the Skyline Gondola, which is the best way to experience 180-degree views of Lake Rotorua, the city, and the surrounding district. Enjoy a memorable lunch experience at the top, then take your pick of thrilling adventures. Ride the Skyline Luge, a fun-packed, gravity-fueled ride, or choose to go mountain biking, take the Zoom Zipline, or strap into the Skyswing. 

Later, experience Rotorua's geothermal features in a relaxing way as you unwind at the Polynesian Spa on the shores of Lake Rotorua. The spa's main attraction is its four alkaline rock pools, each with different temperatures ranging from 96.8°F to 107.6°F (36°C to 42°C). While soaking in the warm waters, you can enjoy views of the lake, native plants, wildlife, and a nearby grotto.

Day 11: Drive to Mairenui Farmstay, Free Time

Make your way toward the scenic hill country of the Rangitikei District, a three-hour drive south, where you'll enjoy an overnight stay at Mairenui Farmstay. Here, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in authentic New Zealand farm life with the Sweet family, who has worked the land here for more than 100 years. Your stay will allow you to rest and relax in this peaceful rural spot, as well as partake in a farm visit with a family member.

On the relaxed estate, you'll find a pétanque pitch and tennis court, and you can also swim in the nearby river or fish for native trout. Use your time here to relax and soak up nature, or if you can't sit still, it's possible to organize scenic rafting, kayaking, and horseback excursions nearby.

Day 13: City to Sea Walkway, Cable Car & Botanic Gardens

Rise and shine, ready to explore Wellington in-depth today. Start with the City to Sea Walkway, a rich and varied walk from one end of the small and compact city into the surrounding suburbs and hills, and then to the rocky shores of the south coast. The journey should take the whole morning and sports wonderful views of Cook Strait and Kaikōura Ranges.

Later, take in panoramic views of the city from the top of the Mount Victoria Lookout and watch as the Interislander ferry sails into the harbor and the planes fly in and out of the airport. One of Wellington's most popular tourist attractions is the cable car ride, which runs from Lambton Quay, in the commercial heart of the city, tunnels under the corporate towers of The Terrace, and emerges in Kelburn. Today you should also visit the Botanic Gardens, which is a great place for a scenic walk, as well as a picnic lunch. When evening falls, enjoy dinner with a harborside view as the sun sets on your New Zealand adventure.

Day 14: Fly to Auckland, Depart

Your epic adventure across New Zealand's North Island comes to an end today. When the time is right, return the rental car and catch your connecting flight to Auckland for your long-haul flight onward or home. Safe travels!