The North Island of New Zealand offers a beautiful mix of nature and culture. From stunning volcanoes and geothermal areas, wine regions, beautiful coastal areas to big cities like Auckland and Wellington; there is a lot to experience in beautiful New Zealand. Are you also planning your trip? I would be happy to take you through the highlights of the North Island and share my personal travel experiences!
A road trip across New Zealand’s North Island is a perfect mix of natural highlights, culture and adventure. You often start in Auckland, head via Tongariro National Park to raw volcanoes, and in the south take the ferry to the South Island. In between, you come across beautiful places like the Hobbiton Movie Set or glowworm caves. The North Island is full of sights!
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1. Auckland
You probably don’t travel to New Zealand for the cities, but for the beautiful nature. Yet you probably fly to or from Auckland. If you’re there anyway, you might as well explore the city properly! Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city with 1.6 million inhabitants.
Tips for things to do in Auckland:
- Ponsonby: Trendy neighborhood with authentic wooden houses, cozy cafes, bars, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. Beautiful view over the city from the hills.
- Waitemata Harbour: Breathtaking harbor with lively atmosphere, beaches, recreational opportunities (sailing, kayaking, fishing) and iconic sights (Sky Tower, Viaduct Basin).
- North Shore: City district with beautiful beaches, trendy shops, nice cafes and beautiful parks. Reachable by boat from the harbor.
- Auckland Domain: Beautiful city park with Auckland War Memorial Museum (New Zealand history) and perfect for walking or picnicking.
Tips for just outside the city:
- Waiheke Island: Popular island with beautiful beaches, vineyards and art galleries. Reachable by ferry (40 minutes). Book tickets via Get Your Guide.
- Mount Eden: Hike to the top (196 meters) offers spectacular views of the city, Rangitoto Island and suburbs. Extinct volcano, so no worries about eruptions. Quiet crater with walking paths and panoramic views. Did you know by the way that Auckland is built on more than 50 volcanoes? Visit Mt. Eden in the morning for sunrise, a wonderful way to start your North Island road trip.
You can read all about it in my blog about Auckland. And umm… do you want to eat well somewhere? Then read this blog about the best restaurants in Auckland according to a local.
2. Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s most beautiful hike if you ask me. So put the Tongariro hike on your bucket list, because this special 19.4 km walk over a volcano you absolutely must do in New Zealand.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was the absolute highlight of our road trip through New Zealand for us. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is also one of New Zealand’s most popular hikes. The 19.4 kilometer long trail takes you through a breathtaking landscape of volcanoes, craters, lakes and glacier valleys and even a bit of rainforest at the end. The photos prove how fantastically beautiful this is.
3. Spotting Glowworms in Waitomo
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, hidden in New Zealand’s green hills, lies Waitomo. This place is world-famous for its underground wonders – a sparkling spectacle of glowworms, impressive caves and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you are young or a bit older or traveling with children, Waitomo has something for everyone.
Waitomo’s undisputed star is the glowworms. These tiny native insects create a spectacular light show in the darkness of the caves. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Spellbound are both fantastic places to witness this natural wonder. Float by boat through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and admire the starry sky above you, mimicked by thousands of glowworms.
Read also: The 7 best places to spot glowworms in New Zealand
In Waitomo you will also find a beautiful hike on the North Island: the Ruakuri Bushwalk. Although the Ruakuri Bushwalk is only a 2 kilometer loop, the variety with caves, natural tunnels, a beautiful forest and a breathtaking gorge makes up for the short hike. And there is one more surprise when you return at night! Glowworms then light up the forest and create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.
4. Taupo & surroundings
New Zealand evokes images of rugged, spectacular nature, exciting outdoor activities and getting to know the unique Maori culture. On the North Island lies Taupo, a destination that offers all this. Whether you love hiking, geothermal wonders or the bustling city center, Taupo will undoubtedly be a stop on your trip through New Zealand!
From here you visit New Zealand’s geothermal wonders and the Alpine Tongariro Crossing is also nearby.
5. Marokopa Falls: North Island’s most beautiful waterfall
Far from the hustle and bustle of Waitomo Caves lies a hidden gem tucked away in the forests: Marakopa Falls. This impressive 35-meter-high waterfall is rightfully one of the North Island’s most beautiful waterfalls in New Zealand. This waterfall is often skipped, but according to locals it is one of the North Island’s most beautiful natural highlights.
Looking for something to fill your day at the Glowworms caves? Then absolutely visit this beautiful waterfall!
6. Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua
This eco-tourist attraction gives you the chance to walk 20 meters high in the trees over 28 swaying bridges. And definitely take the popular night tour. This is truly an unforgettable experience!
The Redwoods Treewalk is a 700 meter long walk that runs over 28 suspension bridges and 27 platforms. The walk takes about 40 minutes to complete. The bridges are safe and stable, and there are plenty of platforms to rest for a bit and enjoy the view.
7. Rotorua’s geothermal wonders
Rotorua, located in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, is a popular city known for its geothermal wonders and rich Maori heritage. Early 2024, Rotorua was even named by Booking.com as one of the world’s ten most trending travel destinations. There is only one explanation for that: the extraordinary geothermal area around the Sulfur City.
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village (Te Puia) is Rotorua’s big draw. You not only get to know the Maori culture there, but especially Rotorua’s geothermal wonders.
Rotorua’s most beautiful sights you can read in the blog I wrote about it earlier!
8. Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is truly one of the North Island’s iconic sights in New Zealand and an absolute must-visit in The Coromandel. At the time of writing, Cathedral Cove is only accessible by boat, kayak or water taxi. Cathedral Cove is a popular tourist destination, with 300,000 visitors annually.
9. Hobbiton Movie Set
Hobbiton is a must-see for every fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. This beautiful film set is located in Matamata, New Zealand, and served as the backdrop for many famous scenes from the films. The name “Hobbiton” is a combination of the words “hobbit” and “town” and has been open to the public since 2012.
Different tours are offered at Hobbiton, but a morning tour is a great way to experience the film set before the crowds arrive. During a morning tour, you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful nature.
10. Gisborne
Gisborne is New Zealand’s Chardonnay capital. This wine region has the world’s easternmost vineyards. And a fun fact: the grapes here are the first in the world to see the sun in the morning.
11. The Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands, located at the northernmost tip of New Zealand’s North Island, is a collection of more than 150 islands. And this produces beautiful images. The azure blue waters, white sandy beaches and lush forests create a paradisiacal landscape.
In the Bay of Islands you can do boat trips, kayak trips or sailing trips and of course enjoy the beautiful beaches.
What is the best time to travel to New Zealand’s North Island?
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so our summer is their winter. The best period to make a road trip through New Zealand’s North Island is from December to March. You then have long, sunny days and temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees – perfect for day hikes, boat trips and spotting glowworms.
Want to avoid the biggest crowds? Then go in November or February. The locals then no longer have summer vacation, accommodations are cheaper and you sometimes have the beaches almost to yourself. We traveled in February ourselves and found it ideal: nice weather, not too crowded, and still plenty of activities.
Camper or car on the North Island?
For your road trip on the North Island, you can easily choose either a camper or a rental car with hotels. We saw especially on the North Island many travelers with a regular car, especially because the distances are a bit shorter than on the South Island and you often overnight in cities or larger villages.
A camper obviously offers freedom and is ideal if you also want to camp off the beaten path, like at Lake Taupo or in the forests around Rotorua. But if you prefer to dive into a nice bed and don’t feel like filling up water yourself or washing dishes in the rain, then a rental car with overnight stays in B&Bs or small hotels is also wonderful.
Note: popular campgrounds on the North Island also fill up quickly in peak season. Book in advance if you are traveling with a camper!
Of course there is still much more to see! I have written many more blogs about the North Island and also New Zealand’s South Island and you can also read my 4-week travel itinerary here. Hopefully this blog gives you some more inspiration for your road trip to New Zealand.
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