New Zealand North Island Itinerary and Travel Guide

New Zealand is incredible. The North Island is full of beaches – regular ones, hot water ones, and black sand ones, volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, cool birds, amazing hikes, nice people, delicious food, and more. This New Zealand North Island Itinerary will include the best things to do and see on this epic island. I will include different options because humans have different travel preferences. I will also include different trip lengths.

If you’re on this page because you already booked your trip… heck yes. You are going to love NZ. If you haven’t booked a flight yet, do it. It is an amazing place to visit.

New Zealand North Island Itinerary Jump To:

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About New Zealand

New Zealand is an island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, near Australia. The official languages are English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language. They drive on the left side of the road. Population: 5.2 million people. Their time zone is NZST. Wellington is the capital, but Auckland is the most populated.

Their seasons are opposite much of the world: Summer is Dec-Feb. Fall is March-May. Winter is June-Aug. Spring is Sept-Nov. If you want to do a lot of hiking, go anytime but the winter. Otherwise, all year-round is awesome.

My New Zealand North Island Itinerary Experience

I only had 1 week in New Zealand – solo. I found a really cheap flight, but the days I could fly to and from were limited. I also have a toddler, so I couldn’t be gone for much longer than I was. I decided to stay on the North Island because I was already spending so much time on airplanes. And I loved it so much.

I did a lot of research on the best things to do, but I obviously couldn’t do it all. The things I did do were all incredible. Mind-blowingly so.

I gravitate towards the outdoorsy, nature-based things to do. If you want your New Zealand North Island Itinerary to hit the most beautiful outdoor activities, this is definitely for you. And truly, that’s what New Zealand is all about.

Also, this is a New Zealand North Island Road Trip Itinerary. If you’re looking for a bus or group tour of New Zealand, you’ll have to find a different blog. This one requires a rental car. 

I also didn’t camp. I was heading there in winter by myself, so it was easier for me to book hostel rooms than to bring a bunch of camping stuff or to rent a camper. You could definitely do this New Zealand North Island Itinerary as a camping trip, you’ll just find different accommodations than I did. 

North Island vs South Island New Zealand

I read a lot of articles on this. If you have the choice and the time, you should probably choose The South Island. Based on everything I read, the South Island is better – better views, better hiking, Milford Sound, etc. Now that I have been to the North Island and was blown away, I cannot wait to come back and experience the South Island. I can’t really fathom how it could be better, but I guess I have to trust the internet for now.

If you’ve already done the South Island, do the North Island. Or if you’re flight lands in the North Island and you have limited time, do the North Island. Or if you don’t have to do the “best” island, do the North Island. You will NOT be disappointed.

It’s like comparing Cookies n Cream ice cream to Cookie Dough ice cream. Cookies n Cream is (obviously, right?) better, but they’re both really damn good. And you won’t be upset about either choice.

Sunset at Ngarunui Beach in Raglan – NZ is SO pretty

How Many Days Do You Need for the North Island New Zealand?

Honestly, you could spend weeks, even months here. New Zealand draws you in. If you’re like me, you’ll even contemplate moving there.

This will be a 7-10 day North Island New Zealand Itinerary.

If you must, you can do it in a week. You’ll have to prioritize things, but one week in NZ is better than no weeks in NZ.

10+ days would be much better. And you could lengthen this itinerary by spending a night or 2 more in different spots or adding in more driving/towns. I’ll put these options throughout this post.

New Zealand North Island Itinerary Highlights

• Auckland
• Waiheke / Wine Island
• Coromandel Peninsula = Gorgeous Beaches
• Rotorua / Adventure and Geothermal Activity Town
• Tongariro National Park = Epic Hiking
• Glow Worm Cave
• Raglan Beach Town

Map of New Zealand North Island Itinerary

As you can see, it’s quite a bit of driving, but I swear all the stops are SO worth it.

Resources for Planning Your New Zealand North Island Itinerary Trip

Where to Stay

I stayed in a mix of AirBnBs, hostels, and Booking.com places. I list each of my accommodations throughout the post. My advice is to follow this blog or figure out where you’re staying then check Expedia, Booking, AirBnB, and VRBO to find the best options. You can get some decent stays for pretty cheap in NZ. 

Rental Car

I used Snap Rental Car and had no complaints. You can also just google rental cars to find the one you want. I did find that rental cars were much cheaper than the US.

Helpful Sites

• Official New Zealand Tourism Website
• Department of Conservation (DOC) – info on hiking and huts
• Petrinah Darrah’s New Zealand Blog – this was the blog I used the most to plan my trip

New Zealand North Island Road Trip Essentials

Here’s a rough packing list for your New Zealand North Island Road Trip:

• Phone or GPS (I have Verizon, and I was able to add an international plan for $12 per day). You can also rent a GPS from the rental car company.
• Clothing – lots of layers! I never wore anything fancy.
• Rain Jacket
• Hiking Boots
• Trekking Poles – if you plan to use them for hiking
• Toiletries
• Snacks 
• Water Bottle
• Credit and debit card
• Passport!
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit
• Sandals – I live in my Chacos
• Sunglasses
• Adaptor for Outlets – NZ uses Type I; if you travel a lot it’s worth it to buy one of these charging stations
• Day Pack
• Quick Dry Towel
• Bug Spray
• Book
• Reusable Shopping Bag
• Any Medications you take

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, NZ

Spend the day and night in Auckland. 

Pick up your rental car. I used Snap Rental Car. They were the cheapest option, and I had zero complaints.

Stop at the grocery store. There’s a Woolworths right by the airport. Pick up some snacks, fruit, peanut butter & bread, maybe a microwaveable meal, and whatever else you need. Bring your own reusable grocery bag if you remember – helpful for the environment, and it was nice to have all my food in one easy to carry canvas bag.

What you do this day will depend on your arrival time in New Zealand. Be kind to yourself, especially if you have an overnight flight. Don’t pack your day, maybe leave time for a nap, settle in for your holiday.

Here are some ideas, but fill your day in Auckland however you’d like:

• Visit Sky Tower – 60 story tower with panoramic views, bungee jumping, and a restaurant (very touristy)
• Check out Auckland Art Gallery. Learn about Maori culture. Free.
• Visit Auckland Zoo. Lovely zoo. Sometimes it’s fun to visit zoos in other countries.
• Wander Karangahape Road for shopping, live music, restaurants, or a cabaret show.
• Hike the Omanawanui Track to stretch your legs. Epic coastal track, 2.3 mile out and back. It’s around 1 hour from Auckland.

Check out this post on How to Visit Auckland like a Local.

While I do think this is a great way to start your trip to New Zealand, you can skip Auckland altogether if you need to shorten this itinerary and/or if you’re not a city person. You could start on Day 3 and drive the Coromandel Peninsula right when you arrive, as long as it’s an early flight.

Day 2: Auckland again

If you need to shorten this itinerary by a day, you could skip this 2nd day/night in Auckland.

Spend the day on Waiheke Island / Wine Island.

I did not have time to visit this island on my trip, but it’s definitely on my list for whenever I go back.

Waiheke Island is a 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It’s an island of beautiful beaches, vineyards, and a zipline. It’s like a vacationer’s dream.

Logistics: Click here for info on getting to the island. This site has info on ferry fares – it’s cheaper if you go during “off-peak” times. Prices range from $44-$95 per person. There are public buses and taxis on the island, or you can rent a mountain bike, motor scooter, or car. You can bring a vehicle or bike with you on the ferry.

Here’s your 1 day itinerary post from EarthTrekkers. It covers all the best things to do.

You can spend the night on the island or come back to Auckland.

One of the views while driving the Coromandel Peninsula

Day 3: Drive the Coromandel Peninsula and stay near Hot Water Beach

The Coromandel Peninsula is exactly what it says it is. It’s a peninsula, which means a beautiful coastline with amazing beaches along the way.

You have some flexibility here. You can go all the way to the tip of the peninsula, which would add an extra day to your trip. Or you can just see most of the peninsula. I did the highlights and loooooved this area. The drive alone was awesome. And the beaches were spectacular.

If you do all these stops, it is 4.5 hours of driving. Depending on your energy/timing, you can skip Opito Bay if you’re ready to just get to your accommodations.

Stop #1: Waiomu Beach Cafe

Start by setting your GPS to Waiomu Beach Cafe. It’s a lovely cafe with meat pies, coffee, ice cream, pastries, and a nice patio. It’s also right across the street from the water. It’s a beautiful 1 hour 40 minute drive from Auckland to here, so it’s a nice little stop.

Stop #2: Long Bay Big Kauri Tree Hike

Next, you’re going to stop at this random little hike to a sacred Kauri Tree. You park at a little RV campground with beautiful beach views then take a hike through the bush. It’s literally “Big Kauri Tree” in GoogleMaps.

When you drive in, you’ll kind of head to the right and you’ll see a trailhead. It’s a 1.4 mile loop hike – do the loop that takes you by the water. Here’s the AllTrails link to the trail. The Kauri Tree is in the middle of the hike next to the boardwalk. Kid-friendly hike!

Stop #3: Opito Bay

Opito Bay is a stunning beach, 20 mins off the main road. It’s less crowded than some other beaches in the area, so you might get some privacy if you’re traveling here on a perfect beach weather day.

You can park and just head to the beach to relax. Or you can walk up the Opito Bay Pa at the far end of the beach. The walk is only 0.6 miles long, but you have to go up almost 200 stairs. The view is epic, though. 

Final Stop: Your Accommodations for the Night

Now head to wherever you plan to sleep for the night. I stayed at Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park. It had campsites, little one room cabins, a public restroom/showers, a pool and hot tub, food, and it was a short walk to Hot Water Beach.

Hot Water Beach is a beach where you can dig a hole to access hot water to sit in. I didn’t actually get to do this because you can only dig holes/get to the hot water for 2 hours on either side of low tide. Check low tide times before heading here if this is something you really want to do. 

The view from the viewing platform on the Cathedral Cove walk – go on the little extra trail!

Day 4: Cathedral Cove then Drive to Rotorua – New Zealand North Island Itinerary

First, visit Cathedral Cove.

Head to Cathedral Cove, not far from Hot Water Beach. There’s a parking area with an inexpensive shuttle that takes you to the start of the walk to Cathedral Cove. I HIGHLY recommend visiting this beach. It’s beautiful, it has a large overhang and rock formations, and it was one of my favorite things I did on this trip.

The lovely walk takes 30-45 mins each way; it seemed like it was brand new.

There are bathrooms along the walk but not on the beach. Bring a towel and snacks/lunch/water. Be aware that there can be rockfalls and landslides. This area is best visited around low tide.

Also, when you’re doing the walk, there’s a little trail that says “to overlook.” It’s on your left when you’re hiking down to Cathedral Cove and on your right when you’re hiking back. It is not that far of a walk – I don’t think it even adds a half mile, and the view you get is AMAZING. They’ve built a little overlook area and oof the view of the cliffs and beaches is epic.

Next, Drive 3-ish Hours to Rotorua

Depending on how much time you spent at Cathedral Cove, you might have time for another activity in Rotorua. 

**I must add: if you are a Lord of the Rings fan and want to visit Hobbiton, the best time to do this would be on your way from Cathedral Cove to Rotorua.**

Here’s another blogger’s guide to the best things to do in Rotorua. 

You must visit a geothermal park. They have a few options, covered in the above blog, but I did Kuirau Park. It’s free and nothing spectacular, but you can soak your feet in hot spring water and look at steaming water while smelling the bad egg sulfur smell. 

There are loads of adventurous things to do in Rotorua: Take a small plane to sight-see, head to Velocity Valley for bungee jumping, try white water rafting, learn about Maori culture and visit geothermal sites at Te puia, go ziplining, and more.

Day 5: Day in Rotorua, Then Drive to Tongariro National Park

Today, you’ll spend however much time you want in Rotorua doing things you didn’t get to do the day before. You’ll then drive around 2 hours to Tongariro National Park. 

1. Spend more time in Rotorua, see previously listed options
2. Head to Huka Falls, the falls are a short walk from the car park
3. Visit Taupo if you have time
4. End up in Tongariro National Park (there is not much to do here, so there’s no need to get here early for activities. Spend your time in Rotorua and Lake Taupo.)

LOOK AT THIS HIKE AHHHHH

Day 6: Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

This is a big day. My favorite day of this New Zealand North Island Itinerary. You’re going to hike the 12 mile Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of New Zealand’s best day hikes. IT IS SO GOOD.

I can’t adequately convey how amazing this hike is. You’ll hike by volcanoes, past emerald volcanic lakes, in the forest, and more. I was overwhelmed by the beauty. 

Info on The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

• Distance: 12.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2,798 ft
• Difficulty: Hard
• Time to Complete: 6-10 hours
• The trail is very well marked – it would be very hard to get lost unless snowfall has covered the trail
• Best time to hike: Spring, summer, fall (Nov-May). If you do it in winter and it’s been snowy, you should do it with a guide unless you’re a highly experienced mountaineer. 
• No dogs allowed on the trail
• Latrines/bathroom facilities available along the trail
• Weather can change quickly – pack lots of layers
• Bring lots of snacks, a packed lunch, and plenty of water

Because this is a one-way long hike AND there’s limited parking, you will need to book shuttles with a local company. They will pick you up and drop you off at the start, and then they have designated pick up times from the end. I used Tongariro Crossing Shuttles, and it was great.

By the time you finish, you’ll be tired. Relax at your accommodations. I stayed at Manowhenua Lodge, and it was good. It was a hostel, but it was very clean, nice showers, big kitchen, etc.

**If you KNOW you’re capable of hiking fast and don’t want to spend another night here, you could eliminate this night and head to the Glow Worms one day early. There’s not a whole lot going on in this town except for Tongariro National Park. I was alone, I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to hike, and I didn’t want to face a long drive by myself. I ended up making the earliest pickup time from the end and could have driven to the next destination. Butttt I was happy to just read at my hostel and relax for an evening.**

Also, you should visit Tawhai Falls/Gollum’s Pool (0.5 mile short hike) before you head out of this area. And you should eat at Camo Kai Food Truck.

THOSE ARE ALL GLOW WORMS. (It’s way cooler in real life, AND IT IS SO COOL)

Day 7: Glow Worm Caves, stay nearby

The timing of your glow worm cave tour will determine your day. My tour wasn’t until 4:30, so I slept in after the hike, visited Gollum’s Pool, stopped in a little town on my drive up, and did a hike to Omaru Falls (little over 1 mile hike through farmland and forest to a viewing platform). 

Ok, before you’re like mehhh glow worm caves? Seems kind of touristy and not worth it. You are wrong. I felt the same way and was also proven wrong. A friend of a friend told me I must visit the glow worm caves. I listened, and my mind was blown. It was SO cool.

The glow worm caves are located in Waitomo, which is 2-ish hours from Tongariro National Park. 

I did some extensive research and decided to book a tour with Spellbound. I can’t imagine having a better time. You can book a shorter (1.5 hours) or longer (2.5 hours) tour at different times throughout the day. Book ahead of time.

Here is how the shorter Glow Worm tour goes with Spellbound:

You arrive at the Spellbound office, get in the van/shuttle, and drive just a few minutes. You then have a little walk down to the opening of the cave (you can skip the walk and stay in the vehicle if need be). The tour guide will give you helmets with headlamps and talk you through what to expect.

Then you walk through the cave to a boat (with some education on glow worms on the way). The tour guide takes individual photos in the boat that they’ll send you for free at the end. Then you float down the river in the cave, taking photos of the glow worms. They ask that you then put your phones away and just admire the glow worms. I loved that they do this. You spend a decent amount of time floating along, looking up at the magic of glow worms. 

Then you drive back to the office. It’s seriously awesome. You have to see it for yourself.

I ate at Stoked Eatery for dinner and almost cried over my meal. And I spent the night at Waitomo Orchard Estate B&B, and it was lovely. The view was so pretty, everything was clean, and there was a HOT TUB. It was inexpensive and included breakfast. 

Ngarunui Black Sand Beach in Raglan

Day 8: Drive up to Raglan

Still with me? By this point in my trip, I had enjoyed everything SO MUCH I genuinely would not have cared if Raglan turned out to have garbage beaches and terrible views.

But of course Raglan was adorable and BEAUTIFUL. 

You have a 1.5 hour drive from Waitomo area to Raglan. 

Raglan is a cute, small beach town. Relax here. I will list some things that I recommend, and then fill (or don’t fill) your 2 days here.

Things to Do in Raglan:

• Wander around “downtown,” visit the little shops, restaurants, and cafes
• Stop at the Tourist Office inside the Raglan Museum
• Go kayaking or Stand Up Paddle-boarding
• Take a surf lesson
• Park at Earles Place and take a little 15 min hike down to the Ngarunui black sand beach, watch the surfers and/or take a walk
• Watch the sunset at Ngarunui Beach Lookout
• Get a lemon bar and coffee from The Shack Cafe
• Drive over to Bridal Veil Falls : 20 min drive, 30 minute out and back hike
• Drive up the coast and stop at every beach you find. They have different vibes and different views.
• Climb Mount Karioi : 3 hour hike up, 5-6 hour, 5-ish mile hike 
• Take a yoga class at The Space
• Park here by the public restrooms, and lay on the beach and/or take a dip. I saw locals swimming here while I read a book in the sun.
• Get fish n chips for dinner
• Read a book at any of the beaches

I stayed at a really wonderful AirBnB studio in Raglan that I would highly recommend. It was super clean, quiet, had a pretty view, nice host, and you can even use the kayak on the property.

Day 9: Day in Raglan – New Zealand North Island Itinerary

Spend time doing any of the things I listed on the previous day. 

Soak in your last day in New Zealand.

Day 10: Fly home

It is around 2 hours to drive from Raglan to Auckland Airport. I wouldn’t say that the airport was particularly busy or slow, but definitely allow yourself enough time to make your flight. 

New Zealand North Island Itinerary Tips

• Bring a reusable water bottle with you; their tap water is safe to drink. Saves the environment and your money.
• They drive on the left side of the road. Advice I got on driving here: just follow the car in front of you. Ha. Really you only need this tip for the first like 4 minutes of driving and then you’ll get the hang of it. Just be careful, drive slow if you need to, and use the “slow driving” pull-offs to let cars pass you.
• The roads are narrow and winding. It’s very “active” driving, so be prepared for that.
• Eat a meat pie! New Zealand is known for these. They have so many different kinds, and they’re delicious.
• Book accommodations and tours ahead of time, especially during their busy season.
• It’s an easy and quick process, but you do need to apply for a NZ Travel Visa ahead of time.
• My best advice for avoiding jet lag is to force yourself to stay up until the evening on your first night, let yourself sleep as long as you need, and then you’re good. Hopefully 🙂

New Zealand North Island Itinerary – Enjoy!!

I hope you have an amazing time!! If you have any critiques of this post, please comment below. This is meant to be helpful for anyone who reads it. Enjoy New Zealand 🙂 Breathe deep, admire nature’s beauty, and go home feeling refreshed.

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