North Island Itinerary

Get ready for the journey of a lifetime – this driving route will introduce you to the very best of the North Island from the subtropical north to the rugged scenery of the south.

Start: Auckland
Finish: Auckland
Minimum Length: 14 days
Distance: approximately 2,980 km

Day 1 Auckland – Paihia, Bay of Islands [236 km; 4 hr, 5 min]

It’s time to get out on the road and explore! Drive north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to begin the east coast leg of the Twin Coast Discovery Highway through Orewa and Warkworth, heading for Whangarei [165 km; 2 hr, 50 min]. Stop for lunch alongside the boats at the Town Basin then continue your journey to Paihia in the Bay of Islands [71 km; 1 hr, 15 min]. Spend the afternoon on a boat cruise or a ferry ride to Russell, and take some time to explore the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

Day 2 Paihia, Bay of Islands – Kerikeri – Auckland [366 km; 5 hr, 16 min]

At the pretty rural village of Kerikeri [17 km; 15 min], stock up on fresh produce and local arts and crafts. Return to Whangarei [92 km; 1 hr, 20 min], stopping at the quirky Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa. At Whangarei, take SH 14 to Dargaville [58 km; 1 hr, 5 min] then on to Matakohe, where you can visit the Kauri Museum for a glimpse into the region’s history. Drive south past tidal flats crowded with mangroves, turning off at Wellsford to take SH 16 through the Kumeu wine country and back to Auckland [199 km; 2 hr, 52 min].

Day 3 Auckland – Whitianga [214 km; 3 hr, 7 min]

Drive south out of Auckland and turn east onto SH 2 at the end of the Southern Motorway. At Thames [114 km; 1 hr, 50 min], you can revisit the region’s gold-mining history (when this was New Zealand’s second most populous town) or watch migratory seabirds from a coastal hide. Continue north along the famous Thames Coast Road – fringed with magnificent red-flowering Pohutukawa trees in summer – to Coromandel Town [54 km; 47 min]. Stop for lunch and explore local craft galleries and beaches. Drive to Whitianga [46 km; 40 min] and spend the remainder of the day enjoying the water activities at Mercury Bay.

Day 4 Whitianga – Tauranga [170 km; 2 hr, 28 min]

Drive south along SH 25, turning off towards Hahei to explore the magnificent Pohutukawa-fringed white sand-beach of Cathedral Cove. At Hot Water Beach you can dig your own hot pool in the beach at low tide. Continue along winding forest-fringed roads to Whangamata [81 km; 1 hr, 10 min]. Further south, Waihi is home to a working gold mine and Katikati is known for its murals. On arrival in Tauranga [89 km; 1 hr, 18 min], relax on the beach at Mt Maunganui and sample local cafés, or enjoy some of the Bay of Plenty’s many adventure activities.

Day 5 Tauranga – Rotorua [86 km; 1 hr, 30 min]

This morning, drive south from Tauranga to Te Puke [27 km; 23 min], centre of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry. Visit Kiwi 360 to find out more about the fuzzy fruit before continuing on to Rotorua [59 km; 51 min]. Spend the rest of the day experiencing a few of the many activities in this remarkable town. Some of the most unforgettable experiences include seeing geysers and bubbling mud pools in one of several geothermal areas, watching a Maori cultural performance, zorbing (rolling downhill in a giant inflatable sphere), or taking a helicopter flight to the top of Mt Tarawera.

Day 6 Rotorua – Gisborne [286 km; 4 hr, 50 min]

From Rotorua, drive east along SH 30 to Whakatane [85 km; 1 hr, 25 min]. This coastal town is the base for flight-seeing expeditions to White Island – an active offshore volcano – and for marine wildlife experiences such as swimming with dolphins. Beyond Whakatane, SH 2 takes you through the coastal town of Opotiki and the winding Waioeka Gorge to Gisborne [201 km; 3 hr, 8 min]. Unwind with a glass of Chardonnay at a local winery or hire a surfboard and catch a wave at one of several excellent surfing spots. Visit the Tairawhiti Museum and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7 Gisborne – Napier [215 km; 3 hr, 8 min]

Get up early to watch the sunrise from New Zealand’s easternmost town, then head south along SH 2. Stop off along your journey to enjoy the panoramic views from a hilltop lookout on your way to Napier [215 km; 3 hr, 25 min]. Spend the afternoon exploring the Art Deco town of Napier, admiring the famous architecture, sampling the delicious local wines and perhaps enjoying more adventurous pursuits such as taking a 4WD tour to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers or tandem paragliding from the heights of Te Mata Peak.

Day 8 Napier – Taupo [143 km; 2 hr, 30 min]

Today, journey northwest along SH 5 to Taupo [143 km; 2 hr, 30 min]. Try out the many activities that this popular destination has to offer, such as jet boating to the base of the powerful Huka Falls and cruising on Lake Taupo (New Zealand’s largest lake), or take to the air and experience skydiving or flight-seeing to get a new perspective on the lake’s incredible size. More relaxing alternatives include fishing for trout, playing a quiet round of golf or soaking in a hot thermal pool.

Day 9 Taupo – Palmerston North [248 km; 3 hr, 35 min]

South of Taupo, SH 1 curves around the eastern shore of Lake Taupo – a very scenic drive. At the southern end of the lake is Turangi [49 km; 42 min], also a popular destination for anglers. Continuing south, you’ll come to the so-called Desert Road bordering Tongariro National Park and overlooked by a triad of volcanoes rising sharply from this high-altitude plateau. At Waiouru [60 km; 52 min], skiers and snowboarders visiting during the winter months can turn off to Ohakune, a popular après-ski village. Continue south through towns that offer a glimpse of authentic New Zealand rural life on your way to Palmerston North [139 km, 2 hr]. (Optional – add an extra day to your itinerary with a detour to Ohakune.)

Day 10 Palmerston North – Wellington [246 km; 3 hr, 35 min]

Start with a scenic drive east through the Manawatu Gorge on SH 3. Once through the gorge, drive south along SH 2, stopping at the Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre in the hills between Eketahuna and Masterton on your way to Greytown [133 km; 1 hr, 56 min]. Enjoy browsing the boutiques of this pretty rural town then continue on to Martinborough [31 km; 27 min], where you can enjoy a vineyard lunch before exploring the village wine trail, sampling wonderful local wines and stocking up your cellar. Continue your journey south to Wellington [82 km; 1 hr, 12 min] and spend the rest of your day exploring the many excellent shops, cafés, restaurants and bars in this most cosmopolitan of cities – make sure you stay out late and enjoy the nightlife!

Day 11 Wellington – Whanganui [191 km; 2 hr, 45 min]

Take a guided tour of New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings and visit the superb Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Stroll along the picturesque waterfront before driving north along SH 1 to Paraparaumu [51 km; 43 min], centre of the Kapiti Coast. This is the launching point for tours to the wildlife sanctuary of Kapiti Island and is home to popular attractions such as Southward Car Museum and the Lindale Farm Centre. Continue north along SH 1 to Bulls – turn off to SH 3 and Whanganui [140 km; 2 hr, 2 min]. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the renowned Sarjeant Art Gallery, taking a river boat ride, jet boating on the Whanganui River or joining a guided Maori cultural tour.

Day 12 Whanganui – New Plymouth [197 km; 2 hr, 25 min]

This morning, travel northwest along SH 3 through lush farming country to the rural town of Hawera [91 km; 1 hr, 19 min]. Those keen to explore beautiful Mt Taranaki up close can take SH 3A to Stratford – gateway to the mountain – while others can continue west along SH 45 to experience Taranaki’s famous ‘Surf Highway’. Curving around in a half-circle to New Plymouth, the coast is renowned for its excellent surfing conditions and dramatic black-sand beaches, all under the watchful eye of Mt Taranaki’s perfect cone. At New Plymouth [106 km; 1 hr, 33 min], take time to visit the renowned Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and the excellent Puke Ariki Visitor Centre and Museum before settling in for dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Day 13 New Plymouth – Waitomo – Hamilton [256 km; 3 hr, 46 min]

This morning’s drive offers great scenery, from the expanse of ocean as SH 3 hugs the coast just north of New Plymouth, to quaint seaside villages and rugged forest-clad hills as the road winds inland to Te Kuiti [162 km; 2 hr, 22 min]. Stop for lunch in this tiny town before you reach the Waitomo Caves turn-off, a little further north. At Waitomo Caves [20 km; 17 min], take your pick of caving experiences; from spotting glow-worms to abseiling or black-water rafting on an underground river. Once you have your fill of adventure, drive north to Hamilton [74 km; 1 hr, 7 min] and choose from a multitude of restaurants in which to sit back and reflect on your adventures.

Day 14 Hamilton – Auckland [126 km; 1 hr, 55 min]

Start the final day of your tour with a stroll around Hamilton City, exploring the shops and admiring the mighty Waikato River from a riverside walkway. Visit the acclaimed Hamilton Gardens and browse the exhibitions at the Waikato Art Museum before stopping for lunch at a city restaurant. From Hamilton, the final leg of your journey is an easy drive north to Auckland along SH 1 [126 km; 1 hr, 55 min].

Highlights

Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach Swirling seas form an eerie backdrop to Maori legend. Waitomo Caves Labyrinth of underground rivers and soaring glowworm caverns. Geothermal activity Mud pools and geysers in the central North Island and a myriad of thermal pools beyond. Maori culture Rotorua is the focus of accessible Maori culture, but other areas offer their own unique experiences. Fishing Trout in Lake Taupo or marlin in the Bay of Islands. Beaches and harbours Pohutukawa-fringed golden-sand beaches to harbour towns and cities. National Parks Te Urewera, Whanganui, Egmont and Tongariro.