The Ultimate Itinerary To Travel the North Island, New Zealand

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Whether you’re dreaming of traveling to New Zealand or you’ve already booked tickets, I’m happy to present the ultimate North Island itinerary to get your wanderlust brewing. It spans the North Island from tip to tip and, as someone who’s lived in New Zealand for 3 years now, I selected only the truly worthy spots for your itinerary so you don’t waste a single moment of your trip.

And look. It’s hard to travel on a budget in New Zealand… it’s an expensive country. But the North Island itinerary below fits any budget and includes many free activities so you can live all your New Zealand fantasies.

This itinerary has no timeframe and contains a LOT. Depending on how much time you have, pick and choose what sounds like you and ignore what doesn’t.

Tip: You’ll need a car or campervan. Either rent (rather expensive) or purchase what fits your needs – there’s plenty on TradeMe or local Facebook groups.

Cultural Disclaimer: if you use this itinerary to visit Northland (anything north of Auckland), do be mindful that much of the land is Māori-owned. While they welcome tourists, be respectful, don’t pollute, and just be a decent person.

The Ultimate North Island New Zealand Itinerary 

Auckland

Let’s assume you came in from an international flight and found yourself in underwhelming Auckland. My guess is, you’re not in New Zealand to hang out in a big city so spend as little time here as possible, mostly to collect your essentials and have a few delicious meals.

Then you’ll head north. I know, I know. Most people head south, but not you. You’d be missing one of the most stunning places in the North Island and that’s just a waste.

Piha

A little less than an hour’s drive from Auckland is the little town of Piha, where lives the infamous Piha Beach. Although it looks like a dream, with tropical green cliffs and wide open sands, Piha Beach has numerously made the list of New Zealand’s most dangerous beaches. Whether you surf or swim, be careful. It’s the perfect place for some epic photography and a scenic beach walk.

This little town also hosts a lovely waterfront market on public holidays, the perfect place to support the local community on your hunt for souvenirs.

Bay of Islands

Ahh, the Bay of Islands. We spent two weeks here last Christmas and I fell in love. Set up camp in Paihia and you’re within driving distance of the most stunning white sand beaches.

There’s tons to do in the Bay of Islands.

If you’re willing to spend the cash, hire some kayaks or hop on an all-day boat cruise to visit the multitude of islands off the coast of Paihia. Or take a ferry out to charming Russell, previously dubbed the Hell Hole of the Pacific for keeping pirate company and hosting a myriad of scandalous activities.

But if you’d rather get away from the tourism scene, there are plenty of beaches along the coast like pristine Matauri Bay or wild Taupo Bay. Alternatively, you can head south and explore around Sandy Bay and Whale Bay, some of my favorite beaches in New Zealand.

And don’t forget to visit Kerikeri, with its giant weekend market at the Old Packhouse and the small walks around Rainbow Falls. 

Karikari Peninsula

Had enough of beaches? No? Good. Leave the Bay of Islands and make a stop in the adorable town of Mangonui for a bite and a beer, before heading up to the Karikari Peninsula.

This place is heaven on earth. The beaches around Mt Puheke are one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been, and Maitai Bay isn’t half-bad either. This is hands-down the most underrated part of New Zealand because not a lot of tourists bother to go out there… which I’m fine with.

Best to experience this place without crowds and with maximum sunscreen because the sun is strong, the sands are pristine, and the water is divine.

Cape Reinga

If you manage to leave the Karikari Peninsula (a hard task), cruise on to Cape Reinga, the northernmost tip of New Zealand where you can see the Pacific Ocean meet the Tasman Sea.

This is a wild place, with a few walks that take you down to beautiful and relatively quiet beaches. The Cape Reinga lighthouse itself is a New Zealand icon, a classic spot for your North Island itinerary.

Ninety Mile Beach

Circle back down to the famous Ninety Mile Beach, where you’ll be greeted by wild horses and spot a few of their foals. This is also a quiet part of New Zealand and I recommend you find a beachside camp for the night and observe the starry skies. Utea Park is a favorite of ours, but there’s many others to choose from.

Ninety Mile Beach is hella fun because you can actually drive on the sands. And don’t forget the Giant Sand Dunes where you can sand-board and gaze in awe at the expansive beauty. This spot in New Zealand screams freedom and wide-open air.

When you’re done, head back down to Auckland and have a few delicious meals because we’re not done yet!

The Coromandel 

Some of New Zealand’s most famous beaches live in the Coromandel and although it’s a bit pricey for my taste, it’s worth a stop for a few key locations. This includes Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own hot tub in the sand, and Cathedral Cove for its iconic stone arch over the beach. There’s also New Chums Beach, previously a secret beach where you could go naked into pristine waters… but there were a lot of people when I last went so I guess the secret’s out. Still worth checking out though.

You can’t really go wrong in the Coromandel, and I also recommend the sleepy towns of Whangamata and Tairua, which also feature a few lovely beaches and beautiful rolling green hills.

Mount Maunganui 

One of the “chillest” towns in New Zealand, Mount Maunganui is worth a stop for its iconic Mount, a dormant volcano at the tip of the town. An easy 30-minute hike takes you straight to the top for some killer views. Meander back down to its white-sand beaches, where you can watch surfers running into the sea, go for a little swim, or have a nap in the warm buttery sun.

The town is super cute too, with little boutiques selling local wares, delicious food, and a few quirky pubs.

Rotorua

Famous for its “rotten egg” smell, the sulfur-coated town of Rotorua is a phenomenon. It’s known as the geothermal wonderland of New Zealand, featuring active geysers, natural hot springs, and bubbling mud pools.

There are so many fun things to do in Rotorua so you can hang out here for a couple days if you don’t mind a grungier experience to admire earth’s forces of nature.

Matamata

The Matamata town itself isn’t overly impressive, but it’s where Hobbiton lives. Need I say more? Book a tour to see the famous Shire where you can pretend to be a hobbit, take a buttload of selfies, and sob from fan-girling so hard.

If you have time, it’s also worth checking out Waitomo, which features many fun activities (like blackwater rafting) but is mostly famous for its twinkling glowworm caves.

Taupo

Lake Taupo is impressive for its size, but less so for its town. Stop here to check it out but unless you’re overly fond of lakes, I would move on to more notable New Zealand spots.

Tongariro National Park

If you’re heading south, you’ll likely take Desert Road which will lead you past Tongariro National Park. This is a dystopian flatland apart from the two volcanos, one jagged, the other perfectly conical, dotting the region. This is a dramatic landscape and the isolated mounts will leave you jaw-slacked with their big booming silence.

Stay at the Skotel Alpine Resort for awesome views, or hike the 19.4km Tongariro Alpine Crossing to get a close up at the volcanic peaks and lovely Emerald Lakes. This is another North Island classic and one of the most highly rated New Zealand walks, so it’s worth a slot on your itinerary.

Napier OR Taranaki

Depending on how much time you have, you can either go east toward Art Deco Napier or west to beautiful Taranaki.

Napier is a sleepy city with quaint architecture where New Zealand’s yearly Art Deco Festival is held. It’s also home to Te Mata Peak, a sprawling park of peaks and hills where you can get some truly dramatic shots.

Alternatively, Taranaki is home to New Plymouth, a small town which hosts WOMAD, a giant 3-day festival which celebrates music, dance, and art. And we can’t forget Mount Taranaki, the gargantuan conical volcano which makes for some scenic drives. It’s a beautiful lush region with rolling green hills and sparkling black sand beaches.

Wellington

And that brings you to Wellington, the Coolest Little Capital in the World and my favorite New Zealand city (also my home). The things you can do in Welly are endless, from food to bar-hopping to sunbathing. I even have a list of the 5 most scenic drives in Wellington, which take you around to some breathtaking spots.

Catch a ride on the iconic red Wellington Cable Car for lovely views over the city. Or check out Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum… do note, I’m not the biggest fan of museums but this one’s awesome.

Wellington is also known for having more cafes per capita than New York City so take a meander down Cuba Street, Courtenay Place, and all the alleyways in between for some quirky eats and the most delicious coffee you’ll ever taste.

Related: Why is Wellington the “Coolest Little Capital in the World”?

And don’t forget… this is where you’ll catch your ferry to the South Island and yes, you can onboard your car with you!

And this has been your ultimate North Island itinerary for your New Zealand trip.

Tune in for the Ultimate New Zealand Itinerary: South Island Edition.

Today’s Tunes: Salt and the Sea by The Lumineers