If you’re thinking about discovering the best of New Zealand and wondering how to go about it, there’s one sure-fire way to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Hire a rental car when you land on the North Island, pick the places you want to see the most then head off on a road trip – even a series of them – to discover big-ticket attractions and hidden gems. Here are just a few of the road trip itineraries you might want to consider on a visit to New Zealand’s North Island.
Advancing from Auckland
If you have the chance to jump in a rental car in Auckland, be sure to head north towards the Bay of Islands. Even if you only have a couple of days, you won’t be disappointed. There are 144 islands just off the coast, a string of quaint seaside towns, and stunning natural surroundings.
You’ll want to spend at least a little time on the water. Choose to cruise from Paihia as you look for dolphins and other marine animals or join a kayak tour to get close to nature. Jacques Cousteau named Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, off the coast, one of the world’s top five diving locations, but it’s also accessible for snorkellers. You’ll discover sponge gardens, gorgonian corals, subtropical fish, moray eels and stingrays. To see the best of it, join a dive charter, even if you’re only snorkelling, from Tutukākā Marina.
One unmissable attraction in the Bay of Islands is the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, arguably New Zealand’s most important historical site. Explore its museums, go on a guided tour, stroll through native forest and gardens, see powerful Māori cultural performancesand find out more about the country’s founding document.
Head Out of Hamilton
The Hamilton to Taupō road trip is a popular one, especially since you can take a route that includes the geothermal city of Rotorua. But one of your first stops from Hamilton is likely to be Hobbiton, where you can tour the movie set that appeared in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit trilogy.
As well as being known for its bubbling mud pools and blasting geysers, Rotorua has a number of five-star lodges, where guests can luxuriate in beautiful surroundings and enjoy the finest food and service. Just outside town on the shore of Lake Tarawera, check in to Solitaire Lodge. There are just nine suites, as well as signature experiences like a private excursion to thermal springs or rainbow trout fishing from the property’s catamaran.
As you head towards the adventure capital of Taupō, enjoy more of the region’s geothermal attractions, including Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where the Lady Knox Geyser shoots steam 20 metres into the air, and Orakei Korako, with its incredible display of coloured silica terraces.
West Coast from Wellington
If you want to get away from the crowds, travel up the west coast of the North Island in your rental car from the capital of Wellington to New Plymouth. After only about an hour on the road, you’ll come to the Kāpiti Coast, where there are important bird sanctuaries both on the mainland and on Kāpati Island, which is accessible on a nature tour.
One stop you’ll want to make is Whanganui, a former riverboat town and a current UNESCO City of Design. Anyone who loves culture will enjoy the museums, galleries and music venues. See how craftspeople make fragile pieces of art at New Zealand Glassworks or catch a performance at the Royal Whanganui Opera House.
Further north, you can continue to follow the road along the coast or head inland instead and enjoy lush green farmland. Whatever your decision, Mount Taranaki will be in your field of vision throughout much of the journey. This dormant volcano sits in Egmont National Park, where there are about 300 kilometres of walking trails to explore. Some of the shorter ones will take you through the Goblin Forest and past waterfalls.
Temptations of Tauranga
There are plenty of good reasons to turn your focus to the Bay of Plenty. Tauranga is the region’s largest city and an excellent base from which to explore.
Point the rental car in a northerly direction and you’ll arrive on the Coromandel Peninsula. If it’s summertime, you’ll want to join a kayak tour of Cathedral Cove, where you’ll paddle across the turquoise waters and through the cathedral-like tunnel that separates two stunning beaches.
Feeling energetic? Start early and step out on the Coromandel Coastal Walk that takes in beaches, bays and nature on the seven-hour return trek. If relaxation is more your style, take a shovel to Hot Water Beach and dig your own pool or head to the Lost Spring Geothermal Spa, where heated mineral waters flow from beneath the earth’s surface into pools surrounded by tropical plants.
Before you head off on your North Island adventure, hire a rental car to take you there.
