New Zealand’s North Island: a storybook itinerary

Last updated on February 9, 2024

I’ve already posted a storybook version of our itinerary for New Zealand’s South Island, so here’s one for the North Island. For more details, have a look at the huge post I wrote with every last detail of our whole one-month New Zealand road trip, including what we did, where we stayed and how much it all cost…

We arrived from the South Island to Wellington, the itty bitty capital with views across the bay.

Due north is Tongariro, home of hiking…

…and Mount Doom!

When you leave the mountains behind…

…you come to Lake Taupo and its deep blue calm.

Huka Falls roars a mighty growl….

…and at Wairakei Terraces, you can visit the thermals…

….then lay back in the natural spa pools.

Rotorua is the thermal wonderland. Go to Wai-o-Tapu where you can…

…see Lady Knox do her thing.

Then marvel at the coloured lakes…

…from yellow…

…to green…

…to orange.

Matamata is the home of Hobbiton.

Be charmed by the houses…

…pose like Hobbits…

…and feel just like a giant.

Up the coast is Coromandel…

…home to the magnificent Cathedral Cove…

…and the crazy hot spring beach.

Stay in a house amid the trees…

…do yoga…

….bbq…

…and gaze upon the sunsets.

There’s magic in the light.

The Bay of Islands is a paradisiacal treat.

Ride upon a tall ship…

…pretend you’re in Titanic…

…then climb the rigging…

…all the way to the top.

Other boats have boom netting to pull you in the swells.

Sail through the hole in the rock…

…and spot a school of thousands of fish.

If you’ll lucky you’ll spot dolphins…

…playing in the streams…

…and making rainbows with their breath.

For more magnificence, there’s Waipoua…

…home to Tāne Mahuta, the king of the forest.

…and Te Matua Ngahere, the father of the forest.

If you go in March, you might drive down the coast, through tree-lined roads to New Plymouth…

…where you’ll find WOMAD, world of music, arts and dance.

Watch music from across the globe…

…see traditional Maori dance…

…bask in the magical vibes…

…be impressed by the toilets…

…then seek out all the food stalls..

…and gorge on sweet delights.

Next be brave and face the underworld…

…traversing caves at Waitomo…

…for a muddy day out.

Raglan is the spot for surfing…

…a place to drink in nature…

…and eat some excellent food.

New Zealand is a place that brings you joy.

For more info on all of these places, read our full one-month New Zealand road trip itinerary, which has all the details of what we did, where we stayed and how much it all cost. I’ve also done a similar storybook itinerary for the South Island. And here’s a quide to what to pack for New Zealand.