The gorgeous North Island of New Zealand – the jumping off point for most when visiting New Zealand. While limitations on annual leave usually mean people only see the highlights of Aotearoa, spending longer on each island really lets you get a feel for this remarkable country, my homeland. This 3 week North Island itinerary offers some suggested road trip routes to my favourite spots on Te Ika-a-Māui, I hope you enjoy!
This post offers an extension and alternative itinerary options from my mega one month in New Zealand post, so use both to help you craft your perfect New Zealand vacation!
- 3 week North Island itinerary + Road Trip Routes
- Auckland + Northland – 1-2 days
- Cape Reinga and the Bay of Islands – 3-4 Days
- Waitomo Caves + New Plymouth – 2 Days
- Forgotten World Highway + Taumaranui – 1 day
- Tongariro National Park + Ohakune – 2 days
- Gentle Annie Highway + Napier – 2 Days
- Wairarapa – 1 day
- Wellington – 2 Days
- Desert Road + Taupo + Rotorua – 4 Days
- Hobbiton + Return to Auckland – 1 Day
- Optional Extra 1: Coromandel Peninsula – 2-3 Days
- Optional Extra 2: Tauranga + Mount Maunganui – 2 Days
- North Island Itinerary FAQ
3 week North Island itinerary + Road Trip Routes
If you are the kind of traveller that only wants to tick off the big-ticket NZ landmarks, then this 3 week North Itinerary may not be for you. This isn’t slow travel either, it’s paced for those who don’t want to drive huge distances every day, but also want to see a lot.
Be aware that this is a self-drive road trip itinerary for the North Island, and cannot be done by public transport. But providing you pay attention to the road rules, speed limits and drive with care, driving on NZ roads isn’t too hard (but they can be winding and narrow, so pay attention).
You’ll find moments of relaxation, scenic drives, all kinds of sights and architecture, and bunches of back road charm!
Day 1: Arrive into Auckland + explore the city
Day 2: Auckland / Waiheke
Day 3: Tane Mahuta / Opononi
Day 4: Cape Reinga / Paihia
Day 5: Paihia / Waitangi
Day 6: Paihia / Drive south towards Te Kuiti
Day 7: Waitomo Caves / New Plymouth
Day 8: New Plymouth
Day 9: Forgotten World Highway / Taumaranui
Day 10: Forgotten World Rail Carts / Ohakune
Day 11: Ohakune / Tongariro National Park
Day 12: Gentle Annie Highway / Napier
Day 13: Napier
Day 14: Martinborough
Day 15: Wellington
Day 16: Wellington
Day 17: Desert Road / Taupo
Day 18: Taupo
Day 19: Taupo / Rotorua
Day 20: Rotorua
Day 21: Hobbiton / Auckland
Auckland + Northland – 1-2 days
You’re likely to arrive into Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand (but not the capital)! You’ll only spend a couple of nights here, mostly just to get over your jetlag, and to see a few highlights.
Use my guide to one day in Auckland to choose some highlights – my picks would be some downtown exploration + a trip out to Waiheke Island (for wine) or Tiritiri Matangi (for hiking and nature conservation).
Accommodation Recommendations: We love the Four Points by Sheraton off Queen Street in Auckland.
Cape Reinga and the Bay of Islands – 3-4 Days
Accommodation Recommendations: Averill Court Motel or Breakwater Motel in Paihia
Northland and the Bay of Islands is worth the majority of your time, so spend a few days on a road trip to the very northern tip of NZ if you can. The coastal landscapes, and the cultural learning opportunities from Cape Reinga, Waitangi and Kororāreka, make it an unmissable section of the trip in my opinion. The highlights for me are:
- Going up via the east coast – Tane Mahuta tree and Opononi harbour OR 90-mile Beach
- Cape Reinga – the northernmost point of Aotearoa
- Spend a couple of days in Paihia, visit Waitangi, and take the ferry over to Russell / Kororāreka while you are there
Be aware, it is a big trip up to Cape Reinga – it’s a long drive, on slow roads. So if you are wanting to do a laid back few days, with less driving, one suggestion is to base yourself in Paihia and take a group tour up to Cape Reinga instead of driving it yourself.
The drive between Paihia and your next stop at the Waitomo Caves is the longest one of the trip (5-6 hours). So, I suggest breaking this up by heading towards Hamilton on your 6th day. Try to get south of the Bombay hills (south of Auckland) to somewhere like Aroma House in Pōkeno, Manor Views in Huntly or BK‘s Premier Hamilton Motel in Hamilton for a stopover night, allowing you to get an early start towards Waitomo the next morning.
Waitomo Caves + New Plymouth – 2 Days
Waitomo, the limestone-filled hills around Te Kuiti, is fully of caves, caverns and underground waterways. This makes the ideal environment for glow worms, who light up the darkness with their glowing behinds. It’s a sight to behold!
We took a tour with Spellbound Tours and it was great. It included pick up from their office outside Te Kuiti, a fab guide with lots of knowledge and good stories, a glow worm boat ride, tea and biscuits, and a guided tour through some stalactite caves too.
After your glow worm tour, take the 2-hour drive to New Plymouth, via the absolutely stunning Awakino Gorge. This lush gorge allows State Highway 3 to cut through to the coast, to the North Taranaki Bight, before following the coast to New Plymouth.
New Plymouth and the Taranaki region is one of the lesser visited parts of New Zealand, but is a gorgeous part of the world (I’m biased, my family are from there). Mount Taranaki and the national park offer ever-changing mountain views from many places, as well as hikes.
Taranaki is an adventure-lovers paradise, with wild black-sand surf beaches, kayaking on the Waitara River, and day-hikes like the famous Pouākai Crossing. Or enjoy the waterfront trail, the Govett-Brewster art gallery, or the beautiful Pukekura Park, an extensive botanical garden near the town centre.
New Plymouth Accommodation Recommendations: Pukekura Motor Lodge or Plymouth International
Forgotten World Highway + Taumaranui – 1 day
This next part of the road trip is the true definition of the journey being as important as the destination. Depart New Plymouth and head south, taking in the splendid views of Mount Taranaki as you head towards Stratford. Stop at Fenton Street Art Collective & Distillery in Stratford to have morning tea or lunch. And pop into the Pioneer Village to see what life was like for the early Pākehā (European settlers).
Then take the winding Forgotten World Highway to Taumarunui. This is one of the oldest heritage trail in New Zealand, once used as a Maori trading route, and now a quiet road only serious NZ road trippers take (as it crosses the country instead of being along the main arterial routes).
Take your time, and visit quirky stops like the Republic of Whangamōmona, where most of the presidents have been animals (a goat, a turtle, a poodle); and Moki Tunnel, so small it looks as if it were made for Hobbits!
End your day at the Forgotten World Motel in Taumarunui, ready for your early excursion out on the Forgotten World Rail Carts the next day!
Forgotten World Rail Carts
Before carrying on the journey to Ohakune, you will spend the morning exploring an absolutely magical regeneration of an old disused railway line – the Forgotten World Rail Carts. Running from Taumaranui to Tokirima, you will start the day early to have time for morning tea and lunch along the rails, before being shuttled back to Taumaranui.
It’s an other-worldly experience, and worth every penny (it’s not cheap, but a totally unique experience)! You can also get a full day adventure, and options with jet-boating too if you wish!
Tongariro National Park + Ohakune – 2 days
Ohakune Accommodation Recommendations: The Powderhorn Chateau or Rocky Mountain Chalets
Ohakune is a cute little ski town, located south of the volcanoes and plains of the Central Plateau, and is known for its fertile vegetable growing and convenient proximity to lots of adventure sports.
For me, Ohakune was our childhood holiday destination… less so for skiing, but more for spring and summer holidays, full of awe at the giant carrot statue, tramps in the National Park, and visits to the National Army Museum in Waiouru. Nostalgia score = 10!
Enjoy a full day exploring the volcanic landscapes at the Whakapapa Ski area, take a hike (or ‘tramp’ as we call it) in the ancient forests off Ohakune Mountain Road (Waitonga Falls or Mangawhero Falls) towards the Turoa Ski area, or visit the historic Tangiwai Memorial.u
There are a few cute cafés and bars in Ohakune, plus a supermarket for provisions. The terrace of the Kings pub has a fab view of Mount Ruapehu (see middle photo below).
Gentle Annie Highway + Napier – 2 Days
One of our favourite routes on childhood road trips was the road dubbed ‘the Gentle Annie highway’. This rolling and winding road runs from the Central Plateau north of Taihape, over the Ruahine Ranges, to the Hawkes Bay. Like many scenic roads in New Zealand, there are old bridges and walking trails signposted along the way. Take your time and enjoy this classic Kiwi drive!
New Zealand sits on the convergence of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, thus suffers from earthquakes regularly. Napier was flattened in the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, which sadly killed 256 people and injured thousands.
The city was rebuilt in the Art Deco style popular at the time, making it a super cute place to visit. Combine that with the wonderful wineries of the Hawkes Bay, and you have a brilliant place to visit on your 3 week North Island road trip.
Stay 2 nights to allow time to enjoy the wineries without needing to drive. Do a cycling wine tour, or do a combo tour that includes Art Deco history, location viewpoints and a wine tasting!
Napier Hotel Recommendations: Scenic Hotel Te Pania or The Nautilus Napier
Wairarapa – 1 day
It’s two wine-biased destinations in a row (sorry to those who don’t like wine). But don’t worry, there’s lots to like about the areas I am guiding you. Beautiful pastoral landscapes, regional museums, wild coastlines and plenty of Kiwi hospitality along the way!
You’ll drive 3 hours from Napier, down into the Wairarapa, where farming landscapes make way for vineyards. Martinborough is my pick for an overnight stop. The Martinborough Hotel is an historic accommodation choice, with easy access to many great cellar doors around the edge of the town.
Wellington – 2 Days
Wellington Hotel Recommendations: TRYP by Wyndham Wellington or Copthorne Hotel
Wellington is my hometown, so you’ll excuse me for extolling its virtues for a moment. The capital city of New Zealand, it is wrapped around a protected harbour, with striking hillscapes all around.
Use my 24 hour guide to Wellington guide to give you some ideas. My favourite things to do include:
- The exceptional cafe culture (Midnight Espresso, Prefab et al.)
- The views from Mount Victoria
- The cable car + a walk through the Botanical Gardens
- A wander + drink along the waterfront
- Nightlife on Cuba Street
- A ferry ride to Eastbourne or Matiu / Somes Island
Desert Road + Taupo + Rotorua – 4 Days
You will begin your journey back north now, cutting up through the centre of the island, along the alien landscapes of the Desert Road (Central Plateau), to the centres of geothermal activity – Taupō and Rotorua.
The Desert Road is such a spectacular drive. Ok, I know I say that about every scenic drive in New Zealand, but it’s an all-over gorgeous country, I can’t help it! I love the Central Plateau because of the vast plains and the variations in landscape. One minute you are driving through tussock-covered plains, the next it is black volcanic rock – such an interesting area!
You’ll spend the next 4 days in Taupō and Rotorua – use this guide to choose how to split your time. My personal highlights are:
- A boat trip on Lake Taupo
- Huka Falls
- Orakei Korako Geothermal area
- Skyline Rotorua
- Kuirau Park, Rotorua
- Swimming at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
- Polynesian Spa, geothermal pools in Rotorua
Hobbiton + Return to Auckland – 1 Day
Your final day will be spent in a whole other world – Hobbiton in Middle Earth! The set for The Shire was created on a farm in Matamata, and they have turned it into a lovely attraction.
The gardens are gorgeous, even for those who aren’t fans of Lord of the Rings. There is a cafe, and they have recently added Hobbit houses that are complete on the inside (before they were just exteriors).
Note: You must book your tickets and time slot ahead of time.
Head the two hours back to Auckland after you’ve enjoyed your visit to the Shire. I hope you’ve enjoyed your 3-week itinerary of the North Island of New Zealand!
Optional Extra 1: Coromandel Peninsula – 2-3 Days
If you have extra time, I would definitely recommend some time on the Coromandel Peninsula. Located around 3 hours from Auckland, it is a mix of crazy roads, epic views, sacred valleys and gorgeous beaches. Slot this in after Hobbiton, before returning to Auckland, if you have the time.
Kuaotunu is my favourite place for a chilled beach holiday, but shhhh, don’t tell anyone 😉
Don’t miss Driving Creek Railway near Coromandel township, a narrow gauge railway into the hills; the view from the Kaipawa Trig Track; and a hike to New Chums beach if you do visit this slice of heaven.
We had some great pies from the Coromandel Bakehouse – remember to try some of the fantastic foods of New Zealand on your road trip!
Optional Extra 2: Tauranga + Mount Maunganui – 2 Days
Have even more time for your North Island itinerary? Head to Tauranga and ‘The Mount’ before heading up to the Coromandel (after Rotorua / Hobbiton). With long swathes of white sand beaches, a real vacation atmosphere, and lots of beachfront bars, this would make a great place to stop and relax for a couple of days.
For adventurers, climb Mount Maunganui at sunrise for awe-inspiring views and photo opportunities.
North Island Itinerary FAQ
If you love the idea of travelling to New Zealand,
don’t miss a trip to Australia too!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
