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Day 01
Night 1 · Auckland
01
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland
- 1
Viaduct & Wynyard Quarterallow an afternoon
Water, food, sleep. Nothing ambitious.
Night 1 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$420
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North Island · 10 days · 9 nights
10 Day North Island Road Trip
The Essential North Island
Ten days lets the North Island breathe. Two nights in Auckland, a Coromandel beach, two in Rotorua, the volcanic plateau at Tongariro, two nights in the wine country of Hawke's Bay, and a proper finish in Wellington.
- Starts
- Auckland
- Finishes
- Wellington
- Days & nights
- 10 days · 9 nights
- On the road
- 1,350 km · approx. 18 hrs
Major highlights
Viaduct & Wynyard QuarterAuckland MuseumMt EdenDevonportCathedral CoveHot Water BeachMount MaunganuiGeothermal park
Where you sleep
Auckland (2 nights) · Hahei · Cathedral Cove (1 night) · Rotorua (2 nights) · Taupō (1 night) · Ruapehu · Tongariro (1 night) · Napier (2 nights)
Auckland
Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rotorua
Taupō
Ruapehu · Tongariro
Napier
Wellington
The journey, day by day
10 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Auckland
02
Day 2
Explore Auckland
Explore Auckland
- 1
Auckland Museumallow 2 hours
Start with the Māori and Pacific galleries — the context makes the rest of the trip richer.
- 2
Mt Edenallow 45 minutes
A crater in the suburbs and the clearest view of how this city sits on volcanoes.
- 3
Devonportallow half a day
Ferry across, walk the village, climb North Head, ferry back.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickAuckland Icons — Museum → Mt Eden → Devonport.
- AlternativeWild west — Piha, the Waitākere Ranges and Muriwai.
- AlternativeIsland day — Waiheke beaches, food and wineries.
Night 2 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$220–NZ$400
Day 03
Night 3 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
03
Day 3
185 km · approx. 2.75 hrs driving
Auckland → Hahei · Coromandel
- 1
Cathedral Coveallow 2–3 hours
Walk or boat in. Check current track access before you commit.
- 2
Hot Water Beachallow 1–2 hours
Time it with low tide and dig yourself a hot pool.
Night 3 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 04
Night 4 · Rotorua
04
Day 4
200 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Coromandel → Tauranga → Rotorua
- 1
Mount Maunganuiallow 2–3 hours
Climb Mauao, swim, eat well at the base.
EveningInto Rotorua and straight into hot water.
Night 4 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$470
Day 05
Night 5 · Rotorua
05
Day 5
Rotorua — a full day
Rotorua
- 1
Geothermal parkallow half a day
Te Puia, Whakarewarewa or Wai-O-Tapu — one is plenty.
- 2
Māori cultural eveningallow evening
Hāngī and performance with a local operator.
Book at least a day ahead.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickGeothermal experience + Māori cultural experience.
- AlternativeRedwoods and the blue and green lakes.
- AlternativeAdventure day — luge, zipline, Kaituna rafting.
Night 5 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 06
Night 6 · Taupō
06
Day 6
105 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Rotorua → Wai-O-Tapu → Huka Falls → Taupō
- 1
Wai-O-Tapuallow 1.5 hours
If you skipped it yesterday, go now — and go early.
- 2
Huka Fallsallow 45 minutes
Ten minutes' walk to a great deal of water in a small gap.
Don't miss
Sunset over the lake with the volcanoes across the water.
Night 6 · Taupō
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 07
Night 7 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
07
Day 7
105 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Taupō → Tongariro · Ruapehu
MorningSouth along the lake, then into the volcanic plateau.
- 1
Tongariro National Parkallow half to a full day
The Alpine Crossing is a serious 19.4km, 7–8 hour day with a shuttle each end. Shorter alternatives — Taranaki Falls, Tama Lakes — are excellent.
Alpine Crossing shuttles must be booked; the walk needs settled weather.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickTongariro Alpine Crossing if the forecast is clear and you're prepared.
- AlternativeTaranaki Falls loop — two hours, all the drama, none of the commitment.
- AlternativeChairlift up Whakapapa and a long lunch.
Night 7 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$460
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Day 08
Night 8 · Napier
08
Day 8
260 km · approx. 3.5 hrs driving
Tongariro → Napier · Hawke's Bay
- 1
Art Deco Napierallow 1–2 hours
A whole town rebuilt in one style after 1931. Walk it before dinner.
Night 8 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$520
Day 09
Night 9 · Napier
09
Day 9
Hawke's Bay — wine and long lunches
Hawke's Bay
- 1
Te Mata Peakallow 1 hour
Up early for the view over the plains and the bay.
- 2
Cellar doorsallow half a day
Cycle or drive between them — the region is flat, sunny and unhurried.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickWineries + Te Mata Peak.
- AlternativeNapier Art Deco and the coast at Ocean Beach.
- AlternativeFood day — the Sunday farmers' market and a long lunch.
Night 9 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$600
Day 10
10
Day 10
320 km · approx. 4 hrs driving
Napier → Wellington
- 1
Te Papa & Cuba Streetallow an afternoon
Museum, then the city's best coffee and small restaurants.
Departs from · Wellington
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
What it costs.
approx. NZ$320–NZ$480 per person, per day — around approx. NZ$3,200–NZ$4,800 per person for the whole trip, twin share, mid-range.
- AccommodationNZ$170–NZ$300 per night (twin share)
- Rental carNZ$60–NZ$120 per day
- FuelNZ$230–NZ$310
- FoodNZ$80–NZ$140 per person, per day
- ActivitiesNZ$700–NZ$1,300 per person total
Practical notes.
Best time to go
December to March for the Tongariro high country; October to May everywhere else.
What to book ahead
Hobbiton if you add it, Tongariro shuttles, Hawke's Bay restaurants, and summer accommodation everywhere.
Longest driving day
Day 8 — around 3 hours 30 minutes to Napier.
Road & weather
Tongariro weather changes fast and the Alpine Crossing is regularly unsafe. Have a Plan B and never push it.
Travelling with children
Swap the Alpine Crossing for the Whakapapa chairlift, and add a second Taupō night.
Accessibility
Auckland, Rotorua's geothermal boardwalks, Te Papa and Napier's Art Deco streets are all step-free or largely so.
Where to add a night
Wellington — it rewards two.
Costs
Indicative only — always check current prices before booking.
(Book) — Experiences on this route
Book the experiences along the way.
Tours and activities around Auckland and this route — check availability with our booking partner.
Powered by our booking partner · Featuring Auckland, New Zealand — you'll continue browsing on their site.
Where to stay
Find & Book Stays →Things to do on the way
Explore Experiences →Make it yours
✦ Ask Aotearoa →More itineraries.
Sources & useful links
Road conditions, closures and alpine passes change daily. Check the official journey planner on the morning you travel.
Last checked 21 August 2026