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Day 01
Night 1 · Auckland
01
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland
- 1
Waterfrontallow an afternoon
Land, walk, eat, sleep.
Night 1 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$420
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North Island · 14 days · 13 nights
14 Day North Island Itinerary
The Complete North Island Journey
Two weeks buys you the whole island, subtropical top to windy capital. Northland's harbours, a Coromandel beach, Rotorua's steam, the volcanoes of the central plateau, Hawke's Bay's vineyards, and two nights in Wellington to finish.
- Starts
- Auckland
- Finishes
- Wellington
- Days & nights
- 14 days · 13 nights
- On the road
- 2,050 km · approx. 28 hrs
Major highlights
WaterfrontAuckland MuseumMt EdenDevonportWhangārei Falls & Town BasinIsland cruiseWaitangi Treaty GroundsHokianga Harbour & Waipoua
Where you sleep
Auckland (2 nights) · Paihia · Bay of Islands (2 nights) · Auckland (1 night) · Hahei · Cathedral Cove (1 night) · Rotorua (2 nights) · Taupō (1 night) · Ruapehu · Tongariro (1 night) · Napier (2 nights) · Wellington (1 night)
Auckland
Paihia · Bay of Islands
Auckland
Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rotorua
Taupō
Ruapehu · Tongariro
Napier
Wellington
The journey, day by day
14 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Auckland
02
Day 2
Explore Auckland
Explore Auckland
- 1
Auckland Museumallow 2 hours
Māori and Pacific galleries first.
- 2
Mt Edenallow 45 minutes
The whole isthmus from a crater rim.
- 3
Devonportallow half a day
Ferry over for the village and North Head.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickAuckland Icons — Museum → Mt Eden → Devonport.
- AlternativeWild west — Piha and Muriwai.
- AlternativeWaiheke Island — beaches, food, wine.
Night 2 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$220–NZ$400
Day 03
Night 3 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
03
Day 3
230 km · approx. 3.25 hrs driving
Auckland → Whangārei → Paihia
- 1
Whangārei Falls & Town Basinallow 1 hour
A good leg-stretch halfway north.
EveningArrive Paihia; the Bay of Islands is warmer than Auckland, and slower.
Night 3 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 04
Night 4 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
04
Day 4
Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
- 1
Island cruiseallow half a day
Out through the islands — dolphins are common, never guaranteed.
Book the day before in summer.
- 2
Waitangi Treaty Groundsallow 2–3 hours
Where the country's founding document was signed. The guided tour is worth it.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickMorning cruise, afternoon at Waitangi.
- AlternativeRussell by passenger ferry — the country's first European town.
- AlternativeA long day north to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach (10–12 hours; take a tour).
Night 4 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$560
Day 05
Night 5 · Auckland
05
Day 5
330 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Paihia → Hokianga → Auckland
MorningThe west-coast road home — slower and far more beautiful than SH1.
- 1
Hokianga Harbour & Waipouaallow 2–3 hours
Giant kauri in Waipoua Forest and the great sand dunes at Ōpononi.
Don't miss
Standing in front of Tāne Mahuta — around 2,000 years old.
Night 5 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 06
Night 6 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
06
Day 6
185 km · approx. 2.75 hrs driving
Auckland → Hahei · Coromandel
- 1
Cathedral Coveallow 2–3 hours
Walk or boat in; check access first.
Night 6 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 07
Night 7 · Rotorua
07
Day 7
215 km · approx. 3.25 hrs driving
Coromandel → Hot Water Beach → Tauranga → Rotorua
- 1
Hot Water Beachallow 1–2 hours
Only worth it around low tide — check the tide table the night before.
- 2
Mount Maunganuiallow 2 hours
Climb Mauao and swim before the last leg.
Night 7 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 08
Night 8 · Rotorua
08
Day 8
Rotorua — a full day
Rotorua
- 1
Geothermal parkallow half a day
One is enough — take your time in it.
- 2
Māori cultural eveningallow evening
Hāngī and performance; the highlight of many people's trip.
Book ahead.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickGeothermal experience + Māori cultural experience.
- AlternativeRedwoods and the lakes.
- AlternativeAdventure day.
Night 8 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$520
Day 09
Night 9 · Taupō
09
Day 9
105 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Rotorua → Wai-O-Tapu → Huka Falls → Taupō
- 1
Wai-O-Tapuallow 1.5 hours
Go early for the colour and the quiet.
- 2
Huka Fallsallow 45 minutes
A short walk, an enormous noise.
Night 9 · Taupō
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 10
Night 10 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
10
Day 10
105 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Taupō → Tongariro · Ruapehu
- 1
Tongariro National Parkallow half to a full day
The Alpine Crossing needs 7–8 hours, shuttles and settled weather. Taranaki Falls is a lovely two-hour alternative.
Shuttles must be booked.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickTongariro Alpine Crossing, weather permitting.
- AlternativeTaranaki Falls or Tama Lakes.
- AlternativeWhakapapa chairlift and an easy day.
Night 10 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$460
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Day 11
Night 11 · Napier
11
Day 11
260 km · approx. 3.5 hrs driving
Tongariro → Napier · Hawke's Bay
- 1
Art Deco Napierallow 1–2 hours
Walk Tennyson and Emerson Streets before dinner.
Night 11 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$520
Day 12
Night 12 · Napier
12
Day 12
Hawke's Bay — wine country
Hawke's Bay
- 1
Te Mata Peakallow 1 hour
Early, for the light over the plains.
- 2
Cellar doorsallow half a day
Cycle between them; the region is flat and sunny.
Good to know
- ILNZ PickWineries + Te Mata Peak.
- AlternativeArt Deco Napier and the coast.
- AlternativeFood day — market, orchards, long lunch.
Night 12 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$620
Day 13
Night 13 · Wellington
13
Day 13
320 km · approx. 4 hrs driving
Napier → Wellington
- 1
Te Papaallow 2 hours
Free, excellent, and a good landing after four hours of driving.
Night 13 · Wellington
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 14
14
Day 14
Wellington — the creative capital
Wellington
- 1
Zealandiaallow half a day
A fenced valley sanctuary full of birds you won't hear anywhere else in a city.
- 2
Cuba Street & the waterfrontallow an afternoon
Coffee, small bars, and the cable car for the view.
Departs from · Wellington
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$480
What it costs.
approx. NZ$310–NZ$470 per person, per day — around approx. NZ$4,300–NZ$6,600 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$340–NZ$450
- FoodNZ$80–NZ$140 per person, per day
- ActivitiesNZ$900–NZ$1,700 per person total
Practical notes.
Best time to go
November to April. Northland is warm and swimmable well into May.
What to book ahead
Bay of Islands cruises, Tongariro shuttles, Hawke's Bay dining, and all January accommodation.
Longest driving day
Day 5 — around 4 hours 30 minutes via the Hokianga and Waipoua.
Road & weather
Northland and Coromandel roads are narrow and slow. Tongariro weather is genuinely dangerous when it turns.
Travelling with children
Swap the Alpine Crossing for the chairlift, and consider two nights on the Coromandel.
Where to add a night
Waiheke Island, or a second night in Wellington before crossing to the South Island.
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.
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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