.jpg/1920px-Auckland_skyline_(24045221962).jpg)
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
.jpg/1920px-Sailboats%2C_Bay_of_Islands%2C_2013_(04).jpg)
Organised by us · North Island · 14 days
14 Day North Island Itinerary
The Complete North Island Journey
Which of our journeys?
Organised end to end by us
Selected journey
14 Day North Island Itinerary
North Island · 14 days · 2,050 km
Auckland → Bay of Islands → Coromandel → Rotorua → Taupō → Tongariro → Hawke's Bay → Wellington
Rough self-drive cost — planning it yourself
$$ · approx. NZ$310–NZ$470 per person, per day per day · approx. NZ$4,300–NZ$6,600 per person
A guide to what this route costs if you book it yourself. Entirely separate from an organised journey.
Availability · Available for enquiries
Read the full day-by-day itinerary →Auckland
Paihia · Bay of Islands
Auckland
Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rotorua
Taupō
Ruapehu · Tongariro
Napier
Wellington
Highlights
- Waterfront
- Auckland Museum
- Mt Eden
- Devonport
- Whangārei Falls & Town Basin
- Island cruise
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hokianga Harbour & Waipoua
Where you stay
- Auckland2 nights
- Paihia · Bay of Islands2 nights
- Auckland1 night
- Hahei · Cathedral Cove1 night
- Rotorua2 nights
- Taupō1 night
- Ruapehu · Tongariro1 night
- Napier2 nights
- Wellington1 night
Day by day — what we organise for you
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
.jpg/1920px-Art_Deco_Centre_Napier_1_(31711006941).jpg)
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