New Zealand is amazing. The natural beauty is unforgettable, but the people impressed me just as much. They are warm, friendly, and seem to have a real sense of adventure and appreciation for the outdoors. The North Island offers everything from geothermal wonders to the welcoming spirit of Māori culture. Below is the North Island loop I traveled in May 2025.
Suggested itinerary
- Day 1 – Auckland city center is full of interesting shops and cafes. It's safe and walkable. In the late afternoon head to Mount Eden for a hike to see amazing Auckland skyline views. This is an easy hike. you can take a car most of the way if you're pressed for time.
- Day 2 - Plan ahead and signup for the All Blacks experience. This is a great tour with an interactive fun room at the end where you can test your skills. If you have time there are also some interesting islands you can take ferries to from the Auckland port. We went to Matuihe Island. It was a great day trip. It's beautiful. you can swim and hike on a nice day.
- Day 3 – Waitomo glow-worm caves. Experiencing the glow-worms is a very cool experience. I recommend it if you are able.
- Day 4 - Māori culture and hot pools in Rotorua. There a few different places you can experience various Maori culture in Rotorua. Here is the link to the one we did. Additionally, there are hot pools and thermal activities all over the area.
- Day 5 – Hobbiton Movie Set tour. This is a very touristy thing to do, but if you like the hobbit and/or lord of the ring movies you will love this tour.
- Day 6 - Tongariro National Park. This was one of the best hikes I've ever been on. You see mount Doom from the Lord of Rings during most of the hike. There is an awesome waterfall and some epic mountain lakes.
- Day 7/8 – Surf lesson at Raglan; Raglan is a cool surf town with great cafes and shops and easy access to water. There are interesting day trips such as the Bridal Veil Falls is located along the Pakoka River. The surfers from the movie Endless Summer stopped in Raglan and if you try surfing there you can see why.
- We also explored Lake Taupō by kayak and saw the Māori Rock Carving. Additionally we visited the nearby Huka Falls which were very impressive.
