A 10 Day trip in the North Island - for the Whole Family

Start: Auckland
Finish: Auckland
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand where most of International flights depart and arrive. This is where your journey will start.

As soon as you arrive in Auckland, pick up your rental car. Most rental car companies have offices in the airport and offer a free shuttle service from the airport to the place where you can pick up your car.

Check in to your accommodation of your choice in Auckland before you drive to Devonport. Have a Kiwi style fish and chips picnic lunch at the park, near the wharf.
Climb up the North Head, enter the old bunkers and walk around the water edge from here. Then drive up the Mt. Victoria for amazing views.

Enjoy the night view of the city from the wharf. Have dinner before you drive back to your accomodation

Tips:
Fish and chips shop: CATCH 22
Dinner: Devon on the Wharf
Day 2
Drive to Paihia (4 hrs). Have lunch in Paihia.
Start early, so you can go on the boat trips in Bay of Islands. Take the opportunity to swim with the dolphins if you come in summer (cruise departs at 12.30pm).

Visit the beautiful old town of Russell and stay for dinner.
Stay the night in Paihia.

Tips:
Hit the road by 7.00 am
Pay the toll road online to save time
Take a combo deal Bay of Island and Cape Reinga tour
Day 3
Day tour to the very top of the North Island, visit Cape Reinga lighthouse, drive on the sand on Ninety Mile Beach and slide down the sand dunes.

Tips:
Combine your tour with the dolphin cruise for a better deal
Day 4
Drive to Waipoua forest, to see the giant Kauri trees, ancient New Zealand native flora. (2hrs from Paihia). The road through the forest passes by some huge kauris. Turn off to the Forest Lookout just after you enter the park - it was once a fire lookout and offers a spectacular view. 

Have lunch at Hokianga before you continue driving back to Auckland (3.5 hrs).

Have dinner at Mission Bay or St. Heliers.

Stay the night in Auckland.

Tips:
Dinner at Frontier, 50% of mussels every Monday
Day 5
Drive to Hobbiton (2hrs from Auckland). Do the Hobbiton tour (2-3 hrs long). Have lunch here.

Drive to Rotorua (1 hr), go to Te Puia for Maori performance and traditional dinner. Start at 4.30pm for combo tour and 6.00pm for evening performance only. Or enjoy the walk around the lake and soak into one of the hot pools or mud pools. Stay the night in Rotorua.

Tips:
Book for Trilogy experience for a better deal of Hobbiton Tour, Te Puia, Waitomo cave.
Many accommodation venues in Rotorua have their own hot pools, so you do not have to go to the commercial hot pools.
Day 6
Drive to Wai-O-Tapu (40min). See Lady Knoxx Geyser that erupts every day at 10.15am, walk around the geotermal wonderland. Have lunch here.

Drive to Taupo, stop at Huka falls (40 min from Wai-O-Tapu). Continue driving to Mt. Ruapehu. Stay the night at Whakapapa village.
Day 7
Go to Mt. Ruapehu the highest mountain in the North Island. Walk to the crater in summer, or go skiing in winter. Have lunch at the cafe.

Drive to Waitomo (2hrs). Have dinner and stay the night in Waitomo.

Tips:
​Stay the night at Juno Hall in Waitomo
Use the Trilogy experience deal
Day 8
Try black water tubing or go on the glow worm tour at Waitomo Cave.

​Drive back to Auckland. Have dinner at the Auckland night market.
Auckland night market is heald in different places every evening, check their website for the schedule.

​Photo was taken from the website
Day 9
Free Day in Auckland city.
Here are some activities that you can do:
  • Visit Auckland Museum and the winter garden. Go to the French Market (Saturday and Sunday morning only). Or Visit Auckland Art Gallery.
  • Visit Motat and Auckland Zoo.
  • Go to Rangitoto by ferry and climb to the summit (bring lunch and drinking water) - this is a full day activity.
  • Finish the day by having dinner at Auckland viaduct or Wynyard quarter
Tips:
Book the ferry tickets at least a day in advance. Do this online to receive special discounts.
Bring torch with you to check out the caves on Rangitoto.
Day 10
This is your last day in Auckland. Relax and get ready for your journey back to your home country tomorrow.
  • You can complete any activities that you did not do on day 9.
  • Go to One Tree Hill, climb to the top, have a BBQ lunch or enjoy an ice cream at the cafe.
  • Go to the Mount Eden Village for brunch and climb up Mt. Eden the highest volcano in Auckland.
  • Go up the Sky Tower in the afternoon and enjoy the sunset from the observation deck and have dinner at the Orbit restaurant. 
Tips:
Admission to the Sky tower is free and parking at the sky tower is discounted with Orbit Restaurant Reservation.
​Booking is necessary due to limited seats.
This itinerary was designed to suit the whole family, with medium fitness.