New Zealand’s North Island is a beautiful and diverse region that is best explored at your own pace. And what better way to do that than in a campervan? With the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, a campervan road trip is the perfect way to experience all that this stunning region has to offer.
We did exactly this in December 2022. In addition to allowing us to travel at our own pace the campervan worked out to be less expensive as we were able to get a car rental, hotel, and restaurant all with a campervan. Below is a map of the island and some of the activities we did. We were able to do a lot in 10 days, and we loved our time there. I’ll make additional posts for the separate activities we did, so if any of the items shown below are of an interest to you look for those additional post.
Throughout the journey, we had the flexibility to stop wherever we wanted to take in the incredible scenery that New Zealand has to offer. And with a campervan, we had all the comforts of home right at your fingertips. My wife especially enjoyed never being too far from a restroom and on multiple occasions we took naps during the day since we had our bed with us.
At a high level here are some of the basics we’d recommend visiting.
The first stop on your adventure should be Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. You’ll have likely flown into Auckland, so you might as well take some time to explore the city’s many attractions, including the Sky Tower and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Then, head north to the Bay of Islands, where you can relax on pristine beaches, go sailing or fishing, and even swim with dolphins.
Next, head south to the Coromandel Peninsula, where you’ll find golden beaches, hot springs, and breathtaking scenery. Make sure to take a dip in the famous Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own hot pool in the sand. It is important that you figure out the tide schedule as the hot water is only reachable at low tide.
Continue driving south to Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. Here, you can visit the geysers and mud pools at Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, and even experience a traditional Maori hangi feast. Rotorua also has some high adventure activities including rafting the highest commercially guided waterfall, luging, ziplining, and zorbing.
If you continue south, you’ll reach the capital city of Wellington, which is famous for its vibrant arts scene and picturesque harbor. Be sure to visit the iconic Beehive building, home to the New Zealand Parliament, and the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Unfortunately we weren’t able to make it down to Wellington due to time constraints but we heard great things about the capital.
After leaving Wellington, you can head to the beautiful Hawke’s Bay region, known for its world-class wineries, beaches, and Art Deco architecture. Take a tour of the local vineyards and sample some of the region’s famous wines.
At this point you can start heading back north with a visit to the stunning Tongariro National Park, which is home to three active volcanoes and some of New Zealand’s most spectacular hiking trails. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a must-do for any nature lover, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. While we were in this area we also did some packrafting which was amazing!
Finally I would strongly recommend heading to the West Coast with a visit to the 3 sisters rock formation. Once again, pay attention to the tide schedules so you can walk out to the rocks. About an hour and a half drive north are the famous glow worm caves. We booked through Waitomo Homestead as you have to have a guide to float through the caves. It was an amazing experience and something I hope to be able to do again.
Even if you don’t want to travel by campervan, I’d still highly recommend visiting the North Island of New Zealand anyway you can get there!
Finally for more details on each activity I recommend click on the link for that item and I will provide more details on what we did and if we’d recommend it. I’m hoping to keep each post at a shorter length so it won’t require a ton of reading to get the information you might be interested in.
