Auckland's harbour, islands and volcanoes lead to North Island highlights: Hobbiton, the geysers and mud pools of Rotorua, Waitomo's glowworm caves and Maori cultural evenings. November to April is warmest.
Good to know
- Apply for an NZeTA before travel if eligible.
- Book Hobbiton and Waitomo tickets in advance.
- Drive on the left; roads are winding.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Pohutu Geyser, mud pools and a carving school.
Earth-oven hangi feast of meat and kumara, with a powhiri welcome, haka and storytelling in a Maori village.
Champagne Pool and colorful geothermal craters.
Lakeside hot mineral pools fed by geothermal springs, lovely at dusk after a day of sightseeing.
Suspended walkway through giant redwoods, lit at night.
Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn and the Shire from The Lord of the Rings.
Boat through caves lit by thousands of glowworms.
328-meter tower with a glass-floored observation deck, a revolving restaurant and the brave SkyWalk ledge.
Ferry to beaches, vineyards and olive groves.
Maori and Pacific treasures and natural history.
Grassy volcanic cone with a deep crater and the best free panorama over Auckland and its two harbours.
Wild black-sand surf beach on the west coast with Lion Rock, rainforest walks and dramatic sunsets.