Often overlooked by the star power of the South Island, North Island's got a few tricks up its sleeves.
New Zealand is truly one of the most incredible places in the world that draws a lot of “oohs” and “ahhs” everywhere you go. The country is broken into two parts. While the South Island gets a ton of attention with the likes of Queenstown, Milford Sound, and the glaciers, there's a ton not to be missed in the North Island.
Having explored New Zealand for 3 weeks, I got chance to really get up-close to some of the highlights that I didn't expect to see. It's an island of dramatic contrasts that blew us away. From the perfect cone shaped mountains to picturesque golden beaches, inspiring coastlines, rolling green fields, stinky geothermal activity, and just as many Lord of the Rings-inspired locations that are must-do, to say there's not much to do in the North Island would be a lie.
With so many things to do, what I've done is put together a list of my top favourite places and activities that you have to do to check off your bucket list. Make your New Zealand itinerary a memorable one and better yet, travel with Flying Kiwi to do it all in one shot.
Read more about New Zealand
- What to pack for a trip to New Zealand
- The ultimate NZ travel guide
- Tasty souvenirs to buy before you leave NZ
- All New Zealand articles
Where to stay in the North Island?
- Our favourite accommodations in the North Island were definitely Arthur Street B&B in Coromandel, and the convenience of Jucy Snooze in Auckland.
Things to do in the New Zealand's North Island
#1 – Black Water Rafting
I know, at first I didn't get it at first. How can water be black? Then I did it and I realized “ohhh…it's dark!”.
Self-proclaimed legendary, I have to agree, it is legit one of the top experiences in New Zealand for a couple of reasons.
- Tubing in a cave – I can only think of another place that has this which would be Kauai but what an adventure it is to float down a subterranean river
- Hiking in a cove – Not only do you tube underground but you also get to hike around which is why they give you those
- The glow worms – I mean this makes it all come together. You link up together in your tube in “eel formation” and you look up at the twinkling stars above in pure darkness
The Black Abyss is one of those activities in New Zealand that is truly unique. For all the details, make sure to read my review of Black Water Rafting.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
These details specifically for the Black Labyrinth. For a more adventurous activity, consider the Black Abyss.
Address: 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Ruakuri Cave, Waitomo, Waitomo 3977
Hours: Regular tours are 9.00am, 10.30am, 12.00pm, 1.30pm, 3.00pm. Summer: every 30 minutes from 7am. Last session normally at 3pm. Experience runs 3 hours from beginning to end.
Price: NZ$147 adult, NZ$125 youth, $NZ462 family (2 adult and 2 youth)
Parking: Free parking
What to bring:
- Swimwear and towel
- Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner for shower afterwards
- No additional clothing required as full wetsuit, fleece, gloves, and boots provided
FAQ:
- Any expertise required? No. This is labelled as beginner level
- Are there lockers? Yes, there's a specific shared locker for your group so it's secure. It was also big enough to put in my 45L Peak Design Travel Backpack so there's a ton of space
- What are the group sizes? Maximum 12 people
- Are there change rooms? – Yes, in the area where you grab your gear, there is a change room/shower
- Can you shower? There are 6 shower stalls in the change room with piping hot water which is just what you'll want after coming out
- Is food included? Surprisingly yes! Bagels and soup are available in the main office
- Can I bring a GoPro? No, unfortunately not allowed since your focus needs to be on the uneven surfaces and handling your tube
#2 – Diving the Rainbow Warrior
I was as surprised as you are reading this – yes there is scuba diving in New Zealand! Fine, it might not be the warmest of waters but what you get is a really unique dive site that includes a fascinating story of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior.
Thought of as the only terrorist action in the country of New Zealand, dive near the Cavalli Islands in the Bay of Islands to see how aquatic life has thrived in the wreck along with some pretty unique reefs.
Since we did not have our deep dive certification, w also used this opportunity to complete one of the educational dives required for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diving certification.
If diving isn't your thing, another amazing activity you can do from Paihia is a dolphin cruise.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
These details specifically for the Rainbow Warrior but they also have the HMNZS Caterbury dive.
Hours: Store is open from 7:30AM to 5:30PM. Typically there is one dive trip per day (start at 7:45AM) but others may be added depending on demand.
Price: NZ$180 NZ for the dive and NZ$99 for full gear rental
Parking: Parking is limited in downtown Paihia
What to bring:
- Any dive equipment you have
- Swimwear, towel, sunscreen, and sunglasses
- Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner for shower afterwards
FAQ:
- Are there lockers? There is a large storage cooler onboard but space is limited
- Are there change rooms? – Once you get to Matauri Bay, there is a holiday park bathroom facility that you get access to.
- Can you shower? The same facility above has showers
- Is food included? Box lunch can be ordered for NZ$12 which I'd recommend because it's packed with food. They also have coffee and hot chocolate that they make when going on shore on the Cavalli Islands
- Can I bring cameras? Yes, at your own risk and if your gear is waterproof like the GoPro Hero 7.
#3 – Cathedral Cove
If you look at the North Island of New Zealand, it almost looks like your left hand trying to make a U-shape. Your thumb is roughly what is called the Coromandel Peninsula. It's an area that is often overlooked by travellers road tripping through New Zealand because you have to make your way out to the western coast but let me tell you, it's totally worth it.
Cathedral Cove is a unique rock formation along the coast that connects two different coves. What makes it such an iconic spot in New Zealand is how the rock arch with golden sand and crashing waves is perfectly backdropped by a delicately balanced triangular stone.
This is a great spot for a hike, stunning trail, and beautiful beach and it's free too!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hours: No official hours
More info: Website
Parking:
- The parking lot at Hahei beach is free
- The lot at the start of the trail is closed from October 1 – April 30 and NZ$15 for 4 hours from May 1 to September 30 (quite limited)
- There is private parking from house owners on the road up to the top car park
- Hahei Visitor car park (on the right as you enter Hahei) is free and from there you can take a shuttle to take you to the top (NZ$5 return for adults, NZ$3 return for children, and NZ$10 for 2 adults and 2 children. You can pay the driver by cash, use the machine, or pay online.
What to bring:
- Swimwear and towel if you plan on swimming at the beach
FAQ:
- Are there change rooms? – No there aren't any facilities here
- Are there stairs? A majority of the trail is smooth paved however steps are required when making your way down and up from Cathedral Cove. There are also stairs on the beach walk up to the start of the trail
#4 – Hobbiton Movie Location
A no brainer for any Lord of the Rings fan or as I learned from Alix polling our group, even for those that haven't seen the movies. This is a nerd's dream come true.
What will blow you away is just how complete the set of Hobbiton and the Shire is. Everything from the different sized scale hobbit holes, Bag End, all of the various hobbit holes for hobbit's speciality (i.e. beekeeper, gardener, lumberjack), and all of that landscaping. Even the chimneys billow smoke. When you look out into the horizon, you can barely see any technology either so it's truly an immersive experience.
It's insanely busy here so make sure you book way in advance.
If you're a LOTR fan, make sure to pick up the location guidebook before your trip as well.
I've written a full guide on how to visit the Hobbiton Movie Experience so if you're interested in going, it's definitely worth a read.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata 3472, New Zealand
Hours: Tours depart daily from 9am until 3:30pm. (Extra 4PM and 4:30PM tours between September 1 – April 30, and 5PM and 5:30PM between December 27 and February 28)
Price: NZ$84 for adults, NZ$42 for youth (9-15), and free for children 0-8
Parking: There's plenty of parking in Shire's Rest (where you wait for your bus pick up across the street from Hobbiton)
Tips:
- Reservations in advance are recommended
- If you have the time and spots are available, I highly recommend booking the evening banquet tour which lets you tour Hobbiton at dusk (best lighting) and a dinner feast in the Green Dragon
- Note that there are also pickups from the Matamata I-Site (info centre) or Rotorua
- There's a Hobbiton Movie Set Store in Rotorua (1235 Fenton St, Rotorua)
- If you want to get photos of you in the Hobbit holes, your best bet is to stay near the back of the pack. You won't be able to hear too much of the commentary but it's really the only way to get clean shots
- In Green Dragon, go around and pay attention to the random notes, pictures, and objects. There aren't any easter eggs but we found a few signs that gave me a chuckle
- The hobbit clothing at the back exit of Green Dragon are free for visitors to put on so take advantage of this photo op
#5 – Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Thousands of years in the making, this is the most popular geothermal site in all of New Zealand located just south of the egg-smelling capital of Rotorua (okay it's really not that bad).
When you come here, expect to see rainbow coloured pools, bubbling waters that demonstrate how active the region is, the ground steaming in areas that have no business in steaming, the clock work of Lady Knox Geyser, and sculpted volcanic rocks. The whole grounds are massive so you'll want to dedicate at least a half day to walk through all the different sections of the park.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hours:
- 1 April to 31 October: 8:30am to 5:00pm (last admission 3:45pm)
- 1 November to 31 March: 8:30am to 6:00pm (last admission 4:45pm)
- Christmas Day – 25 December: 8:30am to 5:00pm (last admission 3:45pm)
Price:
- General admission – NZ$32.50 Adult, NZ$11 Child, free for child under 4, $NZ85 Family (2 adult, 3 children)
- Small group guided tour (morning) – NZ$155 with Viator or GetYourGuide
- Small group full day tour – NZ$295 with Viator
Parking: There is a big lot available and it is free
FAQ:
- Are there washrooms in the park? – No so make sure to use the toilet facilities at the Visitor Centre before entering
#6 – Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Whether you're a Lord of the Rings fan and want to see the place that inspired Mordor's Mount Doom or you just want to trek New Zealand's best day hike, there's no question that the Tongariro Alpine Crossing should be on anyone's bucket list.
The hike itself takes 6-8 hours and features a dynamic range of landscapes that all originate from the volatile and volcanic pasts that created the twin peaks of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro. The first half of the hike is otherworldly in its razor sharp rocks, desolate plains, blood red crust. The second half features the Emerald Lakes which is a sight to see before ascending up to the Blue Lake and then back down switchbacks that eventually lead into what feels like an Elven forest.
The most care-free way to do this hike is to book with a shuttle service such as Tongariro Expeditions who can take you there and back all the way from the main city of Taupo.
Everything that I learned about our own hike is detailed in the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hiking guide.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Location: Book with Tongariro Expeditions to start your hike at the Mangatepopo Car Park
When: There are two pick up times in Taupo – 5:20AM and 6:20AM. Pick up times at the end of the trail happen between 1:30 – 4:30PM but in our case, it was 2PM – 4PM (seasonal reasons).
Price: NZ$70 adult or NZ$35 child round trip from Taupo. Alternatively if you'd like to park at the Ketetahi lot, you can hire a shuttle
Alternative services: If you have a car and you'd like to park on the Ketetahi side, you can hire a one-way shuttle to Mangatepopo. Pickups are from 6.30AM-8.30AM. There is a special Tongariro shuttle parking lot for this
What to bring:
- Lunch and snacks
- 1.5 – 2L of water per person
- Real hiking shoes (i.e. Columbia's Conspiracy Outdry shoe)
- Sunscreen – You're completely exposed the whole trail. With the ozone layer depletion near New Zealand, it's so easy to get burnt here. Re-apply at least once.
- Sunglasses
- Wear layers – be ready for all weather
- Beanie/toque in the winter
- Waterproof jacket and pants if it rains
Tips:
- This hike is very weather dependent so you do need to check-in with Tongariro Expeditions the day before to see if they're running or not
- Stock up on lunch, snacks, and water the night before
- Shuttle buses leave on time – We did not want to find out what would happen if we arrived after 4PM. Our bus left at 4:04PM so that tells you just how on time they are
- Free hiking sticks – You'll notice that hiking sticks can't be rented from Tongariro Expeditions and that's because they them for free to borrow on the bus. It's not something they disclose but a pretty sweet perk
- Pay attention to colour of bracelets – Anyone with Tongariro Expeditions will have a rubber bracelet. Your bus will be one colour and other buses will be another colour. If you're the first bus and notice other colours start creeping up on you, that's when you know you're starting to follow behind
FAQ:
- What happens if you don't make the bus? – They instructed us to call them if we knew we wouldn't make the last bus but I found that hilarious because I don't had signal the whole hike. Just don't be late.
- What's the bathroom situation? – I was impressed with how many bathroom outhouses were set up along the trail. They're frequent enough that you don't need to really worry too much. Just expect long lines especially after lunch hour so I'd recommend going before summiting Red Crater and again at Ketetahi Hut.
#7 – Māori Cultural Experience
The Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and descendants of the Polynesian tribes that scattered all around the pacific. While Māori can be found all over New Zealand, the best place to get a better understanding of their culture and their way of life is in the city of Rotorua where there are several villages to choose from.
While it will seem a little touristy, the truth is, this is the only opportunity to get up close to Māori culture. Through a village such as Mitai Maori Villlage or Tamaki Maori Village, you'll get to immerse yourself with their history and customs. This experience typically consists of a welcoming ceremony (pōwhiri) with a warrior canoe (waka), a traditional greeting (hongi), the well-known war cry (haka), and a Maori feast (hangi). It's an evening experience you won't forget.
Between the two villages, I'd say that in recent years, Tamaki has really taken over as the top village to go to mainly because it's a more complete package because they like to get the audience involved and has a really amazing circular stage where the performances take place. You be the judge though with their reviews (Mitai/Tamaki).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
My personal experience is with Mitai so I'll be focusing on them here. For us, one determining factor was that they were cheaper than Tamaki.
Hours: Shows start at 6:30PM. Only one a day.
Price:
- Family (2 Adults + 2 Children 10 – 15 yrs old) – NZ$320.00
- Adult – NZ$118.00
- Student (10-15 years) – NZ$58.65
- Child (5-9 years) – NZ$23.50
- Child under 5 – free
Parking: Free parking at the village. Courtesy return transport available from all registered accommodation providers within Rotorua.
Photography: You won't really be able to use a tripod but if you do want to take photos, make sure set to shoot in low light.
FAQ:
- Is this wheelchair friendly? – Yes
#8 – Hot Water Beach
I've never had to work so hard at a beach before in my life but guess what, I loved it.
The geothermal theme continues because at this beach in the Coromandel Peninsula, low tides reveal hot bubbling water that seep through the pores of the sand some crazy Kiwi at some point decided “wouldn't it be cool to dig into the sand to make my own personal hot spring pool?“
That's totally how I imagine it happened and today loads of locals and tourists flock to this beach to get a soak in. It's a bit of mayhem because it's almost everyone's first time if you're visiting and you have to figure out where a good spot to dig is and also try to be quick enough to get a leg up on everyone else trying to dig up a pool.
What you have to realize though is that it isn't easy because the rolling tide from the sea keeps crashing in and so you're almost always digging to maintain your shrinking pool. Still, I relished my time here because it was so unique and hilariously fun. Definitely another must-do in the North Island of New Zealand.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Location: From the main car park, cross the stream and the good places to dig are just north of the first giant boulder and before the rocks that stick out in the water. In most cases, just follow the crowd.
Low Tide: Check for low tide before going
Parking:
- There are 3 main lots: The Main Beach carpark (free), Te Waiwai carpark (free) and the Main Store carpark (paid)
- You can also pay for parking at Hotties Cafe, Hot Waves Cafe and the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
- If the free lots are filled, look out for open spots along Pye Place road before or after the Main Beach carpark
What to bring:
- Spade and bucket – You can rent them at the beach if your accommodations don't have them to borrow
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Shower gel, shampoo and conditioner
Tips:
- For the best experience, show up 1 hour before low tide or right at low tide. If you show up later, the beach will be littered with holes and there won't be any opportunities to dig up a fresh hole since they'll already be taken. Showing up earlier will also have the advantage of finding free parking
- Instead of renting a spade and bucket, just ask to borrow one from someone else on the beach
- Use the bathroom at the change rooms as there are no facilities by the beach
- The easiest way to tell if there's hot water underneath is to use your spade once and then dig your feet in to feel the temperature. If it's cool, there's no point in digging further and move onto another spot
FAQ:
- Where can you put your bags? – I'd recommend keeping your valuables in the car as there's you'll have to put faith that nobody will take your things. Most people will put their bags on or near the mound of boulders inland from the beach. I recommend putting your things close to others and cover your things with your towel
- Where can I change? I'd recommend putting your swim wear on in the car or at your hotel/B&B ahead of time. When you come out of the beach, there's a new change room facility which is well maintained and clean
- Where can I shower? There are open showers just outside the change facility to rinse your feet and wash up
#9 – Spa Thermal Park
There are a lot of fancy hot pool spas in New Zealand but what if I told you that you could get the therapeutic properties of natural springs, do it a completely natural setting, have the benefits of a clean changing facility, and not have to spend a penny? You'd say “you're crazy Will!”
Thankfully I know a thing or two about New Zealand and the perfect combination to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is to work out those achy muscles at the Spa Thermal Park. At quick glance, this just seems like a regular city park. Delve a little deeper and along the same water that powers Huka Falls, there's a small stream of hot water pumping out of the ground that cascades over several several rock pools, each with its own temperature.
This is definitely one of the best spots to soak that doesn't require complicated instructions so make sure you check it out!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Address: County Ave, Tauhara, Taupo 3378, New Zealand (look for Otumuheke Thermal Stream)
Hours: 7AM -8PM
Price: Free
Parking: Free at the park's lot but spaces fill up quickly
What to bring: Swimwear and towel
FAQ:
- Are there change rooms? – Yes, a brand new facility was built with individual change rooms
- Are there lockers? – Free lockers are provided as part of the new building but if you're comfortable, you can easily put your things on the rock near the water where you'll be soaking
#10 – Weta Cave
While I would have liked to have put The Great War Exhibition in Wellington, created by the one and only Peter Jackson, it sadly permanently closed shortly after we left New Zealand. That said, I recently found out that a life-size exhibition of the Gallipoli campaign can be found at the Te Papa Tongarewa. If you plan to go, make sure you buy an advanced ticket to skip-the-line.
Instead, my last pick in the list is going to be the studio that created all the works you could've seen at the exhibition and pretty much everything that you saw in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
Weta Cave is the consumer facing side (gift shop) of Weta Studios, located in Miramar, just outside of Wellington. Alongside Hobbiton, I'd say this is another must-visit for any fan of the trilogies. Not only do they have an extensive showroom of authentic props from the films, this is one of 3 locations in New Zealand that officially sells Weta products – the others being the Interislander gift shop, and of course Hobbiton.
What made the special trip out here so special was that we were able to hop on the Weta Cave Workshop Tour which walks you through the full process of how they make their props. While you aren't allowed to take photos throughout the tour, we were able to pull out our cameras for the final interactive section.
If you have more time, I recommend the full There and Back Again Tour which includes both the workshop tour and miniatures stage tour, and return transfer to Wellington. The transfers are worth it because we took an Uber to Weta and it cost over NZ$40 round trip.
Note that the miniatures stage tour primarily focuses on the TV series, Thunderbirds Are A Go!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hours: 7 days a week from 9AM – 6PM. Closed on Christmas Day
Price: Workshop tour is NZ$28, Combo tour is NZ$45, and the There and Back Again Tour is NZ$85 for Adults
Parking: This is a residential area and so you're limited to street parking
What you'll find in the cave:
- Find the cave trolls outside which is a great photo op
- Free admission to the cave
- Free screening of the Weta Studios documentary
- Prop showcase
FAQ:
- Should I book in advance? The tours frequently sell out, particularly during peak season (Oct-April) so that would be a yes
A Quick New Zealand Travel Guide
Money – Cash of course is welcome but we didn't have any trouble with foreign credit cards during our trip. The only time we really needed cash was when we needed coins for the coin wash, and super local spots such as the whitebait stand when we were with Flying Kiwi.
Tip : When exchanging avoid doing it at the airport as the rates are always worse than what you can get with an ATM withdrawal or at an exchange shop in the city.
When is the best time? – High season is during their summer which is December to February. As with other destinations, shoulder seasons are always the best so consider Spring (March – May) or Fall (September – November).
Getting here – Auckland (AKL) is the international hub if you're looking to fly in direct. Following this in size are Christchurch (CHC), Wellington (WLG), and Queenstown (ZQN), and Dunedin (DUD). To put alerts on the flights and find the best deals, I recommend using Skyscanner.
How do I get around the North Island? – There are a couple options for but when you boil it down, it's really between renting a car or going with a tour company like Flying Kiwi. Car rental will give you ultimate flexibility but you'll have to plan everything from top to bottom and gas can get quite expensive despite super cheap rental rates. Flying Kiwi is a great option for solo travellers or those wanting to just book something and show up. Make sure you head to the NZ travel guide for the discount code for car rental company Hitch.
Where should I stay? – The most comprehensive platform for bookings based on personal experience was Booking.com. They had everything from hotels, hostels, and guesthouses and we always managed to find an awesome place for a great place. As an alternative, there's also Agoda, Airbnb, and Hostelworld.
Where to stay in the North Island
Curious where we stayed in the North Island of New Zealand? These accommodations worked out really well for us and I think it'll work for you too.
TAUPO
A popular hostel in Taupo that is very affordable. The location is convenient as you're walking distance to the Pak'N'Save and the restaurants by the lake. A lively place with a large kitchen and open lounge. Take advantage of their $5 burger nights.
AUCKLAND
This was the perfect B&B-type of place to end off our trip. We wanted some something comfortable, not in the city, with easy parking and this ticked off all the boxes. The room was super spacious and perfect all around.
COROMANDEL
Friendly hosts, fully-stocked rooms (including breakfast items), easy parking, and extremely comfortable, and available spade/bucket makes this a favourite of ours from our trip to New Zealand.
PAIHIA
While camping in the Bay of Islands, this holiday park in Paihia was truly the perfect spot to watch the sunset. Beyond camping they also have comfortable cabins for rent as well.
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Anna says
I’m currently in New Zealand and spent a weekend in Wellington at the beginning of July, The Great War exhibit was on in Te Papa so I’m assuming it was closed for COVID or maintenance. Would definitely still recommend!
Will Tang says
Hey Anna! Thank you so much for the heads up. When we were in Wellington, WETA’s exhibit was actually at The Exhibition Building but exciting to hear that they’ve actually moved over to Te Papa and I’ve added this information to the post! You rock :)