We spent 20 days exploring this part of New Zealand and wanted to share our North Island Itinerary. Our original plan was two weeks on the south and one week on the north. Once we started outlining our plans, we determined that there was so much to see in three weeks. We also have no idea when we could realistically return, so we wanted to see as much as possible.
We planned out six weeks in the country. We worked our way from the south to the north. 20 nights on the North Island was enough to get an introduction, so we are sharing our full north island itinerary. Pair this with our New Zealand South Island itinerary for a full intro to the country. To remain as transparent as possible, we are also sharing the changes we would make if we did it again.
I have included links with more information about specific places if you want to read more.
Our Full North Island Itinerary
Wellington – 4 nights
There is a lot to see in Wellington. We spent two nights right in the city and then two more in a quiet suburb. Craft beers, good food and the best museum in New Zealand – it was good we got a little rain during our time here.
Read our Wellington highlights here.
Taupo – 2 nights
With the line of volcanos cutting through Tongariro National Park, this area has tons of activities and things to see. We stayed right near the lake for 2 nights. If you are hiking the Tongariro Alpine Pass, plan a little more time in this area so you have a rest day.
Get the low down of our time in the Taupo Volcanic Zone here.
Rotorua – 3 nights
We relaxed a little more here with a trip to the Polynesian Spa and a few great homemade meals at our guesthouse. The highlight of this time was our trip to Hobbiton which was less than an hour drive from here.
See the pictures from the Hobbiton movie set.
The Coromandel – 2 nights
We stayed in a tree house on the Coromandel Peninsula and never left the property. There is so much to do and see here, but we wanted to just experience the quiet surroundings. We did spend an afternoon hiking, but we missed out on a lot this area has to offer by opting for the relaxing path.
Read about our time on Coromandel here.
Russell – 2 nights
This was one of our favorite spots in New Zealand. We wish we could have explored more of the Northland, but getting a taste in Russell was absolutely wonderful.
Read our post about why everyone should visit Russell here.
Whangarei – 1 night
It rained the whole afternoon and evening we were here. We were totally OK with it. We went to see Avengers and got some pizza.
Auckland – 6 nights
We finished our time in New Zealand in the biggest city. It was so nice to get to stroll neighborhoods, eat any kind of food we could think of, have a washer and dryer to catch up on laundry and be able to regroup.
Read about all the food we ate in Auckland here.
Our 20 Day North Island Itinerary on a Map
What We Would Change on a North Island Itinerary
Made it to Napier & Raglan
These are two places that I wish we would have added to our itinerary. I loved the caravan in Lower Hutt, but if you only had a few weeks, I would say to add these two places to your list instead of staying 4 nights in the Wellington area.
Pick Taupo OR Rotorua instead of both
We stayed in both, but they are actually pretty close together and we probably could’ve just stayed in one or the other. That would buy you another night or two for somewhere else. I would also consider adding a full-day hike, like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (that post was put together by the talented writer behind the Silly Little Kiwi, and you should follow her adventures too).
Explore more of Coromandel
We needed to just relax during our time there, but I would have loved to rent some kayaks for a day and get some additional hiking in. The area is so beautiful, especially during the slow times with very few people.
Add time in the Bay of Islands
We had two nights in Russell and they were perfection. I would add one more night in a different town in that area so we could see more of the area. We just scratched the surface of the northland.
Skip Whangerai
We thought we would need to break up the drive between Russell & Auckland, but the town didn’t have much to offer us.
Slow Down & Stay Longer
Isn’t that always a desire when you visit someplace beautiful? We focused hard on moving slowly when we could, but spending only a few nights in each place kept us moving quickly. If you have more time, take it. Slower is almost always better.
Here is a collection of video clips from the North Island if you need a little more inspiration to visit.
Let us know if you have any questions or if you are planning a trip to the beautiful North Island of New Zealand.
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