North Island New Zealand road trip (Best 5 day itinerary)

Link to Google map above

• Day 1 – Fly Brisbane to Auckland
  • Accommodation – JW Marriott Auckland

• Day 2 – Auckland
  • Accommodation – JW Marriott Auckland

• Day 3 – Auckland to Matamata
  • Accommodation – Cosy Country Stay B&B

• Day 4 – to Rotorua
  • Accommodation – Karanda BnB

• Day 5 – Rotorua
  • Accommodation – Karanda BnB

• Day 6 – Rotorua to Auckland International Airport

Attractions included in our North Island New Zealand road trip itinerary

📍 Auckland Museum

📍 All Blacks Experience

📍 Auckland Sky Tower

📍 Hobbiton – Matamata

📍 Te Puia – Rotorua

📍 Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet – Rotorua

📍 The National Kiwi Hatchery – Rotorua

📍Wai-O-Tapu – Rotorua

📍 Polynesian Spa – Rotorua

Day 1 – Arrival at Auckland International Airport

Our flight arrived at Auckland International Airport New Zealand at 11.25 pm from Brisbane International Australia.

There are a variety of options to choose from to get into the city (Auckland International Airport is located 17 miles (27 km from the CBD) which include:

• Private transfer
  • Due to the time we arrived, we chose a private transfer via Get Your Guide
  • Our experience was excellent and our driver sent us a message via WhatsApp to say he was waiting and when I didn’t reply actually came into the terminal to collect us. The journey was fast and took around 25 mins (it was late Sunday evening)

• Public transport (Bus and then train)
  • There is no direct connection by train from the airport to the CBD
  • Catch the AirportLink bus (bust stop B domestic and bus stop A at International) to the Puhinui Interchange and then catch a train from there into the CBD.
  • This takes 15 mins by bus to the train station then approx 30 mins to downtown Auckland.
  • This service runs 7 days a week every 10 minutes from 4:30 am to 12:40 am

• SkyDrive
  • Express Coach runs from both the Domestic and International terminals to downtown Auckland.
  • Available from 5 am to 22:30 every day
  • Tickets can be purchased on the bus (card only)

Accommodation in Auckland – JW Marriott Auckland

Day 2 – Auckland

Things to do in Auckland in one day – HOHO bus (60 minutes to do the entire circuit of 9 stops)

• Operates between 9:00 am – 4 pm (the last bus terminates at 5 pm)

• Every 30 minutes from each stop.

• Adult – NZ$50 Child NZ$25 Family NZ$130 (1-day pass)

• Adult – NZ$60 Child NZ$30 Family NZ$180 (2-day pass)

• Combo tickets are available which include some of the most popular attractions.
  • We decided to visit the Museum, All Blacks Experience and the Sky Tower and purchased a combi ticket which included those attractions.

1. Auckland War Memorial Museum

We arrived at the museum at 11.30 a.m. (we hopped on the bus at stop 2 and got off at stop 5 for the museum) and had scheduled 2½ hours to explore. This was just enough to do a quick tour of everything but you could easily spend 3 to 4 hours here. We also decided this was the perfect place to have lunch so this did eat (no pun intended) into our time at the museum.

Auckland Museum is spread over 3 floors with the Ground Floor dedicated to Our People and Place, Level 1 Our World and Level 2 War and Remembrance.

Highlights for us were the Māori Court, the Volcanoes section, the Maori Natural History and the Origins section (particularly the birds).

The World War I and World War II Hall of Memories are humbling and thought-provoking.

2. All Blacks Experience

After hopping back onto the bus (every 30 minutes) we continued with the route which provided great views of Waitemata Harbour and Devonport.

If we had more time we would definitely have hopped off at Parnell Village (quaint shopping area) but we decided to head back into the centre of Auckland and hopped off at Stop 2 where we had started the trip earlier.

The All Blacks Experience is located at the Sky City Precinct. We took the 3 pm tour with 6 of us in total in the group. This interactive experience was a lot of fun and it “showcases Maori culture and rugby’s connections to New Zealand history.” (Official Pamphlet)

The highlight for both of us was standing facing the ladies and men’s teams performing the traditional haka. It left us both speechless and was incredibly powerful.

Plan to spend 90 minutes on this experience.

3. Auckland Sky Tower

Our final destination for the day was the Auckland Sky Tower. We decided to enjoy both the day and evening views and stayed for around 90 minutes.

The Sky Tower was opened in 1997 and was until 2022 the tallest building in the southern hemisphere at 328 metres high.

First, ascend to Level 51 (186 metres) which is the Main Observation Level before changing lifts to go up to the Sky Deck at Level 60 (220 metres)

Level 50 is the recently opened Sky Bar (check the site here for opening hours – it was closed when we were there)

There are other activities available for adrenaline junkies including a Sky Walk or Sky Jump.

Day 3 – Auckland to Matamata

Day 3 – Planned Activities

We hired a car via Discover Cars and picked it up at Auckland International Airport.

• Drive time – 2 hours 12 minutes to B&B (10 mins past Hobbiton)

• Drive time to Hobbiton – 2 hours 2 mins

• Booked Hobbiton for 15:10 – 501 Buckland Road, Matamata, 3472
  • You must be there 20 mins before the tour starts

• Dinner – We went to Matamata and ate at a lovely restaurant called the Redoubt Bar and Eatery (highlly recommend the pork belly bites!)

Day 3 of our North Island New Zealand road trip we had allocated a visit to one destination only – Hobbiton.

If you are a fan of the Hobbit and/or the Lord of the Rings trilogy Hobbiton will be a must in your itinerary.

I booked tickets with a timed slot for 3.10 pm in advance of arriving in New Zealand (don’t leave it too late to book as they can sell out. The popular tour with the Hobbit banquet was sold out on the one day we could do it so double check availability if this is something you really want to experience.

We were able to request a slightly earlier check-in and had time to drop our bags at the Cosy Country Stay B&B before driving back to Hobbiton for 2.50 pm.

• Te Puia Geothermal Valley Guided Tour – 13:00
  • Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua

• Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet
  • 196 Fairy Springs, Rotorua

• Dinner – Included in the Mitai Maori Village Experience

Te Puia

I had booked timed slot tickets for a tour of Te Puia through Get Your Guide. We highly recommend taking a guided tour so you can learn more about the history of the area from guides whose families have lived in the valley for over 1000 years.

Although we arrived a little early for the slot there is a cafe and a shop to peruse and plenty of parking.

After an introduction from our guide Kahu (pictured above) we walked through the valley which has mud pools, heated pool and geysers. The largest active geyser in the valley is the Pohutu Geyser and we were all anticipating an eruption of water up to 30 meters high (and were not disappointed – though Kahu did point out that she had no control over the geysers so it could not be guaranteed)

At Te Puia (meaning the hot spring) you will also find the Kiwi Centre and the New Zeland Maori Arts and Crafts Centre.

Kiwi Centre – At present there are 2 Kiwis in the centre and this was the first opportunity we had to see a live Kiwi bird. The centre is activekly involved in conservation efforts to protect New Zealad’s national bird.

New Zeland Maori Arts and Crafts Centre – Weaving and carving school which teaches the ancient traditions and skills to ensure these are passed on to future generations. During the tour you have the opportunity to watcth the students at work and even ask questions.

Mitai Maori Village

We booked the Mitai Maori Village – cultural experience for the first evening in Rotorua. The experience included a traditional earth cooked hangi and buffet dinner).

This 3-hour experience also included a cultural performance (with a haka) and seeing warriors chanting and paddling down the river. We enjoyed both of these events but found the cultural performance particularly interesting.

After dinner, there is an opportunity to walk to the sacred spring and see the glow worms, but by this point, we were tired and decided to head back to the B&B.

Tips!

• Wear flat shoes – the ground is a little uneven in places.

• Wear warm clothes in winter. It was rather chilly, and some of the performances were outside, so dress for the weather.

• Drinks (including alcohol) are available to purchase at the bar.

• You will be sat at a table with strangers but we found everyone very friendly and it was interesting to meet a few other nationalities attending the evening.

The National Kiwi Hatchery

If you have an interest in nature and wildlife then a visit to New Zealand’s leading Kiwi centre is a must-do on any Rotorua itinerary

We booked the tour via Get Your Guide with a time slot of 10 a.m. The tour took 45 minutes, and during it, you learned all about Kiwis—how they breed, lay, and hatch their eggs in the wild—and how the hatchery is working to protect and hatch eggs through its successful program.

You also discover that measures are in place to protect the species and increase the Kiwi population after years of decline. It is sad to think that these flightless birds are at risk of extinction due to the introduction to New Zealand of mammals such as stoats, dogs, cats, and weasels. Apparently, 50% of newly hatched Kiwi chicks are killed by stoats.

If you haven’t seen a Kiwi, you can also see their resident adult Kiwi during the tour.

Wai-O-Tapu

Wai-o-Tapu was my favourite destination when we were at Rotorua. This place is incredible – awe inspiring and unlike anywhere I had ever seen on earth before.

Located a little out of the town (a 30 minute drive) this is one of the most active geothermal areas in New Zealand. The colourful pools, geysers and lake make this a photographer’s dream – I took well over 150 images (watch out for the photodiary and guide to visiting Wai-o-Tapu coming out soon)

Highlights include

• The Champage Pool
• The Devil’s Bathtub
• Lake Ngakoro
• The largest mud pool in New Zealand

Need to know

• Open 7 days a week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (last admittance is at 3:00 pm)

• Wear sensible shoes – there were a lot of steps to negotiate further on in the park. Follow the boardwalks – you will receive a map and the trails are well signposted so you can’t get lost.

• If you can manage it definitely do the entire walk (consisting of 3 walking trails) – it took us about 90 minutes to do all 3

• If you want to see the Lady Knox geyser erupt you need to be at the park by 10 am (ie don’t book the National Kiwi Hatchery for the morning as we did which meant we missed the geyser) Give yourself time to pay at the Visitor Centre and drive back to the geyser

• Take a refillable water bottle and fill up just outside the visitor’s centre

• There is a cafe, gift shop and toilets at the main entrance

• There is parking but I can imagine that it can get busy so plan to arrive earlier in the day during peak season

Rotorua Lake Geothermal Hot Springs

The perfect end to a busy 4 days? A few hours at the Polynesian Spa.

I was’t sure when I booked this and was questioning myself right up until the moment I stepped outside and saw the hot pools. It is 100% worth it and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

The spa is fed by two hot springs—the Priest Spring and the Rachel Spring—which feed 28 hot mineral pools. The Priest Spring’s acidic nature helps relieve aches and pains, and the Rachel Spring’s alkaline nature nourishes the skin.

We booked the Deluxe Lake Spa experience, which enables access to five pools: four hot Rachel spring-fed pools (of varying temperatures) and one hot Priest spring-fed pool. There is also a cold plunge pool.

The geothermally heated recliners were a hit too with fabulous views over the lake – they are ideal to relax on when taking a break from the heat of the pools.

Need to know –

• The lake spa experience includes access to changing facilities with secure lockers. Soap, shampoo and hairdryers are also provided.

• Towels are provided

• Bring a swimming costume/bathers and flip flops (though you can hire swimmers if you need to)

• Bring a refillable water bottle – the pools are warm/hot so you need to keep hydrated. They reminded us of this at reception

Eat Street Rotorua

There are plenty of dining options in Rotorua, including Eat Street. We chose to eat at the CBK Craft Bar and Kitchen, which we recommend.

DAY 6 – Rotorua to Auckland International Airport

Day 6 was the last day of our North Island New Zealand road trip itinerary, and we drove from Rotorua back to Auckland Airport to drop off the car. Of course, you have the option to add additional days to this itinerary and continue to explore the North Island.

We flew to Christchurch to continue our New Zealand adventure – read all about it in our New Zealand South Island driving itinerary

Drive time – 2 hours 30 mins from Rotorua to Auckland International Airport

• Flight Auckland to Christchurch – 3 pm (check-in 60 mins before)