This page brings together everything from my North Island travels — the routes I took, the places that stood out, and the practical advice I’d give to anyone planning a similar journey.
The Full Route
Trip 1: South to North
Wellington → Taupo → Palmerston North
Wellington — New Zealand’s capital and one of its most livable cities. Compact, harbor-facing, with good museums, a strong café culture, and the kind of energy that comes from being a city that punches above its weight.
North Island NZ: Strolling Around Wellington — Parliament, Art, and the Windiest Capital in the World
Palmerston North — A university town with a quiet, local character. Not a destination that announces itself, but worth the stop for anyone who wants to see New Zealand outside the tourist circuit.
Palmerston North: A Student City of Numbered Monuments, Wind Farms, and Glowing Beaches
Taupo — A large caldera lake, surrounding geothermal activity, and Huka Falls — one of the most powerful and visually striking natural features on the island.
Lake Taupō, Crystal Rivers, and Misty Mornings: A Travel Journal from the Heart of New Zealand
Trip 2: Auckland to the Top
Auckland → Rotorua → Tauranga → Whitianga → Waiheke Island → Auckland → 90 Mile Beach → Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga Lighthouse — The northernmost point of New Zealand, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific. A place of significance in Māori tradition and geography alike.
From Auckland to the Top of New Zealand | 90 Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, and Everything That Went Wrong
Auckland — New Zealand’s largest city and the natural entry point for most international visitors. Good food, an active waterfront, and easy access to the harbor islands.
- NZ North Island Day 1 | A Ferry Ride to the Start of Everything — Devonport and Auckland
- NZ North Island Day 7 | Walking Auckland: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide
Rotorua — Māori culture, geothermal landscapes, and thermal bathing. The sulfur smell is part of the experience. One of the most distinctive destinations in the country.
- NZ North Island Day 2 | Driving to Rotorua — Gondola Views, Mud Baths & a Māori Cultural Evening
- NZ North Island Day 3 | Walking the Heartbeat of Rotorua — Geothermal Wonders and a Night Spa
Tauranga — A coastal city with a beach resort atmosphere and the outstanding viewpoint of Mount Maunganui.
NZ North Island Day 4 | Rotorua → Paradise Valley → Tauranga — Wildlife Encounters and a Hilltop View
Whitianga (Coromandel) — A quiet seaside town on the Coromandel Peninsula, with clear water and a pace of life that encourages slowing down.
NZ North Island Day 5 | Tauranga → Whitianga → Coromandel — Coastal Scenery and an Unexpected Rest Day
Waiheke Island — 40 minutes by ferry from Auckland, and a completely different world. Vineyards, good food, and beaches that justify the trip on their own.
NZ North Island Day 6 | Waiheke Island — Mudbrick Vineyard, Cable Bay & the Best Oysters of My Life
90 Mile Beach — A straight, unbroken stretch of coastline extending to the horizon. Unlike any beach I’ve encountered.
From Auckland to the Top of New Zealand | 90 Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, and Everything That Went Wrong
Side Story: The 2011 Rugby World Cup
A first-hand account of what Auckland was like during the tournament — and of watching the All Blacks win the final by one point in a packed pub.
The 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland — Days When an Entire Country Held Its Breath
🏆 Personal Best Spots: Top 5
1. Waiheke Island The clear winner. Wine, food, beaches, and a 40-minute ferry from Auckland — the combination is almost unfairly good. The best resort experience I’ve had anywhere.
2. Rotorua Hot springs, geothermal parks, and Māori culture in one place. The more time you give it, the more it gives back.
3. Tauranga The sea here might be the most vivid blue I’ve encountered anywhere. The view from Mount Maunganui is one of those that stays with you.
4. Taupō The trail to Huka Falls, the falls themselves, the lake — all exceptional. One of those places where the natural setting is so consistent that it’s difficult to take a bad photograph.
5. Wellington The right size for a city. Good cafés, a strong cultural scene, and a harbor that anchors everything. It has a character that’s easy to like.
Practical Advice for Travelers
SIM Cards When I traveled, I bought a prepaid SIM on arrival. These days, purchasing an eSIM before you leave home is more convenient and often cheaper. I’ve used Holafly for European trips; similar options exist for New Zealand.
Weather The North Island is warmer than the South Island, but winters are genuinely cold. Pack layers. Wellington in particular is windy — a windproof jacket is not optional. If you want to buy something locally, Icebreaker (a New Zealand brand) makes excellent merino wool gear.
Driving New Zealand drives on the left with right-hand-drive vehicles, which makes it straightforward for Japanese drivers. That said, complacency has consequences — as my 90 Mile Beach article explains in detail. Single-lane roads require particular attention, and rural roads after dark warrant caution.
Restaurants My approach was mostly to walk into places that looked good or ask hotel staff for recommendations. Having accommodation with a kitchen and cooking occasionally is worth considering — it keeps costs manageable and gives the trip a slightly different rhythm.
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