Not sure where to start when travelling New Zealand? You’re not alone.

When I was living in Dunedin, I kept thinking: “It would be a shame to only see the South Island.” So I packed a bag and headed to the North Island — a few times, actually. And the trip I remember most fondly went like this:

Dunedin → Wellington → Palmerston North → Taupō (Lake Taupo) → Wellington → Dunedin

Crossing from the South Island to the North, this route takes in a capital city, a university town, and a volcanic lake all in one go — the best of New Zealand in a single loop. And since it’s mostly done by bus, it’s a great option if you’re travelling without a rental car.

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✈️ Dunedin → Wellington: One Hour, and It Feels Like a Different Country

The domestic flight from Dunedin to Wellington takes just about an hour.

You fly over gentle pastoral landscapes, then step off the plane into a buzzing, modern capital city — and that contrast is the first “wow” moment of the trip.

The second you walk out of the airport, you’re hit by sea air, mountain views, and a whole lot of wind. Wellington’s reputation as “the windiest capital city in the world” is completely deserved. I couldn’t help laughing the first time I experienced it — it’s genuinely that windy.

More about Wellington / More about Dunedin

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🚌 Into the North Island Interior by Bus — Where the Views Do the Talking

For most of this journey, I travelled by bus. The North Island has a solid long-distance bus network, and the views from the window — rolling farmland, crystal-clear lakes, volcanic peaks — are a big part of the experience in themselves.

◎ Wellington → Palmerston North (approx. 1 hour)

A short first leg to ease you in. Palmerston North is a compact university town — walkable, full of cafés, and easy-going. It’s the perfect warm-up stop.

◎ Wellington → Taupō (approx. 4–5 hours)

This is where the journey really comes alive. The scenery outside the window gradually transforms into something straight out of a film:

• Endless rolling green meadows
• Isolated farmhouses sitting alone on the hills
• Clear rivers and glittering lakes
• Volcanic ridgelines fading into the haze

There’s a moment somewhere along the way where you think: Oh — this is New Zealand. That quiet realization is what makes the bus ride worthwhile.

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🌊 Taupō: The Kind of Place That Makes You Stop and Take a Deep Breath

Lake Taupo is a vast caldera lake sitting almost dead centre of the North Island — roughly half the size of Shikoku island in Japan.

Coming from Dunedin, the sheer scale of the water and sky takes you completely by surprise. The lakeside town is unhurried and relaxed, perfect for a coffee and a slow wander. It was exactly what I needed at the midpoint of the trip — a place to pause, reset, and simply exist for a moment.

More details here

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🎓 Palmerston North: The Warm, Unhurried Feel of a University Town

Back in Palmerston North on the return leg, I noticed all over again how comfortable this town feels. It’s one of New Zealand’s key educational hubs, and there’s a nice energy here — students mixing with locals, cafés humming along quietly, no rush anywhere.

No towering skyline, but the centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. I genuinely thought “I could stay another night here” — which is about the highest compliment I can give a place.

More details here

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🏙 Back to Wellington — a City That Keeps Getting Better

The final stretch brought me back to Wellington before flying south to Dunedin.

Wellington is one of those cities where you always find something new, no matter how many times you visit. Walking along the harbour waterfront — sea air, street art, people watching — felt like exactly the right way to close out a trip.

Landing back in Dunedin, the quietness settles over you like a warm blanket. That contrast — the bustle of the North Island and the stillness of the South — is what I love most about travelling around New Zealand.

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✍️ Coming Up: Deeper Dives Into Each City

• Wellington → [here]
• Palmerston North → [here]
• Taupō / Lake Taupo → [here]
• Bus travel tips & route advice

Each city has its own personality. I’ll be covering them one by one — properly this time.

More about Dunedin here