New Zealand - North Island

A city, coast and wine break
Some travellers want the gentler side of the island.

Auckland, Waiheke Island and the Bay of Islands make an easy and restful trip, with short drives, excellent food and a subtropical climate. It works well as a standalone holiday, or as a relaxed opening to a longer New Zealand journey.

A self drive journey
Others come for the variety.

A route from Auckland through Rotorua and Taupo to Hawke’s Bay and Wellington takes in geothermal valleys, volcanoes, vineyards and the capital, usually over ten days to a fortnight. It is the classic way to see the island, and the driving is straightforward throughout.

A lodge led escape
A smaller number build the trip around the properties themselves.

Kauri Cliffs, Huka Lodge, Cape Kidnappers and Wharekauhau are among the finest lodges anywhere, and two or three nights in each makes a memorable holiday with very little movement.

The key is deciding whether the island is the journey or simply the setting.

New Zealand sits in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed, and the North Island enjoys a noticeably milder climate than the South.

December to March is the warmest and busiest period, ideal for the coast, the vineyards and time on the water. March and April are quieter, with settled weather, autumn colour through the wine regions and better availability at the lodges. The winter months from June to August are cooler and wetter, although the far north stays mild and the thermal pools and geothermal valleys are at their most atmospheric.

October and November are rewarding too, with spring growth, long evenings and far fewer visitors on the roads.

The North Island is compact by New Zealand standards, which makes it easy to attempt too much.

Most drives between the main areas take two to four hours, with only the longest legs beyond that, so an ambitious route looks perfectly achievable on paper. The pleasure of the island lies in the stops rather than the mileage, and three or four bases with at least two nights in each will nearly always feel better than a new hotel every night.

Leaving time for a day on the water in the Bay of Islands, a slow afternoon in the vineyards or a walk in Tongariro is what makes the difference. If the South Island is also on the itinerary, allowing a full week for each keeps both from feeling rushed.