5 days road-trip North Island, New Zealand

This straight down-the-middle route takes you through the volcanic heart of the North Island. This would include subterranean labyrinth of Waitomo Caves, spectacular geothermal and Maori attractions in Rotorua and Taupo. Travel through Turangi as the volcanic plateau gives way to farmland. Discover beautiful Kapiti Coast before ending your journey in the city of Wellington, New Zealand's vibrant capital.

In this blog, I would be covering a 5 day itinerary covering some of the most beautiful spots in the North Island of New Zealand. We will cover the following key aspects which would help you plan your trip to this abode.

Weather & Season

From crisp spring days to long golden summer evenings and cosy winter nights, New Zealand has something unique to offer in each season. New Zealand enjoys some of the most settled weather of the whole year in between December - May. Soak up long, sunny days and golden leaves with hiking, cycling or kayaking.

Getting around

With so many things to do and spectacular places to see, choosing how you travel around New Zealand is as important as choosing where you want to go.

We choose to self drive at our own pace. We hired a rental car, travel around New Zealand. But if you prefer to sit back and relax and someone else drive, there are guided coach tours ranging from day trips to multi-day itineraries. Refer to New Zealand official travel website for more details.

Recommended spots

Day 1

We took a 3 hours, Air New Zealand flight from Sydney to Auckland, where we had booked a night stay at Ibis Budget Auckland Airport. Next morning, we picked our self-drive car with Snap Rentals. I would recommend comparing prices before booking. Speaking from personal experience, QeeQ had some of the best price to offer. We spent a few hours exploring the city of Auckland, some of the must visits include Sky Tower, War Memorial & Twin harbour. Next spot in this journey was Glowworm Caves. It was a 2.5 hours drive. We had booked the Glowworm cave experiences through Viator. From here we drove all the way to Rotorua which was 1.5 hours long drive where we had booked accommodation with Ibis .

Day 2

We took a guided tour to experience the real Middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. You will find tons of options. This walking tour allows guests to find themselves engulfed in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of The Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. You can request hotel pickup with some of the tour options.

In the evening, we had booked hot water pool at Waikite valley. You may purchase a private pool for 40 minutes and then enjoy the 6 general pools. The bookings include an eco-trail, Te Manaroa Spring, 10 minutes to the largest single source of boiling water in New Zealand. Experience the ‘Living Waters’ of Waikite Valley and see the violently magnificent Te Manaroa Spring as it discharges thousands of litres of geothermal energy into the Otamakokore Stream that winds its way downstream leaving a trail of calcite formations in its wake.

Day 3

Hell's Gate experience. Combine all three of Hell’s Gate most popular experiences Including geothermal walk which takes between one and one and a half hours, as well as Māori carving. Then bathe in our world-famous mud baths and soak in the sulphur spas and cool plunge pool. Here is a link to the experience we choose with Viator.

After experiencing the mud bath, we drove to Taupo where we were welcomed with a light shower as we drove past the Taupo lake. Just north of Taupō you'll find New Zealand's most visited attraction, the magnificent Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second.

Day 4

Centred upon three volcanoes –Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu –Tongariro National Park is home to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes. Tongariro National Park has sights and activities to suit every interest, age and ability. Often described as New Zealand's greatest day walk, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a challenging journey across a remarkable volcanic landscape. Stunning panoramic views look out over the volcanic terrain.

Day 5

It's time to drive back to Auckland and catch a flight back home.

Where to stay

We decided to stay in Airbnbs in Taupo and Tongariro and budget hotels in Auckland and Rotorua. Ibis had a nice cozy room and hostel vibe where we got a chance to meet other travels like us. While in Rotorua we planned to stay at Ibis which was near most of the attractions.

Money & Costs

On average 3-star motel/hotel room would cost around NZ$80-$200 per night.

If you plan to go for a luxury 4- to 5-star hotel it would be upwards of NZ $200 per night. Flight tickets would cost you NZ$ 1500 for a couple. Visa cost would vary depending on each person's situation, for us we had to pay NZ$23 for NZeTA. If you book a self drive it would cost on an average NZ$70 per day excluding fuel. Fuel would be NZ$80 for a full tank which would cover you for 500 kms. Food expenses, for a couple, depends on individuals but on an average would be again NZ$100 if you plan to eat out all throughout the day.