4.5/5Wonderful!(1,043 area reviews)
Explore Auckland’s inner-city hub to find historic architecture alongside contemporary designs, the revitalised Auckland Waterfront and a busy shopping precinct.
While visiting Wellington CBD, you might make a stop by sights like Lambton Quay and Michael Fowler Centre.
Take in the views from this mighty volcanic cone, relax on a beach, go for a surf, dine out or indulge in some retail therapy in the Bay of Plenty.
If you're spending some time in Auckland Airport, Butterfly Creek and Treasure Island Adventure Golf are top sights worth seeing.
Find colorful markets, stunning gardens and New Zealand’s biggest theme park when you visit Auckland’s most multi-cultural district.
Reviewed on May 12, 2022
Reviewed on May 16, 2022
Reviewed on May 15, 2022
With a landscape that is rich and fertile, filled with lush forests and towering mountain peaks, the North Island is also the heart of New Zealand’s Māori culture.
The North Island is home to lively cosmopolitan cities, including the country’s capital, as well as gorgeous beaches. Discover the active geothermal wonderland at its heart, which is quite unlike anything you will have seen before.
Nowhere reflects New Zealand’s fascinating mix of European and Māori cultures more than the North Island. Māori people first arrived on the island around 1,000 years ago, before it was discovered by the Dutchman Abel Tasman and then claimed by the British Empire. This past has resulted in a fascinating combination of Māori historic sites and colonial-era architecture.
Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for a more in-depth glimpse at Māori culture and traditions. Enjoy traditional performances and dine on a hāngi meal, cooked in an earth oven.
Go dolphin spotting in the Bay of Islands, home to a large population of friendly dolphins. Take a coach tour along Ninety-Mile Beach, a stretch of sand that is officially classed as a highway.
Wander around multicultural Auckland, known to many as the “City of Sails” due to its vast harbor filled with boats. Head up to the viewing platform at the top of the Sky Tower, which looms over the city skyline at a height of 1,076 feet (328 meters).
Experience the geothermal activity of the city of Rotorua. In the surrounding volcanic area, the Pohutu Geyser erupts daily and the mud baths of Hells Gate bubble.
Drive through the landscapes that featured as backdrops in TheLord of the Rings movies and visit the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata. Take a boat tour into the glowworm caves of Waitomo, or stroll around the landscaped Hamilton Gardens.
Marvel at the exhibits of the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington. Walk around the waterfront area and immerse yourself in the city’s thriving coffee shop culture.
Most flights to the North Island arrive into Auckland International Airport. Ride the extensive public bus system, which connects all major towns and cities. Visit during spring for fewer crowds, temperate weather and long, light evenings.
The North Island is an invigorating combination of cities, beaches, volcanoes and history.
Look inside Bilbo’s Bag End home and spot the Party Tree and Bagshot Row from the real Middle-Earth in The Lord of the Rings.
Enjoy fine dining in a rotating restaurant, dive off the tower on a cable-controlled jump or simply enjoy the views from New Zealand’s tallest tower.
Clear waters, rolling surf and black sand shores are surrounded by emerald cliffs and sub-tropical rain forest at this remote beach.