Road trip around North Island New Zealand
On arrival in Auckland we picked up our hire car and headed straight to Mt Eden, which gives a great view of downtown Auckland. From there we crossed Auckland Harbour Bridge to Davenport on North Shore to get a different perspective of the city. There is a lovely marina area on the city side full of expensive looking yachts.
From Auckland we gradually made our way south and east, first stopping for a couple of nights on the Coromandel Peninsular. This area is really pretty with a rugged landscape, thick forests and winding roads leading to pretty sandy coves and dramatic cliffs. We made our way to Hot Water Beach armed with a couple of spades to dig our own hot water pool, as the hot springs seep into the sand at low tide. Very popular with tourists as this is such an unusual phenomenon. Then we drove to Whitianga and got a boat that took us along the coast to see the beautiful rock formations and caves, and in particular Cathedral Cove, which can only be accessed by boat or walking a trail.
Continuing to drive along the coast eastwards is a very enjoyable drive, with plenty of scenic vistas to enjoy along the way. We drove through Tauranga and on to Whakatane to spend a couple of nights overlooking the Bay of Plenty. The town's nearest beach is long, dark, and wild, called Ohope, mainly frequented by surfers, and locals walking their dogs when we visited. The main reason for stopping in Whakatane was the chance to visit White Island, some 80 mins offshore. White Island is a living volcano and can only be accessed by boat through one company authorised to take guided tours, or by flying over it. The volcanic activity was at a high level 2, which meant we could visit under strict supervision for a limited time. We were given gas masks to wear, as the sulphur levels were affected our breathing. This for me was the highlight of our trip, as it was fantastic to experience the raw power of a volcano with plumes of gassy steam emitting from the bowels of the earth, bubbling hot springs and sulphurous landscapes, all just a few hundred feet from where we stood. The following day we set off on a long drive around the east coast to the most easterly point East Cape, where the sun rises first on New Zealand. Plenty of photo stops on the way as the road wound its way through hills and around coves, all very dramatic. On from East Cape brought us to our overnight stop in Gisborne, which is the first place that Capt. James Cook landed in 1769. There is a statue commemorating the landing, and we enjoyed a walk along the waterfront discovering the history for ourselves. Across the water is a great spot to view the city too.
To the south of Gisborne is the delightful city of Napier rebuilt in 1931 after a devastating earthquake. Consequently, the centre of the city has many Art Deco buildings which add to its charm. Although the beach is rough and not suitable for bathing, there is a long wide path running its length which is used for walkers and cyclists, plenty of café culture too, so I felt it had a lot to offer for a couple of nights. After leaving Napier we cut across North Island to the west coast and stay 2 nights in Wanganui. Running through the town is the vast Wanganui River, and from the opposite side to the town there is a great viewing platform, accessed by an ancient elevator, which gives wonderful views of the river and town beyond. Along the river was a bustling street market, and riverboat trips to enjoy. We found Victoria Lake just outside the centre and enjoyed a lovely walk around it, watching the various birdlife. After that we drove to the nearest beach, called Kai Iwi which was busy with locals, but quite a wild beach stretching far into the distance.
Time to head northwards, we drove to the Turangi by the Tongariro National Park, and stayed in a lodge for a couple of nights. Although not serious hikers we wanted to walk part of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which can take a day. We took a shorter walk to the Taranaki Falls Waterfall, and got a good feel for the wild nature and mountain scenery. The following day we drove north to Rotorua for our final couple of nights, first stopping along the way at Taupo, which had a great tourist buzz, offering plenty of lake side activities. Lake Taupo dominates the area and is surrounded by mountains. A bit further on we stopped at Huka Falls, which has the most beautiful blue/green water as it tumbles along. Then further towards Rotorua we stopped again for a geothermal experience at Orakei Korako. Unfortunately the heavens opened as we arrived, so couldn’t enjoy the hot springs, bubbling mud pools and thermal landscapes as much as we could have.
Our final full day was in and around Rotorua. First stop was to the highly recommended 3D Trick Art Gallery. We spent an enjoyable 90 mins being creative, being part of the 3D pictures, taking plenty of photos. Then we headed south to the Waimangu Volcanic Village for a 3km walk amongst the most amazing landscape. Mt Taranaki can be seen in the distance and in 1886 it erupted and has left hot lakes, silica filled rivers, steaming gas fumaroles, and mud pools for us all to enjoy. So a bit of everything geothermal. Back to Rotorua we wandered around the centre and lake front and found an interesting Maori area with a church and a Meeting House (Matere). There are plenty of places to eat, and a nice walk too along the lake front.
We took 14 days to discover this region, and this time didn’t head north of Auckland or go as far south as Wellington, so I think to see everything you would need 3 weeks. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in North Island. Scenically not as dramatic as the South, but more beaches and pretty coves plus much more Maori culture, so together the two islands would make an awesome holiday!