NORTH ISLAND

A vibrant city of harbours, beaches and islands, Auckland is known as the "City of Sails". We've included the first night of accommodation so you can take it easy after you arrive after a long flight. Auckland is actually a really cool city, so that's why we have included 1 night in a hostel prior to the road trip and 2 nights in a hostel after your road trip, so you can digest and reflect before boarding the plane back home. You'll pick up the campervan in Auckland, and after a great day of chilling in the city, it's time for your amazing road trip!

Around 3 hours north of Auckland, you'll find the small picturesque town Paihia. It's beautifully located at the Bay of Islands. It has a nice cozy vibe and provides plenty of bars and restaurants as well as a nice sandy beach. If you have time, you can opt in for a trip to nearby Russell or you can check out some of the marine life including seals, dolphins or even whales if you're lucky.

A little further north, you'll find Kaitaia. Stay here for a day, and make sure to drive up to Cape Reinga, the most northern part of New Zealand, where you get the most amazing view over the ocean. And if you really want to spice up this experience, you should go here at either sunrise or sunset.

If you're into Lord of Rings, take a guided tour! Hobbiton Movie Set is an enchanting community of life-sized Hobbit holes in the Hamilton - Waikato region, and is the first stop in "The Trilogy" - a Middle-earth themed package that includes the Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Caves and Rotorua (which is next on your road trip). Enjoy a guided tour around Hobbiton, where your knowledgeable guide will enlighten you about the history and the on-location filming processes. Stop for a handle of ale at the Green Dragon Pub or grab a light lunch at the Shire's Rest Café.

Mud pools, geysers and adventure. Rotorua is one of the world's most lively fields of geothermal activity. Explore the bubbing mud pools and geysers of Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, or get your adrenalin pumping with some of the great adventure activities on offer. Visit Te Puia to experience a Maori cultural and learn about the fascinating history of New Zealand's indigenous people.

Next stop is Whakatāne, located by the Bay of Plenty. It's all about outdoor here, as there are tons of cool outdoor activities waiting for you. Hiking or biking in the beautiful surroundings is one way to do it. You can also explore the area from the water if you go kayaking. Make sure to check out nearby Moutohora Island and/or Whakaari aka White Island. Both are stunning places!

On the Eastern part of North Island, you'll find Gisborne. Fun fact: This places is the first in the world to see the sunrise every day so make sure to wake up early at least one morning to experience this from the beach side. Oh, and speaking of beaches... Gisborne is famous for Waikanae Beach which provides excellent surf conditions, if you'd like to get active during the day. You can also visit Cook's Cove which is illustrated in the image above. As you can tell, you can get a pretty awesome view here.

Napier is a small coastal town located at Hawke's Bay. The city was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, but has since been rebuild in a cool Art Deco-style. Napier boast quite some wineries, so it's only natural to taste some of the locally produced wine (of course not on a day of driving!). Make sure you also visit Motara Pa, which is a Maori fortified village and one of New Zealands most important archeological areas.

Movie production and a buzzing foodie scene. Located at the southernmost tip of the North Island, Wellington is home to Weta Workshop and the Weta Cave. Here, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at movie making magic in action and check out the nearby filming locations. Indulge in the city's buzzing food and wine scene, and enjoy a cable-car ride to the Kelburn lookout for expansive harbour views. If you're looking for a great place to eat, we can recommend Chocolate Fish Café a bit outside the city center. It's a local café and the drive here along the coast is absolutely beautiful!

You can choose to take the direct route to get from Wellington to Tongariro, but we actually recommend that you take a detour towards west, so that you drive from Stratford and towards Taumarunui along the "Forgotten World Highway". It's something special and looks like an area where dinosaurs used to (or still do perhaps) live. And then you should already start to get excited about the amazing natural wonder that Tongariro National Park is. It's New Zealand's oldest and obviously on UNESCO's world heritage list. The national park is home to 3 active volcanos, and needless to say some pretty awesome hiking trails as wel

Arrive from Tongariro to Taupo, home of the famous Lake Taupo and the nearby Huka Falls. We encourage you to check out both actually, and if you feel active, you can choose to hike to the top of Mt. Tauhara and enjoy the nice view. After the hike you can relax yourself in a natural spa pool at Otumuheke Stream.

Underground caves and glow worms. Around 2 hours' drive from Taupo lies the Waitomo Caves, a fascinating labyrinth of underground sinkholes, caves and rivers beneath rolling green farmland. Take a walking or boat tour, try black water rafting or zip line through the darkness.

Your road trip in the North Island of New Zealand ends where it all started; back in Auckland. Drop off your campervan, and then we have inclueded 2 nights in a hostel here so you can digest and reflect on your adventure through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Take it slow and make sure to check out the different corners of the city. And if you feel brave you can opt in for some bungy jumping while you're here.