Discover the North Island of New Zealand

The North Island offers a great diversity of attractions. The landscape is dominated by volcanic cones, a number of active volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. You will also find the largest lake at Taupo and the large cities of Auckland and Wellington with modern high-rise buildings and a beautiful bay.

The area south of Auckland is hilly and a nice attraction nearby are the Waitomo Caves with stalactite caves. Motorhome travel is excellent here and there are many impressive routes to follow from north to south or vice versa. The many national parks give you the opportunity to rest and enjoy a hike or enjoy the view.

Highlights of the North Island

Wellington

Today, Wellington is a vibrant, cultural and slightly mundane city where you should definitely spend more than a day. The city is located on Port Nicholson, one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. Wellington is the largest city in the extreme south of the North Island and is only separated from the South Island by the Cook Strait. New Zealand's capital is therefore located in the middle of the country, so to speak. The city is nicknamed "Windy City" because it can be quite windy here. The city has less than 400,000 inhabitants, which gives it a bit of an intimate feel and pleasant appearance. The city's history goes back centuries, and according to Maori lore, Kupe, the great Polynesian explorer was the first to set foot in this area. For many centuries the Maori lived here, and it was not until 1840 that the first European settlers arrived here.

Taupo

Taupo is located on the north side of Lake Taupo, in a picturesque setting. Lake Taupo is popular with anglers because of the trout that abound here. On the other side of the lake, you can see the outline of the three volcanoes in Tongariro National Park. The town of Taupo itself does not have a lot of attractions, but the surrounding area makes up for that doubly, Taupo is a great base for that. Of interest in Taupo is the Taupo Regional Museum & Art Gallery, with exhibits on the history of the town and displays of Maori art. What Taupo is all about is the environment, which invites you to do all kinds of activities.

Auckland

Auckland, with a population of over 1 million, is New Zealand's largest city and the main hub for air travel. The city lies on the slopes of the isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, on the North Island. Its residents are a colorful mix of nationalities who come from many corners of the world. Located directly on the bay, the city center consists of modern high-rises and shopping centers. The restoration of historic parts of the city has created cozy shopping districts. In addition to the city's office buildings constructed of concrete and glass, other attractions can of course be found in and around the center, such as museums, art galleries and parks. Many attractions are located on the waterfront and around parks such as Albert Park, Victoria Park and the Domain.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand's most beautiful coastal areas and is world-renowned, especially for its excellent deep-sea fishing opportunities. This bay, with its jagged coastline of about eight hundred kilometers, in which are scattered about 150 islands, is easily accessible and is a two-hour drive north of Auckland in the part called Northland. The islets have lovely beaches and beautiful rock formations, and the area has a wonderful subtropical climate.

Waitomo

Waitomo literally means in the Maori language: water flowing through a cavern. The Waitomo Caves form a gigantic cave system, much of which has not even been discovered yet. Already found are the Ruakuri and Awanui Caves and the truly stunningly beautiful - and most famous - Glowworm Cave. These are all open to the public and you will go on a tour by boat past all kinds of stalactites and stalagmites. Keep in mind that there are lines for these tours in December and January, but don't skip Glowworm Cave because of this! Mother Nature has tried incredibly hard to make something beautiful here. Millions of glowworms cover the ceiling of this cave and it looks like the Milky Way has thundered out of the sky and stuck to this cave. Do bring a warm sweater because it is quite cold underground. The bay is located on the east side of the 300-km-long peninsula that stretches north of Auckland into the Pacific Ocean. The bay has great historical value, as it is the cradle of Maori culture and this is where the colonization of New Zealand began.

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is "capital" and cultural center of the Taranaki region, and is famous for its parks and gardens (one-fifth of the city consists of greenery) and is therefore also called "Garden City. Especially in spring when everything is in bloom, the city attracts many visitors. From late October to early November, the annual Taranaki Rhododendron Festival takes place and more than a hundred gardens can be visited. The town is sandwiched between the popular (surfing) beaches on the Tasman Sea, and the eternally snow-capped, Mount Egmont, also known as Mount Taranaki. The town is a great starting point for visiting the surrounding area including Mount Egmont National Park. But a number of attractions are also well worth a visit in town. About a ten-minute walk from the center is Pukekura Park, and is one of the oldest parks in New Zealand