An Unforgettable North Island Motorhome Road Trip
Travelling the Length of the North Island (and Back) in 8 Days
If you want your road trip to be packed with a broad range of things to see and do, it's hard to look past this North Island itinerary. Specially tailored towards travel at any time of year, you'll get to see everything from movie sets, geothermal wonders, historic landmarks and two of New Zealand's biggest cities. And with a campervan rental, you can travel at your own pace, stop anywhere along the way for a cuppa and some lunch, and never have to pack and unpack your belonging along the way. Find out where to go, what to do and why this is an unforgettable North Island road trip below.
You can Follow this Itinerary any Time of the Year
This itinerary isn't limited to Spring or Summer. While we know Winter isn't everyone's first choice for when to travel, there are some serious benefits that we think makes it worthwhile:
- Fewer Crowds: With the possible exception of Queenstown, where crowds flock year-round, you're likely to encounter fewer crowds when travelling in Winter. Fewer queues, less traffic, unobstructed photo opportunities; what's not to love?
- Lower Prices: During Winter is a great time to take advantage of off-season deals, not only on your motorhome rental, but also on campgrounds and activities.
- Breathtaking Winter Landscapes: Snow-capped peaks, frost-dusted valleys, and misty lakes make for truly cinematic views, and you'll have no shortage of those!
So don't wait. Book your motorhome and get on the road.
Day 1: Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
Distance: 170 km | Drive duration: 2 hours 30 minutes | Recommended campground: Coromandel Top 10 Holiday Park
Auckland is New Zealand's biggest city and has a huge range of motorhome rental options to choose from. It's easy to pick one up and set off on your adventure, which in this case is a trip to the Coromandel Peninsula. It's a relatively straightforward drive, at least to start with, but things get a bit windy when you hit State Highway 25A. We recommend this route, rather than heading up the West side of the peninsula, as you'll get to our recommended places to visit quicker.
If you're travelling in Winter, it may seem counterintuitive to head to the beach, but Hot Water Beach offers the perfect excuse. At low tide, hot thermal water can easily be dug up, giving you your own personal hot pool from which you can watch the sun set over the ocean. There are two carparks nearby for you to utilise during your visit. Another must-see spot is Cathedral Cove, which is located a short drive north of Hot Water Beach. You can either join a boat tour to explore the cove and its surroundings, or you can head down on foot from Grange Road. Once you're there, you'll see what makes this spot so special.
Day 2: Coromandel to Waitomo
Distance: 238 km | Drive duration: 3 hours | Recommended campground: Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park
Today, you're heading for Waitomo, famous for its glowworm caves. But before you set off, enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat at one of the local cafes in Whitianga. It's not a short drive, so you'll want to make sure you're fully alert for the drive. Heading back down the peninsula, you'll be driving from one coast almost to another, as your rejoin State Highway 1 towards Hamilton, then take Highway 39 all the way to Waitomo.
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are easily accessible, and tours run from 9am to 5pm daily. Make sure you have a booking, or else you could miss out. There are several different options for exploring the caves, including a guided tour and black water rafting. The former takes less than an hour, while the later can be up to 5 hours, so which you choose will depend on how much time you have an how adventurous you are. Want more glowworms? You can also explore Ruakuri Cave to not only see these natural marvels, but a feat of engineering as well.
Day 3: Waitomo to Rotorua
Distance: 140 km | Drive duration: 2 hours | Recommended campground: Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park
Make sure you've collected some supplies, so you can utilise the Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park's kitchen to make some breakfast. There isn't a lot else around Waitomo when it comes to food options, so having something on hand is definitely the way to go. Once you're done, it's time to head east for a couple of hours to one of our most action packed destinations; Rotorua.
Rotorua is well known for its geothermal activity, cultural significance and adventure activities. We recommend setting off early on this leg so that you can take advantage of as many of these things as you can. A great outing for the day could include:
- Whakarewarewa - Otherwise known as The Living Māori Village, Whakarewarewa is both a step back in time and a geothermal wonderland.
- Redwoods Treewalk - Walk along a suspended walkway amongst the giant redwoods and see a different side of the forest.
- Polynesian Spa - Soaking in a hot pool is the perfect way to wind down after a day of exploring Rotorua.
Before you leave the next day, don't miss out of the Skyline Gondola, which will give you amazing views over the city and access to luging, ziplines, and a skyswing.
Day 4: Rotorua to Taupo
Distance: 80 km | Drive duration: 1 hour | Recommended campground: Taupo TOP 10 Holiday Park
The trip south from Rotorua to Taupo is a breeze, but don't leave Rotorua too late as Taupo has a lot to offer. This is a bustling town at most times of the year, thanks to its central location, nearby ski fields and adventurous attitude. Similarly to Rotorua, you can spend the day sightseeing, then wind up in the enveloping waters of some thermal hotpools. You could break it down something like this:
- Shortly before your reach Taupo, you can turn off Wairakei Drive onto Huka Falls Road and either head to the Huka Falls Lookout, or walk the track to get up close to this extremely powerful act of nature.
- Then, head to the lake (New Zealand's biggest) for a cruise that will show you ancient Māori rock carvings, that are only accessible by boat.
- When you return to shore, enjoy a bite to eat on the waterfront at one of the many restaurants along Roberts Street.
- Now, time to rest your bones at DeBretts Spa Resort, where you can either enjoy their public or private hot springs, or opt for a massage or facial treatment. You'll feel renewed after your visit.
“ When you hear people talking about hikes in New Zealand's North Island, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is usually top of the list. ”
Day 5: Taupo to Tongariro National Park
Distance: 100 km | Drive duration: 1 hour 30 minutes | Recommended campground: Whakapapa Holiday Park
When you hear people talking about hikes in New Zealand's North Island, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is usually top of the list. When to set off from Taupo will depend on the length of the hike you're planning to do. Walking the full track one-way (all 20.2 kms) is a full day outing, whereas if you're only planning to walk part of the track, you can allow more time for other activities in the area. Some key things to note about the crossing are that bookings are highly recommended, as is arranging a shuttle to drop you off and pick you up.
If you'd prefer other nature walks in the area, there are plenty. A good place to start is at the base of Mount Ruapehu, near the sadly now closed Chateau Tongariro Hotel. From here, you can hike to Taranaki Falls, which is a relatively leisurely 2 hour return trip. Or even shorter, you can walk Tawhai Falls and back in about 20 minutes. If you're visiting in Winter, you'll need to book early to secure accommodation and you'll also want to make sure you pack for the weather.
Finally, whether you're choosing to ski at Ruapehu or not, you can take the Sky Waka gondola up the mountain to enjoy panoramic views and a delicious meal at the top.
Day 6: Tongariro to Wellington
Distance: 333 km | Drive duration: 4 hours | Recommended campground: Wellington TOP 10 Holiday Park
The next 2 days cover a lot of ground, but we promise it's worth it. Wellington, New Zealand's capital city is is also known as the cultural capital, thanks to its intrinsic 'vibe' that you'll feel as soon as you set foot in places like Cuba Street, Aro Valley or Newtown. The breadth of cuisines, the plethora of local breweries, and the sheer number of quirky shops that line the streets make any visit to Wellington a memorable one.
But the options aren't limited to eating and shopping. New Zealand's most well known museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, sits proudly on the waterfront and contains plenty of wonders for visitors young and old. From there, it's a short walk to the famous Wellington Cable Car, which runs from Lambton Quay to the Wellington Botanical Gardens. On a clear day, you'll also get amazing views over the city. Then why not head over to Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, a Wildlife Sanctuary brimming with native birds, lizards, insects and so much more. Cap the day off with dinner on Cuba Street or Courteney Place and you will have just about had the perfect time in Wellington.
Prefer to start your trip in Wellington? Check out Wellington campervan hire here.
Day 7: Wellington to Hobbiton
Distance: 485 km | Drive duration: 6 hours | Recommended campground: Opal Hot Springs
As you near the end of your road trip, it's time for the biggest stretch. Make sure you leave early, as the last tour of the day at Hobbiton starts at 2.40pm. That's right, whether you're a Lord of the Rings fan or not, a visit to Hobbiton is a must for any visitor to New Zealand. Located in the rolling green hills near Matamata, Hobbiton transports you to another world, with real movie sets blending in perfectly with the surroundings.
Drive to The Shire's Rest, the starting point for your tour, where you will be taken by bus to the movie set. You'll then get a one and a half hour guided walking tour around Hobbiton before claiming a complimentary beverage at The Green Dragon Inn. It truly is a uniquely New Zealand experience.
Once you're done, if you're staying at the Opal Hot Springs, you can slink into the public or private pools on offer and reflect back on your epic journey.
Day 8: Hobbiton to Auckland
Distance: 160 km | Drive duration: 2 hours
Now, it's that bittersweet time to finish up your incredible North Island road trip. The good news is, it's a quick trip on mostly open highway, where you can sit back and just cruise to the finish line. If you want to take it easy, there are a few spots to pull over near Lake Karapiro and the Waikato River, where you can have a snack while New Zealand's longest river ambles past you. But soon enough you'll be dropping your campervan rental back in Auckland, where hopefully you've allowed some time to explore the biggest city in the country.
A visit to the Sky Tower is a great way to get a handle on the layout of Auckland, as is a wander through different areas like Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Street. And of course, no trip to Auckland is complete without a walk around the waterfront at the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter. It could be the perfect cap to an incredible journey.
Looking Back at Your Journey
When you look at the distance you've covered on a map, you should be impressed. You have covered so much of New Zealand's North Island that on your next visit, you can narrow down where you might like to visit again, or see the few corners not covered here. And it'll be hard to pick a highlight from this trip, considering all of the different experiences you would have had, from Hot Water Beach to glow worm caves, tree top walks to bathing in hot springs, and incredible museums to movie sets. Where else can you do all of that in 8 days? And let's not forget, in New Zealand there's always a whole other island to discover...
Planning Tips for Your Itinerary
Here at Motorhome Republic, we want your trip to be the best it can be. So here are our tips for making sure you can do it all:
- Book in advance: From campgrounds, to tours, to your campervan hire, make sure you don't leave it until the last minute to book. Some of the experiences we describe above are very popular, even in Winter, so you don't want to miss out by leaving it too late.
- Be prepared: When you're spending a lot of time outdoors in New Zealand, you want to make sure you are prepared. That means the right clothing, hiking gear, beacons or satellite phone, and even the right kind of tires on your motorhome. A way to heat your motorhome is also essential, especially when power is not readily available at some campsites.
- Check driving conditions: Check the driving conditions before you set off, so you can plan your journey for the day.
- Understand the rules and regulations: This includes your rental agreement, as well as camping regulations and rules when hiking. Some campsites won't have dumping facilities for example, so you'll need to take rubbish with you. Being a courteous camper and knowing the rules will ensure a smooth journey.
