New Zealand is such an incredible country with so much to do! While my family spent two weeks between the North and South Island, you could spend months there and not see everything New Zealand has to offer. With that being said, I found we were able do so much in four days on the North Island. We flew into Auckland and spent time in Hobbiton and Rotorua before continuing on to the South Island.
DAY 1: EXPLORE AUCKLAND
Plan on spending your first day in Auckland wandering the town to get your bearings down. While Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, it’s extremely walkable. There are a ton of shops and restaurants scattered throughout the city. Be sure to check out Albert Park and Waitemata Harbour.
Read More: What to do in Auckland
DAY 2: SAILING TOUR & MOUNT VICTORIA
Auckland is known as the City of Sails! I highly recommend doing the America’s Cup Sailing Experience. The sailing experience is approximately two hours. There are two tours that go out daily at 11 am and 2 pm.
Our crew was awesome! They were experienced sailors that made sure everyone had the opportunity to participate. This excursion is great for a variety of people because you can either get involved, sit back and relax, or learn about sailing! Not only did we learn a ton about sailing throughout this experience, but we also got incredible views of Auckland from the water!
Mount Victoria is in Devonport which is a quick ferry ride from Waitemata Harbour in Auckland. Devonport is a small town that is filled with charming cafes and boutiques. It’s a fun town to check out as it is vastly different from Auckland!
DAY 3: HOBBITON & DRIVE TO ROTORUA
On day three plan on leaving Auckland early to head toward Rotorua with a pit stop in Hobbiton! Rotorua is just over three hours from Auckland and is most known for their geothermal pools. I highly recommend booking a tour to explore the Hobbiton Movie Set because it is amazing! It is in the same direction as Rotoura making for an easy stop along the way.
I’m not going to lie, I ended up loving Hobbiton!! I am not a fan of The Lord of The Rings but Hobbiton is so cool so be sure to book a tour!
Rotorua is a quick drive from Hobbiton, so you will have plenty of time to grab dinner and check out the town upon arrival. While I loved Rotoura, I’m going to warn you, it smells like rotten eggs from the sulfur in the geothermal pools. Be aware of this going in and you’ll get used to the smell…well maybe…
DAY 4: ROTORUA THERMAL WONDERLAND
Start day four with a bike ride through Rotorua. You are able to bike through a bunch of hot pools along the way, which was amazing!
Plan on making your way to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland for a self guided tour of the incredible geothermal pools of Rotorua! Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is the most extensive geothermal system in New Zealand! The geothermal park is huge! There are a number of unique pools with a variety of colors which is crazy to see.
End your day at Waikite Valley Thermal Pools for some relaxation! There are a number of different hot pools in Waikite Valley to swim in so be sure to allow a decent amount of time here!
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
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Love the article! I can’t wait to check out all of the cool Lord of the Rings stuff!
Thanks, Jonathan! Hobbiton is awesome. Let me know how you like it when you go!