We were fortunate enough to spend two years living in New Zealand and took advantage of every opportunity that we had to explore the north and south islands.
We have always wanted to take an RV road trip and were excited to rent a campervan and embark on a two-week north island road trip adventure.
We loved being able to explore and camp in remote regions, it also gave us flexibility in our itinerary without being tied down to hotel reservations. We also saved money with the option to cook our own meals instead of eating out, which can get pretty expensive with a family of six.
We loved it so much that the next year we rented another campervan and took a 14-day road trip around Australia. Since returning back to the US, we also rented an RV and camped on the shores of Lake Powell.
We have talked about one day buying a motorhome and taking an epic US road trip. Hopefully, that dream will one day become a reality, but for now, I am excited to share our favorite stops on our North Island New Zealand Campervan Road Trip!
Best Places to Visit on a North Island New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Table of Contents
- 1. Wellington
- 2. New Plymouth
- 3. Taupo
- 4. Rotorua
- 5. Waikato Region
- 6. Coromandel Peninsula
- 7. Auckland
- 8. Northland
1. Wellington
Top things to do in Wellington New Zealand:
- Visit the free Te Papa National Museum
- Take the Wellington Cable Car to the top of Mount Victoria then walk back down through the botanic gardens
- Kayak at Oriental Bay
- Tour the Lord of the Rings Weta Workshop
Tip: See our guide 6 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Wellington New Zealand for more information and recommendations
2. New Plymouth
Top things to do in and around New Plymouth New Zealand:
- See the Three Sisters and Elephant Rock formations and sea caves at low tide in Tongaporutu
- Hike Paritutu Rock for an incredible lookout in New Plymouth
- Explore the magical Goblin Forest at Edgemont National Park
- Rent bikes and ride around the picturesque Pukekura Park
- Visit the Cape Egmont Lighthouse
3. Taupo
Top things to do in Taupo New Zealand:
- Take a white water rafting tour at Huka Falls, or just observe the powerful rapids and crystal blue water from the bridge
- Take a boat tour on Lake Taupo to the Maori rock carvings
- Visit Aratiatia Dam and watch the gorge fill up with water as the dam is released
- Soak in the free hot springs at the Spa Thermal Park
- Pick up some local organic honey at the Huka Honey Hive
4. Rotorua
Top things to do in Rotorua New Zealand:
- Hike the trails at the Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest
- Visit the geothermal pools and geysers at Wai-o-tapu
- Hang with the locals at the geothermal Kerosene Creek
- Hike Rainbow Mountain for stunning views over the steaming blue geothermal lake
- Visit Kuirau Park, a free public park packed with geothermal wonders
- Ride the Skyline Luge down the mountain
Tip: Visit our guide, 8 Unforgettable Things to Do in Rotorua New Zealand for more details and recommendations!
5. Waikato Region
Top things to do in and around the Waikato region:
- See the glow worms at the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
- Visit Marokopa Falls
- Walk the loop trail to see the Mangapohue Natural bridge
- Soak in a thermal hot pool at Kawhia hot water beach
- Tour the set of Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings
6. Coromandel Peninsula
Top things to do on the Coromandel Peninsula:
- See the rock arch at Cathedral Cove beach
- When hiking to Cathedral Cove, take a detour to see stingrays at Stingray Bay
- Walk the trails through mining tunnels at Karangahake Gorge
- Dig a thermal pool and relax on the shores of Hot Water Beach at low tide
- Explore New Chum’s beach, voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world
- Take a narrow gauge train ride through native bush on the Driving Creek Railway
7. Auckland
Top things to do in and around Auckland New Zealand:
- Take a short hike to visit the 6-tiered Kitekite Falls
- Lay on the black sand shores of the beautiful Piha Beach
- Go sandboarding down the black sand dunes and play in the streams at Lake Wainamu
- Explore old military tunnels and gun emplacements at Devonport North Head
- See the ocean wildlife at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium
- See the views from a dormant volcano at One Tree Hill
- Stroll along the waterfront and grab a bite to eat at the Viaduct Harbour
8. Northland
Top things to do in the Northland Region of New Zealand:
- Enjoy a secluded white sand beach at Smugglers Cove near Whangarei
- Take a ferry to Russell Island in the Bay of Islands
- Spend a day at Action World, an acrobatic-themed park in Paihia
- Take the short trail to the incredible Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri
- Play at the sand dunes and white sand beaches at Karikari Beach
- Go sandboarding at the towering Te Paki Sand Dunes
- Visit 90 Mile Beach, an official road where 4WD vehicles are allowed to drive along the beach
- Visit the Cape Reinga Lighthouse, the northernmost tip of the island, and see where the Tasman Sea collides with the Pacific Ocean
- Stroll through the Waipoua Forest and see the Tane Mahuta, the largest known living Kauri tree
- See our guide 9 Incredible Places to Visit in Northland New Zealand for all the details!
We hope this helps as you map out and plan your epic North Island New Zealand campervan road trip!
Other posts you might like:
- 17 Underrated Spots on New Zealand’s South Island
- 11 Things to See on New Zealand’s West Coast
- 10-Day New Zealand South Island Itinerary
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