Northern Delights Self Drive Itinerary

Welcome to Auckland, situated amongst a cluster of extinct volcanic cones, next to a large harbour that bustles with life, both on water and on land. The Auckland isthmus straddles a slim piece of land with coastline facing both the Pacific Ocean, and, on the wild West Coast, the Tasman Sea. 

On arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation. After checking into your hotel, relax, take a stroll around our beautiful city, explore the highly acclaimed Waterfront Restaurant Quarter or choose one of the many activities available to give a more in depth understanding of Auckland and the surrounding area.

Activity and sightseeing options if you have time:

Accommodation: Auckland - 2 Nights

Just 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland, across the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island is a tranquil paradise. Since the late 1970's Waiheke Islands benign climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. 

On your guided tour you will visit three vineyards each offering a range of gourmet tastes to accompany their wines such as oysters straight from Te Matuku Bay (seasonal), Waiheke honey and Waiheke olive oil. Indulge in a delicious family-style lunch overlooking the vines before enjoying free time to explore Oneroa Village where you can walk along Oneroa Beach, visit the local shops or sit in a café/bar overlooking the bay before being catching the ferry back to Auckland. 

Collect your rental vehicle this morning and travel north to the subtropical wonderland of secluded bays, islands and history, the Bay of Islands is a coastal paradise. Stroll the streets of Russell, New Zealand’s first capital, and soak up its whaling and pioneering past. Learn about the birth of New Zealand in Waitangi, where the treaty that made New Zealand a British colony was signed.

The compelling mix of early New Zealand heritage and coastal beauty makes the Bay of Islands an unforgettable destination to experience first-hand. For divers, the Rainbow Warrior Wreck – sunk just off Matauri Bay – is a riot of colour; jewel-hued anenomes in pink, purple and yellow stick to the rails and schools of fish call the wreck home. Also offering world-class fishing and the opportunity to view dolphins, the Bay of Islands is a must-do for lovers of perfect beaches and pristine coastline.  

Approximate Distance: 230 kms | 143 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Pahia - 2 Nights

This is the most popular dolphin watching cruise in the Bay of Islands, and for good reason! Board your cruise in Paihia or Russell and take in the stunning views as we glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the 'Hole in the Rock'. This four-hour cruise includes an island stopover, dolphin viewing and the Hole in the Rock. Morning cruises depart daily and give you the rest of the day to explore at leisure.

Today you will travel south through Auckland and continue on to discover one of the hidden gems of the west coat, escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Located near Waiuku, Castaways offers beautiful views of remote Karioitahi Beach. Wet-coast beaches are known for their unique black sand and tall sandstone cliffs. This is a true off the beaten track escape from the ordinary and offers the perfect setting for relaxation. Its wild coastline and stunning sunsets will simply take your breath away. 

Approximate Distance: 300 kms | 186 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Karioitahi Beach - 1 Night

The drive further south today takes you through the green rolling hills of the Waikato farming region. Just past Hamilton is the small and pleasant town of Waitomo is the focal point of the region’s subterranean wonders. The caves at Waitomo are one of New Zealand's most commanding wonders – a celebration of nature's work over the last one hundred thousand years. There are hundreds of miles of labyrinthine caves, glow-worms, under ground lakes, stalactites and stalagmites, and all manner of limestone crustaceans - a lost world waiting to be discovered. Above ground, the area around Waitomo is also popular for horse riding and bush walking.

Approximate Distance: 180 kms | 112 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Waitomo - 1 Night

Take part in the small group personalized Spellbound tour that allows you to spend 40 minutes under glow worms. This tour is one of the most unhurried glow worm tours in New Zealand, with plenty of time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness - intensifying the effect of thousands of softly shining glow worms.

After the journey, it is a two-hour drive to Taupō. Lake Taupō is set amidst rolling green countryside and spectacular mountain scenery. Similar in size to Singapore, Lake Taupō the lake is surrounded by some of the largest pine forests in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Approximate Distance: 150 km | 93 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 50 mins

Accommodation: Taupo - 1 Night

Sitting squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire - Rotorua is a geothermal spectacular. At the midway point between Rotorua and Taupo - stop at the  New Zealand's most colourful volcanic area at Wai-o-tapu. Enjoy unique volcanic features while walking well defined trails at your own pace, the earths crust at its most exciting and accessible, the smell of sulphur and sight of steaming vents invade the senses.  But Rotorua is more than boiling mud, there are ancient forests set amongst prisitine lakes, and the area is steeped in the history and tikanga (culture) of Maori, the First People of New Zealand. 

Recommended excursions in and around Rotorua:

Approximate Distance: 80 kms | 50 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Kiwi Encounter 
Drop in and meet New Zealand's national bird - the Kiwi - at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, the world's leading kiwi hatchery - with over over 1900 kiwi chicks to date, making us the world's largest and most successful hatching centre. Learn all about the efforts of our kiwi husbandry team, discover what it takes to hatch a chick...and if you're really lucky, see baby chicks in person!

Māori Cultural Evening & Feast
Finish your day with a Maori Cultural Performance at a local marae (village). Enjoy a banquet of foods cooked the traditional Māori way - on hot stones in an underground oven (a Hāngī). You'll learn about Māori culture, symbols and spirituality through joyous song and dance performances. Seeing the Haka performed before your eyes is unforgettable.

An exciting day awaits this morning. Journey to the emerald pastures and rolling hills of The Shire, where Hobbiton was brought to life on a private farm in Matamata. This idyllic village blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Set to the scale of a 3ft Hobbit you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a magical world of smoking chimneys, bluebells, and the Green Dragon Inn. Visit Bag End as well as the other 43 Hobbit Holes on this fully guided 2.5hr Hobbiton tour. Learn about the production of the movies – how did they make Gandalf appear so tall? Why was this exact site chosen to build Hobbiton? The passion and knowledge gleaned from your guide brings this authentic Middle-earth experience to life.

Approximate Distance: 235 kms | 146 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

We are sure you will enjoy the Northern Delights and our promise is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a memory card full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time in New Zealand! Have a great homeward journey, farewell and hope to see you again soon in Aotearoa, New Zealand.