A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started
Kayak through Whitianga’s Cathedral Cove Reserve alongside a private guide
15 days, from £4,000 to £4,780
Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday
Practical guide
Travel Advice & Information
While it may be the runt in New Zealand’s litter of two, the North Island still packs a mighty punch with its lyrical landscapes, volcanic islands, picture-perfect national parks and wild, surf-lashed beaches. Drag yourself (kicking and screaming most probably) away from the eye-wateringly beautiful wildernesses and you'll discover the island's uber-cool cities. Auckland, the country's largest city, is regularly rated as one of the world's top cities for quality of life, while the harbourside capital of Wellington is overflowing with local culture from a thriving craft-beer scene to crateloads of cool cafes. Beyond the cities, there is an almost endless list of things to experience: take a day trip to Matamata to visit Hobbiton, the iconic set used in The Lord of the Rings trilogy; drive along the coast to the beautiful Bay of Plenty and its numerous waterside towns and villages; take a dip in the hot springs and learn about Maori culture in Rotorua; and raft up Tongariro River which feeds into the beautiful Lake Taupo.
It goes without saying that nature-lovers will fall head over heels for New Zealand, but with its cool cities crammed full of cultural treasures, city souls will also be at home here. Families, couples and solo travellers alike will find something to love here, and the people are so warm and friendly that you may well find that when your holiday comes to an end you just won't want to leave.
New Zealand is the perfect road trip destination whether you want to drive from place to place and stay the night in homey hotels, or campervan around with a lovely itinerary chock full of experiences and activities to sink your teeth into along the way. Roll down the windows, turn on the tunes and hit the road for an adventure of a lifetime...New Zealand style.
Take the time to learn about Maori culture on your North Island holidays. The indigenous people of New Zealand - or Aotearoa in Maori, (meaning 'Land of the Long White Cloud') - have a strong culture which can be found across both of the country’s islands, but in Rotorua, you'll get to experience it in a truly immersive way. With local guides who provide fascinating, authentic insights, this is a respectful and responsible way to experience and learn about Maori culture. You may even get to taste some of the delicious food that’s prepared traditionally in an underground oven.
Starting in Auckland, the country's largest city, is usually where people begin their New Zealand adventure. Not a bad place to start your luxury holiday with after a long journey. A small city with a big heart, there are bars and restaurants a plenty which welcome new comers and will even give visitors advice about the local area and top places to visit. The hotels in Auckland are pretty good at that too, Kiwi people in general are just pretty friendly. In this great city, known as the 'city of sails', getting out on the water is a must do. It is a perfect destination for day trips. The sky tower is worth a peak and visitors can even start their adventure early by doing a harnessed walk around the outside or even a bungee jump off Auckland bridge. Whilst in the Auckland area, escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a trip to Waiheke Island, which is only a 40 minute ferry away, for some wine tasting and great views.
The sub-tropical region of the Bay of Islands is at the northern point of the North Island. Full of amazing marine life; you can swim with dolphins, watch orcas swim into the bay, go sailing, fishing, kayaking and explore the Maori culture at Russell. Russell was the first town to be built in New Zealand, and used to be known as 'the hell hole of the pacific'; it is now home to some lovely properties and wonderful food. On the subject of bays (and islands), there are no prizes for guessing the attraction of the Bay of Islands. There are 144, to be exact, and these are best explored aboard a luxury yacht, crewed by a professional and knowledgeable team. The Bay region is home to wonderful marine life and, of course, the historically important settlements where Europeans first met and traded with the local Maori peoples.
Rotorua is a 'hot spot' for New Zealand visitors, being home to hot springs and steaming volcanoes. With geothermal heating, this is a great place to go and spa. Maori culture is also another highlight here; visitors can even stay in a Maori camp, learn the Hakka and gorge out on a Maori feast, all of which is cooked in the ground.
Lake Taupo is another spot for geothermal pools. It also boasts beautiful glacier lakes, the Tongorea crossing, and excellent places to explore walking or cycling. The more active soul will revel in their extreme sports centre, and particularly the ever more popular skydive over the lake.
Hawkes Bay offers luxury holidayers a happy marriage between vineyards and spectacular coastlines. It is the warmest and driest part of New Zealand and therefore understandably has some pretty great wineries, and is a popular place for bicycle wine tours; who would have thought?
Wellington, the nation's capital is the regular pit stop before embarking to the South Island. It is home to the Te Papa national museum, and its waterfront hosts a selection of boutiques, restaurants and art museums. For the Lord of the Rings fans, tours are also operated to nearby filming locations.
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