One of the many geothermal parks outside of Rotorua

Overview

While most travelers rave about the South Island of New Zealand, the North Island has just as many highlights and is certainly no slouch.  There are beautiful sandy beaches, a bustling city in Auckland, active volcanoes, and some of the most unique terrain and sites in the world in and around the geothermal wonderland that is Rotorua.  It would be a shame to ignore this island when visiting New Zealand.

Highlights/What to Do

Auckland- Dubbed the City of Sails, Auckland is home to about 1 million people, making it the most populous city in New Zealand.  Offering an urban atmosphere unique to the rest of the country, Auckland is a great place to begin or end your journey through this beautiful country.  Amazing food is a major plus to visiting Auckland.

Rotorua- While Rotorua is very touristy, there is a damn good reason.  It’s simply gorgeous, and if you have any interest in science and geothermal activity, this is the place to go.  While I am not a science guy by any means, I thoroughly enjoyed our time in Rotorua, feeling like I was on another planet at times.  You won’t find a more unique place in the world.  Add in zorbing, luge-riding, and rafting, and Rotorua has it all.

Lake Taupo- Lake Taupo is the result of what is said to be the largest volcanic eruption in the last 2000 years.  A beautiful place for boating and trout fishing.

Waitomo- The Waitomo Caves have become a popular activity for seeing glowworms, going black water rafting, climbing, rapelling, ziplining, and abseiling.  If you’re into adventure sports, don’t miss this unique opportunity to take part in activities that aren’t offered in many other places around the world.

Wellington- The capital of Wellington has a beautiful harbor that is the backdrop for this very cool, hip city.  If culture is what you want, then Wellington is the place for you.  It is loaded with theaters, museums, and fine art opportunities, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, a museum for people (like me) who don’t like museums.

Bay of Islands- In the northern part of the north island, the Bay of Islands is the place to go if you’re wanting some beach and water time.  The Bay of Islands is stunning is a can’t miss for water and beach fanatics, especially during the summer.  And if you like New Zealand mussels, this is the place to eat them.  You can even take a kayak out and find your own!

Tongariro National Park- Tongariro has 3 active volcanoes and 2 ski fields, offering visitors a multitude of spectacular landscapes.  It’s an outdoorsmen’s paradise in a country filled with outdoorsmen’s paradises.

Food

Like the South Island, I was just as impressed with the food in the north.  Wellington offers a nice variety of cuisines, with some amazing Indian food and even a pretty good take on Mexican, rare in these parts of the world.  Like the south, pies are all over the place, though you’ll have to start taking part in some activities to work off all those calories.  If you like mussels, I can’t say that I’ve ever had any better ones than in the Bay of Islands.  Rather than spending a lot of money in an expensive restaurant, we decided to go to the grocery store and try our hands at making them ourselves.  It resulted in one of the more memorable dishes we had during our time in New Zealand.

When to Go/Weather

Remember that seasons are opposite in the southern hemisphere, so December-February is summer here.  Summer temperatures can reach into the 80s and even 90′s F, while winter temperatures don’t usually get below freezing except in the mountains.  Fall and spring are both pleasant times to visit, but you never know what you’re going to get.  It could be beautiful one day, then windy, rainy, and cold the next.  October/November and April/May are the shoulder seasons, so crowds will be much thinner, and you could luck out and get some amazing weather (or not luck out and have the weather suck).  If you’re looking to enjoy the beaches in the Bay of Islands, then head there in the summer months before it gets too cold to enjoy the water.  It’s typically going to be a little bit warmer on the North Island than on the South.

Be sure to check back soon for city guides to all of the Nouth Island!