10 Days, One Epic Loop: The North Island Road Trip You've Been Dreaming Of

Yes, yes. Queenstown is gorgeous. The Remarkables are remarkable. Milford Sound is as good as it sounds. But… What international travellers often forget is that the North Island is sitting here, absolutely stacked with geothermal wonders, chilled back surf towns, hobbit holes and coastlines for miles, all without the classic 'tourist overload'.

Well, Space Traveller, consider this your sign.

This 10-day Auckland-to-Auckland loop is the perfect introduction to what the North Island does best. See dramatic landscapes, immerse yourself in rich Maori culture, eat world class foods and drive the rolling North Island roads that are perfect for campervanning. No need to catch a ferry, no annoying backtracking, just one beautiful loop that starts and ends at the Spaceships Auckland depot, close to the Auckland International Airport so it’s handy if you’re flying in and want to hit the ground rolling.

Let’s go!

Road Trip Overview

This guide is the perfect flexible route. Stretch a section out, add an extra night somewhere that steals your heart, or add in any of the Central North Island's other heavy hitters like Tauranga and Mount Maunganui for beaches and brunch, Taupo for bungee jumps and lake views, Waitomo Caves for something completely otherworldly, or Tongariro National Park if you fancy walking across an active volcano.

Part 1: Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula

• Days: 1-4
• Distance: 169km (Auckland direct to Coromandel Town)
• Drive time: 2.5 hours (Auckland direct to Coromandel Town)

Firstly, let’s cover Auckland city itself. Most people tend to treat Auckland as a layover or skip it completely. They land, grab their campervan, then bolt. But, if you’ve got a day or two up your sleeve, Auckland is a vibrant and lively city worth the stop. Wander the waterfront at Wynyard Quarter, take the ferry to Waiheke Island and pop into a few wineries or visit Cornwall Park and climb One Tree Hill at golden hour for a 360° view of the city and the Hauraki Gulf. The Sky Tower is touristy but undeniably impressive. If you're in for a thrill, try the SkyJump & SkyWalk or bungy jump 47m off the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

You’d love Auckland if: you’re into great food, coffee and restaurants, harbourside walks, shopping and suburban neighbourhoods that have perfected the art of a good brunch. Here's a great list of 10 awesome adventures Auckland has to offer.

The Drive: Auckland to Coromandel Town via Thames

Leave Auckland via State Highway 1 heading south, eventually cutting east on State Highway 2. You’ll wind down the Bombay Hills and once you clear those, the Hauraki Plains open up wide and flat in front of you.

Thames is your gateway town to the Coromandel Peninsula. Fuel up here and prepare for the roads to get more exciting! From Thames, State Highway 25 is your main artery around the peninsula. The road loops all the way around, so you don't need to backtrack. You can enter up the west coast through Coromandel Town and exit down the east coast through Tairua and Whangamata (or vice versa), ticking off the highlights as you go. If you want to head straight for places like Hahei, Cathedral Cove or Hot Water Beach, jump on State Highway 25A at Thames and cut directly over the hill towards Tairua. It's faster and gets you there sooner.

If you'd rather take the scenic route and work your way down, head north through Coromandel Town first, wind over the hills to Matarangi and Kuaotuna, then follow the east coast south at your own pace.

The Coromandel Peninsula: Coastal Bliss

Welcome to the beautiful Coromandel. A place where rugged bush-covered hills run down the spine of the peninsula, flanked on the east by some of the finest white sand beaches. On the west, the harbour is quieter, with fishing villages, oyster farms, and roads that wind right to the edge of the sea.

Finding a place to stay is easy. The Coromandel is well set up for campervans, with holiday parks dotted along both coasts and several excellent DOC campsites for those who want to get a little more off-grid. The main hubs are Hahei and Whitianga on the east coast (close to the big-ticket beaches), Coromandel Town on the west (charming, artsy, great mussels), and Tairua and Whangamata further south for a slightly more relaxed, less-touristy vibe.

You’d love the Coromandel if: you’re into beaches, hiking, artisan everything, surf culture and sunshine!

Top things to see and do in the Coromandel:

• Cathedral Cove - This is the iconic Coromandel picture. A massive natural rock arch frames turquoise water, accessible via a 35-minute walk through coastal forest from the Grange Road car park in Hahei or the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail. If walking is not your thing, you can also book either kayak or boat tours.
• Hot Water Beach - Best at two hours either side of low tide. Visit Hot Water Beach to dig your own personal hot spring right on the beach. The geothermal water bubbles up through the sand and fills the little pools with nice warm water.
• Snorkelling at Hahei Beach - The marine reserve at Te Whanganui-A-Hei is one of the best snorkeling spots in the North Island. Clear waters, stingrays, snapper, spotty and if you’re lucky maybe a few dolphins.
• New Chums Beach - Completely untouched and undeveloped New Chums Beach is a pristine white sand paradise. Walk 25 minutes from the northwest end of Whangapoua Beach over rocks and through native bush before arriving at the picturesque bay. There is also a great lookout at the top of the headland.
• Crayfish Bay - Fancy a rock jump into the ocean? Go to Crayfish Bay! Head to the southern end of Opito Bay and walk 10 minutes down the beach and over farmland.
• Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk) - This popular 6km one way day or overnight hike follows a historic packhorse hut route used by kauri bushmen in the 1920s. Head up to the Pinnacles Hut then onto the Pinnacles Summit for amazing views over the entire Coromandel Peninsula.

Visit the famous Cathedral Cove - Seen on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Part 2: Coromandel to Rotorua

• Days: 5-7
• Distance: 225km (Coromandel Town to Rotorua via Hobbiton)
• Drive time: 3.5 hours (Coromandel Town to Rotorua via Hobbiton)

It’s time to peel yourself off that beach (we know it's hard) and get your campervan wheels rolling south. The drive south towards Rotorua takes you through lush Waikato farmland before the landscape starts to feel more alive than you may be used to.

You’re entering the volcanic plateau. Welcome.

Recommended detour: Matamata and Hobbition. Look, even if you're thinking, “I’m not a massive Lord of the Rings fan.” That’s okay. Hobbiton is still an amazing place to visit. The Hobbiton Movie Set sits conveniently between Coromandel and Rotorua in Matamata. The set is awesome. Real hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn (with a complimentary ale included in the tour), the Party Tree and gorgeous hobbit gardens. Tours run daily but it’s highly recommended to book ahead, the tours rarely have room for walk-ins.

The Blue Spring in Putaruru (Te Waihou Walkway) is another beautiful stop worth making. The Blue Spring, officially named the Te Waihou Puna, pumps out some of the clearest, most pristine water on earth.

The Best of Rotorua, AKA What You Should See

Rotorua is unlike anywhere else in New Zealand, or very few places on earth. It sits on one of the most geothermally active zones on the planet which means:

• The ground steams
• The mud bubbles
• Some lakes are boiling
• The whole city smells faintly of sulphur, which unfortunately smells a bit like rotten eggs.

You also don't need to pay a cent to witness some of the geothermal magic. The streets of Rotorua literally steam. Kuirau Park, right in the centre of town, has boiling mud pools, steaming vents and hot water features completely free to wander around.

You’ll love Rotorua if: you love interesting landscapes, Maori culture, adrenaline activities, hot pools and spas.

The can’t miss list in Rotorua:

• Te Puia / Pohutu Geyser - New Zealand's largest natural geyser that erupts up to 20 times a day shooting boiling water 30 metres into the air. The surrounding Te Puia complex is also home to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you can watch master carvers and weavers at work.
• Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Literally a thermal wonderland filled with emerald and sapphire pools, orange and yellow sulphur terraces, the Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Geyser.
• Waimangu Volcanic Valley - Known as the youngest geothermal system in the world (formed in 1886 after the eruption of Mt Tarawera), the walk through this valley is amazing. See steaming cliffs and turquoise lakes and take an optional boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana.
• Hangi Experience - Indulge in food cooked underground in volcanic earth, haka performances, waiata and enjoy cultural experiences that are as entertaining as they are moving. Mitai Maori Village and Tamaki Maori Village are both great options.
• Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest - This magnificent forest of California redwoods has some of the best mountain bike trails in the country plus great walking trails.
• Rotorua Luge - Take the gondola up to Skyline Luge and enjoy a range of fun, fast-paced tracks down the hill. Jump on the chairlift at the bottom and do it all again.
• Kerosene Creek - A free, naturally heated stream in the forest where you can soak in warm geothermal water. Located about 30 minutes south of Rotorua on SH5. Go early for the best experience.
• Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain) - A sacred Maori site and an absolutely surreal landscape of coloured volcanic soils, steaming vents, and crater lakes. The summit track is about 2 hours return (2.5km one way) and rewards you with panoramic views over the Waikato and Rotorua Lakes.

Venture into the magical Whakarewarewa Forest (Redwood Forest) in Rotorua

Part 3: Rotorua to Auckland via Raglan

• Days: 8-10
• Distance: 310km
• Drive time: 4 hours

The direct route from Rotorua back to Auckland on State Highway 1 takes about 3 hours and it is a perfectly fine drive. Although it can be a little boring, and you’ve come this far, so why go boring now? Instead, head west! Swing through Hamilton then out to Raglan. It’s a 45 minute detour, but you’ll get to experience one of the most charming surf towns in the country.

Raglan sits on a gorgeous harbour on the west coast of New Zealand and is globally famous among surfers for its long left-hand breaks, particularly Manu Bay, one of the longest lefts in the world. But you don’t need to surf to love Raglan.
The town itself is small, deeply creative and great at coffee. The main street has galleries, clothing and artisan stores, delicious cafes and a legendary fish and chip shop. The black sand beach at Ngarunui is beautiful and perfect for a swim. The west coast is known for its picture perfect sunsets, and Raglan is no exception. Sit on the beach or up on the hills as the sun goes down for a sunset you’ll never forget. A few other great things to do are:

• Learn to Surf - If there was ever a place in New Zealand to finally do a surf lesson, it’s Raglan. Several local surf schools run lessons of all kinds from group sessions for complete beginners to private lessons for those who have surfed before.
• Bridal Veil Falls (Waireinga) - About 20 minutes south of Raglan town, Bridal Veil Falls is one of those spots that takes almost no effort and delivers a definite wow factor. A short 10-minute walk through native bush brings you to a 55 metre single drop waterfall. It’s epic. There are great viewpoints from the top, the middle and the base.
• Mount Karioi - Mount Karioi is Raglan’s resident volcano and the hike to the summit is one of the best in the Waikato. The Karioi Track takes about 3.5 hours to the summit with views down to Tongariro National Park and Taranaki on a good clear day.

You’ll love Raglan if: you're into surfing or the beach, love fresh seafood, beautiful harbours and exploring places that feel like they’re a secret the rest of the world doesn't know about yet.

The Final Leg: Raglan to Auckland

The two hour drive back to Auckland takes you back through Hamilton and onto State Highway 1 heading north all the way to the city. Drop your Spaceships campervan off at the Auckland depot and pop back to the airport in no time. Now it's time to sit back, relax and reminisce on the road trip that was.

Surfs up! Jump on the board in Raglan

What Are You Waiting For?

At the end of this magical trip you’ll sit there and wonder. Why didn’t anyone tell me the North Island was like this?

Well, we just have! And this is only part of it. See all of our other wonderful North Island guides here.

Do the North Island. Do it right. Do it in a campervan.

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