9 Best Things To Do in New Zealand North Island
With extensive beaches, nine distinct wine regions, and a unique aboriginal heritage New Zealand is a destination worth adding to any bucket list.
New Zealand is known for its beautiful nature.
The North Island is a nature lovers paradise with hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline and tropical forests.
Its extensive beaches provide plenty of opportunities for water sports like kayaking, fishing, diving, and even a hot dip.
You can enjoy a wide variety of wine, craft beer, and fresh food across New Zealand’s North Island.
One of the most unique and interesting things to do in New Zealand’s North Island is to learn and participate in Māori culture.
This is one of the few places on earth where the aboriginal culture is alive and thriving. A truly unique experience.
Whether you’re looking for an active vacation, to immerse yourself in a different culture, or to explore varieties of wine, the North Island of New Zealand has it all.
These are our suggestions for the best things to do in the North Island of New Zealand.
We’re sure you’ll find something to suit your taste.
Auckland
Auckland is NOT New Zealand’s capital but it is the best known and largest city in the country.
With a variety of museums, many parks, all kinds of water sports, and plenty of shopping you’re sure to find something for everyone in your group.
In this cosmopolitan city, you can find fresh seafood with a view of the bay or some savory dishes with great wine.
1. Sky Tower
Probably Auckland’s most famous building is the Sky Tower.
Measuring 1,076 feet high (328 meters) its distinctive design makes it a landmark in the Auckland skyline.
The tower is part of a complex called Sky City with restaurants, and many other amenities.
You can visit the observatory or have dinner, drinks, or coffee at Sky Tower.
For tickets and more information visit the SkyCity website.
2. Auckland Museum
To get familiarized with Māori history and the history of New Zealand in general a visit to Auckland War Memorial Museum is a must.
The museum is housed in a neoclassical building built in the 1920s.
It sits on Observatory Hill, atop Pukekawa the crater of a dormant volcano.
Open 7 days a week the museum has many special exhibits including a live Māori experience (special fee).
We recommend you plan ahead and purchase your desired tickets through the Auckland Museum website.
3. Toi o Tāmaki
If you want to explore New Zealand culture through art rather than history, you should include the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in your North Island itinerary.
This art museum is best known for its collection of works by New Zealand artists, alongside pieces by world-renowned artists like Gauguin, Picasso, and Cézanne.
With its tall glass and wood atrium this building is stunning.
Visit for the art, the architecture, or the views into neighboring Albert Park.
Its location near the center of the CBD makes this museum one of the best things to do when visiting the North Island of New Zealand.
The museum opens daily except Christmas from 10 am to 5 pm.
As of this writing, the museum’s entrance was free.
However, you can check the latest status and plan your visit by going to their website, Auckland Art Gallery.
4. The CBD and Harbour
The Central Business District or city center is a great place to get lost.
Discover pretty parks where you can sit on a bench to rest during your explorations.
Queen Street is one of the city’s main arteries where you’ll find stores, cafes, and restaurants.
Along the Harbour, there are many delicious restaurants serving craft beer, wine, and your choice of food.
The harbor is also a great place for shopping and views of the bay and the nearby islands.
5. Waiheke Island
Off the east coast of Auckland, you’ll find several islands that make for great day trips.
Our favorite was Waiheke Island.
The temperate climate and wonderful breezes have made this island a hub for several vineyards.
Known for its Bordeaux blend wines and some great Syrah and Chardonnay you’re sure to find a wine to love.
What makes it even more special is that many of the vineyards also have great restaurants that pair excellently with their house wines.
There are several organized tours to Waiheke Island.
If you prefer to go out on your own you can take the ferry from Auckland and use the Wine Trail Hopper to visit the vineyards and restaurants you prefer.
Things To Do In North Island Beyond Auckland
Once you leave the city, the North Island is a different world.
Along the coast, you’ll experience beautiful beaches.
As you move towards the center of the island everything turns luscious green.
You will also encounter the effects of the geothermal activity throughout your visit.
6. Hot Water Beach
Located south of Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula, Hot Water Beach may seem like just another picturesque beach with its blue waters and golden sands.
But this beach offers a unique experience you won’t want to miss.
Two hours before and after high tide, you can dig your own spa pool right in the sand.
As you dig, naturally heated water bubbles up through the sand, creating a personal hot spring.
Then lie back and watch the waves breaking on the beach from your personal hot water pool.
The hot water in your sand pool is courtesy of three volcanic vents that sit just below the tide area of this beach.
This hot soak is free of charge unless you need to rent a shovel, which you can easily get from a local shop.
7. Visit a Maori Village
There are many alternatives for exploring the Māori heritage in the North Island of New Zealand.
We visited Te Puia a living Maori Village at Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley near Rotorua.
This is not a tourist attraction that closes in the evenings and the Māori go home, this is their home.
The Māori open certain areas of their village to tourists, sharing their heritage with us.
You’ll be able to experience their welcome dance and some traditional music, later take a guided tour and listen to the history of the area and the Māori.
There is an option to have lunch in the village.
We ate Hangi, which is food cooked using the steam of one of the geysers.
Simple and tasty, it was a fun experience we’d recommend.
8. Waitomo Caves – glow worms and stalactites
Considered one of the best, if not the best, places to spot glow worms in the world, Waitomo Caves is a must-see on your trip to New Zealand’s North Island.
Technically not a worm but the larvae of an insect.
These larvae are bioluminescent creating the blue-green glow observed along the ceiling and wall of the cave.
In addition to the glow worms, the stalactite and stalagmite formations in these caves are stunning.
There are several types of tours into Waitomo Caves including tubing along the river system.
You can explore options with Get Your Guide, Viator, or through Waitomo Tours.
9. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Another great but uncommon place to visit in New Zealand’s North Island is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
The landscape at Wai-O-Tapu can be surreal as if walking on the moon.
This region not far from Lake Rotorua, is one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand, extending over 18-sq. km.
This land features naturally colored springs, bubbling mud, steaming ground, huge volcanic craters, and scary-looking terrace formations.
Much like Yellowstone in the US, the mud and craters at Wai-O-Tapu take their colors from the minerals that seep from the earth.
Greens, yellows, rust, and orange along with different tones of grey mix with the surrounding bush to form a unique and extraordinary setting.
If you’re in the park at 10.15 am you can catch the daily eruption of Lady Knox Geyser which reaches heights of up to 65 feet (20 meters).
Visiting North Island New Zealand
There are so many amazing places to visit in New Zealand’s North Island.
You can immerse yourself in nature by visiting caves, beaches, and geothermal areas.
Explore Māori culture through art, and exhibits, or by joining one of the many cultural experiences available.
Appreciate the fresh food and exceptional wines of this region.
You can even create an itinerary around pure relaxation and well-being.
For the latest information on the activities available in New Zealand visit the official New Zealand website.
It doesn’t matter what type of itinerary you prefer, New Zealand’s North Island has something to satisfy your taste and budget.
Be sure to include these must-do activities from our list of the best things to do on New Zealand’s North Island in your itinerary.
Have fun!
