New Zealand’s North Island in 10 Days: Our Family Itinerary, Day by Day
This is how we did New Zealand’s North Island in 10 days: two boys, one rental car and a list of adventures that was probably too long. Over spring break we drove a loop of New Zealand’s North Island: beaches on the Coromandel, rafting and mud in Rotorua, a bungee in Taupo, the Waitomo caves, Hobbiton and a last day in Auckland. Ten days only scratches the surface, but for an action-packed family trip it was the right length. Here’s what we did each day, what we’d change and where we ate.
North Island in 10 days: quick facts
- Route: Auckland → Hot Water Beach (Coromandel) → Rotorua → Taupo → Waitomo and Hobbiton → Auckland
- Time: 10 days, including both travel days
- Who: the two of us and our two boys
- Getting around: a rental car from Avis at Auckland Airport, returned in Auckland on the evening of day 8
- Where we stayed: vacation rentals at every stop: on the bluff above Hot Water Beach, a house with a hot tub in Rotorua, a condo in Taupo and an apartment downtown in Auckland
- Booked ahead: the Skyline Rotorua dinner package, zorbing, the Tongariro shuttle, the Waitomo Abyss tour and Hobbiton. The Taupo bungee was walk-up.
Before you go
- Travel authority: US passport holders need an NZeTA before departure, plus the tourist levy. Apply early. Three of us were approved right away, but one took a few days.
- Biosecurity: New Zealand is strict about what comes into the country. Declare your hiking gear and expect your boots to be checked or cleaned.
- The rental car: we chose Avis for two reasons. My credit card’s rental cover doesn’t apply in New Zealand, and we’d had problems with discount rental insurance before. And the Avis desk is right in the arrivals hall, so there’s no shuttle. We were driving within 30 minutes of landing.
Day 1: Land in Auckland, head straight for the Coromandel
We took the midnight United flight out of SFO and landed about 14 hours later at 8:30 in the morning, which is perfect timing. Rather than sleep off the flight in the city, we drove straight for the Coromandel Peninsula, because who doesn’t want to wake up to the sound of the ocean?
Stop in Thames on the way for groceries. The bigger supermarket there is cheaper and has far more choice than anything on the peninsula. Then it’s a beautiful drive over the hills to Hot Water Beach.
To force ourselves onto local time, we dropped our bags and went straight out to Cathedral Cove, about 15 minutes‘ drive away from Hahei. When we visited in 2024, the track was officially closed after landslides, and people were walking around the barricades. We did too, and honestly the detour paths around the barricades felt more dangerous than the washed-out sections. Don’t copy us. The track reopened in January 2026, but it still closes after heavy rain, so check the Department of Conservation page on the day. Once you’re at the cove, give it as much time as you can for swimming, photos and lying in the sun.
The bite: a late lunch at The Pour House in Hahei, before the walk. We all ordered different things, but the pizza is the one to get: thin crust with a bit of crunch. The specials were great too, and we ate outside in the sun. Then ice cream from the shop around the corner.
Day 2: Dig your own hot pool, then Cooks Beach
This is where a vacation rental pays for itself. Ours sat on the bluff looking over the whole of Hot Water Beach, so while everyone recovered from the flight we made breakfast and coffee and took in the view.
Then we dug our hot tub. Here’s how it works:
- Check the tide. You dig at low tide, further down the beach towards the ocean. For us, low tide was around 10 a.m.
- Bring a shovel. Ours came with the rental. You can also hire them near the beach.
- Dig test holes. We were among the first there, so we spread out and dug small holes until one filled with hot water, then widened it into a pool.
- Or skip the digging. Come a bit later and take over a hole someone else has abandoned.
First, the surprise of the trip. Up a small dirt road is Purangi Winery, the only one open that day. Our host was welcoming, knowledgeable and very funny. There are a few wines, but the real draw is the long list of liqueurs made from everything grown on the property. We tasted every one, heard the history of each fruit in New Zealand, and walked away with a handful of liqueurs, some cider and a bit of a buzz.
The bite: after the tasting, a late lunch and happy hour at The Vessel in Cooks Beach. Between us we had burgers, mussels, fish and chips and a grilled halloumi and mushroom sandwich.
We finished with more ice cream in Hahei and a walk the full length of Hot Water Beach to keep everyone awake and beat the jet lag.
Day 3: Mount Paku, a closed waterfall and luge in the rain
Hot Water Beach to Rotorua is about a three-hour drive, so we planned a few stops. First, south on Route 25 to Tairua for Mount Paku, the hill right on the shore. It’s a short climb to the top, with views over the town, the marina and the ocean. It wasn’t the clearest day, but we watched the surfers and got a real sense of how volcanic this island is.
About an hour and a half further on, we pulled into the Wairere Falls trailhead to find it closed for construction. We debated going for it anyway, and then it started to rain, which made the decision for us. We still recommend the hike: the glimpse of the falls from the car looked amazing. Check that it’s open before you go.
We reached Rotorua before check-in, so we killed time at Capers Epicurean, which has great coffee and a huge counter of sandwiches and desserts.
The bite: dinner at the Stratosfare buffet at the top of Skyline Rotorua. We booked the package that includes the gondola and four luge runs. It was drizzling and the track was wet, and that made it even better: we were drifting through the corners and racing each other down the mountain. Then we went inside to warm up at the buffet, at a table looking out over Rotorua and the lakes. We tried a lot of local specialties, from meats to desserts. It’s a little expensive, but we thought it was worth it.
Back at the house, we ended the night in the hot tub with some of the Purangi cider.
Day 4: Rafting, zorbing and a lake loop
Rotorua Rafting is about 40 minutes from town. We got into wetsuits, helmets and life jackets, sat through a quick safety talk and boarded the bus for the long ride… across the road to the river. Our guide made sure we got soaked and stayed in the raft (mostly). We’d tell anyone to do this in any season and any weather, and the hot showers at the end take care of the cold.
Next we headed back towards Rotorua for zorbing, something we’d seen in videos for years. Zorb has four runs, plus hot tubs and saunas to warm up in between. We booked a three-run package through Viator. You check in, sign the waivers, change and lock up your things, then a van takes you to the top of the hill. After a quick orientation you climb into the ball, they zip it shut, the gate opens and down you roll. There’s water inside so you slide all over the place. Go down with a partner: it’s more fun. At the bottom they unzip you and you have a bit of a rebirth moment. We started splitting up so we could try different runs and film each other coming down.
In the afternoon the boys rested at the house, and we still had energy for a hike. The loop around Blue Lake is about 3.5 miles. We went counterclockwise, and for the last quarter we had to walk on the road because high water had flooded the trail. We finished with a longer loop through the Redwoods forest.
The bite: dinner at Atticus Finch in Rotorua, a tapas place. Sharing plates between four can be hard, but here it worked: everyone ordered a small plate they liked the look of, plus one bigger dish to share, and it was plenty. The desserts were the only weak spot.
Day 5: A slow morning, then Hells Gate
The boys wanted a lazy day, so we gave them the morning.
Then we went to Hells Gate. We walked through the geothermal park first, past the hot springs and steaming pools, then did the mud baths.
Bring your own swimsuit. We rented suits there, and nothing fit well or was remotely flattering. Bring an old suit you don’t mind losing. The staff explain the best ways to get the smell out, and if it won’t come out, that suit is done.
The whole ritual takes a while, but the staff keep you on schedule and make sure nobody leaves the mud on too long. The car smelled a little afterwards, but our skin felt much softer.
The bite: steak at Ambrosia in Rotorua. We had seen cattle everywhere on the drive, so we went looking for a good steak. The steak special came with a cheese sauce we eyed suspiciously, and then both said “wow”. The boys’ strip steaks were perfectly cooked too. For dessert, the ice cream shop around the corner won.
Day 6: A lakeside run, more luge, then bungee in Taupo
A lazy day never sits well with us for long. Early the next morning we parked at Hamurana and ran the trail along the lake, about 6 miles out and back.
The bite: we stopped at a local bakery for something sweet and walked out with a bag of meat pies for breakfast instead.
The luge was the boys’ favourite, so we squeezed in a few more runs before leaving Rotorua. Taupo is only about an hour’s drive. The weather was on and off: sun, then rain, then wind.
Our place in Taupo was a condo on the east side of town, right on the lakeside trail, so we could walk everywhere.
The big event was the AJ Hackett bungee over the Waikato River. Two of us jumped. I’ve done it before on an earlier trip, and I have the videos to prove it. The water touch is something they’ll try for but won’t guarantee, because they always err on the side of caution. Neither of them touched the water. I didn’t either on my jump: I’d broken my leg, so I couldn’t go head first, and they wouldn’t do a water touch any other way.
It cost about NZ$150 per person, and you don’t need to book. Just show up. The wait depends on how busy they are; ours was about 30 minutes.
The Big Swing is the other option. My mom did it on that earlier trip, and I think it might be even more fun than the bungee, with just as much adrenaline: a short free fall you don’t control, then a huge swing out next to the rocks. It’s all a total rush, and I’d do any of it again.
In the late afternoon we walked from Spa Park to Huka Falls along the Waikato River. We passed the hot springs on the way, but they were packed, so we skipped them and kept going, then stopped at Baked with Love for coffee and pastries on the way back.
The bite: dinner at Indian Affair in Taupo. We played it safe with paratha and naan, then curried chicken and a few other traditional dishes, and it set us up for another big day.
Day 7: Tongariro gets cancelled, so the boys go fly fishing
Taupo was our base for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Strong winds were forecast, and the shuttle company cancelled our booking. We were disappointed. The boys were thrilled to sleep in and skip a huge hike.
We went into town early to make a new plan at the visitor centre. We found a fly-fishing guide there and sent the boys out with him. They had a blast, and they caught fish.
Dinner was from a food truck at the mead tasting at Beehave! Craft Meadery.
If the Crossing is a must-do: I’ve done it on earlier trips and love it. It’s a big day, with views the whole way. But the guides told us the weather is hit and miss, so you can’t plan it for a single day and expect to go. Give yourself a few spare days in Taupo.
Day 8: Waitomo glow worms and Hobbiton in one day
This was an early start and a lot of driving, but it wasn’t too bad. We took the 9 a.m. Abyss tour with the Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. in Waitomo, and all four of us did it. The boys are older, so we didn’t run into any age or size limits. It takes three to four hours: a 100-foot rappel into the dark, a zipline you can’t see the end of, hot chocolate on a ledge, a jump into the underground river, and then floating under the glow worms. You come out through a crack in the ground you’d never guess was there. The tour ends with hot soup at their café.
One tip: take your own shampoo and soap for the hot showers afterwards. You’ll want to feel properly clean for the rest of the day.
The bite: snacks in the car, lunch at Waitomo, and something to eat at Hobbiton, because we arrived early and had time to kill. Most of the tours include food, too.
For Hobbiton, we booked the last entrance of the day, and I’d recommend it to anyone. We never felt rushed, we had much of the place to ourselves, and the late light is perfect for photos. None of us are die-hard fans, but the attention to detail is amazing and everything looks real. Bring your passport for the complimentary drink at the Green Dragon.
That night we drove back to Auckland and dropped off the rental car straight away, so we didn’t have to deal with parking in the city.
Day 9: Auckland by scooter
We stayed downtown near the bus station and the mall, so everything was walkable. We rented scooters and rode up and down the waterfront, walked through the city, and did our own coffee crawl looking for the best cup in Auckland: Cargo Coffee, Kokako, Remedy and Espresso Workshop. We went to the All Blacks Experience, which is inside the mall, then finished with a big dinner at Culprit to wrap up the trip.
Day 10: Fly home
Our flight was in the late afternoon, so the morning was easy. The two of us went for a run to get our steps in before the long flight, and the boys hung out. Having already returned the car made getting to the airport stress-free.
Tip for a busy last day: on another trip I got to the airport sweaty and grubby, and with United status I could shower in the lounge before the flight. If you have lounge access, use it.
What we’d do differently
- Leave spare days in Taupo for the Tongariro Crossing. The weather decides, not you.
- Check trail status the day before. Two of our planned hikes (Cathedral Cove and Wairere Falls) were closed when we visited.
- Return the rental car as soon as you reach Auckland. You won’t need it downtown, and parking is a hassle.
- With a few more days, we’d add the Tongariro Crossing, Waiheke Island and a drive further north.
Every bite, in order
| Day | Where | What we’d order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pour House, Hahei | The pizza, and the specials (late lunch) |
| 1–2 | Ice cream shop, Hahei | Ice cream, twice |
| 2 | Purangi Winery | The liqueur tasting |
| 2 | The Vessel, Cooks Beach | Mussels, fish and chips, the halloumi and mushroom sandwich |
| 3 | Capers Epicurean, Rotorua | Coffee and a sandwich |
| 3 | Stratosfare, Skyline Rotorua | The buffet, after the luge |
| 4 | Atticus Finch, Rotorua | Small plates to share; skip dessert |
| 5 | Ambrosia, Rotorua | The steak special with the cheese sauce |
| 6 | A bakery near Hamurana | Meat pies |
| 6 | Baked with Love, Taupo | Coffee and pastries after Huka Falls |
| 6 | Indian Affair, Taupo | Paratha, naan and curried chicken |
| 7 | Beehave! Craft Meadery, Taupo | The mead tasting, plus the food truck |
| 8 | Black Water Rafting Co. café, Waitomo | Hot soup after the caves |
| 9 | Cargo Coffee, Kokako, Remedy and Espresso Workshop, Auckland | Our coffee crawl |
| 9 | Culprit, Auckland | The farewell dinner |
Is 10 days enough for the North Island?
Yes, if you want an action-packed trip. With more time we’d have seen more, but it would have meant more driving and more of the long hikes the boys don’t enjoy as much. Ten days kept everyone excited from the first hot pool to the last scooter ride.
Want this trip planned for you?
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