Here’s the ultimate 5-day New Zealand North Island itinerary, which was the first part of my 2-week trip in this amazing country, followed by 10 days on the South Island.
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5-day New Zealand North Island Itinerary
How many days do you need in North Island, New Zealand
You could easily spend several weeks exploring New Zealand’s North Island, but a 10-day itinerary is one of the most popular options. However, since we only had two weeks for our trip and wanted to see as much of New Zealand as possible, I selected just a few key destinations I was most eager to visit and created this 5-day North Island itinerary while reserving the remaining 10 days for the South Island. You can check out the rest of our 2-weeks adventure in this post. While five days on the North Island only gives you time to experience some of the major highlights, it still offers a unique travel experience through its diverse landscapes and culture.
Is North Island in New Zealand worth it?
Absolutely! The North Island is home to New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, geothermal wonders like Waiotapu (or Wai-O-Tapu), Maori Village and heritage sites, and world-famous film location of Hobbiton. The island’s landscapes are so unique, that you can easily stay around for a few weeks.
What is the best way to travel around the North Island in New Zealand
We rented a car to explore New Zealand’s North Island at our own pace and to make the most of this jam-packed itinerary in 5 days. However, exploring the country in a campervan is also a highly popular option. The roads in New Zealand are well-maintained, and driving felt relatively easy, even though we are not pros when it comes to a left-hand traffic system.
Should I spend more time in North or South Island New Zealand?
This is a very personal travel decision that depends on your interests. I loved visiting both islands, although a 5-day North Island itinerary felt a bit too brief to see everything. Ultimately, I chose to spend more time on the South Island because there were more landmarks and experiences from my bucket list there. The absolute truth is that you should visit both islands in New Zealand, but make sure to research and adjust your itinerary based on the places you want to see the most.
Best tours in New Zealand Northern Island
Pre-booking your experiences is especially helpful for places like Hobbiton and Wai-O-Tapu, which are always packed with visitors. Here are a few top-rated tours not to miss on New Zealand’s North Island:
- Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch (check availability)
- From Auckland Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip (check availability)
- Auckland to Rotorua Small Group Tour (check availability)
- Auckland Wētā Workshop Unleashed Tour (check availability)
- Auckland Tandem Skydive (check availability)
- Waiheke Island Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch (check availability)
- Hobbiton & Waitomo Tour with Lunch (check availability)
- Rotorua: Redwoods Altitude, Nighttime Fast Pass, & Treewalk (check availability)

5-day New Zealand North Island Itinerary
Day 1 Auckland
We began our 5-day North Island itinerary in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, which was a natural starting point due to our flight. We spent a day exploring Viaduct Harbour, a lively waterfront area filled with cafes, restaurants, and impressive yachts. Then headed to the Sky Tower for the views. Auckland is also a great place to learn more about New Zealand’s history at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- Auckland Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket (check availability)
- Auckland Scenic Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour (check availability)
- Private Customizable Walking Tour with Local Guide (check availability)
- Sculptureum Gardens and Galleries Entry Ticket (check availability)
Day 2 Matamata
After Auckland, we headed to Matamata, a fantastic area to stay for a few days. Even driving around was enjoyable with all the cute small towns on the road. Here, we enjoyed the Waitomo Caves, famous for their glowworms.

Day 3 Hobbiton, Maori, and Treewalk
We started our third day on the North Island with a visit to Hobbiton, a must-stop in New Zealand for anyone who’s ever seen The Lord of the Rings. I recommend taking the earliest tour possible to avoid the crowds and fully enjoy the peaceful charm of the Shire. Hobbiton was one of my favorite experiences on this 5-day North Island itinerary. I believe that even people who haven’t watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy would still appreciate its enchanting, fairytale-like atmosphere.
After soaking in the movie-like vibe of Hobbiton, we headed to a Maori village to witness traditional performances and learn about their rich heritage. It’s truly impressive how New Zealand has preserved this native culture, allowing visitors to connect with its history.
Later in the day, we took a stroll through the Redwoods Treewalk, a canopy walk among towering redwoods. While the nighttime Treewalk, illuminated by lights, offers a magical experience, I recommend going before 8 PM to avoid the crowds. Honestly, the daytime walk was more enjoyable for me because I could fully take in the natural beauty without feeling rushed.

Day 4 Waiotapu, Huka Falls, and Napier
On day four, we visited Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, renowned for its vibrant geothermal features such as the Champagne Pool and Lady Knox Geyser. The area was quite hot due to the geothermal activity. After exploring these incredible landscapes, we headed to Huka Falls, where we enjoyed the sight of one of New Zealand’s most unique and powerful waterfalls. We ended the day in Napier, a charming coastal town famous for its Art Deco architecture and world-class vineyards. Napier’s picturesque streets and waterfront made it the perfect spot for a relaxing evening stroll.
- From Rotorua: Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu and Te Puia Full-Day Tour (check availability)
- From Auckland: Wai-O-Tapu & Polynesian Spa Rotorua Day Tour (check availability)

Day 5 Wellington
On the last day of our North Island itinerary, we headed to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. The city is known for its compact size, vibrant arts scene, and stunning harbor views. We spent the day visiting Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, where you can dive into the country’s rich history, culture, and natural environment. For breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings, we took the Wellington Cable Car up to the Botanic Gardens.
One of the highlights for me was visiting the Weta Workshop. I was truly impressed by the talented and hard-working people there. I couldn’t contain my excitement when I learned about all the movies they’ve created special effects for, many of which have won Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, including The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Avatar, and The Jungle Book. Unfortunately, photos or videos aren’t allowed inside the workshop, so I can’t share any visuals – you’ll just have to see it for yourself!
2 weeks in New Zealand: 10 Days in South Island
After these 5 days on the North Island, we took a flight to Queenstown to continue our 2-week itinerary in New Zealand. You can read more in this post.
Map of New Zealand North Island Itinerary
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For more travel inspiration and tips about New Zealand check my Australia+New Zealand Pinterest board.

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This is so helpful! I have two friends there who I would love to visit, so I am definitely bookmarking this for when I finally save enough money to go over there!
xxx
Isabel
I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand as a huge Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton just looks amazing! There’s so much beautiful scenery too and places I didn’t know to visit. The waterfalls look so cool and I’d love to do the horse riding. Great photos!
New Zealand is one of my dream destinations!
Federica
New Zealand looks like an amazing place to visit! It looks so pretty. I would definitely want to do the horse trekking. That sounds so fun!
What stunning pictures you must have had an incredible time!
I visited New Zealand last year (just the North Ireland) and did so many of the things you’ve suggested!
Seeing the pictures of Wai-o-tapu just brought back the memory of how bad it smelt 😛
Also the sign near Hobbiton that referred to it as a “Tourist Farm” was a highlight for me!
Thanks for sharing 😀
Rachel | The Modern Bohemian
Wow, New Zealand is beautiful! I have never been but it’s always been on my bucket list of places I’ve wanted to go. Now I have a few options for where to visit 🙂 Thanks for the post.
What stunning images! I would love to visit one day. x
What a beautiful post! Your images are amazing, very well taken. I have never been to New Zealand but after reading your post I will definitely want to visit it. So I already bookmarked this information as a reference.
Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
Vanessa
This sounds like such an amazing trip! So much beauty here. I’ve never been to New Zealand but I’d love to visit one day. Gorgeous views x
Sophie
Interesting travel photos, I enjoyed viewing them and pinned
New Zealand sounds amazing! I’d love to go there one day!
I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand after seeing how beautiful it is. There are so many sights to see and I hope I can visit it soon! Thank you for sharing your lovely photos!
And the list keep getting longer with the travel wishlist. New Zealand looks like a nice place to enjoy nature. Wow!!
Wow, I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand! It looks like absolutely beautiful place to visit! Thanks for sharing this inspirational post!
This looks like such an amazing trip! My best friend just got back from New Zealand too and absolutely loved it. I’ll have to add it to my travel wish list!
Olivia x
Wow! This looks like a dream! LOVE New Zealand!
xoxo, Vanessa
Wow it looks amazing there I want to visit
xo
New Zealand is so stunningly beautiful. Your pictures are breathtaking! I always wanted to visit New Zealand, ever since I’ve seen Lord of the Rings and how beautiful scenerios were. I also heard a lot of great things about New Zealanders – they seem so nice!
Dorota
I love how you planned out your New Zealand trip! You can never go wrong with all of the places marked down to check out. The sceneries look amazing. Oh man, Hobbiton is real! I would be scared to go through the Treewalk. The waterfall looks breathtaking.
It is so cool that you got to go horse trekking! It’s interesting to see the different buildings you came across during your journey. Glad you enjoyed your time out there. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Nancy ♥
New Zealand looks spectacular! Would love to visit one day xx
New Zealand has something for everyone. As a tourist to New Zealand, you will be struck by the country’s diverse variety of changing landscapes.
New Zealand is a beautiful place!! I would love to visit someday. The pictures you took look amazing!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Kendra