7 Day North Island Highlights
North Island Self Drive Tour
Auckland to Auckland
Days: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Accommodation: 4-5 star
Vehicle: Modern Toyota Rav4 + Full Insurance
From: $505 NZD Per Person, Per Day*
Price: $3560 NZD Per Person, Twin Share *(low season)
All Inclusive & Customisable
Join us for a New Zealand driving holiday like no other, starting with a Deluxe Tasting Menu at The Sugar Club. Explore Rotorua, a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity, and visit Hobbiton and The Shire's Rest on the way. Take a twilight walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest, relax in Polynesian Spa's private lake view bathing experience, and immerse yourself in the Te Pā Tū Hangi & Māori Cultural Experience.
Experience the wonders of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley + Lake Rotomahana Cruise, and indulge in a Napier Grape Escape Half Day Winery Tour (Small Group). Book now and discover the beauty, culture, and luxury of New Zealand.
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Deluxe Tasting Menu at The Sugar Club - Skytower
Visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest on a small group tour.
Twilight walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest on a guided trip.
Enjoy the Polynesian Spa's private lake view bathing experience.
Discover Te Pā Tū Hangi & Māori Cultural Experience.
Take a tour to Waimangu Volcanic Valley + enjoy the Lake Rotomahana Cruise.
Discover Napier Grape Escape on a half day Winery Tour (Small Group).
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6 nights in 4-5 star/best available motel, hotel, bed and breakfast or apartment featuring mountain, ocean and lake views
7 days vehicle hire of a modern Toyota Rav4 or similar + GPS + full insurance
All meals as listed under each day's itinerary
All experiences as listed under each day's itinerary
All bookings and reservations + assistance for urgent matters during your trip via email and a free calling number
A digital travel guide APP outlining our top picks for what to see and do and where to eat along your route
The donation of 4 native trees – a sustainability initiative to offset carbon emissions and re-grow Aotearoa/New Zealand's forests
Arrival and departure flights not included
Detailed Itinerary - Day by Day
Day 1
Stay: Rydges Auckland
Meals: Deluxe Dinner Included
Your Day: Auckland Arrival
Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Tonight you will enjoy a dining experience like no other, high above Auckland at The Sugar Club, located in the Skytower.
Day 2
Driving time: 250km, 3.5 hours driving
Stay: Regent of Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast Included
Your Day: Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton
Today you farewell the ‘City of Sails’ and head south to Rotorua; a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity. En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies (included activity). Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps explore Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront. This afternoon/evening you will enjoy a twilight walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest. The Redwoods Treewalk in this forest features 34 exquisite lanterns. Floating between 9-20 metres above the forest floor, this award-winning, eco-tourism walk is 700 metres long, spans across 28 suspension bridges and 27 platforms and takes about 40 minutes to complete.
Day 3
Stay: Regent of Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Included
Your Day: Rotorua
Late morning you will indulge in the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation with Polynesian Spa's private lake view bathing experience on the shores of Lake Rotorua, offering an unparalleled opportunity to unwind and soak in the natural beauty of the area.
This evening you will enjoy an authentic cultural experience at Te Pā Tū (formerly Tamaki Māori Village). In the summertime, Te Pā Tū offers their Summer Harvest Celebration experience, "Tū Te Rā." Tū Te Rā is a summer celebration, aligned with the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar. This is a time when the sun expresses optimal energy, the days are longer, and light nourishes the natural world. Tū Te Rā celebrates the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine.
Day 4
Driving time: 218km, 2.45 hours driving
Stay: Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Meals: Breakfast Included
Your Day: Rotorua to Napier
Your first stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley - a wonderland of stunning geothermal activity. You will see the world's largest hot spring, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours, as well as enjoy a cruise on Lake Rotomahana above the once famous Pink and White Terraces (included activity). Heading south and stopping at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls en route, you will reach Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake where you may wish to stop for lunch. From here you head to the East Coast to the beautiful seaside city of Napier. Napier was flattened by an earthquake in 1931, which led to massive rebuilds in the Art Deco Style, making this iconic city a beautiful hub of period architecture, and nowadays it is also well known for producing exquisite food and wine. The region has a lovely coastal feel and along with its high annual sunshine hours, makes it perfect for growing grapes. The region’s sunnier warmer climate is most suited to Bordeaux style reds such as merlot and syrah but also fantastic chardonnay.
Day 5
Stay: Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Meals: Breakfast Included
Your Day: Napier
Napier is a seafront city that was reinvented after massive destruction from the 1931 earthquake. A new city arose from the ashes with a distinctive Art Deco facade. In the morning we recommend a wander around town to enjoy Napier’s famous Art Deco buildings. Hawke’s Bay is well known for it’s excellent wines and rolling vineyards throughout the region also, so you will get going on a half day small group tour of several Hawke's Bay wineries which could include Black Barn, Mission Estate, Alpha Domus, Church Road, Te Mata Estate and others.
Day 6
Driving time: 415km, 5 hours 15 minutes driving
Stay: Rydges Auckland
Meals: Breakfast Included
Your Day: Napier to Auckland via Taupō
Today you will take the drive to Auckland where you will spend the night. Along the way at Taupō Perhaps enjoy a walk along the waterfront, whack some golf balls in to the lake and land them on the floating green, enjoy a cruise out to the Maori carvings on the opposite side of the lake, take a scenic flight over some of NZ’s most active volcanoes or even try out a skydive (all activities optional – extra cost). Following this you continue to Auckland, where the rest of the evening is free to spend at leisure.
Day 7
Meals: Breakfast Included
Your Day: Auckland Departure Day
Today you will transfer to Auckland Airport for your onward travel arrangements. We trust that you've had an excellent time in New Zealand and wish you safe travels to your next destination.
Onward flight is not included.
Here's how it works.
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Step One.
Enquire by filling out our form with a few more details about your driving holiday plans. Our driving holiday experts will be in touch to discuss options and ideas with you.
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Step Two.
We will help match you to your perfect New Zealand driving holiday itinerary, complete with all the destinations you want to visit and any additional activities you would like to include.
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Step Three.
Once you are happy with everything, we can take a small deposit and you can get excited to hit the open road and explore New Zealand. With our 24/7 support, you can rest easy knowing that everything is arranged.
Plan your ultimate New Zealand driving holiday today with our expert travel agency.
Our team of specialists will help you create a seamless travel solution, tailored to your specific touring plans and desired duration.