New Zealand has an unforgettable abundance of breathtaking scenery, welcoming and friendly locals, and a vast variety of fun activities, including some high-octane thrills. Wherever your trip takes you, you'll enjoy tasty food and drink and experience a vibe unlike anywhere else on earth. This itinerary has a really big focus on NZ's geothermal wonders and its whitewater thrills. Aotearoa (the Maori name for NZ) truly is a great place for a campervan vacation.
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Auckland Zoo Motions Rd, Auckland
Home to brown kiwis, NZ fur seals, meerkats, and red pandas, to name a few. Among the 1,400 animals, you can also see NZ's unique birds (kea, tui, takahe, NZ pigeon and more).
Mount Eden (Maungawhau) 250 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden
Much loved for its spectacular views of Auckland city and its harbors. You can go down inside an extinct 164-foot volcanic crater. Wear good walking shoes.
Other attractions include the Auckland War Memorial Museum (rated 4.6/5 by 9000 visitors) and Sky Tower (360-degree views, bungee jumping, and a revolving restaurant - but make your booking months ahead!).
Hobbiton Village 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata
Lord of the Rings fans may already know that Hobbiton is 109 miles south of Auckland, less than 2.5 hours to drive. The Hobbiton Movie Set tour is 2 hours, or there's a 4-hour banquet tour in the evening. But if you're not a fan of Middle Earth, drive another 43 miles south to Rotorua in NZ's geothermal heartland.
NEXT, TAKE YOUR PICK—ROTORUA OR TAUPO?
Here's why. Rotorua's geothermal activity releases hydrogen sulfide gas which has a distinct smell. Or, as some say, a stinky smell. So if the aroma of sulfur is too much for you, drive straight through onto Taupo, which is just 50 miles further on, and stay two nights in charming Taupo, then have two nights in glorious Hawke's Bay.
Pohutu Geyser 20 Hemo Road, Rotorua
The geyser erupts 98 feet high many times each day. It is located in a 173-acre geothermal valley with 500+ geothermal wonders, including bubbling mud pools and a living Maori village. There’s no charge for the aroma.
Tamaki Maori Village 1220 Hinemaru Street, Rotorua
Here the locals still use traditional thermal resources to heat, cook and bathe. Entry is free. Attractions include Maori crafts, dance and music shows.
Other Rotorua attractions include aMAZEme (a 0.87-mile maze), the Redwoods Treewalk (featuring mountain bike tracks and 23 suspension bridges in the forest) and the Rotorua Museum (within the beautifully maintained Government Gardens).
Taupo is famous for trout fishing and is on the northern end of beautiful Lake Taupo, which also offers warm, healing geothermal pools and a warm water playground for the kids.
Taupo DeBretts Hot Springs 76 Napier-Taupo Road, Taupo
Geothermal mineral hot pools, two heated water slides, and a children's interactive warm water playground. Open all year. Private pools & spa treatments too. And, no sulfur smell!
Whitewater Rafting - Tongariro River Rafting 95 Atirau Rd, Turangi
Adrenaline, anyone? These Grade 3 rapids are suitable for first-timers as well as experts. With an expert guide steering the boat, you’ll traverse 60 roller coaster rapids in 2 hours.
National Aquarium of New Zealand Marine Parade, Napier
The Oceanarium has an underwater viewing tunnel and a 164ft travelator, so you can watch the fish swim and feed above and all around you. Napier is famous for its art deco architecture.
Other attractions include the nearby city of Hastings, its vineyards and winery tours, and Te Mata Peak (at 1,309 feet) with its superb walking and mountain biking trails.
Huka Falls Jet Boating 200 Karetoto Road, Wairakei
Ready for the ride of your life? Imagine jetting along at 50 miles an hour up to the spectacular Huka Falls, then feeling the boat turn 360 degrees in its length. White water adrenaline, for sure!
Waitoma Glowworm Caves 39 Waitomo Village Rd, Waitomo Caves
One hundred twenty miles south of Auckland is a subterranean wonderland filled with thousands of tiny creatures (not worms, actually) radiating a soft blue and green glow from their bioluminescence.
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park Arataki Visitor Centre, 300 Scenic Drive, Nihotupu
Twenty-five miles to the west of Auckland, the park comprises 42,000 acres of forests and surfing beaches, so it's a grand area for bird-watching, biking and hiking. Then, of course, there's also the Fairy Falls waterfall.
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