7-Day North Island Itinerary: Guided Tours

A week in the North Island lets you see it properly: the history of the far north, the culture and geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the green hills of the Shire, and the volcanic city you landed in. This itinerary links five of our small-group tours with a full day to relax in Rotorua.

Days 1–2: Bay of Islands

We start by heading north to stand beneath Tāne Mahuta, Lord of the Forest, in Waipoua Forest, then join a guided tour and cultural performance at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds before a night in seaside Paihia. Day two is a 4.5-hour cruise out to the Hole in the Rock (weather permitting) and Otehei Bay, then we drive you back to Auckland. Book it with your hotel included or without.

Day 3: Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo

South through the Waikato to the Waitomo Caves, where you walk past stalactites and stalagmites before a quiet boat ride under a ceiling of glowworms. Then it's past hydro dams and rolling farmland to Rotorua, where we drop you at your accommodation.

Evening tip: book a cultural evening at Te Pā Tū. Expect a warm Māori welcome, stories, performance and a hāngī-inspired feast. It's one of those nights you'll talk about long after.

Day 4: A Day in Rotorua

Slow down. Spend the morning at Te Puia, home of the Pōhutu Geyser and the national schools of Māori carving and weaving, where you can watch master carvers at work. Then soak away the week in the mineral pools of the Polynesian Spa, looking out over Lake Rotorua.

Day 5: Rotorua to Auckland via Taupō & Hamilton Gardens

We take the long way home: first the Lady Knox Geyser and colourful pools of Wai-O-Tapu, then south to Lake Taupō for lunch (own expense) and the thundering Huka Falls, then north through the 18 themed gardens of Hamilton Gardens before arriving back in Auckland.

Day 6: Hobbiton

We saved the Shire for its own day so you can take it slow. On a two-and-a-half-hour guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set you'll see 44 hobbit holes and the Shire's gardens, ending with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Lunch isn't included, but there's time to buy some along the way.

Day 7: Auckland Your Way

Finish with a guided day around Auckland. Choose:

Auckland City Highlights: Tamaki Drive, Achilles Point, the Auckland Domain and the summit of Mt Eden, finishing beneath the Sky Tower.
Auckland's Wild West Coast & Black Sand Beaches: Hallertau Brewery lunch, Muriwai's black sand and gannet colony, and Devonport's North Head.
Ultimate Auckland Experience: the best of both in one full day.

Why Let Us Drive?

A week of North Island road-tripping means Northland's winding roads, rural highways through the Waikato and Auckland's motorways, all on the left-hand side. Or you could sit back and let us take care of it.

Everyone gets the views. From the Hokianga Harbour to Huka Falls, nobody's stuck watching the road.
No car hire costs. No rental, fuel, insurance or parking for seven days.
Local knowledge, planned days. Your guides share Māori history at Waitangi, geothermal science at Wai-O-Tapu and film trivia at Hobbiton, while we handle the tickets and timings.
Small groups, real connections. Get to know your guides and fellow travellers across five different tours.
Flexibility a coach tour can't match. Pick your own Rotorua day and choose how you spend your last day in Auckland.

Trust us with the must-dos, then trust us with the whole week. Our Hobbiton tours feature among the top experiences in the South Pacific on Tripadvisor, and as the only small-group tour company covering this much of New Zealand, we can take you from the far north to the Shire and back.

Good to Know

Accommodation: you'll spend one night in Paihia (pick the hotel-included tour or book your own), two in Rotorua, and the rest in Auckland.
Pre-book Te Pā Tū and the Polynesian Spa, especially in summer and on weekends.
Short on time? Try our 5-day North Island itinerary.