North Island Off The Beaten Path

  Taupiri Bay
by iandsmith
 
  • Taupiri Bay
      Taupiri Bay
    by iandsmith
  • Life Guards?
      Life Guards?
    by rabbit06
  • not much surf today!
      not much surf today!
    by rabbit06
  • Famous!
      Famous!
    by rabbit06
  • Rugged!
      Rugged!
    by rabbit06
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in North Island

1.

West Coast Beaches   Auckland

West Coast Beaches, Auckland

 10 Reviews  Our local West Coast Beach is great for some fresh air, a walk along this beach is fantastic! Always popular for swimming, surfing, picnicking and fishing but not as crowded as other West Coast... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

2.

Wai-O-Tapu   Rotorua

Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua

 1 Review  This attraction consists of a serious of geothermal pools and bush walks and the infamous Lady Knox Geyser. They are located just south of Rotorua and are best reached by car. You should buy your... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

3.

Sightseeing   Auckland

Sightseeing, Auckland

 15 Reviews  One of the nice little suburbs of Auckland is Mission Bay, with the beautiful water view and the nice park set against the beach, this is definitely worth the 10 minute drive from downtown. Sarah is... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

4.

Skyline Gondola and Luge   Rotorua

Skyline Gondola and Luge, Rotorua

 1 Review  Skyline Skyrides take you up 487m above sea level to a fun on Mt Ngongotaha which overlooks Rotorua, Lake Rotorua and the surrounding areas. There is a restaurant and bar at the top which of course... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

5.

Auckland Botanic Gardens   Auckland

Auckland Botanic Gardens, Auckland

 7 Reviews  On the edge of the large Central Lawn area is the Potter Children’s Garden which is designed with the little ones in mind. There is a maze and an interactive walled garden with stories of the puriri... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

6.

Agrodome   Rotorua

Agrodome, Rotorua

 1 Review  The Agrodome is a 160 hectare working sheep and cattle farm which gives international visitors a real hands on live experience of farming. There is complete interaction with goats, cattle, sheep, deer... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

7.

Hauraki Gulf   Auckland

Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

 9 Reviews  Update 24 July 2008 The ferry company operating the trip to Tiritiri Matangi has changed (and if only the name...) since I wrote my tip: It is no more the Kawau Cat Ferry but 360 Discovery - and it... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

8.

Rotorua Museum   Rotorua

Rotorua Museum, Rotorua

 2 Reviews  The Rotorua Art & History Museum (Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa) has some nice exhibits and contains artifacts that display the cultural heritage of the Arawa tribe, who were the main pre-European... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

9.

Mt Eden   Auckland

Mt Eden, Auckland

 1 Review  The Eden Garden is a privately operated garden open to the public on the slopes of Auckland's largest mainland volcano, Mt Eden. The garden occupies an abandoned quarry and was developed from 1964.... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

10.

Ponsonby.   Auckland

Ponsonby., Auckland

 1 Review  Western Park, Te Rimu Tahi, in the suburb of Ponsonby and near Freemans Bay, is one of Auckland's oldest parks. Opened, officially to the public, on 17 Nov 1879. It is a great place to sit in the sun... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

11.

Auckland Zoological Park   Auckland

Auckland Zoological Park, Auckland

 1 Review  Auckland Zoo may not be particularly vast on a world scale, nor does it have the diverse range of animals of some world zoos, but it is one of my favourite ways to spend a day. The gardens are really... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

No Exit Road: Kaiwaka Road (30km north of Napier)

by Kakapo2

After having admired Australasia's highest viaduct over the Mohaka River, passed Lakes Tutira and Waikapiro on the way south from the East Cape we got a little frustrated, as we could not stop along the spectacular winding road south of Tutira to photograph the fantastic landscape (this was before the digital age where you just shoot from the driving car!) which looked like the Grand Canyon in green. So we were looking where we could find a way to stop for views, and just turned right into a farm road, named Kaiwaka Road, a no exit gravel road, about 30kms north of Napier.+It did not disappoint us. Not only the landscape was fantastic (although not as Grand Canyon like as the one before) but we also saw a lot of sheep. I admit, sometimes we stopped in a curve for a photo - but as there was no one apart from us and all those sheep it did not really matter. (And at least we kept an eye on...

Tip Photo
Matarangi Beach

by Bernd_L

After our road trip round the North Island we spent some relaxing days at Matarangi Beach on Coromandel peninsula. Matarangi offers more than 4 kilometers of beautiful white sandy beach were you can swim or simply lay down reading a book. If you want more activity you can go fishing, diving, hiking, sailing, water-skiing or play golf in a beautifully located course.Matarangi is a luxury retreat with holiday-homes of wealthier New Zealanders. As far as I know there are no hotels or motels. But they have some rental homes. We stayed at the Matarangi Beach Chalets.

Tip Photo
Wairere Falls, Matamata

by Bernd_L

We never would have seen this waterfall, if I hadn't known VT-member kiwi. Pam, who lives in Matamata, guided us to this attraction which isn't mentioned in all the travelguides I've read about New Zealand. And it turned out to be one of the most impressive things we saw during this vacation.The water of a normally small river drops over the egde of the Kaimai Range building the highest waterfall of the North Island. When we visited it it had rained a lot over the previous days and the amount of water coming down had increased dramatically. It wasn't easy to go up to the falls, because we had to follow a small track along the river bed that had been flooded at several places. But the efforts were well worth it. Even Pam, who lives nearby, had never seen the falls with that much water.Directions:see Pams 'off the beaten path tip' about the falls. As a local she can describe the way much...

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Raukawa Falls

by Bernd_L

On its way from Tongariro National Park to Wanganui highway #4 follows the very scenic valley of the Mangawhero River. About 27 kilometers behind the small village Raetihi you should look out for the Raukawa Falls. The falls are located next to the road. From a lookout at the highway you have a splendid view over a green gorge where the river falls 35 meters into a basin surrounded by forest.A small path leads down to the falls (about 5 minutes) but if it's rainy it's a dangerous walk.

Tip Photo
House in Taihape

by nada1712

This little house in its fantastic colours was originally a railway workers house. Taihape is in the middle of the North Island and a junction stop for the trains which travelled from Auckland to Wellington.

Tip Photo
Out of the way places

by nada1712

There are many small country towns and out of the way places to see in New Zealand. Its worth visiting some to get a taste of local lifeThis turn -of -the -century cottage is in Norsewood near Dannevirke Southen Hawkes Bay

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Unique Places in North Island

Top 3 Hotels in North Island

SKYCITY Grand Hotel Auckland  Auckland

 7 Reviews and 432 Opinions  The rooms and hotel in general were nicer than expected, and service was good. While this hotel may... 

 Hotels in Auckland

Novotel Wellington Capital  Wellington

 4 Reviews and 430 Opinions  Novotel is conveniently located downtown with direct lift access to Lambton Quay, a shopping area.... 

 Hotels in Wellington

Regal Palms 5 Star City Resort Rotorua  Rotorua

 2 Reviews and 126 Opinions  We stayed at this resort for only one night, but one night is all you need to know that this resort... 

 Hotels in Rotorua

1,224 Hotels in North Island
 
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Reviews and photos of North Island attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for North Island sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in North Island
  1. Auckland Off The Beaten Path
  2. Wellington Off The Beaten Path
  3. Rotorua Off The Beaten Path
  4. Napier Off The Beaten Path
  5. Paihia Off The Beaten Path
  6. Waiheke Island Off The Beaten Path
  7. Hamilton Off The Beaten Path
  8. Matamata Off The Beaten Path
  9. Mount Maunganui Off The Beaten Path
  10. Bay of Islands Off The Beaten Path
  11. Gisborne Off The Beaten Path
  12. Lake Taupo Off The Beaten Path
  13. Whangarei Off The Beaten Path
  14. Tongariro National Park Off The Beaten Path
  15. Palmerston North Off The Beaten Path
  16. Tirau Off The Beaten Path
  17. Whangamata Off The Beaten Path
  18. Waitomo Caves Off The Beaten Path
  19. New Plymouth Off The Beaten Path
  20. Taupo (town) Off The Beaten Path
  21. Ninety Mile Beach Off The Beaten Path
  22. Cape Reinga Off The Beaten Path
  23. Great Barrier Island Off The Beaten Path
  24. Raglan Off The Beaten Path
  25. Wanganui Off The Beaten Path
  26. Martinborough Off The Beaten Path
  27. Omapere Off The Beaten Path
  28. Waitakere Ranges Off The Beaten Path
  29. Waitangi Off The Beaten Path
  30. Devonport Off The Beaten Path
  31. Tiritiri Matangi Island Off The Beaten Path
  32. Kauaeranga Off The Beaten Path
  33. Whakapapa Off The Beaten Path
  34. Upper Hutt Off The Beaten Path
  35. National Park Off The Beaten Path
  36. Norsewood Off The Beaten Path
  37. Hastings Off The Beaten Path

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Popular Regions in North Island

Auckland Region Off The Beaten Path  Bay of Plenty Off The Beaten Path  Northland Off The Beaten Path  Wellington Region Off The Beaten Path  Waikato Off The Beaten Path  Hawkes Bay Off The Beaten Path  Coromandel Off The Beaten Path  Taupo Region Off The Beaten Path  Manawatu/Wanganui Off The Beaten Path  East Cape Off The Beaten Path  Wairarapa Off The Beaten Path  Taranaki Off The Beaten Path 

More Regions in North Island

Questions and Answers

sbp25 profile photo

Q:  we are flying into auckland on a wednesday at noon and leaving sat at 6 pm. we will have a car. plan is to head to roturn through... 

TexasDave profile photo

A: Waitomo Caves are very interesting. There are millions of glow worms which emit a light to attract food but seeing them from below is like being in a planetarium. Google... 

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