North Island Things to Do

  One of the alleys in Queen Street
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  • One of the alleys in Queen Street
      One of the alleys in Queen Street
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  • Ocean Beach
      Ocean Beach
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  • Left hand surf break at Manu Bay, Raglan
      Left hand surf break at Manu Bay, Raglan
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  •   Things to Do
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  •   Things to Do
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Most Viewed Things to Do in North Island

1.

Queen Street & Downtown   Auckland

Queen Street & Downtown, Auckland

 35 Reviews  If you want to shop or just look around in Auckland go to Queen Street. It is the major commercial area of Auckland CBD. It is a quite long street from the Upper Queen Street beginning at Newtown Road... 

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2.

Mt Victoria   Wellington

Mt Victoria, Wellington

 13 Reviews  If you have no car or are not into hiking or just too short of breath to make a longish uphill walk, put the Mt. Victoria Lookout on your Things to do list of a weekday. Strangely enough, the Metlink... 

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3.

Skyline Gondola & Luge   Rotorua

Skyline Gondola & Luge, Rotorua

 21 Reviews  This is not to missed, fun for all the family, fast or slow it's up to you with beginner, medium and fast tracks! Take the Gondola up the top of the moutain which has panoramic views and enjoy riding... 

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4.

Cape Kidnappers.   Napier

Cape Kidnappers., Napier

 13 Reviews  There are a lot of coastal wineries next to Cape Kidnappers, Elephant Hill, Clearview, Te Awanga Estate, and Beach House Winery. There's a good range from modest to not so, we had a fantastic day... 

 See All 117 Things to Do in Napier

5.

Hole in the Rock   Paihia

Hole in the Rock, Paihia

 9 Reviews  On the way back to town, the boat allowed a few of the insane passengers to venture into the freezing cold water to ride a net. Sorry folks, but I?m from a tropical country so I gave this a miss. The... 

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6.

Oneroa   Waiheke Island

Oneroa, Waiheke Island

 10 Reviews  Every Saturday morning 8.00am - 1.00pm, the Island holds a community market at the RSA in Ostend. Lots of gifts, arts and crafts, second-hand goods, and even entertainment, organic produce, books,... 

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7.

Climb the mount   Mount Maunganui

Climb the mount, Mount Maunganui

 8 Reviews  There are also other routes for those that are afraid of heights which avoid the steep drops.. If you follow the 4x4 track it will also take you to the top, it is a steep climb but you miss the... 

 See All 16 Things to Do in Mount Maunganui

8.

The Big Sheep Wool Gallery.   Tirau

The Big Sheep Wool Gallery., Tirau

 3 Reviews  When it comes to big sheep, I'm reminded of the one on the outskirts of Goulburn in N.S.W. but this is certainly a worthy challenger. Situated right beside the tourist centre it offers all sorts of... 

 See All 15 Things to Do in Tirau

9.

Beehive & Parliament Buildings   Wellington Region

Beehive & Parliament Buildings, Wellington Region

 9 Reviews  Free tours of Parliament Buildings operate every day, on the hour. Tour duration is 1hr. Weekdays commencing 10am, last tour 4pm; Saturdays and most public holidays commencing 10am, last tour 3pm;... 

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10.

Cathedral Cove   Coromandel

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel

 5 Reviews  We had seen Cathedral Cove on many documentaries, so we had to see it for ourselves! Cathedral cove is only accessible by walking or boat and it is a MUST VISIT if you feel you can handle the walk.... 

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11.

Waitakere Range Regional Park.   Auckland Region

Waitakere Range Regional Park., Auckland Region

 12 Reviews  Piha Beach is situated at the end of Piha Road going through dense native bush. Suddenly the road winds down to the coast. There are wonderful views over Piha Beach, divided through the huge 100... 

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12.

Bay of Islands.   Northland

Bay of Islands., Northland

 16 Reviews  When visiting the Bay of Islands area we had to make at least one cruise to see at least a couple of the 144 islands. We decided to make the "Cape Brett Hole-in-the-Rock Cruise" with Fullers, leaving... 

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13.

Devonport   Auckland

Devonport, Auckland

 31 Reviews  Devonport was one of the highlights for me when I went to Auckland. Located on the north shore it is just a 12 minute ferry ride away from downtown Auckland. (This is one of the best ways to see the... 

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14.

Parliament Buildings & Beehive   Wellington

Parliament Buildings & Beehive, Wellington

 29 Reviews  The Beehive is a Parliament office building located next to Parliament. It is shaped like, you guessed it, a beehive, and is a unique building that has seen plenty of controversy about its design.... 

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15.

Wai-O-Tapu   Rotorua

Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua

 34 Reviews  Wai-O-Tapu is one of my fondest memories of Rotorua, you get to see an assortment of Thermal wonders all around the same area, if you do not do anything else make sure you check this place out! Bring... 

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16.

Marine Parade   Napier

Marine Parade, Napier

 15 Reviews  Marine Parade, as the name suggests, runs along the sea front. The area is very nice. The fountain here, we only saw in the day time, but at night it is lit, I think in different colours. THE NEW... 

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17.

Haruru Falls   Paihia

Haruru Falls, Paihia

 5 Reviews  They're not really high falls by any means, but they are in a horseshoe shape, which is evidently rare, Niagra Falls being cited as the only other horseshoe shaped falls known. Beware of your... 

 See All 45 Things to Do in Paihia

18.

Saltwater Hotpools   Mount Maunganui

Saltwater Hotpools, Mount Maunganui

 3 Reviews  Hot Saltwater Pools I love to go here, especially at night, and soak in the naturally heated salt water pools. Set outdoors with lovely furns overhanging and of course the dominant presence of Mt... 

 See All 16 Things to Do in Mount Maunganui

19.

Tirau Information Centre.   Tirau

Tirau Information Centre., Tirau

 4 Reviews  Tirau Information Centre built (1998) to look like a dog. This is no ordinary dog, but the traditional sheep dog that helped develop the area in years gone bye. At night his eyes and nose are lit with... 

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20.

Te Papa Museum   Wellington Region

Te Papa Museum, Wellington Region

 10 Reviews  New Zealand's Te Papa Mueseum opened on the 14 February 1998. The Museum is located in Wellington the capital city. With waterfront views and a unique architectural design, Te Papa is one of the... 

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21.

Driving Creek Railway   Coromandel

Driving Creek Railway, Coromandel

 3 Reviews  One thing you can't fail to notice here and there are embankments made of empty bottles. The rumour around is that Barry drank most of them and the paintwork reading "Barry's" emblazoned across a... 

 See All 42 Things to Do in Coromandel

22.

Waiheke Island   Auckland Region

Waiheke Island, Auckland Region

 3 Reviews  Your visit to Waiheke has to start with one of the ferries. Most people will take Fuller’s(www.fullers.co.nz), from the Harbour Building, but there is another company sailing to the island, called... 

 See All 61 Things to Do in Auckland Region

23.

Ninety Mile Beach...   Northland

Ninety Mile Beach..., Northland

 5 Reviews  The reason why rental companies do not allow you to drive on 90 Mile Beach (which is only 90km or 55 miles long) is simple: The cars are not insured. Often cars get stuck in the sand and have to be... 

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24.

Skytower Complex and Casino   Auckland

Skytower Complex and Casino, Auckland

 72 Reviews  The Skytower dominates the Auckland skyline and provides a great reference point wherever you are in the city. The said building is the tallest tower (328 meters) in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a... 

 See All 477 Things to Do in Auckland

25.

Te Papa National Museum   Wellington

Te Papa National Museum, Wellington

 33 Reviews  El museo es una de las "joyas de la corona" entre los museos de Nueva Zelanda . Es un museo muy moderno con holografías , partes interactivas, actuaciones culturales Maori ... El nombre de “Te Papa”... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Napier/Hastings: Art Déco & Spanish Mission style

by Kakapo2

When disaster struck on 3 February 1931 in Napier and Hastings 258 people died, and the twin-cities were destroyed by the worst earthquake in New Zealand's (human) history, measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale, followed by devastating fires. (More about earthquakes and disasters on my introduction page to the North Island.)But both cities rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Napier was redesigned in the Art Déco style with its simple and clean lines and has become the Art Déco capital of New Zealand. As local architect Louis Hay incorporated some Maori features in the buildings Napier got a unique style. The pastel colours give the city a joyful atmosphere. Coincidentally this jazzy style had been at its height in the 1930s.The Art Déco Trust has a Visitor Centre from where guided walks start twice daily (10am and 2pm). You can also get a booklet ($4) for self-guided tours. Brochures also...

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The three big volcanoes

by Bernd_L

Tongariro National Park is the oldest National Park in New Zealand. It is located in the central part of North Island and includes the volcanoes Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. It is a Natural World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.Main activities are hiking and climbing in summer and skiing in winter. The famous hiking trail "Tongariro crossing" leads from east to west across the National Park.On the eastern slope of Mt. Ruapehu there's a visitor center at the small hamlet of Whakapapa.

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Ohakea Air Force Museum

by Bernd_L

At the RNZAF base Ohakea you can visit a small museum and see two military aircrafts and some air force related stuff.You can't spent a lot of time here, but it is a good place for a stopover on your way to or from Wellington.

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Things to do when travelling the North Island.

by CamperJohn

Hi Steve,Auckland is your landing point and there are plenty of vans there to rent.With regard your route you could head South from the airport in Auckland, stay at the Miranda Hot pools the first night, then on to the Coromandel peninsula on the East Coast, travel to the top of the peninsula, cross to the Eastern side and travel South. Lots of beaches, hot pools, a goldmine in Waihi, see the river workings in the gorge and tramp through some tunnels. Then down to Tauranga, great scenery, through kiwifruit country, visit Mount Maunganui Surf beach, then inland to Rotorua. You'll visit thermal wonderland, watch a Maori Concert show and visit a Marae (Maori village), see the buried village (in an earthquake ages ago) see trout in gin clear rivers, travel through forest and lake country. Then inland to Lake Taupo, go trout fishing, see snow covered mountains. Then out to the coast again to...

Sheep and Spas

by RKyle

Just got back from NZ and Rotorua, I agree with the reply about the Sheep Shearing demo at the Agrodome being great. Just the Host's greeting to the crowd is a show in it's self. Take your video camera.Also spend some time in the Polynesian Spa, for $20 NZ you can soak in 7 pools of varying tempetures from 37 to 42 degrees with a view of the Lake. You can rent swimsuits for $4NZ a session.

Napier: More than Architecture and Gannets

by Kakapo2

Of course, the architecture is the main point of interest when you visit Napier and Hastings. The second reason why people visit is the mainland gannet colony at nearby Cape Kidnappers. But there are so many other things to see and do in the region - first of all because Hawkes Bay has a wonderful mild climate and is NZ's oldest wine growing region. So wine tours are high on the agenda. About 70 wineries offer their products, especially great chardonnay.You can relax at the Ocean Spa, visit the National Aquarium of NZ, and, rather unique, Opossum World where you can learn about those pest animals. I find the latter rather intriguing as you are so conditioned to hate those animals when you live in NZ that you nearly expect a monster staring at you. You forget that you fed them in Australia where they love and protect them, and that you found them rather cute. After being introduced from...

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The Lonesome Road Trip to the East Cape

by Kakapo2

Although I have not travelled in this area for quite a long time I suppose the drive along the Bay of Plenty to the East Cape has not changed a lot. After you have left the relatively busy tourist towns of Tauranga/Mt. Maunganui and Whakatane/Ohope behind, you get a feeling for the old NZ where life happens at a lower pace. The sad thing about Tauranga and Whakatane, especially the Tauranga area, is that we nearly always see it in negative light on the TV news, for gang-related crimes, and out-of-control youths. This is a pity as the stretch between Mt. Maunganui and Ohope is nearly one endless sandy beach you should enjoy. In Te Puke is Kiwifruit Country where you can learn everything about NZ's national fruit. From Whakatane you can make trips to volcanic White Island, and inland to Te Urewera Nat. Park. Shortly before Opotiki you should stop at a carpark with two huge wooden poles and...

Taranaki/Mt. Egmont climb - part 2 -

by Kakapo2

Click here for Part 1.(Sorry for splitting up this tip - but this is from the time when 2000 characters were the maximum for a tip on VT...)Part 2I had given up my attempt to reach the summit, as I was soaking wet from my walk through the clouds and could not see further than my next two or three steps. When you are in the middle of clouds and you have no idea how far they will reach, it makes no sense to take a risk. Perhaps I had given up too early - because when we were back down at the foot of Mt. Egmont on a splendid sunny summer day we saw that this ring of clouds was below the summit, and on the summit we would have had perfect conditions and perfect views. But I think better safe than sorry.It is said the climb and back takes between 7 and 11 hours. I tend more to the 7 hours - 4 hours up and 3 down. That is also what they had told us at the Visitor Centre before the start, and...

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Always Watch the Clouds at Taranaki/Mt. Egmont

by Kakapo2

If the world needed to be recreated, 2518 m high Taranaki/Mt. Egmont would be the model for a perfect volcanic cone. Ok, perhaps not perfectly perfect ;-) Fantham's Peak, a subsidiary cone namend after the first woman who climed this peak in 1885, marres the perfect symmetry a little bit. If you ever have the chance to see this magnificent mountain from the airplane on a domestic flight from Christchurch to Auckland or vice-versa you will be fascinated by the sheer beauty of this dormant volcano in the western corner of the North Island. It covers an incredibly big circular area, with innumerous rivers running down the cone on all sides, and due to its isolated location it has a distinctive flora. You find a lot of rimu and rata in the lowland forest, and further up kamahi, totara and kaikawaka, then subalpine scrub and tussock lands.The volcano is not only beautiful to look at, it is...

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Mt. Bruce, a Fantastic Place for Birds and People

by Kakapo2

The main reason for me to go there was the fact that they have some birds we do not have on the South Island, especially the Kokako, a blue-greyish bird with striking blue wattles beside the beak. But what struck me most were the 80 wild kaka (parrots, similar to the kea of the South Island) which fly in every afternoon for a snack, having a party and making a lot of noise.It is a great place for a stop if you are on the way to Wellington or on the way from Wellington to Napier, or just enjoying a relaxing time on the Wairarapa wine trail (which is part of the NZ Classical Wine Trail).Pukaha Mt. Bruce - 30 km north of Masterton and 10km south of Eketahuna on SH2, two hours from Wellington and Napier and just one hour from Palmerston North - is the Department of Conservation's (DOC) breeding centre for rare native and endemic birds including the kaka, kokako, stitchbird, and last year...

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Fun things to do 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... 

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Novotel Wellington Capital  Wellington

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

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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... 

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Things to Do: Cities in North Island
  1. Auckland Things to Do
  2. Wellington Things to Do
  3. Rotorua Things to Do
  4. Napier Things to Do
  5. Paihia Things to Do
  6. Waiheke Island Things to Do
  7. Hamilton Things to Do
  8. Tauranga Things to Do
  9. Matamata Things to Do
  10. Mount Maunganui Things to Do
  11. Bay of Islands Things to Do
  12. Gisborne Things to Do
  13. Lake Taupo Things to Do
  14. Whangarei Things to Do
  15. Tongariro National Park Things to Do
  16. Palmerston North Things to Do
  17. Tirau Things to Do
  18. Whangamata Things to Do
  19. Waitomo Caves Things to Do
  20. New Plymouth Things to Do
  21. Taupo (town) Things to Do
  22. Ninety Mile Beach Things to Do
  23. Cape Reinga Things to Do
  24. Rangitoto Island Things to Do
  25. Great Barrier Island Things to Do
  26. Raglan Things to Do
  27. Petone Things to Do
  28. Wanganui Things to Do
  29. Martinborough Things to Do
  30. Omapere Things to Do
  31. Waitakere Ranges Things to Do
  32. Te Aroha Things to Do
  33. Whitianga Things to Do
  34. Waitangi Things to Do
  35. Devonport Things to Do
  36. Tutukaka Things to Do
  37. Cambridge Things to Do
  38. Waipoua Forest Things to Do
  39. Tiritiri Matangi Island Things to Do
  40. Waihi Beach Things to Do
  41. Island Bay Things to Do
  42. Kerikeri Things to Do
  43. Coromandel Things to Do
  44. Waiwera Things to Do
  45. Whangarei Things to Do
  46. Russell Things to Do
  47. Whakatane Things to Do
  48. Paekakariki Things to Do
  49. Kauaeranga Things to Do
  50. Bulls Things to Do
  51. Whakapapa Things to Do
  52. Upper Hutt Things to Do
  53. Orewa Things to Do
  54. White Island Things to Do
  55. Otaki Things to Do
  56. Warkworth Things to Do
  57. Cooks Beach Things to Do
  58. Kaitaia Things to Do
  59. Matauri Bay Things to Do
  60. Masterton Things to Do
  61. Waihi Things to Do
  62. Norsewood Things to Do
  63. Hastings Things to Do
  64. Muriwai Beach Things to Do
  65. Waiotapu Things to Do
  66. Waihou Things to Do
  67. Mangatainoka Things to Do
  68. Castlepoint Things to Do
  69. Takapuna Things to Do
  70. Waharoa Things to Do
  71. Karangahake Things to Do
  72. Greytown Things to Do
  73. Hahei Things to Do
  74. Lower Hutt Things to Do
  75. Whangaparaoa Things to Do

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Popular Regions in North Island

Auckland Region Things to Do  Bay of Plenty Things to Do  Northland Things to Do  Wellington Region Things to Do  Waikato Things to Do  Hawkes Bay Things to Do  Coromandel Things to Do  Taupo Region Things to Do  Manawatu/Wanganui Things to Do  East Cape Things to Do  Wairarapa Things to Do  Taranaki Things to Do 

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Questions and Answers

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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... 

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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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