North Island holidays

The North Island’s home to two of New Zealand’s biggest urban centres. Around a third of the entire population live in its largest city, Auckland – and, if you’re arriving from abroad, this is likely where you’ll begin your North Island holiday.

Thanks to two expansive harbours and a spectacular setting on both the Tasman Sea and the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland’s earned itself the nickname the City of Sails – and sailing is indeed a great way to spend your time here. But when you’re not off exploring the water, or cruising to nearby islands, you might want to check out the views from atop Mount Eden or the cloud-piercing Sky Tower.

Meanwhile, on the south coast of the North Island, you’ll find New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Although far smaller than Auckland, it’s just as pretty and has loads going on. The downtown area crams in heaps of theatres, galleries and museums, with Te Papa – New Zealand’s national museum – being an absolute must-visit on your North Island holiday. But aside from a thriving arts scene, Wellington’s also got a renowned cafe culture and some excellent craft beer bars.

The customs and practices of the indigenous Maori people are an integral part of New Zealand’s culture. And although their influence spreads throughout the country, it’s more keenly felt on the North Island than the South Island.

In Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, you’ll find New Zealand’s most important historic site – the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Here, in 1840, the first 43 Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British Crown. Pay a visit and you’ll be able to watch enchanting cultural performances in an authentic Meeting House, see a traditional Maori canoe, and discover Maori stories at two museums.

If you journey further north, you’ll eventually reach Cape Reinga, the northernmost accessible point in the country. In Maori it has a name meaning ‘leaping off place of spirits’ as they believe this is where spirits of the deceased depart from this world and begin their final journey to the afterlife. And if you visit Rotorua during your North Island holiday you can learn all about Maori arts, and see talented carvers and weavers at work, at Te Puia – the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

The list of things to do on a North Island holiday is virtually endless. Those looking for an urban adventure should soak up the culture in Auckland and Wellington, or check out the Art Deco charms of Napier. Foodies will be spoiled for choice practically everywhere, but if you’re into your wine you should find time for a vineyard trip. There are nine different wine regions to choose from, with Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough and Gisborne being three of the most popular.

Meanwhile, film buffs will want to book a tour of Hobbiton™ – one of the primary filming locations for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And from there it’s a just a short drive to the geothermal hotspot of Rotorua, famed for its bubbling mud pools and spurting geysers.

Hiking’s one of the most popular things to do on a North Island holiday. There are tonnes of magical landscapes to explore, but for something really special try the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – consistently voted among the best one-day treks in the world. Or if your holiday to the North Island falls during winter, you might want to tackle the slopes of Mt Ruapehu on skis or a snowboard.

But one thing you absolutely have to do during a North Island holiday is spend time at the beach. After all, beaches are what the North Island does best – and where it really gives the South Island a run for its money.

New Zealand has a largely temperate climate and a fairly small temperature range, although things do get colder the further south you go. So the North Island is generally warmer than the South Island at all times of the year. The summer months – which, on this side of the world, run from December to February – see an abundance of sunshine, with highs hovering around the mid twenties. In the far north, though, things tend to be even hotter and slightly humid. This is a great time of year for a North Island holiday if you’re keen to hit the beach – just bear in mind it’s also when visitor numbers are at their peak.

If you’d prefer to travel when things are a little quieter, you may want to plan your North Island holiday for spring or autumn instead. Temperatures will still be in the high teens or low twenties, but it is likely to be slightly wetter. Winter arrives in New Zealand in June and with it comes yet more rain and colder temperatures – although it still rarely drops much below 10°C. Nevertheless, the mountainous parts of the island will be covered in snow, and skiing is possible right the way through to October.