Step in! This is the best of natural New Zealand - North Island! Welcome to natural New Zealand, North Island! Get ready your New Zealand road map. Book a rental car if you need one! Months before the trip, I have researched and looked at loads of New Zealand websites. As mum to one year old Clayton, my top requirement in my search for New Zealand accommodation is a place that can enable me to do some simple cooking. For me, it’s important to sleep comfortably when on a vacation. This must, of course, be accompanied with good location at a good price. Then comes facilities and quality standards which also play an important role when making choices. The places we slept in New Zealand, North Island are: The Ascott Metropolis, Auckland Oceanside Twin Tower Resort, Mount Maunganui
New Zealand, North Island is made up of the following regions: Auckland Northland & Corormandel Waikato & Bay of Plenty Rotorua, Taupo & Tongariro National Park Gisborne & Hawkes Bay Taranaki & Wanganui Wellington
Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
Unless you have time (like more than a month), you can’t possibly visit every region in the North Island. Remember that New Zealand is a big country. Therefore, you would need some smart and careful planning to enjoy your holiday in New Zealand. That's where the New Zealand road map comes in handy! If you are not the adventurous sort and prefer to see all the popular highlights in New Zealand, I suggest you join a package tour. Or, the better option would be to plan your trip according to your interests and liking with the help of a New Zealand road map. Focus on certain regions and activities. This way, your New Zealand holiday will be more memorable and you will not end up tiring yourself with too much activities. Opposed to the comments we received on the North Island from many of our friends, we find that the North Island has its own beauty and characteristics which the South Island may not deliver. Before you do anything, don’t forget to pick up a New Zealand road map. If you are a shopaholic, there are many places where you can pick up a New Zealand gift to take home. Whatever your travel options are - budget or luxury, you will be spoilt for choices, here in New Zealand, North Island. View our North Island Itinerary! Auckland, New Zealand - the City of Sails For us, our North Island holiday began in Auckland. This would be a good base if you are planning to tour only the North Island.Other than being known as a big city, Auckland, New Zealand does have a lot to offer – from first class accommodations, a busy night scene and a host of popular attractions and leisure activities. It is easy to move around without a rental car in New Zealand when in Auckland. Though I prefer the shopping scene in Wellington city to Auckland, the specialty shops on Ponsonby are my personal favourite.
 The main shopping area (the starting point for visitors) is Queen Street which is lined with all sorts of stores.
I like Ponsonby. There are a few nice shops and lots of cool restaurants. This is one suburb you must not miss when visiting the North Island! The shop has a large mural outside and it's hard to miss it when you are walking along Ponsonby Road. It stocks lots of cute and unusual finds. This will be a wonderful place to find a New Zealand gift to take home. If you are a burger lover, don't miss the delicious patties at Burger Fuel, a burger-chain found only in New Zealand. Ponsonby is known for its host of eateries but don’t miss out on the specialty design stores and boutiques. If you are all out to spend your money shopping in Auckland, New Zealand, head to High Street, Newmarket and even Parnell. Parnell, a short drive from Auckland city is a nice place to spend your afternoon. You will be quick to notice a yuppie crowd and and a whole lot of nice restaurants and cafes too. For lunch, we tried ‘Mink’, a cosy and casual café with great New Zealand food and nice coffee. The Chocolate Boutique Cafe is my favourite. Don't miss the Hoglund Art Glass Gallery if you like fine glass art. An item from here makes a great New Zealand gift. You can get here on or The Explorer. Alternatively, you can take an easy drive if you have a rental car in New Zealand. Shopping at High Street-Vulcan Lane can be an expensive one. I spotted a few shops stocking Korean/Japanese street fashion. You can also find some international labels in the fashion hot stops along High Street. If you are after some New Zealand fashion labels, check out MMooch and The Untouched World. WORLD in High street and Ponsonby is a nice (but expensive) shop to browse. This designer boutique carries a few international labels and some nice collectibles. When it comes to dining in Auckland, you are spoilt with choices. Just take a walk along the Viaduct Harbour and the options awaits you. The restaurants and bars in the area come alive in the evenings. Tired of shopping? How about taking a drive to Mount Eden?  We witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets here in the North Island.
Mount Eden makes a wonderful spot for an afternoon picnic. It's also an ideal location for picture moments in the North Island.  Right here, you get the best views of the city and the harbour.
Back to the top of North Island Northland & CoromandelNext in our itinerary in New Zealand, North Island is Paihia and a day trip to Far North, Cape Reinga. You will experience the unique side of New Zealand here. Paihia in the Bay of Islands is one quaint seaside village that attracts lots of tourists and locals. This is the hub for all tours/cruises in the region. We spend two days here and it is nice just driving around enjoying the pristine beaches and clear blue waters in the North Island.  What is memorable for us in the Northland was our day trip (12 hours!) to the Far North, Cape Reinga on a 4x4 wheeler (converted from a military truck!) and we must agree that this is the best of natural New Zealand in the North Island.
This is a 'must-do' and 'must-see' if you get a chance to visit the Bay of Islands and the Far North.
One word of caution: private cars are not allowed on 90mile beach unless you plan to get a tow truck to your rescue! CoromandelSpeaking of beaches, Coromandel, North Island has lots to offer. Compared to the Northland, the coastline in Coromandel is more rustic and remote, complemented with the rugged forests. This is the rugged coast of the North Island. Due to time factor, we only managed to visit Hahei and Hot Water Beach.
We could only catch a glimpse of it as it is challenging taking the full trail with Clayton on our backs!
In my opinion, it is more local, less touristy, more untouched. Your trip to Hahei is not complete if you haven't experience the hot spring pool atThe Hot Water Beach.
 Alex is having fun in his hot spring pool! The Hot Water Beach is a natural hot water spa two hours either side of low tide. You can dig your own spot and soak yourself in the hot spring pool.
You even get live entertainment on Sundays. It’s a popular place with the locals. There are probably more dining options in Whitianga, especially along the beachfront. To get here from Hahei, the quickest way is to board a ferry which only takes 10 minutes. It’s a lot further if you drive. We had a very nice dinner at The Fireplace, a great waterfront restaurant with a cosy courtyard, fresh seafood, unique selections of wood-fired pizzas and most of all, friendly service.
Wanna read more about attractions at the North Island? Mount Maunganui, Bay of PlentyOn our way to Rotorua, we decided to stop at Mount Maunganui for a night. Commonly known as The Mount, this small town resembles a little of Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast, Australia, except that it is less crowded and not so commercialised. The Mount is a popular place for joggers and climbers.
We did the full walk of 3.5km with Clayton in the pram. It is a easy and lovely climb. We stopped by a few times just to admire the sea views, at the same time, get some rest. Go for the climb to the summit if you can. It takes about 2 hours to get up there and this is a popular spot for hang-gliders and para-gliders. We like this little town. It is one place where the Mount meets the sea and it's so friendly and relaxing. It looks like a great place to retire.   Ocean Beach is a great place to lay back... The sidewalk cafes along Marine Parade are a favourite hangout for the locals. Unlike the Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast, you get more locals here than tourists. Take a drive and check out the grand, luxurious houses along Ocean beach, some of them are the most impressive in the North Island. For sumptuous breakfasts, tasty sandwiches, fresh salads and aromatic coffee, we recommend the award-winning café, SideTrack Pacifa. This is definitely a favourite among the locals all-day long, you can simply tell by the regulars relaxing in al fresco style along the walkway. If you are deprived for some retail therapy or can't wait to buy your New Zealand gift, take a short drive in your rental car to Tauranga. Taupo - Home to New Zealand's largest lakeOn our way to Lake Taupo, we stop by at the Huka Falls. We were amazed at the speed on which the water move from the Waikato River to the drop!  <center>This is sunset at Lake Taupo It was raining during our two nights in Taupo. But then again, the poor weather didn't spoil our fun in Taupo either. We had a great time in Baycrest Lodge. Our room came with a private courtyard and private thermal tub. We can then fill to our requirements with 50 degree C thermal water extracted from the ground.
It is so relaxing soaking in the tub in the moonlight... yep! And you don't even have to bother about swim gear. It is so private. I'm sure you can star gaze on a clear night.  Take a nice stroll and enjoy sunset by the calm lake. This town seems less busy than Rotorua. There are some nice shops to browse around so start shopping for a New Zealand gift. Don't miss out on the many cafes if you like a lazy afternoon. Taupo in the North Island is serene and quiet during our time of travel but this lakeside town can get very busy during summer months. The food is quite tasty with a touch of Asian but the menu selection may be a little limited. I like the quirky store next to the café. You can find lots of nice- looking kitchenware and selected gourmet condiments on the shelves. Few restaurants have opened up on the lakefront but unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to try any of them due to wet weathers on both the nights.
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The shop that attracted me most is this big, colourful shop called 'The Garden Party'. 
Newmarket, a favourite fashion district for locals, offers mainstream shopping and here, you will also find Two Double Seven Shopping Centre, a 5-storey building.
Parnell village is popular with visitors. 
Besides the Kauri Forests, the highlights of the trip are the Te Paki sand dunes and the long flat stretch beautiful coastline of Ninety Mile Beach of the North Island. 
The sand-boarding experience at the Te Paki sand dunes is something we enjoyed thoroughly. I must warn you that it is an aerobic activity!
If you are in this area, please don't miss the gorgeous Cathedral Cove.
Cathedral Cove is easily accessible by walkway from Hahei. Bring a bottle of water with you if you are doing the walk. You do need few days to see and do more here in the Coromandel.
Check out the low tide times with the reception of your stay or any tourist information centre in the area.
If you are looking for a nice place to eat, look no further. The Hot Wave Café, situated a few minutes walk to Hot Water Beach serves nice lunches. 
Don’t leave the town without savouring a double cone from the famous Copenhagen ice-cream parlour along the Marine Parade.
For food in Taupo, you ought to check out Replete Café. For some reason, the queue is endless during lunch. 