New Zealand – The North Island

By Trish Morey

 

Some 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometres) east of Sydney lies Aoteroa, or New Zealand, the Land of the Long White Cloud. Made up of over 700 islands in all, many no more than tiny specks of land in the ocean, to most people New Zealand is simply very conveniently divided into the North Island and the South Island. (A lot of Kiwis refer to Australia as the West Island, but we won’t go there...) The North Island is where my family spent a fantastic eighteen days traveling during our Down-under summer holidays in January this year.

 

If you look on any world map, the islands of New Zealand don’t look very big at all, so you’re probably wondering why on earth we needed to spend eighteen days there and didn’t even make it to the South Island.

 

Quite frankly, it’s because New Zealand is jam-packed full of things to see and do. Lots of visitors like to think they can do New Zealand in a seven- or ten-day fly/drive package, picking up a car at the Auckland airport and dropping it off in Christchurch in the South. After all, it’s only 1,000 kilometres or a shade over 600 miles from one to the other! But don’t count on speeding from one attraction to the next. There are very few motorways out of the big cities, and a lot of the roads just aren’t built for speed as they squiggle their way around the coast or traverse rugged mountain ranges. Sure, you’ll see a bit in your rush to get from point A to point B, but you won’t have time to really appreciate what you’re experiencing. And you certainly won’t make the most of everything that scenic New Zealand has to offer between stops. It’s one gorgeous place.

 

So take your time and enjoy. Here are some of the North Island attractions that are worth taking your time to see.

 

The cities — Wellington and Auckland

 

The capital and seat of government in New Zealand, Wellington is a lot like San Francisco. Flying into San Francisco last year, I noticed the similarities—the water, the painted-timber houses clinging to green, tree-clad hills and even a cable car!

 

Wellington sports a lot of those same art deco influences you see in San Francisco as well. The place has character by the truckload. And if all that isn’t enough of a match, in Wellington the earth moves—frequently. A significant part of modern Wellington is built on land that rose up from the harbour in the great quake of 1855, during which the coastline rose by a massive 1.5 metres.

 

While in Wellington, you have to check out Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, built on the foreshore. The galleries cover the breadth of the New Zealand experience from the story of the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people, to the Lord of the Rings story and everything else in between.

 

Meanwhile, at the northern part of the island lies Auckland, city of sails. Built around harbours to its east and west on land dotted by ancient volcanoes, Auckland is a modern, glistening city. View it all from the observation deck of the Sky Tower, the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest structure. If you’re game, you can even jump from it, sliding down a line that drops you to the ground at a staggering speed.

 

If leaping off tall buildings isn’t your thing, don’t feel left out. There’s plenty else to do, from helicopter rides over the city to butterfly farms and underwater aquariums.

 

Northland

 

It makes sense that the North Island would have a Northland, no? Well, it does. Northland stretches up another 300 kilometers beyond Auckland and deserves a week to explore all on its own. Home to the glorious Bay of Islands, Northland is a subtropical paradise that features remnant Kauri forests, superb glowworm caves and spectacular fishing, just to name a few

Bay of Islands

outstanding features. Do not think you can

visit New Zealand without seeing Northland! It’s a must.

 

The Coromandel

 

Rugged mountains, spectacular beaches and lush rainforests—the Coromandel features them all. Along with the best fish and chips this side of the equator from a little town called Whitianga. Less than 200 kilometres from bustling Auckland, the Coromandel is a world away. Here you just have to visit Cathedral Cove, a simply spectacular beach accessible via a 45-minute walk down from the carpark (it’s worth it!). And if the water is too bracing for you there, then go down the coast a few kilometres, dig a hole in the hot springs at low tide at Hot Water Beach, and lie in your own private beach bath.

 

	Beautiful Cathedral Cove and one of the interesting rock formations located on the beach

 

Rotorua, Lake Taupo and the thermal regions

 

Boiling mud pools, geysers and steaming earth -- the North Island’s thermal region has it all, including several volcanoes, some very much alive. You’ll soon get used to the sulphur-laden air as you explore the various walks and tours through this highly active region. Allow yourself a few days in this area as there’s plenty to see and experience including the Huka Falls, jet boating or simply trying out the freshest prawns in town at the prawn farm. Parts of The Lord of the Rings were filmed around this thermal region, with the still active volcano, Mt. Ruapehu, used as the slopes of Mt. Doom. If you’re a fan, check out this site.

 

The foregoing is just a taste of what the North Island of New Zealand has to offer. But there’s much, much more. There are fabulous wine regions and green, verdant hills dotted with oh-so-white sheep (they’re all brown in Australia from the dust). There are mohair blanket and paua (abalone) shell factories to visit for that perfect souvenir, and there are mountains and even more mountains for that spectacular souvenir shot.  Check it out here.

 

Next time, we’ll take the kids to the South Island and check out the fjords and glaciers, Milford Sound and Queenstown, and all the wonderful things that island has to offer—but that’s next time. We might make sure we allow a month for that trip.