First, we are talking about a long way from everywhere.  The North Island l has Auckland, one million population, and 30 per cent of the Island’s population.   The Island is divided geographically into regions: Northland | Auckland | Waikato | Bay of Plenty | Gisborne¹ | Hawke's Bay | Taranaki | Manawatu-Wanganui | Wellington. 

The North Island is actually the smaller of the two major New Zealand islands but boasts two of the country’s more important cities: Auckland in the north and the usual gateway to New Zealand; and Wellington, the nation’s capital, in the south.  

Flights to North Island:  For many visiting New Zealand, Auckland is the country’s gateway. In fact, the majority of international flights originating in Europe and North America will have Auckland as its destination.  New Zealand also has major international airports in Christchurch and Wellington.   Christchurch has daily non-stop flights from a range of major European cities via Singapore, as well as a non-stop service from Los Angeles three or four times a week.

TIP:  Don’t fail to do…

"Queen St, running north to south, is the commercial heart of Auckland and it is here that you find the Auckland Visitor Centre at Aotea Square. This is an essential first stop, unless you have done your homework thoroughly before arriving in New Zealand and know exactly where to go.”

5 Day Visit to North Island

“You won’t see much of New Zealand in less than a week -- not much of either the North Island or South Island -- but there’s enough of variety and contrasts found in, say, a five-day tour.

The North Island in Five Days

Day 1: Auckland, City of Sails  2: Paihia and Waitangi    The Bay of Islands, by its very nature, is famous for its water-based activities: sailing, sea kayaking, swimming with the dolphins, scuba diving, cruises.

 Day 3: Rotorua and Maori Culture  “Rotorua, inland of the Bay of Plenty, lies on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua. It provides the quintessential imagery of New Zealand as a tourist destination: bubbling volcanic mud, thermal geysers, Maori girls twirling their poi in traditional Polynesian dance.”  Note that the area's thermal activity does produce a smell that may initially put off some people.

Day 4: Taupo and Waitomo   “The specific attraction here are the subterranean limestone caves lit by millions of glow-worms accessed by boat through underground rivers.  Again, there are a host of activities to tempt you: caving expeditions, rafting through underground waters, abseiling, horse trekking, canoeing.”   Day 5: Back to Auckland   5 Day North Island  Tour 

North  Island Map 

“Because of the limitations of time, the five-day New Zealand North Island tour misses the country's capital, Wellington, which lies nearly at the southern end of the North Island. You may want to plan a Wellington trip next time and from there cross Cook Strait to Picton in the South Island.”  I suggest you go for 15 days and visit all of the North and South Island with leisure time to meet the wonderful people of New Zealand.  From America, stops in Fiji (one of my favorite places to visit in the South Pacific) , Vanuatu (one of the more primitive Island areas to visit), etc. would be options to consider.

Happy Traveling as you head to the “ends of the earth.”