North Island Family Fun Road Trip 9D8N, Self-Drive

Driving Information: Auckland to the Bay of Islands: 247km/153mi | 3.5 hours

Arrive into Auckland, pick up your rental 4WD vehicle and hit the road for some good, old-fashioned family fun.

Journey approximately 3.5-hours north to the beautiful Bay of Islands. Known for its pristine beaches and water activities, the Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula and includes the boutique towns of Opua, Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri.

You will stay the next 3 nights at Edgewater Palms Apartments. Set on Paihia’s sparkling waterfront, Edgewater offers spacious self-contained apartments, each with its own balcony or patio. Enjoy the quiet pool and garden setting or sit out on the waterfront and watch the activity on the bay. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, Paihia offers a wide range of water activities including swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, powerboating and sailing.

Explore the Bay of Islands with a local guide.

Witness the spectacle of a thousand luminous glow worms at the Kawiti Caves. Get up close to the ancient Kauri trees of the Puketi Forest. Hear the mighty roar of the Haruru Falls. Admire one of the best views in town at the Waitangi Lookout. See where modern art meets modern convenience at the Hundertwasser Toilets, the world’s most architecturally important public bathroom. Along the way, there will be ample opportunity to stock up on local delights (own cost). The Makana Chocolate Factory produces handmade chocolates and other sweet treats, while the Kauri Workshop next door is the perfect place to snap up local crafts and collectables.

At around 2:30pm, your guide will return you to your accommodation. The rest of the day is yours to do as much or as little as you please.

Board your cruise in Paihia and take in stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakamangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island (Motukōkako), or as it is popularly known the “Hole in the Rock”.

Majestic in size and rising proudly out of the Pacific Ocean, Piercy Island is dominated by sheer cliffs that rise almost 150-metres (492ft) out of the sea. Piercy could have been just another large rock in the ocean had that same ocean and wind not carved out a spectacular 16-metre (52ft) high hole at its southwestern end. According to Maori legend, local warriors used to paddle through the Hole in their canoes before departing for battle. If drops of water fell from above, it was a good omen! If weather conditions permit, your skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space… and if you get dripped on, consider yourself lucky!

Driving Information: Bay of Islands to Auckland: 247km/153mi | 3.5 hours

Say farewell to the Bay of Islands and make your way back to Auckland.

Spend the day exploring New Zealand’s most populous city, a multi-cultural hub of food, music, arts and culture sprawled over volcanic hills and around twin harbours. The city is filled with endless fun for the whole family. Take in the panoramic views at The Sky Tower, get up close to wild animals at Auckland Zoo, or simply let the kids run wild in one of the city’s many playgrounds. Alternatively, why not take a ferry to one of the stunning Gulf islands? Waiheke and Rangitoto both offer a wide range of land and sea activities.

Once everyone is tuckered out, settle into your accommodation at Waves. Situated just steps from Orewa Beach, Waves offers offers spacious self-contained apartments, each with its own balcony or patio. Most bathrooms are complete with spa baths, which are an ideal place to soak off the salt after a sun-filled day.

Driving Information: Auckland to Rotorua: 227km/141mi | 3hrs

Journey east to Rotorua. Sitting within the Pacific Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud pools, clouds of steam, and natural hot springs perfect for bathing and relaxing in.

Today, you will explore the raw beauty of the world’s youngest geothermal site on a self-guided, ecology-focused adventure among the craters of the wonderous Waimangu Volcanic Valley. This exciting geothermal attraction has a very unique ecology, with rare botany and plenty of fascinating geothermal features to explore.

See the hypnotic steam rising from the Echo Crater, marvel at the fizzling Frying Pan Lake (the world’s largest hot spring) and take in the beauty and dazzling blue of the Inferno Crater hot lake. The newly forming silica terraces are also a highlight. At any stage during your walk, you can jump on board a courtesy shuttle that regularly circles the valley back to the Waimangu Visitor Centre.

During your visit, you will also have the opportunity to embark on a 45-minute cruise of Lake Rotomahana. In the Victorian era, Rotomahana was renowned around the world for its spectacular “Eighth Wonder of the World” – the Pink and White Travertine Terraces, which cascaded down to the water. Long thought lost in the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, surviving fragments of the terraces were discovered 60-metres (200ft) below the lake’s surface. Although temporarily drained by the eruption, Rotomahana came back 20 times its original size and now covers 2,000 acres.

You will stay the next 3 nights at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Rotorua Marama. Surrounded by parklands and offering beautiful views of the Ohau Channel, this highly rated hotel promises a tranquil family escape. Spend the rest of the day making the most of facilities including an outdoor pool, spa, tennis court and gymnasium. When you’re ready, head into Rotorua city centre. Take a walk around the lakefront before indulging in a tasty meal on “Eat Streat” (own cost). The thermally heated footpath and enhanced lighting gives Eat Streat a unique and vibrant dining atmosphere – you’ll satisfy any craving from pub fare and steaks, to tapas, Indian, Italian and much more.

Embark on a leisurely white water rafting experience on the Rangitaiki River, the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region. This scenic trip is an extraordinary adventure for the whole family (ages 5 and up) and those wanting time on the water to enjoy the incredible scenery.

Start your journey at the base of Aniwhenua Falls in the lower Rangitaiki River. Be amazed as you paddle past tumbling waterfalls, lush native forest and through the striking rock gorge. This trip has rapids, but they are nice rolling waves with almost no rocks to avoid. You will feel the thrill of rushing white water without going through it – it is the best of both worlds!

The full expedition is 5.5 hours including a picnic style lunch, Rotorua transfers, safety training and river time of approximately 1.5 hours. You do not need rafting experience for this one, but you do need to be able to get down the rock step formations to start the journey.

Choose your own adventure from Rotorua’s endless family friendly activities. Meander through the giant redwoods in the Whakarewarewa Forest, watch the farm show at the Agrodome, or go swimming in the historic Blue Baths. Alternatively, why not take in stunning views of Lake Rotorua on the 8-seater Skyline Gondola? The whole family can zip back down along the 2-kilometre (1.2mi) scenic luge track or challenge themselves on the intermediate and advanced tracks, with their tight bends, dips and tunnels.

In the evening, join a local guide for an evening of ceremonial rituals at the Tamaki Maori Village. Board a specialised coach for the short journey to the village, nestled in the thick of an ancient, native Tawa forest. En route, your guide will instruct you on the rules of entering a Marae and the protocol you must observe.

Upon arrival in the village, you will participate in the Powiri – the ancient ceremony of welcome – and explore the living Pre-European Maori village as it comes alive with the sights and sounds, and activity of days gone by. You will enter the ancestral Meeting House at the heart of the village and relax as the hosts entertain you with a powerful cultural performance. Afterwards, you will indulge in a traditional “Hangi Buffet Meal”.

Driving Information: Rotorua to Waitomo Glow Worm Caves: 140km/87mi | 2hrs

Make your way back to Auckland via the wonderous Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.

Your guided tour of the caves will take you through over 250-metres of stunning underground scenery and over 130 years of cultural and natural history. Your tour begins in the Cathedral and proceeds along a low narrow passage to the Tomo, a deep limestone shaft. Other magnificent cave formations include the Banquet Chamber, the Pipe Organ and the Catacombs. The highlight of your tour is an unrivalled boat ride through the spectacular Glow Worm Grotto. As your eyes adjust to the dark, the walls and roof sparkle with the lights of glow worm larvae like a thousand shimmering stars.

You will stay the night at CityLife Auckland. Centrally located on bustling Queen Street, this highly rated hotel offers suites and apartment accommodation, perfect for families. Make the most of facilities including indoor saltwater lap pool and gymnasium.

Driving Information: N/A

All good things must come to an end. Check out of your accommodation by 10:00am and drop off your rental vehicle to commence your onward journey.

You will stay the night at CityLife Auckland. Centrally located on bustling Queen Street, this highly rated hotel offers suites and apartment accommodation, perfect for families. Make the most of facilities including indoor saltwater lap pool and gymnasium.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.