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New Zealand
5 Hours
Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
Campervan road trip · 10–16 days
North Island loop
Subtropical bays, glowworm caves, steaming earth and a volcano you can walk across.
BeachesGeothermalHikingMāori cultureCaves
- Trip length
- 10–16 days
- Distance
- ≈ 1,550 km
- Pick up
- Auckland
- Drop off
- Auckland
- Best time
- December–March for beach weather; November and April are quieter and cheaper
Live prices from the big campervan companies · book online in minutes.
The route
12 days, 8 stops
Start and finish in Auckland, so there's no one-way fee, and squeeze in most of what the North Island is famous for: dolphins in the Bay of Islands, sea caves on the Coromandel, glowworms underground at Waitomo, geysers and hāngī in Rotorua, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the best day hike in the country. Drives are short, the scenery changes every few hours, and there's a hot pool at most stops.
Vans that suit this trip
Day by day
The plan, stop by stop
Paced for 12 days. Got less time? Merge two stops. Got more? Stay longer wherever you like it; it's your van. Drive times and distances are approximate, from road-routing data, without stops.
- 1
Day 1
Auckland
Photo: Herman Darnel Ibrahi… (Panoramio) · CC BY-SA 3.0 Pick up the van and stock up. Walk up Maungawhau/Mt Eden at sunset to look out over the city's volcanic cones and two harbours.
- 2
Day 2–3
Bay of Islands
3 hrs · 220 km
Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0 Base yourself in Paihia. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where modern New Zealand began, then take a boat out to the Hole in the Rock past 144 islands and resident dolphins.
- 3
Day 4–5
Coromandel
5.5 hrs · 400 km (the long one, back past Auckland)
Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 Walk to Cathedral Cove at Hahei, then time your visit to Hot Water Beach for two hours either side of low tide and dig your own hot pool in the sand.
- 4
Day 6
Waitomo
3 hrs · 220 km
Photo: Donnie Ray Jones · CC BY 2.0 Float through glowworm-lit caves by boat, or go blackwater rafting if you want it wet and dark. Hobbiton at Matamata is an easy stop on the way.
- 5
Day 7–8
Rotorua
2 hrs · 140 km
Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 2.5 Geysers, boiling mud and the smell of sulphur all over town. Book a Māori cultural evening with a hāngī dinner, then soak at the Polynesian Spa or the free Kerosene Creek.
- 6
Day 9
Taupō
1 hr · 80 km
Photo: Avenue · CC BY-SA 3.0 Stand above the roaring Huka Falls, swim in the lake, and soak in the Spa Park hot stream, which is free.
- 7
Day 10
Tongariro
1.5 hrs · 95 km
Photo: Marcus Holland-Moritz · CC BY-SA 2.0 Walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing: 19.4 km over volcanic craters past the Emerald Lakes. Book a shuttle, since it's one-way, and pick a clear-weather day.
- 8
Day 11–12
Raglan → Auckland
3 hrs · 240 km, then 2 hrs · 150 km to Auckland
Photo: новичёк · CC BY 3.0 Finish on the west coast at Raglan, the surf town with a famous long left-hand break, black-sand beaches and good coffee. Return the van in Auckland.
Good to know
- Where to sleep
- Holiday parks, Department of Conservation campsites, and freedom camping on council land if your van is certified self-contained.
- One-way fee
- None. You pick up and drop off in Auckland.
- Driver age
- Most operators need drivers aged 21+. A few take 18–20 year olds with a young-driver surcharge; tell us the youngest driver's age and we'll quote what fits.
- Recommended vans
- Best fits: the hi-top campervan; the motorhome and the 2-seater, 2-sleeper. Tell us how many of you are travelling and we'll match the size.
Free and low-cost places to park up on this route, with the local rules: free camping in New Zealand.
- To freedom camp on council land in New Zealand, your van must be certified self-contained with a fixed toilet. Most hire campers are; we'll confirm for your van.
- Holiday parks cost NZ$25–$60 a night, and Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites are cheaper and more scenic. Download the CamperMate app.
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing weather turns fast. Check the forecast the night before and keep a spare day in case you need it.
- Auckland to Auckland means no one-way fee. Want to keep going south? Add the Interislander ferry and we'll quote it as one hire.
Tours worth adding
Boats, reefs, islands and 4WD tracks. Add them to your quote and we'll fit them around your drive.
North Island loop campervan FAQs
How many days do you need for a North Island loop in a campervan? +
Allow 10–16 days. This plan is paced for 12 days with 8 overnight bases. Short on time? Merge two stops. Got longer? Stay on wherever you like it.
Is there a one-way fee for a North Island loop? +
No. You pick up and drop off in Auckland, so there's no one-way fee.
How old do I need to be to hire a campervan? +
Most operators require drivers to be 21 or older. A few accept 18 to 20 year olds with a young-driver surcharge. Tell us the youngest driver's age in the quote form and we'll only quote vans you can drive.
Which campervan suits a North Island loop? +
The best fits are the hi-top campervan; the motorhome and the 2-seater, 2-sleeper. Tell us how many of you are travelling and we'll quote the right size.
Ready to drive North Island loop?
Pop in your dates and see live prices from the big campervan companies for this route, then book online in minutes.
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