Central North Island Adventure
Soak up New Zealand’s natural beauty on an adventurous journey through the central regions of the North Island. This itinerary will help you make the most of your trip – it’s packed full of ideas and recommendations on places to stay. It’s easiest to travel through these regions by car, but don’t forget to pack your hiking boots so you can get off the beaten track whenever possible!
Catch A Wave
Here's your chance to learn how to surf at one of the safest surf beaches in New Zealand. Visit website
Hike the Mount
Huff and puff your way to the top of Mt. Maunganui and be rewarded with spectacular views from the top. Visit website.
Relax in Natural Thermal Waters
After a long day of adventuring, you’ll look forward to a long soak in your holiday park’s mineral pools. Visit website.
Tongariro Crossing
Challenge yourself on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, ranked as one of the best treks in New Zealand. Visit website
Waitomo Caves
Get ready to be awed as you journey through subterranean caverns and rivers in Waitomo. Visit website.
Start your trip off with a day in Waihi Beach, a quintessential Kiwi beach town. The area boasts a gorgeous 9-km white sand beach with numerous watersport activities on offer. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to check out the coastline. Waihi Beach is also the perfect place for beginners to learn how to surf. If you’re new to surfing, we highly recommend taking a lesson at Waihi Beach Surf School! If you’re more of a landlubber, there are plenty of hiking and bike trails to help you explore the area’s scenic interior.
Hop in the car and enjoy the short, but scenic drive down to Omokoroa, a small town located on a peninsula that juts into the Tauranga Harbour. Just 20 minutes from Tauranga, Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday Park is the perfect base to explore this region. If you’re into fishing, you’re just a short distance to the wharf, where local anglers love to spend a day in the sun. The holiday park has three natural mineral pools, giving you the perfect place to unwind at the end of the day.
Places To Stay
A trip to Bay of Plenty wouldn’t be complete without a hike to the top of Mt. Maunganui, a favourite with visitors and locals alike. A trip to The Mount can be completed as a day trip from Omokoroa or as a stopping point on your way to Rotorua. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the top of The Mount, with a total elevation gain of 232 metres. If you’re not keen on huffing and puffing your way to the top, you can opt for the base track, which is 3.4km long and takes about 50 minutes to complete. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat in Mt. Maunganui or Tauranga before calling it a day.
Places To Stay
No holiday parks at this location
It’s time to head to Rotorua! With so much to do and see in Rotorua, it’s no wonder it has become one of the tourism hotspots of New Zealand. This is one of the best places to explore the unique geothermal activity of New Zealand and experience our rich Maori culture. There’s a lot to do and see, so you should plan to stay at least two nights. A good place to start your tour of Rotorua is at Whakarewarewa, where you can tour a real Maori village where families have lived for more than 5 generations. You’ll have the chance to view amazing geysers and geothermal pools, while learning about Maori culture and how local tribes have utilised geothermal activity in their daily lives. Rotorua also offers plenty of opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, and other adventure activities. Head to Skyline Rotorua to ride their unique luge track or go on a gondola ride.
Places To Stay
If you’re into natural beauty and adventure activities, then you’ll want to allow a few days in Taupo, a picturesque town located on the shores of Lake Taupo. Spend a day fishing, picnicking or kayaking along the lakefront – or hop on a boat tour and let someone else do the work! If you’re looking to get your adrenaline pumping, bungy jumping and skydiving are very popular options in Taupo. Mountain bikers and hikers won’t get bored here either – the region is home to some of the most spectacular trails on the island.
A very scenic drive along Lake Taupo brings you to Turangi, another lakefront town that’s big on outdoor activities. With a quieter atmosphere than Taupo, Turangi is the place to kick back and enjoy some fishing, swimming or boating. If you visit in the winter, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the finest ski slopes on the North Island. Our holiday park also provides convenient access to the Tongariro Crossing, a 19.4-km trek through New Zealand’s oldest national park. Considered among the very best treks in New Zealand, the journey lets you experience the stunning geothermal landscape and dramatic mountain ranges of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu.
The last leg of the journey will take you through the rich terrain of Waikato’s interior to Otorohanga, which is the perfect base for exploring the world-famous Waitomo Caves. These cave systems were created by underground streams as they carved their way through limestone rock. There are many cave tours available – with options to experience the caves by foot or by boat. Or try blackwater rafting, a unique experience in which you raft through the caves systems, with a little help from a wetsuit and headlamp! If you’re keen to see the elusive kiwi, then don’t miss the Otorohanga Kiwi House, where you can view our famous bird throughout the day.
