Adventure & Luxury: 10 Days On New Zealand's North Island

Once you've gotten over your jetlag at your Auckland hotel, it's time to see the city. Depart your hotel and eat breakfast if you haven't already (I can get that included in your stay as a perk at select properties!).

Viaduct Harbor has many delicious restaurants, plus lovely views of the water and all the boats. For more beautiful sights, head up One Tree Hill or even take a trip over to Rangitoto, Auckland's youngest volcano aged only 600 years old. Tie it all off with a stroll through Britomart and Queen's Street, where you can shop until you drop.

Spend your 2nd or 3rd day in Auckland on a day trip to the gorgeous Coromandel. Unfortunately, beautiful Cathederal Cove is closed through Summer 2024 due to storm damage, but other attractions are open. Hot Water Beach is a must-visit where you can dig up sand and create your very own hot springs right on the beach. Just be sure to visit two hours on either side of low tide so you can find the hot water. If you're looking for something different, the Coromandel's home to amazing beaches like Hahei, Cook's, and New Chum among many others.

Drive from Auckland just a few hours south to Rotorua, an adventure and cultural hotspot. Visit Whakarewarewa Village, where the Tuhuorangi Ngati Wahiao people have shared their culture since the 1800s. You can tour the village, walk geothermal trails, and view cultural performances here with either a day pass or individual tickets.

If you're in need of adrenaline, then you're in the right place. Velocity Valley has 6 different thrill activities that'll get your heart pumping like their human swing and acrojet. Or visit iconic Zorb Rotorua. What the heck is zorbing? Rolling down hills in a giant inflatable ball, including the option to zorb down the longest, steepest, and fastest zorbing track in the world. Think of it as a really unique water slide.

Top off your day with going to Polynesian Spa, where you can simply sink down and say "ahh...". This lakeside gem has baths of both alkaline and acidic water for different wellness purposes, plus private pools and a day spa.

Bonus: if you have time, I highly recommend Redwoods Nightlights, an experience where you stroll through the forest of 120-year-old redwood trees among lanterns. If you want more time in the trees, visit in the daytime, or go mountain biking through Whakarewarewa Forest with Mountain Bike Rotorua.

Take a boat cruise out on Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, and see the amazing Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay carvings, completed in 1980 by Matahi Brightwell and four other men. After that, get up close and personal with the powerful Huka Falls via jetboat. 220,000 liters, or 5811 gallons of water gush down a ravine in just one second.

If you're a big Tolkien fan, venture to Hobbiton instead! They filmed The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit here, now a big attraction for visitors. Even those who don't have tons of knowledge on the Tolkien movies like myself will love the adorable Green Dragon Inn, lush green landscape, and more.

Today is a longer drive, but it's a scenic one! You'll be spending the next few days at Cape Kidnappers, one of the country's most notable luxury accomodations. Nearby, there's multiple beautiful hiking options like Te Mata Peak, and wine enthusiasts will enjoy being in one of New Zealand's oldest wine regions. Spend your time doing things like having a private beach picnic set up for you, heli-fishing, and experiencing one of the best sanctuaries in the nation, Cape Sanctuary. At the end of your day, catch the sunset from your cozy, farmhouse-style room or suite.

Your trip comes to an end driving from Hawke's Bay to Auckland to fly to your next destination, whether that's back home, onto Australia or another South Pacific country.

Rosewood fans rejoice! Cape Kidnappers and the two other sister Robertson Lodges are joining the Rosewood family as of December 1 2023. That means you can get Rosewood Elite perks when booking with me!