Auckland Long Driving Tours

Explore New Zealand's North Island

With all of the North Island to explore, it's often hard to know where to start. We've devised some longer driving tours for those guests arriving at the Scenic Hotel Auckland with between one and two weeks to spend touring. We highly recommend taking as much time as you can to complete these tours, so you can drive safely and see the sights properly, as well as getting in some R&R – after all you are on holiday. See also our advice for driving in Auckland and New Zealand.

Hotel Hopper Tour (7 Days +)

Auckland – Hawke's Bay – Rotorua – Bay of Islands - Auckland
We've dubbed this tour the 'Hotel Hopper' because it starts and finishes at the Auckland Scenic Hotel as well as visiting other Scenic hotels located in the beautiful visitor hotspots of the Hawke's Bay and Bay of Islands regions. (Our staff can assist making rental car and bookings with any of the hotels in our group.)

• Days 1 and 2 - Auckland - Spend some time exploring the city from your base at the Scenic Hotel Auckland and its outlying attractions such as wineries, coastlines and the Hauraki Gulf. See our suggestions for Auckland sightseeing and activities
• Days 3 and 4 - Napier - Spend the day enjoying the scenery as you drive to your Napier hotel and then simply relax in this wonderfully light and sunny place. Napier is in the Hawke's Bay, a region famed as a 'foodie' destination with world-class wine and food, wineries and farmers' markets, plus heritage trails, art décor, water parks and the world's largest gannet colony.
• Day 5 - Rotorua - Heading away from Napier, we suggest a stop in Rotorua, famous for its geo-thermal landscape of geysers and boiling mud pools. Also a great place to experience a Maori cultural evening of dance, song and food.
• Days 6 / 7 - Paihia, Bay of Islands – Leaving Rotorua early, seven hours drive north will see you arrive in one of the North Island's most beautiful areas, the Bay of Islands. Famous for game fishing, island cruises, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, Maori culture, hiking, gourmet restaurants, waterfalls (Haruru Falls) and golden sand beaches. If you have the time, why not stay a bit longer at our Paihia hotel.
• Final Day – Auckland – Welcome back to the Scenic Hotel Auckland where we hope you can enjoy more of our beautiful city before you head home.

Scenic Hotel Group: North Island Tour (14 Days)

Auckland – Hawke's Bay – Rotorua – Waitomo Caves - Bay of Islands - Auckland
Enjoy the highlights of New Zealand's North Island including the beautiful beaches of the Hawke's Bay, Bay of Islands and Coromandel regions, unique limestone caves of Waitomo, geothermal landscapes of Rotorua and Auckland city. Our staff can help you with rental vehicle, tour and activity bookings as well as bookings for any of the hotels in our group.

• Days 1 and 2 - Auckland - Spend some time exploring the city from your base at the Scenic Hotel Auckland and its outlying attractions such as wineries, coastlines and the Hauraki Gulf. See our suggestions for Auckland sightseeing and activities.
• Days 3 and 4 - Coromandel - Head south to the Coromandel region, popular with Aucklanders and out-of-towners for its beautiful beaches. Dip a toe in the ocean at the Hot Water Beach and enjoy the stunning Cathedral Cove and Hahei Beach.
• Days 5 and 6 - Napier - Enjoy the scenery as you drive south to your Napier hotel and then simply relax in this wonderfully light and sunny place. Napier is in the Hawke's Bay, a region famed as a 'foodie' destination with world-class wine and food, wineries and farmers' markets, plus heritage trails, art décor, water parks and the world's largest gannet colony.
• Days 7 and 8 - Rotorua - Leaving Napier, stay in the Rotorua region famous for its geo-thermal landscape of geysers and boiling mud pools. Also a great place to experience a Maori cultural evening of dance, song and food. Fishing enthusiasts will love the many trout fishing opportunities.
• Day 9 – Waitomo - Head to Waitomo in the central Waikato to visit the famous limestone caves, home to unique glowworms. The glowworms are only found in New Zealand and are best viewed by boat or by a 'black-water' rafting experience – an exhilarating abseiling, jumping and floating adventure for all ages.
• Days 10, 11 and 12 - Paihia, Bay of Islands – A fairly long, but scenic drive north will see you arrive in one of the Bay of Islands. Famous for game fishing, island cruises, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, Maori culture, hiking, gourmet restaurants, waterfalls (Haruru Falls) and golden sand beaches. You may want to stay longer at our resort-style Paihia hotel.
• Final Day – Auckland – Welcome back to the Scenic Hotel Auckland where we hope you can enjoy more of our beautiful city before you head home.

See also our suggestions for shorter driving tours leaving from Auckland.

Bookings

The staff at Scenic Hotel Auckland can assist with booking rental vehicles, activities and accommodation at any of the hotels in our group.