Top Things to do in North Island
Top Hotels in North Island
Top 10 Things to do in North Island, New Zealand
Discover the best top things to do in North Island, New Zealand including Waimarino Adventure Park, SkyTower, Tamaki Maori Village, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Museum, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Huka Falls tracks, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Te Puia, Karekare Beach.
Restaurants in North Island
1. Waimarino Adventure Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 709 reviews
Waimarino Adventure Park is situated on the banks of the Wairoa River just 10 minutes from Tauranga city. This tranquil paradise is based around the sport of kayaking and over the past 35 years, Waimarino has become Tauranga’s premier kayaking & recreation location. Waimarino Adventure Park has New Zealand's only kayak slide, The Blob, kayaks, rock climbing, diving boards, Italian Pedallos and plenty more. Grab your swimwear and visit us for a great day of action & fun.Waimarino Kayak Tours offer a great range of kayak tours in Tauranga & Rotorua region including magical glow-worm experiences, fantastic scenery, lake-edge thermal hot pools, catering and transport.Enjoy light refreshments & NZ wine on the edge of Lake McLaren at sunset, surrounded by the ducks &swans. Glide across the calm waters at twilight, before entering our enchanting glow-worm canyon. Our glow-worm kayak tour is truly unique, and a fantastic ‘must do’ experience while in NZ. This glow-worm kayak tour experience is not available in any other location globally. ONLY in Tauranga!Enjoy our kayak tour on scenic Lake Rotoiti, paddle past pohutakawas, (NZ’s Christmas tree) cascading native bush& abundant birdlife along the lake edge. Classic kiwi holiday homes nestle amongst the cliffs & coves. Enjoy the myths and legends of the Maori people linked to Lake Rototiti, before entering the glow-worm cave. Cross the lake to the Manupirua natural thermal hot-pools to relax and reflect on your exhilarating experiences.Please see our website for more information about our park and kayak tour options.
Reviewed By stitches2016 - West Sussex, United Kingdom
Had a brilliant evening!! Cheese and wine on arrival by the river. Then we kayaked along stunning vegetation and trees into some caves to see the glow worms and on our return journey we were fortunate enough to have a full moon to light our way back in the stillness of the evening with occasional night sounds of birds! A very memorable experience.
2. SkyTower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,422 reviews
Auckland's SkyTower is the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, this tower is more than 300 metres high. Offering stunning views, along with award winning restaurants, a gift shop and an opportunity to push your limits by walking the outside of the viewing platforms, or by jumping off from 192 metres above Auckland's CBD. Off Peak Season - (1st May - 31st Oct) 9:00am - 10:00pm daily - Last tickets sold at 9:30pm Peak Season - (1st Nov - 30th Apr) Sun - Thurs: 8:30am - 10:30pm - Last tickets sold at 10:00pm Fri & Sat: 8:30am - 11:30pm - Last tickets sold at 11:00pm
Reviewed By LachmiPunjabi - New Delhi, India
Visit the Sky Tower in Auckland for an awesome view of the city and harbour.The ride in the lift to the top floor is amazing with the glass floor mesmerising anyone who looks down. The 360 degrees view of the tower is magnificent and the money is totally worth it.
3. Tamaki Maori Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,404 reviews
Tamaki Māori Village – Evening Cultural Experience. New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Experience! Experience an evening of ceremonial ritual, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting. Share in the Powhiri, our ancient ceremony of welcome before entering our pre-European Māori Village nestled within a native Tawa Forest. The village comes alive with sights, sounds & activity of days gone by including haka, poi, tattooing, weaving, carving and arts of warrior training. You will have the opportunity to participate in these activities. Witness the earth being scraped away from the hāngi pit to reveal baskets of food cooked beneath the ground on hot stones. Enter the ancestral meeting house and enjoy a powerful cultural performance before dining the traditional hāngi buffet feast!
Reviewed By rhigr - London, United Kingdom
From the minute Hone picked me up it was phenomenal, the whole drive there our guide, Liam, was warm and funnny as well as informative, and the experience of walking around and learning about Maori culture was unforgettable! I’m also a veggie and was amply provided for - would highly recommend, well worth a visit
4. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,040 reviews
Experience the whole of New Zealand in one building! Te Papa is New Zealand's bold, innovative and interactive national museum. Explore the great treasures and stories of this country, its unique natural environment, Maori culture and taonga (treasures), dynamic art heritage, and its fascinating history. Te Papa is located on Wellington's spectacular waterfront. Open 10am to 6pm every day except Christmas Day. General admission is free.
Reviewed By trishydishy
What a great museum - added bonus of seeing the terracotta warriors and Peter Jackson's marvellous and moving Gallipoli exhibition - saved our trip to Wellington which we found mostly CLOSED!!
5. Auckland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,640 reviews
Discover and experience Maori culture, with daily cultural shows and an internationally significant Maori and Pacific collection to explore, the Auckland Museum is a must see attraction. Housed in an Iconic building within the grounds of a tranquil park, the Auckland Museum is a place to discover and learn about New Zealand's culture and its natural history. Since 1929, the Museum has served as place of remembrance for the many Aucklanders who have sacrificed their lives in war.
Reviewed By justinwL3694KP - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Much prefer from Te Papa great fun more of a world range to look at really nice way to spend a day. Has cafe food and nice tours, never feel to crowded and have plenty of time to look at everything
6. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,651 reviews
"One of the 20 Most Surreal Places in the World" Trip Advisor THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING, explore spectacular nature at New Zealand's most colourful natural volcanic area. Walk at your own pace - view the unique Champagne Pool, Sinter Terrace formations, Steaming Ground, Bubbling Mud, Expansive Vistas, Huge Volcanic Craters. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10.15am. Excellent facilities at modern Visitor Centre. We are a cashless site, accepting all major credit and EFTPOS cards.
Reviewed By C0nstantlyOnTheG0 - Newcastle, Australia
It's nine years since I've been here and this time I returned with more family. Waiotapu is totally unique and offers vistas of bubbling mud pools, the Lady Knox Geyser, craters and an incredible geothermal park. In June 2009, we visited on a blue sky day and the hues of colour were picture perfect for photography; as good as what you see on the website. This time round, we were shrouded in fog and the colours in the park were not at their best. If you're in the area for a couple of days, best to visit when the sun is shining. We spent approximately 2 hours here. The walkways were easy to get around; some were boardwalks, others were dirt track and there were some sections with stairs. If you wish to see the Geyser you need to be there before 10.15am. Waiotapu is approximately 25 minutes south of Rotorua and is a unique place to visit in New Zealand, if not the world.
7. Huka Falls tracks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,294 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By SteveBaldwin-NZ - Hamilton, New Zealand
Really amazing sights and walk, very relaxing walking along the tracks, great facilities and car park too which makes the visit easy. Never get tired of visiting here
8. Auckland Botanic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 368 reviews
"Where ideas grow'. Explore a garden of national significance that can delight, inspire, entertain and relax your senses. The collections of natives and exotics are complimented by lakes, the award winning Potter Children’s Garden and a growing collection of large scale outdoor sculpture by New Zealand artists. Pack a picnic or enjoy lunch at Cafe miko, located in the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre with views out over the gardens. Enjoy the changing centre displays introducing you to the beauty and fascinating facts about plants. View many of our sustainable initiatives from vegetated swales to green roofs. Only 20 minutes from the city or airport Auckland Botanic Gardens is open every day of the year and entry is free.
Reviewed By 196barbl - Dunedin, New Zealand
These gardens are huge and well spaced out. The areas are broken up by particular plant groupings so if you have a particular interest then you can go directly to that area. The edible garden is great as it gives examples of what you can do in your own backyard. The gardens are dog friendly, and dogs are on a lead, however if you or your child is not a dog person then it could be overwhelming. The cafe is reasonably priced with a good selection of food, and if you are just wanting a coffee then you can skip the line and go to the coffee cart at the rear or the other one down by the rose garden.
9. Te Puia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,628 reviews
Te Puia spans 70 hectares within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Valley, on the edge of town. We are home to the world famous Pohutu geyser, to mud pools, hot springs, to silica formations to the Kiwi bird and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. We have shared these treasures with manuhiri (visitors) for 170 years and proudly continue that legacy today.
Reviewed By ruki-de - Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Enjoyed the combo with the guided tour of the craft school, Pohutu geyser, general entertainment, Maori show, the multi-course dinner and hot chocolate back at the geyser after dark. Included pick-up from and return to accommodation.
10. Karekare Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By 1SunLovingCouple
This wild beach is found at the end of a crazy, skinny winding road. But it's worth the insane drive to visit. On the Monday morning we went, there were 3 surfers and a handful of people walking their dogs ... no one else around for miles. We drove into the parking lot without noticing the path in the grass/bush, so we ended up walking on the path that runs from the end of the lot, past the statue, and along the side of the cliff - so no access to the main beach unless you want to get your feet wet (water was fairly deep and we weren't up for it). But that small part is nice too because you're right up against the rocky cliff side and you can get some great photos. This was a gorgeous, secluded area where we felt like we were alone on a whole different planet! There is a waterfall across the street, the path was steep & muddy so we just took photos from the road because you can see it clearly.
