New Zealand’s volcanic North island has lots to offer and is unique from NZ’s South Island. It is home to New Zealand two most populated cities, Auckland and Wellington as well as the famous Tongariro Crossing the backdrop to Lord of the Rings, Rotorua and it’s amazing sulphuric bubbling landscapes, the popular Bay of Islands, and Coromandel Peninsula.

View images from New Zealand’s South Island

Tongariro National Park

New Zealand is famous for its four seasons in one day. Trecking the Tongariro Crossing is quite often a perfect example of this. I’ve had to walk through snow blizards and slushy ice cold water (all in the name art!) only to get sunburnt on the way down. The Tongariro Crossing is one of the best day walks out there and has many visitors.

Rotorua

Rotorua is unique in that it is surrounded by boiling pools of mud, colourful silica terraces, grand geysers and a multitude of volcanoes. The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland allows you a moderately safe way to explore this interesting location often visited by film crews and photographers alike.

Opononi, Northland

Opononi on the shore of the amazing Hokianga harbour is sheltered by a massive sand dune.

 

Paekakariki

Located on the Kapiti Coast District, Paekakariki is a stunning black sand beach dotted with thousands of white shells.