Welcome to the geothermal and cultural heart of New Zealand
With a landscape that encompasses a coastline of black sand beaches, active volcanoes and unique geothermal activity, New Zealand’s North Island is as diverse as it is beautiful.
The island is also home to the country’s cosmopolitan cities of Auckland – the vibrant heart of New Zealand – and Wellington, the trendy capital on the lowest point of the North Island.
In contrast, the Northland and the Bay of Islands are dotted with early colonial towns, quiet coves and clear Pacific waters. Further south, past ancient giant Kauri trees, is New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland of Rotorua: complete with bubbling mud pools, bursting geysers and colourful, steaming lakes.
With natural beauty to spare, the North Island’s hiking trails offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to traverse ethereal landscapes and see the local flora and fauna up close.
The rich rewards of this island extend to luxury lodges, fine wines from Hawkes Bay and Māori cultural experiences that allow you to better understand the local relationship to this fertile heartland.
Highlights
Be welcomed into the spiritual and community hub of a group of Māori families, spending time in their Whare Tupuna ( Ancestral House) and learning about their history
Enjoy a private catamaran adventure as you navigate the waters around Waiheke Island, with snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding and beach breaks along the way
Go on a guided tour to a selection of boutique wineries around Wellington and savour some of the world’s best Pinot Noir
Rosanna Convey
Travel Designer
The North Island is the geothermal and cultural heart of New Zealand. It’s here you can experience a locally cooked meal made underground, or fly over the coast to an active volcano island to explore on foot. The variety of landscapes is incredible: an Art Deco seaside town surrounded by wineries, the remote coves of the Bay of Islands or the breathtaking hikes that make up New Zealand’s greatest walks. The North Island really is the place to experience New Zealands renowned manaakitanga (hospitality in Maori).
Rosanna Convey
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in North Island
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Whatever you want from your North Island tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Where to go
Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
Discover moreBay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
Discover moreCoromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
Discover moreHawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
Discover moreRotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
Discover moreWellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
Discover moreMeet your Australasia team
When to visit
New Zealand is a year-round destination. In summer visit the beaches and explore the country’s National Parks. Spring is a mild time of year to travel and the countryside comes to life. In winter the South Island is a playground for outdoor adventures and epic scenery. Autumn sees cold, crisp days in the South Island and more mild rainy days in the North Island.
Wine Tasting
March–April
Skiing and Snowboarding
June–September
Whale and Dolphin Spotting
Year Round
Plan your trip to North Island
Whatever you want from your adventure in North Island, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon in New Zealand. We had an unbelievable experience with Jacada! They knew amazing places to stay and provided every bit of assistance along the way. We were so happy we didn’t plan this trip alone. We really enjoyed the simple planning process which made us feel like our desires were taken into consideration.
Extremely professional and everything was exceptional
Ellie has done a fabulous job listening to our interests, needs, wants and desires in customizing our Australia/Tasmania/New Zealand itinerary. She has put together a spectacular trip for us. I would highly recommend Ellie and Jacada for your travel needs.
We asked for a trip of a lifetime and Rosanna and Cathy delivered - and more! Our experience of working with Jacada to plan our trip was exceptional. Any questions and amendments/additions were swiftly sorted to make this trip the best holiday we have ever had. As it was planned so well with every detail covered, everything ran so smoothly…
Every detail from the lodging at 5 different stops, to transportation in-between, to recommendations on what to do and planning excursions was handled with absolute precision by Ellie, Cathy and the rest of their team. Cannot recommend working with Jacada, specifically Ellie and Cathy, highly enough. They made it possible for my family to enjoy the trip of a lifetime!!
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.