Don’t know how many days to spend in New Zealand? Struggling to find the perfect route that connects all the main attractions? Not sure where to spend the night or which city to start from? You’ll find all of this—and much more—in this motorhome route around the North Island of New Zealand.
Stop worrying and discover the best places to visit, things to do, and even campsites to sleep at! All guided by two explorers who have spent over two years on the road in New Zealand in a camper van (Marcos: 6 months, Thea: 1 year and 7 months).
Author’s note: This RV route is written in a diary format to make the experience more personal. In reality, we traveled quite slowly, stopping to work in some places and staying for months in others. But more or less, this is the route we followed while traveling together in New Zealand.
Here’s a suggested 12-day motorhome itinerary around New Zealand’s North Island. This route is especially designed for travelers with limited time who want to make the most of their visit.
We’ll assume you have around two weeks in New Zealand, and you’ve decided to focus solely on one island. Keep in mind that just flying to and from New Zealand (say, from Spain) will take at least two days—so remember to factor that in.
This itinerary also works well if you plan to visit the entire country. In that case, after returning to Auckland, you can catch a domestic flight—perhaps to Christchurch—and rent another camper van to explore the South Island.
Finding the campervan was easy. We met the rental company (which we booked two months in advance) just outside the airport. We spent our first day exploring Auckland without diving too deep into the city center, and along the way, we stocked up on essentials—canned food, pasta, eggs, and plenty of vegetables.
Thanks to the CamperMate app, we also found a public water source to fill up the campervan’s water tanks. In the evening, we headed to Piha Beach and camped at a lovely site near the shore.
| Camping | Piha Camping Ground |
| Kilometers traveled | 40 km |
| Driving hours | 1 hora |
Our second day started early, as we had a long drive north toward Northland. We made a couple of scenic stops along the way to Paihia: Waipu Cave and the Whangarei Falls.
We arrived in Paihia shortly after midday and explored the culturally significant Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Later, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Fish and Chips restaurant in Mangonui and then camped just north of Paihia.
| Camping | Waitangi Holiday Park |
| Kilometers traveled | 262 km |
| Driving hours | 4 h |
Another day on the road, but this time with beautiful sunshine. We made our way from Paihia past the Karikari Peninsula—eager to reach Cape Reinga.
It was absolutely worth it. Though the sun began to fade by mid-morning, we still had time for some great photos. Our next stop was Ninety Mile Beach, where we tried sandboarding. Later, we camped near Ahipara.
| Camping | Ahipara Holiday Park |
| Kilometers traveled | 368 km |
| Driving hours | 5 h |
This was a full day of driving—necessary if you want to explore the North Island in under two weeks. So, we left Ahipara early and drove all the way to Thames.
Fortunately, the drive was broken up by several amazing stops, especially Waipoua Kauri Forest, where we saw enormous trees rising from waterlogged ground. That night, we stayed in a hotel in Thames—we were exhausted after so many hours on the road.
| Camping | Waiotahi Valley Lodge |
| Kilometers traveled | 505 km |
| Driving hours | 7h 15 min |
We woke up full of energy, excited for one of the most anticipated hikes of our itinerary: the Pinnacles Walk. This trail took us through nature and led to some incredible views. We were lucky—the sun stayed out the whole time.
We camped at the trailhead that night because we were completely wiped out.
| Camping | Port Jackson Campsite |
| Kilometers traveled | 20 km of route |
| Driving hours | 30 min |
One of the highlights of our New Zealand motorhome route. Cathedral Cove did not disappoint—we fell in love with it the moment we saw it from a distance. We joined a kayak tour with a local guide, which made the experience even more immersive.
After such a wonderful adventure, we drove to Mt Maunganui, where we camped for the night—after enjoying a refreshing swim at the famous Waihi Beach.
| Camping | Mount Greens Carpark |
| Kilometers traveled | 238 km |
| Driving hours | 4 h 15 min |
We got up early for a packed day of activities and were greeted by good weather. First, we visited Rotorua, where the smell of sulfur surprised us—but the geothermal activity was absolutely fascinating. Then we headed to the Green and Blue Lakes. True to their names, their watercolors were just as described—almost as if they were named on purpose!
Next, we drove to Lake Tikitapu o Tekapo to restock supplies and have a lakeside picnic—so peaceful! We finished the day with a drive to National Park Village, excited for what awaited us the next day.
| Camping | Mangahuia Campsite |
| Kilometers traveled | 153 km |
| Driving hours | 2 h 30 min |
Another day entirely dedicated to hiking. This time, none other than the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing—a route that took us around 8 hours and left us completely amazed. The volcanoes, the rugged terrain, the lakes, and the constant presence of Mt. Ruapehu in the distance made for a truly unforgettable experience.
Since the trail is one-way, we had to take a shuttle bus back to our campervan.
This journal entry is being written under the light of the moon and stars, at the same campsite as the night before. Sounds more romantic that way, doesn’t it?
| Camping | Mangahuia Campsite |
| Kilometers traveled | 17 km ruta |
| Driving hours | 10 min to start of route |
What better way to relax after a long hike than with a long drive? That’s exactly what we thought as we left our campsite near Tongariro National Park and headed toward New Zealand’s capital: Wellington.
We stopped briefly in Taupo and then in Napier to restock our supplies. Luckily, we arrived in Wellington early enough to explore a few parks near our campsite.
| Camping | Paekakariki Holiday Park |
| Kilometers traveled | 463 km |
| Driving hours | 5h 50 min |
Wellington is amazing—and Te Papa Tongarewa museum absolutely won us over. It’s the best museum I’ve ever visited! We learned so much and followed it up with a stroll along Cuba Street. Of course, we ended up buying some clothes and enjoying several delicious coffees.
As evening approached, we left the capital and drove to Whanganui, excited to explore its vast native forests. The highlight of the day was the fascinating Bridge to Nowhere, completely surrounded by untouched nature. We spent the night near the beach, falling asleep to the soothing sound of the waves.
| Camping | Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park |
| Kilometers traveled | 194 km |
| Driving hours | 2 h 30 min |
We had two options: wake up early, drive straight to Mt. Taranaki, and do a few short hikes—or take an extra day, follow a longer trail, and stay overnight in a hut near the mountain. In the end, we chose the shorter option since the weather wasn’t great, and we were running out of time.
It turned out to be a great decision. We still got to admire the majestic volcano and even had time to enjoy the scenic coastal drive. We spent the night at one of the many free campsites near New Plymouth.
| Camping | Pukeiti Domain |
| Kilometers traveled | 170 km |
| Driving hours | 2 h 15 min |
Our final day on the road in our North Island campervan adventure. Like the day before, we woke up early and began heading north. We were actually in a bit of a rush—we had a tour booked at Hobbiton for midday. Luckily, with two drivers, we made it just in time!
Hobbiton did not disappoint. From the tiny houses and charming gardens to Bilbo’s home and the Green Dragon Inn, everything was magical! Of course, being fans of The Lord of the Rings definitely helped.
On our way back to Auckland, we squeezed in a visit to the incredible Waitomo Caves—huge, cathedral-like caverns filled with stalactites. We reached our hotel in Auckland by evening, officially marking the end of our campervan journey around the North Island of New Zealand.
| Camping | BK hostel |
| Kilometers traveled | 426 km |
| Driving hours | 5 h 30 min |
As we’ve seen, this motorhome route around New Zealand’s North Island lasts approximately 12 days. This is really the minimum amount of time needed to enjoy the trip and be able to say you’ve truly experienced this part of the country. Twelve days in New Zealand may feel like a lot, and they are—but they also come at a cost.
A round-trip flight to Auckland will likely set you back around €1,500 per person. Of course, this depends heavily on when you book and your luck. Personally, my flight to New Zealand cost me €650, involved three stopovers, and took 38 hours.
Food for 12 days will cost around €200, assuming you cook all your meals in the campervan or at campsite kitchens (the advantage of having a mobile kitchen!). As for accommodation, sleeping in the campervan is very affordable. You can expect to pay about €10 per night, totaling around €120. If you stay in hostels or hotels, you’ll need to budget a bit more.
As for the campervan itself, I’ve written a separate article about how to rent one, but in general, you can expect to pay around €40 per day for a van that fits two people—roughly €500 in total, or €250 per person. Fuel will cost around €150 for the entire route.
In total, expect to spend around €2,200, not including extras like kayaking, skydiving, and other fun activities. hehehe
