18 Best Road Trips from Auckland
Auckland makes a fantastic starting point for so many epic road trips in New Zealand.
From Auckland, you can head north to subtropical beaches, east to the Coromandel’s coastline, south to geothermal landscapes and volcanic national parks, or continue all the way down to Wellington and the South Island.
I live in New Zealand and love nothing more than a good road trip. In this guide, I’m sharing my favourite road trips from Auckland.
Some of these work as easy 1-2 night escapes, while others are better suited to a longer North Island or full New Zealand itinerary.
Short road trips from Auckland (1-2 days)
These short road trips all work as day trips from Auckland, but staying overnight will give you more time to enjoy your gorgeous surroundings.
Auckland to Piha
- Drive time: 1 hour | 41 km
- Best for: black sand beaches, wild west coast scenery, waterfalls and a short escape from the city
Piha is one of the easiest road trips from Auckland if you want to swap the city for wild coastal scenery without driving too far.
Located in the Waitakere Ranges, Piha is known for its dramatic black sand beach and rainforest-covered mountains.
On the way to Piha, Karekare Falls is a worthwhile stop to see one of the prettiest waterfalls near Auckland.
Once you arrive in Piha, go for a walk along the black sands of Piha Beach, which is also a surf spot for experienced surfers (the water can be dangerous here, so I don’t recommend it for swimming unless you’re a strong ocean swimmer).
Near Piha, you’ll also find a couple of the North Island’s best day hikes. Kitekite Falls is a short walk through the rainforest to a beautiful waterfall, and the Mercer Bay Loop Track offers sweeping views over the sea.
Auckland to Matakana
- Drive time: 1 hour | 70 km
- Best for: food, beaches, wineries and breweries, and an easy coastal break
Matakana is a great destination if you want a relaxed road trip from Auckland with beaches, food, and a bit of wine country.
The village of Matakana itself is known for its Saturday farmers’ market, and good places to shop and eat. If you’re visiting on a weekend trip from Auckland, you should definitely plan to visit the market!
But I think the best part of this area is how easily you can combine it with the surrounding coast. Omaha Beach, Tawharanui Regional Park, and Goat Island are all nearby, so you can shape your trip around food, swimming, walks, or snorkelling (or all of these things!).
If you’re a craft beer lover, make sure to visit 8 Wired Brewing in Matakana or Sawmill Brewery near Leigh. And wine enthusiasts won’t want to miss Brick Bay Wines, which also has a beautiful sculpture trail to explore.
Auckland to Mangawhai
- Drive time: 1.5 hours | 100 km
- Best for: beaches, coastal walks, surf and a relaxed Northland feel
Mangawhai is a fantastic place to visit if you want beaches and coastal scenery without needing to drive far from Auckland.
Located in Northland, Mangawhai is a charming coastal town next to Mangawhai Heads, where you’ll find one of the most beautiful beaches in the North Island.
The Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway is a fantastic day hike here, offering up sweeping views over the coastline from a Nikau palm-lined trail.
Just a short drive away from Mangawhai is another stunning beach, Te Arai Beach, which is one of my favourite swimming spots in the warmer months of the year.
If you’re keen to venture a bit further afield, you can also visit nearby Lang’s Beach, the cute coastal town of Waipu, and the incredible Waipu Caves, where you can see glow worms for free.
Auckland to Raglan
- Drive time: 2 hours | 160 km
- Best for: surf beaches, relaxed cafes, west coast scenery and a chilled-out beach town feel
Raglan is a bohemian surf town known for its beautiful black sand beaches and world-class surf breaks.
This is easily one of the best beach towns in New Zealand, with a creative and laidback vibe, good food and coffee, and stunning scenery that invites you to slow down and unwind.
Even if you don’t surf, it’s worth checking out the surfers in action at Manu Bay. Or, if you’re keen to try surfing yourself, you can take a lesson at the gentler Ngarunui Beach, which is also a stellar place for a long beach walk.
Close to town is a gorgeous waterfall walk to Bridal Veil Falls, which I highly recommend visiting while you’re here.
If you’d like to turn your trip into a longer journey, you could make a larger loop by including Waitomo on your trip to or from Raglan.
Further reading: the best things to do in Raglan
3-4 day road trips from Auckland
These routes are great if you have a long weekend-style window or a few spare days at the start of a larger New Zealand itinerary.
Auckland to the Bay of Islands
- Drive time (to Paihia) – 3 hours 10 minutes | 228 km
- Best for: coastal scenery, islands, history, boat trips and a classic Northland road trip
The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular road trips from Auckland, especially for first-time visitors who want coastal scenery, boat trips, and a taste of Northland.
Paihia is the easiest base for most visitors, with lots of accommodation options and access to ferry services and island cruises.
Russell is quieter and more charming (in my opinion), and worth visiting via ferry or as a base if you want somewhere more relaxed.
I also recommend visiting Kerikeri, where you’ll find the historic Stone Store, beautiful Kerikeri River Walk, and plentiful boutique food producers and produce stalls.
While in the Bay of Islands, it’s always fun to get out on the water—taking a ferry or cruise to Urupukapuka Island is a great choice.
If you have time, I also recommend heading a bit further north to tackle a fantastic day hike like the Mahinepua Peninsula Track or Duke’s Nose.
Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula
- Drive time (to Hahei) – 2.5 hours | 175 km
- Best for: golden sand beaches, coastal scenery, summer road trip vibes
The Coromandel Peninsula is, hands down, one of my favourite destinations in the North Island.
Home to some of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches, the Coromandel is the perfect place to visit if you’re a beach lover like I am.
If you’re limited to a couple of days, head straight to Hahei. From here, it’s easy to explore the Coromandel’s top two destinations: Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
And if you have more time to spare, you can see more of the peninsula by driving around it in a loop—a longer Coromandel road trip will allow you to explore cute beach towns, hidden beaches, and coastal walks.
Auckland to Rotorua
- Drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes | 226 km
- Best for: geothermal landscapes, Māori culture, hot pools, forest walks
Rotorua is the North Island’s hub of geothermal activity and Māori culture, and one of the most popular destinations for first-time visitors to New Zealand.
With steam vents bursting from the earth and technicolour geothermal pools that look like they belong on another planet, I’ve never been to another city quite like Rotorua.
On the drive from Auckland to Rotorua, consider making a stop in Matamata to visit Hobbiton, where you can see the filming site for the Lord of the Rings hobbit village.
Another great stop along the way is the Putaruru Blue Springs, a lovely short walk to view a crystal-clear freshwater spring.
Once you arrive in Rotorua, you’ll be spoilt for choice by activity options.
I recommend booking a geothermal park (I like Waimangu Volcanic Valley), and going on an easy walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwoods.
The natural hot pools around Rotorua are also really special, or you can book a commercial hot pool experience like the Polynesian Spa.
When you’re not out exploring, you can enjoy Rotorua’s great food scene—the Fainting Goat does great share platters, and Sabroso is a fantastic spot for Mexican food and margaritas.
Auckland to Tongariro National Park
- Drive time (to Whakapapa) – 4 hours 15 minutes | 360 km
- Best for: volcanic scenery, hiking, alpine landscapes, Lord of the Rings filming sites
If you’re a keen hiker, you’re going to want to put Tongariro National Park on your road trip bucket list.
From Auckland, you can either drive straight to the national park, or break up your drive with an overnight stay in Taupo.
The drive gets especially stunning as you skirt alongside the shores of Lake Taupo and reach the volcanic landscape Tongariro National Park.
While the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the most famous hike in this area, there are also plenty of options for shorter walks. Tama Lakes, Taranaki Falls, and Tawhai Falls are a few of my favourite walks in this area.
Further reading: where to stay near Tongariro National Park
Auckland to Napier & Hawke’s Bay
- Drive time (to Napier) – 5 hours | 412 km
- Best for: food and wine, Art Deco architecture, cycle trails
Napier is a nice road trip from Auckland if you enjoy wine tasting, sunshine, and a relaxed pace.
To get to Napier, you’ll usually drive through Taupo, which is a nice spot for a lunch break or overnight stay.
Napier itself is known for its Art Deco architecture, and the wider Hawke’s Bay region is home to fantastic wineries and a wonderful network of off-road cycling trails.
Further reading: the best things to do in Napier & Hawke’s Bay
Auckland to New Plymouth
- Drive time: 6 hours | 405 km
- Best for: black sand beaches, coastal walks, alpine scenery, surf spots
New Plymouth is an under-the-radar destination in New Zealand, and one I think is well worth a visit.
With black sand surf beaches, great food, and some gorgeous walking and hiking opportunities close by, this is one seriously cool part of the country.
To get from Auckland to New Plymouth, you could either drive straight there, or break up the drive with a detour to Raglan and/or stopover in Waitomo, where you can tour the famous glow worm caves.
Once you arrive in New Plymouth, there are lots of ways to spend your time.
You can go for a walk or hire bikes to explore the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, venture into nearby Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (Egmont National Park) to hike amongst goblin forests, visit Back Beach or Fitzroy Beach for sunshine and waves, and walk through the beautiful Pukekura Park.
When you’re not out exploring, indulge in the great cafe and dining scene around town—I love Bleached for a coffee and bagel, Mrs White for woodfired pizzas, and Shining Peak Brewing for a local craft beer and share plates.
Further reading: the best things to do in New Plymouth & Taranaki
Longer road trips from Auckland (5-7 days)
Auckland to Cape Reinga road trip
- Drive time (without stops) – 5.5 hours | 407 km
- Best for: Northland beaches, remote coastal scenery, subtropical weather
Cape Reinga is New Zealand’s northernmost point accessible to visitors, and it feels like a rite of passage to journey all the way there.
This is a wild, windswept place where you can watch the Tasman Sea meet the Pacific Ocean, and there’s a real edge-of-the-world feeling up this way.
Getting to Cape Reinga requires driving through Northland, and I recommend taking your time.
For the best experience, turn this road trip into a loop by driving up one coast and then down the other. The east coast of Northland has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, while the west coast is home to ancient kauri forests, remote harbours, and rugged coastal scenery.
I recommend an itinerary like this:
- Day 1: Auckland to Mangawhai or Waipu
- Days 2 & 3: Bay of Islands, with a detour to the Tutukaka Coast along the way
- Day 4: Cape Reinga
- Day 5: The Kauri Coast
- Day 6: Back to Auckland
You could easily extend this into a 7-10 day trip with detours to places like Whangarei Heads or the Karikari Peninsula. To shorten the trip, head straight to the Bay of Islands on Day 1 instead.
Auckland to Wellington road trip
- Drive time: 8 hours | 645 km
- Best for: a classic North Island route with geothermal stops, volcanoes, lakes, and city exploring
You can drive from Auckland to Wellington via several different routes, but the most straightforward journey is to head right down the middle of the North Island via State Highway 1.
I recommend breaking up the journey with overnight stays in Rotorua, Taupo, and/or Tongariro National Park.
For a 5-day trip, this works well:
- Days 1 & 2: Rotorua
- Days 3 & 4: Tongariro National Park
- Day 5: Wellington
This gives you time for geothermal scenery and forest walks in Rotorua, followed by volcanic landscapes and hiking in Tongariro National Park before continuing south to Wellington.
That said, if you only have time for one overnight stop along the way, Taupo is the best place to break up the drive. It’s roughly in the middle of the route and offers lake views, hot pools, Huka Falls, and plenty of good places to eat.
Once you arrive in New Zealand’s windy, beautiful capital city, you’ll be spoilt for choice on how to spend your time.
There are so many things to do in Wellington, including visiting the wonderful Te Papa Museum, hiking up Mount Victoria for harbour views, and taking the iconic red cable car up to the Wellington Botanic Garden.
Further reading: how to spend one day in Wellington
North Island road trip itineraries from Auckland
These loop itineraries start and end in Auckland, making it easy to fly in and out of the city and hire a car or campervan for your trip.
7-day North Island itinerary
One week is a good amount of time to get a taste of the North Island’s highlights.
With 7 days, I recommend spending your first day or two in Auckland to get your bearings and get over jet lag.
Then hit the road to visit Rotorua and the Coromandel Peninsula before circling back to Auckland.
Further reading: 7-day North Island itinerary
10-day North Island itinerary
A 10-day North Island itinerary gives you ample time to do everything mentioned in the 7-day itinerary above, plus add Tongariro National Park.
This is a great option if you want to see the North Island’s geothermal landscapes, beaches, and volcanoes without feeling rushed.
Further reading: 10-day North Island itinerary
14-day North Island itinerary
Two weeks gives you enough time to visit the North Island’s most popular destinations while also getting a little off the beaten track.
My recommended loop is to first drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, then head south to New Plymouth via Raglan.
From New Plymouth, head to Tongariro National Park for hiking, then loop up to Rotorua and the Coromandel Peninsula before returning to Auckland.
This is honestly such an epic journey: black sand beaches, white sand beaches, rainforest walks, volcanic hikes—you’ll see so many varied landscapes and really get to know the North Island well!
Further reading: 2-week North Island itinerary
New Zealand road trip itineraries from Auckland
If you’re planning a longer New Zealand trip, Auckland can also be the starting point for a full North Island and South Island route.
It’s easy to hire a one-way car or campervan in Auckland to return in either Christchurch or Queenstown, where you can hop on a domestic flight to get back to Auckland.
2-week Auckland to Queenstown road trip
If you have 2 weeks and want to road trip across both islands, an Auckland to Queenstown road trip is the best way to do that.
This is a big, fast-paced New Zealand itinerary, best for travellers who don’t mind moving along most days.
The route gives you a taste of the North Island before crossing to the South Island and continuing to Queenstown through some of New Zealand’s most famous alpine scenery.
Further reading: 14-day Auckland to Queenstown road trip
3-week Auckland to Christchurch road trip
A 3-week Auckland to Christchurch road trip gives you more breathing room than a 2-week Auckland to Queenstown route.
You can take your time in the North Island, cross the Cook Strait by ferry, then do a fishhook-style loop down the South Island’s West Coast to Queenstown and Milford Sound before heading up to Christchurch via Mount Cook.
Further reading: 3-week Auckland to Christchurch road trip
4-week New Zealand itinerary
If you have 4 weeks to explore New Zealand, all I can say is lucky you!
My recommended 4-week route is essentially an extension of my 3-week itinerary, starting in Auckland and ending in Christchurch.
I’ve divided the trip to be about ⅓ North Island and ⅔ South Island, with an epic mix of coastal and mountain scenery.
This is truly the trip of a lifetime—check out my itinerary below for the full route!
Further reading: 4 week New Zealand itinerary
Tips for planning a road trip from Auckland
Don’t underestimate drive times
Distances in New Zealand can look short on a map, but roads are often winding and slower than you’d expect. Allow extra time for stops, viewpoints, and traffic delays.
Consider one-way vs return routes
For shorter trips like the Coromandel or Bay of Islands, and North Island loops, returning to Auckland makes sense.
But for longer trips like Auckland to Wellington or a full New Zealand itinerary continuing to the South Island, a one-way car or campervan rental is the way to go.
Book early in summer
Places like the Coromandel, Bay of Islands, and Northland can get very busy over summer and school holidays. If you’re travelling from the end of December through mid-February, book accommodation or campsites well in advance.
Keep an eye on the weather
The North Island can experience rain, wind, cyclones, and landslides at any time of the year.
Check the weather report before hitting the road (I use Metservice) and if there’s a safety concern, be ready to change up your plans.
Thanks for reading my guide to the best road trips from Auckland!
I truly hope this has helped you plan your trip, whether you’re going on a short North Island escape or a bigger New Zealand itinerary.
As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me—I really love hearing from you!
