🇳🇿 Ultimate North Island Road Trip (Part 1)

Want an epic 8-day self-drive adventure through geothermal wonders, hidden gems, and Middle-earth magic? Save this guide! 🗺️✨ Day 1️⃣ | Auckland → Hobbiton → Blue Spring → Skyline Rotorua → Redwoods Night Walk 🏨 Stay: Rotorua 📌 Tips: • Hobbiton: Book tickets early—it sells out! 🎟️ • Blue Spring: Just 5-10 mins walk to turquoise waters. 💧 • Skyline Gondola: Ride up for lake views + luge racing! 🚡🎢 • Redwoods Treewalk: Night lights make it pure fantasy. 🌌 Day 2️⃣ | Wai-O-Tapu → Huka Falls → Taupō (Plane McDonald’s!) → Napier 🏨 Stay: Napier 📌 Tips: • Wai-O-Tapu: Arrive by 10am for the Lady Knox Geyser eruption! 🌋 • Huka Falls: Thunderous waters—perfect for long-exposure shots. 📸 • Taupō Lakeside: Snap the iconic McDonald’s plane! ✈️🍟 • Waipunga Falls: Quick stop en route to Napier—hidden roadside gem. 💦 Day 3️⃣ | Napier Art Deco Tour → Wellington 🏨 Stay: Wellington 📌 Tips: • Napier: Step into the 1930s with pastel Art Deco buildings. 🎨 • Bluff Hill Lookout: Panoramic harbor views! 🌊 • Drive to Wellington: Long but scenic—leave by noon. • Mount Victoria: Sunset + city lights = magic. 🌇 Day 4️⃣ | Wellington City Explorer 🏨 Stay: Wellington 📌 Tips: • Cable Car + Botanic Garden: Ride up, wander down. 🚠🌿 • Te Papa Museum: Dive into Māori culture + NZ history. 🖼️ • Coastal Drive: Stop at Point Halswell or Breaker Bay for cliffs-meet-ocean pics! 📸 • Wētā Workshop: LOTR fans, book ahead! 🧙♂️ • Cuba Street: End with food, drinks, and hipster vibes. 🍻 Part 2 coming soon! Days 5–8 cover: 🌋 Tongariro Alpine Crossing (volcano hike!) 🏔️ Three Sisters Rocks ⛏️ Gold-mining towns + L&P soda stops #NZRoadTrip #NorthIslandAdventures #HiddenGemsNZ #Hobbiton #WellingtonTravel #GeothermalWonders #TravelGuide #EpicViews