Auckland Day Trip Ideas

Ferry Trip From Auckland

Ferry to Waiheke Island Auckland has so many islands to explore with easy commuter ferries leaving from the harbor. We decided on Waiheke island because of its beauty. You don’t have to buy tickets in advance since the ferries run frequently and the ride was a joy in itself. Once on the island take the bus right from the terminal to Oneroa Beach. Take your time and make your way to get lunch at Little Oneroa Takeaways (get the fish and chips!) and then talk the trail to Fisherman’s Rock for stunning views!

Road Trips From Auckland

Day Trip 1: The Coromandel Peninsula

Donut Island This whole area is a must see while on the north island. Wake up early because there is so much to see, rent a car, and set your destination for Whangamata. Here you will rent kayaks and paddle out to the amazing Whenuakaura island with an oasis in the center, aptly named Donut Island! This is worth the road trip alone and was one of my favorite sights in New Zealand. Rent kayaks from Whenuakaura - Donut Island Kayak Tours and they will bring the kayaks to the beach for you. We had the sea to ourselves and paddled straight out to Donut Island. Once there you will see a little sliver in the island where you can paddle through a cave into the most magical cove on the inside! True paradise!

Hot Water Beach Now hop back in your car and head further north to another bind blowing destination - Hot Water Beach! As the name suggests, the water running right beneath the sand is very hot! People bring their own shovels here (we did not) and dig their own private hot tub right in the sand. We had fun trying different holes that people dug before us and talking to people from all over the world who were also trying to find their perfect spot. Some of the water us extremely hot and some is cooler so have fun trying them all out!

Cathedral Cove I told you that you will need to get on the road early, because there is still one more epic stop! Keep going north from Hot Water Beach and park near the Cathedral Cove viewing deck. Parking was a bit scarce for us so we parked on the road further down. There are tons of trails here leading you to different beautiful coves. Its a beautiful easy walk so take your time and stop where you can. We loved Stingray Bay because it was less crowded and the water was perfect. You can snorkel here as well! Cathedral Cove is stunning, you will approach a big cave like arch that you can walk through and admire with a gorgeous beach and rock formation on the other side. Wow is New Zealand gorgeous!

Day Trip 2: Hobbiton and The Blue Springs

Hobbiton Tolkien and Lord of the Rings fans already know that New Zealand is the official setting of Middle Earth, but even if you aren’t a fan this is still a well worthy stop on your New Zealand adventure. Head out into pastural bliss with rolling green hills and sheep and find yourself transported into The Shire. Get your tickets from Hobbiton Tours in advanced! Hobbiton is so well done and the tour is amazing full of fun facts about the films and movies. You end your tour with a well earned pint at the Green Dragon Inn!

Blue Springs (Palururu) Now you must be thinking, ok those are the top sights of New Zealand and the rest won’t be as impressive, but you’d be oh so wrong. The Blue Springs is a natural spring that flows down a winding slow river through picturesque green hills. The water is crystal clear with big vibrant green plants swaying in the current, its mesmerizing to watch. Walking along the path following the spring makes you feel like you went back in time and a T Rex will pop out of the giant ferns at any moment. Trust me this is a must see while on the North Island.

Daytrip 3: Piha’s Black Sand Beach and KiteKite Falls

Piha Black Sand Beach Now you will be heading due west on the North Island towards the surfing paradise Piha. It was wild to me how different the ocean was on this side of the island with big waves and a rocky coastline compared to the turquoise waters of the Coromandel Peninsula. Piha is a perfect surf town with adorable surf shops and laid back vibes. The Black Sand Beach is really amazing to see and exploring some of the tidepools was cool. We climbed to the top of Lion Rock on the beach which holds a lot of importance to the Maori natives.

KiteKite Falls There is something about a beautiful waterfall that doubles as a swimming hole. This stop is a short drive away from Piha. Once there hit the trail straight up to the top of Kite Kite Falls and you will be blissfully awarded with a picture perfect aqua blue swimming hole at the top! I was so hot after climbing straight up and jumping in felt amazing. The swimming hole pools a good distance away from the start of the falls but definitely check your conditions before you plunge in, you are at the top of a waterfall after all! You can walk closer but be super careful for slippery rocks to see the edge of the falls. Once we got out we saw a big fresh water eel emerge to say hi! They are frightened of people so he did not bother us but it was cool to see him! We climbed back down to the base of the falls to actually see what we were above and took a dip there as well. Highly recommend this hike!

Want to add more to your plan? Check out the perfect 2 week New Zealand Itinerary!