Auckland, aka the City of Sails, is a wonderful city to visit. Full of fantastic beaches, two gorgeous harbours, and world-class attractions like the iconic Sky Tower, you’ll definitely need at least three or four days to properly take them all in.
But if you have a little more time at your disposal, you should consider doing a road trip, as there are plenty of places within a three-hour drive of it that you can explore over the course of a weekend.
Need some inspiration on where to go?
In this post, we’ll highlight seven recommended destinations to pencil into your itinerary.
Destinations
The destinations outlined below have been presented in order of the nearest to the furthest from Auckland.
All of them will require driving, so if you have flown into the city and need a vehicle, here are some Auckland City Car Rentals deals to get you started.
1. Mangawhai Heads
Mangawhai Heads is perhaps best summed up as being ‘a little out of the way, a lot out of the ordinary.
If you enjoy visiting remote destinations that are off the well-trodden path, you’ll love exploring this area, which boasts terrific surf, gorgeous beaches and wonderful bush and coastal walks.
Around the town itself, you’ll also find funky cafes, cool local markets, exceptional artworks and a fantastic selection of artisanal produce to take back with you.
Driving Time: (1 hour 30 mins)
2. Hamilton
Hamilton is just over 90 minutes from Auckland and is a lovely place to visit in its own right or on a longer trip south to Rotorua or Taupo.
Situated on the banks of the Waikato River, which meanders through the city, Hamilton is a beautiful city to explore on foot or by bike. At the same time, its vibrant centre of Victoria Street is full of cafes, restaurants and bars that are perfect for people-watching.
Probably the main attraction in the city, though, is the Hamilton Gardens, which include several themed gardens, including Japanese and Italian. Additionally, the Waikato Museum is also notable, as it displays Maori artefacts and art.
Driving Time: (1 hour 35 mins)
3. Raglan
If you are into surfing, you’ll want to head to Raglan, which is considered the best spot in New Zealand for riding the waves.
Even if you are not into the swell, you’ll find plenty of other things to do in the relaxed coastal town to occupy your time. Most notably, this should include visiting the black volcanic sands at Ngarunui Beach and checking out the stunning cascade at Bridal Veil Falls.
For those feeling a bit more adventurous, Karioi offers the opportunity to climb to the summit of the volcano.
Driving Time: 2 hours
4. Whangarei
Despite being the Northland region’s capital, Whangarei is a place many tourists tend not to visit other than to use as a stop-off point to the Bay of Islands.
However, if you take the time to get to know the place, you’ll find it to be somewhat of a hidden jewel. Its many attractions include the stunning Mount Parihaka, beautiful Whangarei Falls, and a charming town basin area full of galleries, cafes and shops.
Overall, it is a lovely place to spend a weekend away from Auckland, providing you with a nice change of pace.
Driving Time: 2 hours 6 mins
5. Whitianga
The Coromandel Peninsula should be on every tourist’s North Island itinerary and one of the best places to visit there is Whitianga.
It will take you just over 2.5 hours to get there from Auckland, but it makes a terrific base for checking out places like Hot Water Beach, Hahei, New Chums Beach and Cathedral Cove.
Such is the beauty of this area that when you travel around it, you’ll quickly see why many people say it is one of the best spots in the whole of New Zealand.
Driving Time: 2 hours 35mins
6. Matapouri
If you head up the coastline a bit more north from Mangawhai you’ll come to Tutukaka Coast and Matapouri Bay. Both are sure to dazzle you with the site of sensational white sandy beaches that you’ll want to spend hours on.
This place is never too busy, so there is a good chance you will have a big stretch of it to yourself.
Should you happen to be there at sunrise, you will be treated to some amazing dusk colours, while at low tide, the stunning Mermaid Pools will captivate you with their clear waters. Either way, make sure you have your camera ready. You’ll want to spam your Insta-wall.
Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins
7. Rotorua
As it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, Rotorua is somewhere you should make a point of visiting.
It will take you about three hours to drive there from Auckland, so you might need to pack for an overnight city trip. But it is definitely worth the effort to do so.
The area is a geothermal wonderland full of sites that will ‘WOW!’ you, including the Champagne Pools at Wai-O-Tapu and the geyser at Te Puia – two must-see attractions.
Elsewhere, the city is renowned for being the North Island’s epicentre for adventure activities. So, you might want to take the opportunity to seek some thrills by mountain biking, zorbing, skydiving, or luging.
Driving Time: 3 hours