Ultimate North Island - Hiking New Zealand - 8 days

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Auckland - Tarawera
1 stop
1
Lake Tarawera
Meet your guide and fellow hikers at 7:00am in downtown Auckland and depart south toward Rotorua, with a café stop on route to fortify those who missed breakfast. Rotorua is renowned for its steaming thermal vents, bubbling mud-pools and stunning lakes. The area is also rich in Māori and early European history, including the violent 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption which buried a Māori village. We'll arrive at Lake Tarawera, where we catch the noon water taxi to access the trail's midsection. Here, we hike alongside the clear waters of Lake Tarawera, enjoying the shade that towering tree ferns and ignimbrite cliffs offer. Along the way, you can take a dip in the lake at one of the small pumice beaches. Tonight we stay in open-plan log cabins. Together we prepare our evening meal and settle in for the night. During the evening or the following morning, we'll pack our backpacks, ready for our two-day hike in the rainforest.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Tarawera - Whirinaki
1 stop
2
After packing all our kit we drive east, into the rugged forest ranges of Te Urewera. This is the traditional home of the Tūhoe (Māori tribe) and one of the last places to have been reached by European settlers. By late morning, we'll reach the Whirinaki Forest trail. This is a preserved remnant of the vast forests believed to have covered the supercontinent of Gondwana more than 150 million years ago. Our first hike follows the beautiful Whirinaki River through towering podocarp rainforest up to a forest clearing. Here, a simple kiwi-style backcountry hut stands beside the river. Tonight, we cook dinner together and with time for an evening fire and chat, ease into the wilderness at your pace with the choice to sleep in the hut or camp under the stars.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Whirinaki
1 stop
3
This morning we continue a short distance up the main valley before crossing into a neighbouring river valley using a rougher, lesser-used stream trail. This is Whirinaki at its wildest, with towering forest and few visitors. We often spot whiō (blue ducks) and robins, and hear the distinctive call of the kākā (bush parrot). The route gives a real taste of New Zealand backcountry hiking. We'll stop at a small backcountry hut for a relaxed lunch and a memorable splash down a river section before eventually rejoining the first section of valley we started from yesterday, completing the loop. A 20-minute drive takes us to a cabin on a nearby rural property. Relax after a long day, enjoy a warm shower and unwind by the fire pit, sipping on a beer or wine.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Whirinaki - Whakapapa
1 stop
4
Huka Falls
We start the day with a drive to the Volcanic Plateau and its myriad natural wonders. Explore an extraordinary thermal park, bathe in a natural hot river and view the impressive Huka Falls. Feel the spray here as the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand's longest, plunges 11 metres into a stadium-like pool. Later we arrive at Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake. Incredibly, this 600 square kilometre crater lake was formed in 186AD by the most powerful volcanic explosion in recorded history. At Taupō, we grab our takeaway food and head to a lovely lake-side spot. Here we can relax on the unusual pumice beach and in summer enjoy an evening swim before continuing to our lodge accommodation near Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Tongariro Northern Circuit
1 stop
5
Tongariro National Park is the oldest National Park in New Zealand and the fourth oldest in the world. In 1993, the park became a UNESCO mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Site. Most visitors experience the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, but few explore the more remote and drier east side of this remarkable volcanic landscape as we do. This morning, we'll sort out gear and pack our backpacks ready for our two nights away and late morning, we hike out the door. Heading east, we climb gently through open tussock country and across the saddle between Ruapehu and Ngāuruhoe. The views become increasingly dramatic as we enter the heart of the park. By late afternoon, we have descended to Waihohonu Hut, set beside a quiet stream among pockets of mountain beech forest. Occasionally we hike the Tongariro Northern Circuit in reverse.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Tongariro Northern Circuit
1 stop
6
Today's destination, Oturere Hut is a shorter distance, which gives ample time to explore. Depending on conditions and the group, we may take a more adventurous off-trail hike across ash-moraine ridges and below lava cliffs to a spring or a viewpoint above a remote lake (additional 2-4 hours), or visit the clear waters of Ohinepango Springs (40 min). Enjoy the park's extraordinary landscape of active volcanoes and lava valleys in its three main peaks: Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngāuruhoe. Ngāuruhoe starred as Mount Doom in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. We later traverse across this stony desert to an alpine hut situated on the edge of an old lava flow.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
1 stop
7
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Today, we hike through the moon-like valley of lava flows and ash fields before climbing steeply to the remarkable Emerald Lakes, which have graced the covers of many guidebooks. From here we join the spectacular Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The next few hours of hiking takes us through an unforgettable wonderland of lava valleys, steaming craters and brooding volcanoes before our final descent through bonsai-like alpine foliage and alongside mineral-infused streams. In good conditions, we have the option of climbing high on the volcanic peaks. A short drive takes us back to our lodge in the heart of the National Park, the perfect place to relax with a beer and enjoy million-dollar volcanic views before dining in the alpine village.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Whakapapa - Wellington
1 stop
8
Wellington
Driving south, we leave the volcanoes to descend through the beautiful river valleys of the Rangitikei and along the coast to Wellington, where we arrive mid-afternoon after a café break. Wellington is so much more than just New Zealand's capital. It is also the nation's stylish hub for arts, culture, cafés and politics. Enclosed by hills and a harbour, this compact city has many attractions within easy walking distance. Options include enjoying the National Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa) or watching the political shenanigans of the 'Beehive' (Parliament House). Many visitors immerse themselves in the vibrant café scene and the accessible downtown area.
2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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