Adding Northland to a Longer Campervan Trip Around New Zealand

Quick summary: Many campervan and motorhome travellers start a longer New Zealand journey in Auckland and head south straight away, missing Northland altogether. Because the north is a dead end with no rental depots, the trick is to treat it as a loop out of Auckland, at the start or end of the trip, before continuing south. Three to seven days is enough to add the Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga and the kauri forests to a trip around the rest of the country.

At a glance
Where Northland fits	A loop out of Auckland, at the start or end of a longer trip
Days to add	3 days for the Bay of Islands, 5–7 for the far north and the west coast
Extra driving	Around 480 km for a short trip, around 1,000 km for the full loop
Rental depots in Northland	None; pick up and drop off in Auckland or further south
One-way options	Auckland to Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown
Best for	Travellers on a trip of two weeks or more

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Why add Northland to a longer trip?

Because it shows a side of New Zealand you won’t find further south. Northland is subtropical, with warm water, white sand beaches, pōhutukawa-lined bays and islands, giant kauri forest and some of the country’s most important historic sites, including Waitangi, where the nation’s founding document was first signed. It feels quite different to the volcanoes of the central North Island or the mountains of the South Island, and it’s the easiest region of all to reach from Auckland’s international airport.

Should you do Northland at the start or the end of your trip?

Either works, but each has advantages:

• At the start: Northland’s main roads are a gentle introduction to driving a campervan, and the Bay of Islands makes a relaxing place to recover from a long flight. You return through Auckland and continue south.
• At the end: if you’re finishing your trip in Auckland, a Northland loop is a lovely last week by the beach before you return the vehicle and fly home.

If your trip is one-way from Auckland to the south, do Northland first, since you won’t come back through Auckland.

How many days should you add?

Days	What you can see	Itinerary
3	Paihia, Waitangi, Russell and a cruise	3 days to the Bay of Islands
5	The Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga and the Hokianga	5 days with the far north
7	The full Twin Coast loop	7-day Twin Coast loop
10	Every corner of Northland	10 days of complete Northland

Can you do a one-way RV hire that includes Northland?

Yes, as long as the one-way part starts or ends in Auckland. Northland has no rental depots, so you’d pick up in Auckland, loop north, return through the city and continue south to drop the vehicle in Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown, or the other way round. One-way hires can carry extra fees or minimum hire lengths, so compare the options. If you’re crossing to the South Island, the ferry between Wellington and Picton is a separate booking.

• Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Wellington
• Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch

How does Northland link with the rest of the North Island?

From Auckland, the main routes south lead to the Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo’s glow-worm caves, Rotorua’s geothermal parks, Lake Taupō, Tongariro National Park and Wellington. For itineraries across the rest of the country, see our sister site’s North Island 14-day campervan itinerary and the four-week whole of New Zealand itinerary.

Is there a way to see Northland without the extra driving?

Yes. If you’re short of time, you can base yourself in Paihia for a few nights and use tours to see the rest. A Cape Reinga coach tour covers the top of the country and Ninety Mile Beach in a day, and kauri forest tours visit the giant trees. See all the Bay of Islands tours you can take from your campervan.

What should you think about when planning?

• Season: Northland is pleasant all year, with its warmest, busiest time in summer. See our guide to Northland weather and seasons.
• Booking campsites: popular sites in the Bay of Islands and the far north fill up in peak periods.
• Rental terms: some Northland roads and beaches are commonly excluded from rental agreements. See unsealed roads and Ninety Mile Beach.
• Auckland traffic: plan to pass through the city outside the busiest commuting periods. See our Auckland pickup guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions