New Zealand is made up of many islands but only two of them are populated. The South Island, while less populated, tends to have more of a draw for tourists due to the wild nature and number of adventure activities that are hosted on that island. The North Island of New Zealand is definitely more populous, containing the two of the biggest cities of the country, Auckland and Wellington. So if everyone is telling you to visit the South Island, is the North Island worth visiting?
Yes! To keep things simple, the South Island and North Island of New Zealand are located on two tectonic plates and this divide makes their landscapes incredibly unique and distinct. While the south island has dramatic mountains, the north island has geothermal formations and activity. In addition, the North Island is significantly warmer than the South Island and this is where the Maori people chose to settle when they first arrived to the land, Aotearoa, over 700 years ago. You can read more about the difference between the two islands in this article but here, we will specifically discuss the offerings of the North Island and why it is worth a visit.
Maori Culture in the North Island
The polynesian people (called the Maori people in New Zealand) originated from Southeast Asia and were expert ocean navigators. They were able to spread to a variety of islands throughout the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and New Zealand or Aotearoa in Maori. Out of the two islands of New Zealand, the Maori people mostly inhabited the North Island because it was much warmer than the south one and it was the first island they landed upon. As a result, today the majority of Maori culture can be experienced on the North Island of New Zealand.
There is a great museum to learn more about this culture and the history of New Zealand in Wellington. You can visit a living community and learn more about the beautiful craftsmanship of the Maori in Rotorua. And you can visit the official treaty grounds in Waitangi where the Maori and European colonizers chose to come together (with debates and controversies that continue today). There are many more places within the North Island of New Zealand where you can learn about the Maori people but the beautiful thing about New Zealand is that their culture is celebrated throughout and there is a greater effort of displaying the Maori history and current culture (this has not always been the case!). Maori culture can mainly be experienced in the North Island.
Tropical Beaches and Unique Sand
Because of the geology of the North Island, the island is full of rainforests and a landscape that has been impacted by old and current geothermal activity. Some beaches have beautiful white sand and are lined with tropical forests. Others are made of black sand and have a unique contrast to the turquoise waters around the island. Who knew that you could come to New Zealand for a quiet beach vacation?
Geothermal Activity
The North Island of New Zealand is part of the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, a chain of seismologically active regions that go around the whole Pacific Ocean. This part of the country has a significant amount of geothermal landscapes, including hot water springs, mud pools, geysers, cones, lava fields, steaming vents, and more. It truly feels other-worldly and can all be explored around Taupo, Rotorua, and the Coromandel Peninsula. If you want to see landscapes that are completely unique and feel like another planet, then you will love the North Island.
One of the Best Day Hikes in the World
Considered one of the best day hikes in the world, the Tongariro crossing takes you to a different world, walking over former volcanic cones, across lava fields, and by geothermal pools of various colors. The hike itself is challenging but manageable but what really sets it apart are the landscapes you walk across. The landscape of the hike constantly changes with beautiful and dramatic views everywhere you turn. And beyond the geothermal landscape, you will also see waterfalls, creeks, and forests, all of which make this a wonderful and challenging hike.
Hobbiton
For Lord of the Ring and the Hobbit fans, all of New Zealand was used to create the world of Middle Earth. However, the most iconic and touristy destination to dive into the Middle Earth world is to visit Hobbiton, the set of the Shire. This is located on a working farm between Rotorua and Auckland. The farm, along with the help of the Lord of the Rings franchise, has continued to maintain the set and build upon it to bring Hobbiton to life for those who visit. You can see hobbit homes from the exterior, walk through the interior of one of their homes, get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn and truly feel like you are visiting a hobbit village. It’s a fun way to see how Peter Jackson, director of the movies, was able to imagine Middle Earth in New Zealand.
Great Cities
The biggest and most important cities of New Zealand are located on the North Island. While not the biggest city, Wellington, is the culture and political center of the country. It is the capital of the country and has a number of museums that discuss the history of the country and celebrate the different people that make up the country. It also has neighborhoods that are emblematic of current culture and vibe, such as the Cuba Street area for a bohemian and artistic neighborhood. And for those who are interested in the movie industry that has become so important in New Zealand, you can visit the creative design and production company, Weta Workshop, which was fundamental to bringing the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit to your movie screen along with other iconic movies.
Auckland is the biggest city in all of New Zealand and is the business center of the country. It is completely different from the rest of the country, given that it has an international metropolitan feel to the city. There are museums here that discuss the history and culture of New Zealand along with experiential tours to learn about the famous national rugby team or Weta Workshop, ferries to a wine region, access to black sand beaches, and more.
