Weekend Trips and Getaways From Auckland

The real drawcard in Taupō is its lake; the largest in New Zealand, and a truly spectacular sight. Crystal-clear blue waters are bordered by magnificent cliffs and, in some places, the lake seems so deep you could be left wondering what hides in its inky depths – local Māori certainly did, which is where cultural legend the Loch Ness monster-esque taniwha originates from.

In the wake of a devastating earthquake in the 1930s, Napier was largely rebuilt. The result is an Art Deco-rich city that feels incongruous from the rest of the country’s architecture, but works so beautifully in this seaside setting. Retro facades aside, the city has a thoroughly modern interior, staking its claim as a dining hub in New Zealand. Should all that building ogling get too much, the beautiful beaches are the perfect place to soak up some rays.

The city base perched just behind the harbour from the pristine beaches of Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, Tauranga is a flourishing port town. A growth in population in recent years has afforded the town some serious new restaurant openings, helping to create a vibrant cultural scene in this picture-perfect beach destination.

This much-lauded peninsula is often pinpointed as being home to some of the country’s best beaches – and the masses certainly aren’t wrong. With white sand and crystal-clear water, alongside hidden bays and the infamous Cathedral Cove (you may recognise it from the Chronicles of Narnia films), Coromandel is a destination that epitomises why New Zealand is so often seen as a heaven on earth.

Comprising 140 islands amongst glassy waters, the Bay of Islands is an otherworldly idyll at the top of the North Island. The two main towns in the area are Paihia, and the historical port and whaling town of Russell, which was once referred to as the “Hell Hole of the Pacific”. History buffs should forego the former for the latter, which is filled with colonial houses and some of the oldest structures in New Zealand.