The most beautiful natural sites to discover North Island

If you have to visit only one geothermal site, this is it. Wai-o-Tapu (sacred waters) is New Zealand's Yellowstone. It's featured on every brochure extolling the country's beauty, and its photos have been seen around the world. The beauty of this reserve is reflected in its sumptuous hues: yellow for sulfur, reddish-brown for iron oxide, purple for manganese..

Also worth seeing are the Mud Pools, boiling pools of mud. Allow at least 2 hours to visit this magical place, cross the Champagne Pool and watch the Lady Knox Geyser awaken at 10.15 a.m. every day. The site is very touristy, but well laid out and absolutely unmissable. They allow you to fully appreciate the richness of the region's earth; you can soak up its vivid colors, so unusual in nature, and the smell of sulfur that gives these sites their personality, making them seem a little out of this world.

Guided tours are available to fully understand the cultural significance of these places. After the visit, and to avoid returning too quickly to the real world, you can relax in the on-site Café.

Your ticket allows you to enter and leave the park as you please, for 3 months! You can go to the park at 10 a.m. to watch Lady Knox erupt, and come back a little later for a stroll to avoid the crowds that often arrive immediately afterwards.

Mount Eden (Maungawhau) is one of the ancient volcanoes that make Auckland special. At 196 meters high, it offers one of the most beautiful views of the whole city, with a magnificent panorama and a plunging perspective on the CBD. If reaching the top of the Sky Tower is not in your budget, you should not hesitate to come and console yourself here. Long occupied by the Maoris and their pa, the crater is still clearly visible today. The path leading to the summit is paved. Remember to take water when it is very hot.

Strangely not very vertical for falls, they almost look more like rapids. And rapids they are! With a water flow of 220,000 liters per second, Huka Falls would take just 11 seconds to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool! Known for their intense crystalline blue color (particularly impressive on a clear day), these falls are one of New Zealand's most visited and photographed natural attractions. Several trails lead to them, including one linking them to the center of Taupō.

A famous beach to the south of Hahei, Hot Water Beach is home to hot springs. At low tide and armed with a shovel, many visitors dig their own little pool in the sand, to turn it into a private spa. Underground fissures allow the hot water to seep in quickly, although beware of the temperature, which can rise very high. On the other hand, it should be noted that the strength of the currents makes swimming in the bay dangerous, and we strongly advise against it. Beware, this is a very busy address.

Located 20 minutes south of Rotorua and 45 minutes north of Taupo, this geothermal park is set in a nature reserve at the bottom of a valley. It's well worth the detour, as it's a superb site. It's recommended to spend at least an hour there, but you can easily get absorbed by the beauty of the landscapes and geothermal manifestations and spend 4 hours or more, if you like to take your time. You can extend your visit with a cruise on Lake Rotomahana, following in the footsteps of the Pink and White Terraces, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886.

This is the best-known company. Each cave is very different, and it's best to see them all:

Glowworm Cave. A 45-minute tour that attracts busloads of tourists. Inside, thousands of glowworms glitter on the cave walls like stars in the sky. A 5-minute boat trip above the "starry" sky is also a great experience.

Ruakuri Cave. The 1h30 tour combines limestone formations with glowworms.

Aranui Cave. A one-hour tour of a "normal" cave without glowworms.

This is a mythical den. Its name comes from the volcano, Mount Eden, on which it sits. It had the honor of hosting the first match in a Rugby World Cup in 1987, between the All Blacks and Italy. And it was at this match that the famous haka, previously reserved for overseas tours, was performed for the first time in a home match. A few weeks later, New Zealand lifted the inaugural World Cup at Eden Park.

Located just over an hour's drive from downtown Auckland, Karekare beach is a wonderful place to watch the sun set. This very large black sand beach offers other advantages, including a daytime stroll to Kare Kare waterfalls and/or the dunes. You may not have noticed, but this beach became famous thanks to Jane Campion's film The Piano Lesson. There are public toilets and plenty of parking space. Watch out for the winding road to get there.

Accessible by road despite its name (Aroha Island), this 5-hectare peninsula is a reserve home to over fifty species of birds. Forest and beach walks, kayaking and picnics are all on the agenda, and guided kiwi-watching tours are organized after dark. Camping, cottage and lodge accommodation is also available. There's a visitor center on site. This is a high-quality eco-center.

Shakespear Regional Park covers the tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, "Whale Bay" in Maori. Walkers and bikers can enjoy the beaches and trails, such as the Heritage Trail (2-hour round trip), which starts at Waterfall Gully and passes ancient Polynesian sites. The Lookout Track (90-minute round trip) offers 360-degree views of Auckland and the Gulf Islands. The Tiri Tiri Track (2.5 hours round trip) passes through an ancient pa and along the coastline from which Tiritiri Matangi is visible.

Piha Beach offers such risky waves that it was even the setting for the reality show Piha Rescue, which chronicles the day-to-day life of lifeguards on this coastline. It's one of New Zealand's premier surfing spots and, if you follow the safety rules, there's nothing to stop you from enjoying it. As for the swimmers, it is more than widely advised to swim between the flags and in the slots of presence of the lifeguards. A little further on, you can access the Kitakita Falls, where a natural swimming pool awaits fresh water lovers.

Located halfway between Auckland and Raglan, the Nikau Caves (named after the palm tree) are well worth a visit, and surpass the famous Waitomo Caves further south, which are often very crowded. For over 30 years, Philip and Anne have been running their family business as well as their farm. They offer a fascinating guided tour of a kilometer-long cave full of glowworms. Fitness and appropriate clothing are recommended. You'll be required to crawl through the water. At the café, everything is homemade.

Between Wairakei and Taupo, these falls attract visitors. They are crossed by a footbridge from where the view is fantastic, with the Waikato River below which plunges into a narrow hole of 24 m deep! A little further, a lookout allows you to see Huka Falls from another angle. There is a hiking path from the centre of Taupo, taking 45 minutes. 

Despite its name, this beach is not more than 56 miles away, about 90 km from Ahipara to Cape Reinga on the west coast. It is therefore an error of measurement that was made, since it would have been more accurate to call it «90 km Beach». This correction, however, remains one of the most incredible and beautiful parts of the country, especially since no construction has been detrimental to its immense beauty. It is technically accessible to traffic and vehicles, which can drive on its sand as on a normal road, but it is very strongly discouraged to do so, especially if it is a rental. Only tours of the towers for Cape Reinga are able to venture there, as well as those with their 4 x 4. There are several small routes that can be transported there, before you can explore it on foot by having discovered the tides. At its north end, the Te Paki Giant Sand Dunes are famous for offering beautiful slips to people with a beach board. It is sometimes possible to rent them on site but the information centre in Kaitaia offers the same service for much cheaper. Only concern, they are difficult to access by car and, once again, the bus buses are the most likely to go there.

If you want to go for a walk, the Rainbow Falls are very pleasant for swimming (it takes about three quarters of an hour to walk from the center of Kerikeri). From the parking lot (access by car from Waipapa Road), Rainbow Falls is a few minutes away and Whakapore Falls a good ten minutes. On the way, you can stop at three observation platforms. For swimming, the Fairy Pools are natural pools filled with fresh water.

Whanganui-A-Hei Marine reserve has recently been established and encompasses the area from Cathedral Cove to Cook Bluff. From Hahei beach, 5 minutes from the parking lot, the Gemstone Bay submarine trail makes it possible to familiarize itself with the environment through a four-buoys route with information panels. Beware, in winter there is only one buoy, others are in maintenance and shelter from storms. In the underwater reserve, life is abundant and many snappers come in curious, lobsters are planquent under the rocks and it is even possible to cross impressive eagles!

In addition to being a pleasant green promenade, Marine Parade Garden houses the statue of Pania of the Reef, Floral Clock (floral clock) and Tom Parker Fountain.

The offer «Waitomo Glowworm Cellars and Ruakuri Cave» makes it possible to observe thousands of verses in the dark. The cave of Waitomo with the appearance of an underground cathedral formed by erosion is a highlight of the excursion. Take 2 hours for the visit. For the most adventurous, don't hesitate to try the various formulas of Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, an underground rafting experience with a guide!

Te Puia is one of the region's Māori cultural centers, and undoubtedly the best option for the traveler in a hurry who wants to get a taste of all Rotorua has to offer: a walk through a geothermal valley, observation of the famous Pōhutu geyser, traditional cuisine, discovery of the Māori way of life, dance and haka performances, and presentation of traditional crafts at the Māori Arts and Crafts Centre.

The icing on the cake: Te Puia is also a conservation center for kiwis, so you can observe some of these birds in a specially adapted enclosure.

In a reserve of 364 ha crossed by several hiking trails, there are hot water, cold water and spa pools. Ideal for relaxing in nature.