Click HERE for a map of New Zealand's North
Island
New Zealand's North Island is
smaller than the South Island, but does have the country's largest
city, Auckland, and the capital city, Welligton, at its southern
tip. It may be smaller, but it has an estimated population of
3.1 milion, which is three quarters of New Zealand's entire
population!
The North Island is divided into 9
local government regions, starting in the very north with
Northland, then north to south, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty,
Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranakai, Manawatu-Wanganui and finally,
Wellington at the southern tip. There are 12 cities,
Auckland, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton,
Hastings, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Wanganui, Whangarei and
Wellington. Other than Palmerston North, all the cities are
mainly located around the coast, which indicates how important the
sea has been to New Zealand in its history.
Being further north, the North
Island has a warmer, more temperate climate than the South
Island, and some northern areas have a sub-tropical
climate. This aids the abundance of green, from
rolling hills and valleys, to vast tracts of lush forest and
rainforest.
The north is lush and green with
lots of small, islands, inlets, coves and sandy beaches, the centre
of the Island is mainly a mountainous, volcanic landscape, with
large forested areas, picturesque lakes and rivers, rugged volcanic
peaks and geothermal areas of geysers, tendrils of hot steam and
boiling mud pools, and the eastern side has fertile plains and
valleys, important for agriculture and many quality vineyards
and wineries. Beaches are found all around the island, and
amazing craggy, scenery is everywhere you look.
There are several companies
offering cruises around the beautiful coast of New Zealand, some
with small, more intimate ships as well as the huge ocean liners.
The smaller ships can get much closer to the coast line and
dock at smaller towns with personal guided shore excursions,
whereas the large, luxury liners tend to concentrate on the larger
towns and cities, with planned shore excursions.
Depending on your preference, you
decide what type of ship and cruise you would like to
experience.
Island Escape Cruises are a
privately-owned small ship cruise company, based in New Zealand who
offer 7 and 10-night cruises around New Zealand and French
Polynesia. They provide an all-inclusive, personal cruise
where service is everything, and everything is included; all meals,
drinks (inc premium wines, spirits and champagne) shore excursions,
fishing trips, tender or helicopter transfers and full use of all
the watersport equipment
For further details of these
cruises, and the full itineraries, please click Here.
Prices on
the following pages
The prices are all based on
the UK Pound to the NZ$ exchange rate as of the 1st
January 2016, but the exchange rates are changing on
an almost daily basis, which means the prices could be
lower or higher than we have quoted in our pricing tables.
Prices quoted are as guide only, and may change at any time
without notice due to increases by the supplier or differences in
the exchange rates. Please contact us to get a confirmed
price at todays' rates for your preferred property or service.
Select your destination from the map, or from the list below, to view properties and hotel information.
Click on a city/town for details of the accommodation available there...
Auckland
Auckland is a vast, cosmopolitan city set across a small land bridge in the north of North Island, meeting two different seas - the Pacific Ocean to the north-east and the Tasman Sea to the south-west.
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area of outstanding natural beauty located on the north-east coast of the North Island, with scenic inlets, islands and stunning coastal scenery.
Cambridge
The English-style Cambridge, is located in the central-north of the North Island.
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula stretches out into the Hauraki Gulf, protecting Auckland from the open sea, and has stunning coastal scenery, as well as green valleys and hills to explore.
Dargaville
Ideally located in central north-west of North Island, Dargaville has large natural harbour and is a good base for exploring the Northlands Region.
Doubtless Bay
Doubtless Bay, has over 43miles (70km) of natural, pristine coastline with many beautiful beaches, offering long, wide, golden sand with rolling waves, secluded, sandy coves or rugged, rocky inlets, with great diving and snorkelling.
Featherston
Featherston is a small town on the southern-most tip of the North Island, just north of the Rimutaka Mountain Range.
Greytown
Greytown is Wairarapa's oldest settlement, has retained its delightful colonial character over the years, its streets graced with fine wooden Victorian buildings and beautiful tree-filled gardens.
Hamilton
Hamilton and the Waikato River area offers a huge range of activities, stunning scenery, charming townships and vibrant city life.
Kaitaia
Kaitaia is one the oldest European settlement towns and is located on State Highway 1, at the base of the Aupouri Peninisula, in the far north of the North Island.
Marton
Marton is a small, rural town located in the south-west corner of the North Island, and a few miles inland from the coast.
Martinborough
Martinborough is a small, historic, rural town set in a fertile valley and surrounded by more than 30 vineyards, many producing internationally acclaimed and award winning wines.
Masterton
Masterton is a large town on the south-east coast of the North Island
Matakana
Matakana is small town a little way inland from the coast, at the northern end of the Hauraki Gulf, on the jagged coastline of bays, rivers and fjord-style inlets.
Matamata
Famous for the location of Hobbiton, from the Lord of the Rings films, Matamata is a rural town with a great farming history.
Mount Maunganui
Known locally as just 'The Mount', Mount Maunganui is a coastal resort in the Bay of Plenty area, renown for its numerous, safe beaches and its laid-back coastal lifestyle.
Napier, Hastings and Havelock North
Napier is located on the North Island's east coast, on the southern end of Hawke's Bay. With its neighbouring city of Hastings, the area is refered to as "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"
New Plymouth
Approximately halfway between Auckland and Wellington, New Plymouth is the principal town of the Taranaki region of the North Island, and has a population of over 53,000 residents
Ohakune
Okahune is a small town located in the central south-west of the North Island, at the southern border of the Tongariro National Park, and 14 miles (23km) from the south-western slopes of Mount Ruapehu, one of the world's most active volcanos.
Orewa
With it's stunning, long, sandy beach, Orewa is located north of Auckland, on the North Islands' tropically-named Hibiscus Coast, just a few miles from State Highway 1. This makes Orewa a good base for touring the surrounding area.
Palmerston North
Located in the south of the north island, Palmerston North, is a large, cosmopolitan city, with open green parks, trendy shops and restaurants, and nearby, wide, stunning beaches to enjoy.
Pokeno
Pokeno is a small town south of Auckland that has nothing outstanding about it except a famous ice cream shop, and that it is the location of the boutique Rata Lodge.
Rotorua
Rotorua is in the heart of the North Island, and is famous for its geothermal activity in and around the area.
Taihape
Known as the 'Gumboot Capital of the World', Taihape offers small rural town charm, with some unique adreneline activities, and the annual Gumboot Festival to enjoy every March.
Taupo
Located on the north-east shore of Lake Taupo, and on the banks of the Waikato River, and the famous Huka Falls, Taupo is almost in the middle of the North Island.
Tauranga
Located at the entrance to the large, natural harbour, and New Zealand's biggest port, Tauranga is at the northern end of the Bay of Plenty, on the north-east coast of the North Island.
Turangi
Turangi is a small town on the west bank of the Tongariro river, on the southern edge of Lake Taupo, and is approximately 4 hours drive from Auckland, in the north and Wellington in the south
Waihi
Famous for the gold and silver mines, Waihi is a pleasant small town at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Waitomo
Waitomo is a small village in the central west of the North Island, and is most famous for the amazing caverns and underground cave systems found here, thought to be over 2 million years old.
Whanganui
Located at the mouth of the Whanganui River and its sheltered fertile valley, Whanganui aptly means 'big bay' or 'big harbour'. On the south-west coast halfway between New Plymouth and Wellington, it is popular with visitors travelling up or down the North Island.
.
Whakapapa
Whakapapa Village serves the Whakapapa ski area, which covers the north western slopes of Mount Ruapehu, but during the summer months, the area offers some breathtaking sceneryand panoramic chairlift rides to the mountain peak.
Wellington
Wellington, named after the Duke of Wellington, is New Zealand's capital city, and is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, on the shores of Cook Strait, with the inter-island ferry port.
Whangarei
The northern-most city in the North Island, Whangarei is a modern cosmopolitan city offering visitors stunning scenery and numerous outdoor activities to experience.
Whakatane
Located at the eastern end of the Bay of Plenty on the North Island, and at the mouth of the Whakatane River, the town has Pacific Ocean beaches, live volcanoes and stunning scenery to enjoy.