Travelguru Cathy Bartrop says:

I had an amazing time on North Island – there is so much to see and so many contrasts, you can pack an extraordinary amount into one holiday. My personal highlights include: Bay of Islands – we did a wonderful scenic flight right up to Cape Reinga flying over all the beautiful beaches and coves – I would love to go back one day and spend longer covering this area by road. Lake Taupo was also fantastic – even if you are not an angler, a fishing trip on the lake is highly recommended, ‘hook it and cook it’ like the locals.

Scenery is all very well but consider also building some ‘experiences’ into your trip – jetboating at Huka Falls, sailing in Auckland harbour or perhaps building in a few days for a spectacular hike – activities that are accessible to all and provide real ‘wow’ factor and long lasting holiday memories.