Bay of Islands, Coromandel and Waiheke Island in 11 Days

Sailboats and dolphins up north, a hot pool you dig yourselves, then long lunches among the vines

11 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Connect in Auckland to the Bay of Islands for four nights of sailing, dolphins and a clifftop splurge, drive the Coromandel Peninsula for three nights of beaches and hot sand, then ferry to Waiheke Island for three slow nights of wine and swimming 40 minutes from the airport. It suits couples who want a summer beach honeymoon without long drives. December to April is best, with March the sweet spot.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

New Zealand's North Island does summer better than the South. This route strings together its three best beach-and-boat stops: the subtropical Bay of Islands, the coves and hot springs of the Coromandel Peninsula and Waiheke Island, a wine island in the Hauraki Gulf.

It starts with a short connecting flight from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Bay of Islands Airport (KKE), so you skip the three-hour drive north on day one. After four nights you fly back to Auckland, pick up a car and drive to the Coromandel for three nights. The trip ends with three nights on Waiheke, a 40-minute ferry from downtown Auckland, which puts you an easy hour from your flight home.

The pace is slow by design. There is one splurge night at a clifftop lodge, plenty of time on boats and a final stretch where the hardest choice is which vineyard to book for lunch. Pack swimsuits, a light jacket and a big appetite for seafood.

The route

Best months: December to April, with March best for warm water and thinner crowds
Trip length: 11 days
Budget: About $300–1,000 a night for two, from beach houses to clifftop lodges (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–4: Bay of Islands

Land in Auckland, connect to Bay of Islands (Kerikeri) Airport (KKE), about 45 minutes in the air. Drive about 25 minutes to Paihia or take the short car ferry to Russell. Russell is quieter, with a waterfront lined with old verandas. The Duke of Marlborough Hotel sits right on the water and makes a fine base for the first two nights.

On day two, join a skippered sail to Urupukapuka Island for swimming, snorkeling and a walk over the hills, with a good chance of seeing dolphins on the way. Eat dinner on the Russell waterfront as the sun goes down.

On day three, visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a guide to understand where modern New Zealand began, then move to Rosewood Kauri Cliffs for your splurge nights. The lodge sits on a clifftop farm estate with private beaches, a spa and views to the Cavalli Islands. Spend day four there: a massage for one of you and a round on the clifftop golf course for the other if you play. Meet for a picnic on one of the lodge's private beaches.

Days 5–7: Coromandel Peninsula

Fly back to Auckland on the morning of day five, pick up a rental car and drive about two and a half to three hours to Hahei or Whitianga on the Coromandel's east coast. Book a beach house with a deck rather than a hotel; that is how New Zealanders do the Coromandel. The best rentals go early for summer.

On day six, take a guided sea-kayak trip or a boat tour from Hahei to Cathedral Cove, the sea arch inside the Te Whanganui-A-Hei marine reserve. Arriving from the water is often easier than walking in, since slips have affected the land track in recent years; check conditions with the Department of Conservation before you go. In the evening, head to Hot Water Beach within two hours of low tide, rent a spade and dig your own warm pool in the sand.

On day seven, drive north to walk over the headland to New Chums Beach, which has no road, buildings or crowds. If you have time, continue to Coromandel Town for the hillside Driving Creek railway and a bag of smoked mussels.

Days 8–11: Waiheke Island and Home

Drive back to Auckland, about two and a half hours. Return the car. Catch the passenger ferry from downtown to Matiatia, about 40 minutes across the Hauraki Gulf. Delamore Lodge is the splurge, with four suites and an infinity pool looking out over the water. Villas and B&Bs near Oneroa or Onetangi cost less.

Waiheke is your slow stretch, so set two rules: one long lunch a day and one swim. Around 30 wineries are spread across the island. Many have terraces where lunch turns into the afternoon. Book a tasting at Man O' War, at the island's remote eastern end. Spend an afternoon at Onetangi Beach. The headland trail above Matiatia is good for a morning walk. The zipline through the vines and native bush is a fun change of pace.

On day eleven, take the ferry back to the city and a taxi or shuttle to Auckland Airport (AKL), about 45 minutes away. Most US flights leave in the evening, so you can have one more lunch on the island before you go.

Getting Between Stops

The route uses one short domestic flight, one rental car and one ferry. Fly from Auckland (AKL) to Bay of Islands Airport (KKE) on arrival and back again on day five; the flight takes about 45 minutes. In the Bay of Islands, rent a car at the airport or use hotel transfers and boats.

For the Coromandel, pick up a rental car at Auckland Airport and drop it there or in the city before Waiheke. The drive to Hahei or Whitianga takes about two and a half to three hours on winding two-lane roads. New Zealand drives on the left.

Waiheke does not need a car. Passenger ferries run often from downtown Auckland to Matiatia. Taxis, buses and wine tours cover the island. If you want to drive there, a car ferry runs from Half Moon Bay in east Auckland.

Where to Stay

In the Bay of Islands, split your four nights. Stay two in Russell, where The Duke of Marlborough Hotel faces the water, or in a waterfront B&B. Then spend two at Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, about 40 minutes north of Kerikeri, which is the most romantic stay on the route.

On the Coromandel, beach houses and small lodges are the norm. Hahei puts you close to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Whitianga has more restaurants and services and suits couples who want to walk to dinner.

On Waiheke, Delamore Lodge is the top choice, with an infinity pool above the gulf. Many couples prefer a vineyard cottage or a villa near Onetangi for a beach on the doorstep. Oneroa, near the ferry, has the most cafés and shops.

When to Go

December to April is the season. Days are warm, the sea is swimmable and the boats run full schedules. Christmas to late January is New Zealand's summer holiday, when the Coromandel and Waiheke are at their busiest and beach houses book out early.

February and March are the best months for many couples. The water is at its warmest, the holidaymakers have gone home and Waiheke's harvest begins in March. April is cooler but still pleasant and often settled.

From May to September, this route loses its point. The beaches are cold, the days are short and some boat trips run less often. The North Island can also get heavy summer rain from tropical systems, so keep a flexible day and do not book every boat trip back to back.

What It Costs

Expect a wide range. As an approximate guide, B&Bs and boutique hotels in Russell or Paihia cost about $200 to $400 a night for two. Rosewood Kauri Cliffs starts above $1,000 a night and includes some meals. Summer beach houses on the Coromandel cost roughly $200 to $450 a night. Waiheke ranges from about $250 for a cottage to $750 and up for Delamore Lodge.

Add two domestic flights to Kerikeri, a rental car for three days and the ferry to Waiheke, which is inexpensive. The main paid activities are a day sail in the Bay of Islands, a kayak or boat trip to Cathedral Cove and wine tastings on Waiheke.

Waiheke's vineyard lunches are not cheap, so budget for at least one long, special one. Fish and chips on the beach balances it out.

Tips for the Two of You

New Zealand's sun is fierce, even when it feels mild. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, hats and rash shirts for snorkeling and kayaking. Bring a light rain jacket too, because summer showers come through quickly.

Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags where you can, especially on the Coromandel's east coast, where rip currents are common. Hot Water Beach can have strong rips just offshore, so dig your pool and stay out of the surf there.

The route suits both partners' interests. One of you might fish or golf in the Bay of Islands while the other books a spa treatment; on Waiheke, one can take a longer coastal walk while the other naps by the pool. Do not drive after wine tastings. Taxis and wine tours on Waiheke are easy to book.

Make It Shorter or Longer

With a week, skip the Coromandel. Spend four nights in the Bay of Islands and three on Waiheke, which keeps it to one domestic flight each way and one ferry.

With two weeks, add three nights in Rotorua between the Coromandel and Waiheke for geothermal parks, Māori culture and lakeside hot pools. Rotorua is about two and a half hours from the Coromandel and three hours from Auckland.

With three weeks, pair this North Island route with the South Island. Fly from Auckland to Queenstown after Waiheke for five or six nights among the lakes and mountains, with a day trip to Milford Sound. Fly home from Queenstown via Auckland.

FAQ

Planning this trip

Is the North Island good for a honeymoon?

Yes, especially if you want beaches, boats and wine. The Bay of Islands, the Coromandel and Waiheke Island are the North Island's best summer stops. All three are close to Auckland. Couples who want alpine lakes and fiords should look at the South Island or combine both.

Should we fly or drive to the Bay of Islands?

Flying from Auckland to Kerikeri saves you a three- to three-and-a-half-hour drive on arrival, when you are tired after a long flight. The flight is about 45 minutes. If you prefer to drive, break the trip with a stop at the beaches north of Auckland.

Can you still visit Cathedral Cove?

Yes, though access changes. Slips have affected the walking track in recent years, so many visitors arrive by kayak or boat from Hahei, which is a lovely way to see it anyway. Check the Department of Conservation website before you go for the latest on track access.

How many nights should we spend on Waiheke Island?

Two nights is the minimum and three is better, since the island is at its best in the evening after the day-trippers leave. Three nights gives you time for a couple of long vineyard lunches, a beach day and a walk without rushing. It also makes a calm end to the trip.

What is the best month for this North Island itinerary?

March is often best: the sea is warm, school holidays are over and Waiheke's harvest is under way. February is similar but busier. December and January are lively and sunny, but beach houses book out and prices rise, so reserve early.

Stops on this route

New Zealand

Bay of Islands

New Zealand

Coromandel Peninsula

New Zealand

Waiheke Island

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