Ready-made plans
Custom planning is temporarily unavailable for this route. Ready-made plans are still available.
Home › Journeys › Auckland Twin Coast Northland Loop › 6 days
Auckland Twin Coast Northland Loop: 6-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
Last updated:
The 6-day version for February: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight.
6
days
695 km
distance
15.7 h
driving
21
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Use the published warm-season road product and check current highways, weather, public access and every optional activity separately.
Before you go · check live details
This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.
Some route advice is currently available in English.
- Check NZTA, DOC, weather and kauri-access rules for every date.
Use wash stations, stay on structures and enter only sites shown open. Kauri Walks are excluded while works continue; Tāne Mahuta remains the bounded promise.
Check source ↗ - Confirm an insured car, fuel, tolls, lawful parking and every overnight.
The planner supplies no car, fuel, recovery, toll payment, parking or lodging. Services thin on the west coast.
Check source ↗ - Arrange and check any ferry, island trip, dolphin encounter, cultural site, dune activity or tour you choose.
The road loop does not include a harbour ferry, Bay of Islands cruise, wildlife encounter, sandboarding equipment, treaty-site ticket or guide.
Check source ↗
Day 1 Auckland public departure day
- Transit
- 0h37
- Finish
- ~17:10
- Temperature
- 17.3°C–23.5°C
- Rainy days
- ~9
- Daylight
- 13.4h
09:00
Auckland public departure circuit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz map ↗
Use confirmed-open public waterfront and civic access before the road loop; islands, ferries and tours stay optional.
240 min · Auckland public departure day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
13:10
Savor breathtaking views from the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere.
50 min · Auckland public departure day · Adult $47, annual pass $110
open: Daily 9:30AM–8PM (last entry 7:15PM), later Fri and Sat, and Dec-Jan
14:10
Explore vast collections of national and international art in a landmark building.
50 min · Auckland public departure day · Free entry for New Zealand residents, for international adults $20; charges for some special exhibitions
open: Daily 10AM-5PM, closed 25 Dec
15:10
Discover Māori culture and Polynesian arts in an imposing museum setting.
50 min · Auckland public departure day · Overseas adult $25, overseas child 6-14 years $10; NZ residents donation invited; Auckland residents free with MyMuseum card or proof of residency
open: 10AM-5PM
16:20
Observe diverse native and exotic animals in various habitats.
50 min · Auckland public departure day · Adults (15 years+) $28, children 4–14 $12, seniors and students with ID $23, family rates available
open: 1 Sep-30 Apr 9:30AM–5:30PM (last admissions at 16:15), but Fridays open until 8PM; 1 May–31 Aug 9:30AM-5PM; closed 25 Dec
Overnight here
e.g. Haka House Auckland City · BK Hostel
Day 2 Whangārei public waterfront and garden day
- Transit
- 3h07
- Finish
- ~17:50
- Temperature
- 17.8°C–23.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 13.3h
11:45
Whangārei public waterfront and garden circuit wdc.govt.nz map ↗
Use confirmed-open public waterfront, gardens and city access; museums, wildlife attractions and tours stay optional.
240 min · Whangārei public waterfront and garden day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
15:55
Whangarei Quarry Gardens whangareigardens.org.nz map ↗
50 min · Whangārei public waterfront and garden day · Entry by donation
open: Daily 9AM–5PM; Quail Cafe Wed–Sun 9AM–3PM
Overnight here
e.g. The Cell Block Backpackers · Kingsgate Hotel
Day 3 Paihia public waterfront day
- Transit
- 1h51
- Finish
- ~17:25
- Temperature
- 17.8°C–23.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 13.3h
10:40
Paihia public waterfront circuit fndc.govt.nz map ↗
Use confirmed-open public waterfront and town access; ferries, cruises, islands, treaty-site tickets and wildlife encounters stay optional.
240 min · Paihia public waterfront day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
14:55
Dive the Rainbow Warrior wreck divenz.com
Explore an artificial reef teeming with marine life.
90 min · Paihia public waterfront day
16:25
Zane Grey's Restaurant and Bar zanegreys.co.nz
Dine on Mediterranean and seafood with sea views.
60 min · Paihia public waterfront day
Overnight here
e.g. Pioneer Waterfront Apartments · Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Day 4 Kerikeri public heritage day
- Transit
- 1h14
- Finish
- ~17:50
- Temperature
- 18.3°C–23.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 13.3h
09:40
Kerikeri public heritage circuit fndc.govt.nz map ↗
Use confirmed-open public town, garden and heritage access; paid sites, food tours and providers stay optional.
240 min · Kerikeri public heritage day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
13:50
14:50
Visit New Zealand's oldest stone building.
50 min · Kerikeri public heritage day · $10
open: Daily except 25 Dec, Nov-Apr 10AM-5PM, May-Oct 10AM-4PM
15:55
Art at Wharepuke art-in-newzealand.co.nz
Admire NZ and international prints in a bright, inviting gallery.
50 min · Kerikeri public heritage day · Free
open: Daily 8AM-5PM
17:00
Kororipo Pa search
Discover the historic pa with stunning inlet views and rich heritage.
50 min · Kerikeri public heritage day
Day 5 Hokianga public coast day
- Transit
- 3h03
- Finish
- ~17:50
- Temperature
- 19.1°C–21.7°C
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 13.3h
11:45
Hokianga public coast circuit fndc.govt.nz map ↗
Use confirmed-open public harbour, coast and town access; ferries, dune activities and water trips stay optional.
240 min · Hokianga public coast day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
15:55
17:00
Sand dunes hokiangatourism.org.nz
Walk up towering sand dunes for sweeping harbour and landscape views.
50 min · Hokianga public coast day
Overnight here
e.g. Opononi Lighthouse Motel · Copthorne Hotel and Resort Hokianga
Day 6 Waipoua Tāne Mahuta confirmed-open day → back to start
- Transit
- 5h52
- Finish
- ~17:20
- Temperature
- 16.5°C–24.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 13.3h
09:50
Waipoua Tāne Mahuta confirmed-open circuit doc.govt.nz map ↗
Use the open Tāne Mahuta boardwalk within posted hours and kauri hygiene rules; Kauri Walks and other closed forest access are excluded.
90 min · Waipoua Tāne Mahuta confirmed-open day · Confirm current admission, parking, road and access conditions
11:30
50 min · Waipoua Tāne Mahuta confirmed-open day
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.
Sources (10)
- Auckland public departure circuit — aucklandcouncil.govt.nzOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — Auckland/CentralCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Whangārei public waterfront and garden circuit — wdc.govt.nzOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — WhangareiCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Paihia public waterfront circuit — fndc.govt.nzOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — PaihiaCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — KerikeriCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — OpononiCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Waipoua Tāne Mahuta confirmed-open circuit — doc.govt.nzOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — Waipoua ForestCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)