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North Island New Zealand

INTRODUCTION

North Island is one of New Zealand's two main islands. Almost 80% of New Zealand’s population lives there. The eight most important cities on North Island are: Auckland (New Zealand's largest city), Wellington (the capital), New Plymouth, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton, and Palmerston North.

ATTRACTIONS

North Island offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as: hiking, cycling, and horse riding, all of which make for an exciting vacation. Enjoy the island’s amazing scenery, consisting of rivers, capes, parks, forests, and beaches.

Some of the places you shouldn’t miss:

Cape Reinga: The northwesternmost tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, located at the northern end of North Island, Cape Reinga is considered the separation marker between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The cape is famous for its old lighthouse, which is a common New Zealand icon, and has a repuation as a popular tourist destination.

Lake Taupo: With a surface area of 616 square km, Lake Taupo is the largest lake in the country. It is a noted trout fishery, with stocks of brown and rainbow trout. The lake lies in a caldera, created following a huge volcanic eruption approximately 26,500 years ago.

Waikato River: The longest river in New Zealand.

Ninety Mile Beach: A beautiful beach located on the western coast of the far north of the North Island. The name "Ninety Mile Beach" is a misnomer--it is actually 55 miles long.

Tongariro National Park: This is the oldest national park in New Zealand and was the fourth national park established in the world.