The Southern Half
A Travel Guide To The Top Half
Welcome To The Top Half of the North Island
The top half of the North Island of New Zealand attracts hordes of visitors every year. With Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Waitomo Caves it has some of the iconic New Zealand tourist attractions in its compass.
For many travellers this is all they get to see of New Zealand - pity, really. It's very nice, as they say, but it isn't the main event. (The South Island is The Big Show).
Whether the Top Half is only a part of your total itinerary or whether you'll spend the whole of your stay in this area, these notes may help.
The classic itinerary for covering the region is a figure of eight. From Auckland up to Bay of Islands, back down the west coast through the Waipoua Kauri Forest, through Auckland again on the way to Waitomo, then Rotorua and back to Auckland to finish. Or vice versa.
The guide is written as road notes, a kilometre-by-kilometre description of the things to see and do. All the main roads in the country have kilometre posts - much the same as the mileposts found in many other countries - and those kposts are used as primary navigation information.
The purpose of this guide is to give you all the information you could possibly want to enjoy your visit to this amazing destination.
If you want fast access to information on the main towns and cities in the area:
Northland
The motorway from central Auckland north to it's present termination north of Orewa.
State Highway 1 North: Orewa to the Bay of Islands
The Warkworth to Waipu Coastal Road
State Highway 10 : Pakaraka to Awanui
State Highway 1 North: Kaitaia to Cape Reinga
State Highway 12: Paihia to Brynderwyn Junction
Through the Waiopua Kauri forest and Dargaville to link back to SH1.
State Highway 16: Wellsford to Auckland
An alternative road to/from the north or just a great day trip from Auckland..
Waikato
The motorway from central Auckland south to it's termination just north of Huntly.
State Highway 1: Huntly to Taupo
Starts at Huntly at the southern end of the Auckland Motorway
State Highway 2: Pokeno to SH33
From near Mercer 50km south of Auckland, through Tauranga and Te Puke to SH33.
State Highway 33: Rotorua to Paengaroa (SH2)
Take this road if you are travelling between Tauranga and Rotorua.
State Highway 23 Hamilton to Raglan
State Highway 24 Matamata to Tapapa
State Highway 27: SH2 to Tirau
The easiest and maybe quickest way south from Auckland . . . an alternative to SH1.
State Highway 5: Tirau to Rotorua and Taupo
State Highway 3: Hamilton to New Plymouth
State Highway 39: Ngaruawahia to Otorohanga
The alternative road to Waitomo and south via SH3.
Coromandel
State Highway 25: The Coromandel Road
Starting at SH2, through Thames, Coromandel and down the east coast of the peninsular to Waihi.
State Highway 25A Kopu to Hikuai
From Kopu near Thames to Hikuai near Tairua on the far side of the Coromandel Peninsular.
