Guide to the ultimate North Island road trip in New Zealand

Experience a different kind of nightlife in Tauranga on a glow worm tour with Waimarino Kayak Tours. The trip kicks off with some wine and cheese and then involves rowing towards a narrow canyon. When it’s dark, you’ll see the blue-green glimmer of the glow worms light up the bush. It’s a magical experience, and when the stars come out, it’s difficult to see when the bugs stop and the stars begin. 

Papamoa, a suburb of Tauranga, is fast becoming one of Bay of Plenty's biggest tourist drawcards. In the warmer months, Kiwi holidaymakers and cruise ship travellers from Australia and beyond settle into the beachside suburb, and with the suburb's increasing popularity comes a thriving foodie scene. Dine by the beach at the Bluebiyou, an all-day restaurant next to the Papamoa Beach Resort serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view. 

Head to Papamoa Beach Tavern for a pint of local craft brew and a burger. The old-school shack-like bar and restaurant is a popular haunt for beach-loving locals lucky enough to live in the seaside suburb all year around. Save room for the mean dessert waffles made fresh to order. 

Kiwis love their holiday homes, locally known as ‘baches’. For a taste of the Kiwi bach life, the Papamoa Beach Resort is a great holiday park with shacks at various price points. Try to book a spot in one of the beach-facing holiday units, where you can wake up to the sounds of the waves every morning. 

Air New Zealand flies daily to Auckland from Melbourne, with some flights operated by widebody Boeing 777 or 787 Dreamliner aircraft. These services feature Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. You won’t get bored, with hundreds of hours of entertainment available on demand, including Shortland Street, rugby and of course, Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.