Haz and Loz’s 8-Day North Island Campervan Adventure – Coromandel, Waikato and Rotorua
Day 1: Auckland to Miranda / Kaiaua
Distance: 80 kms
Travel time: ~1.25 hours
Pick up your Apollo camper in Auckland and cruise south toward the Firth of Thames, where coastal wetlands meet wide skies. Today is all about easing into the road trip rhythm with a gentle ride, birdsong and classic fish and chips by the water.
Where to stop between Auckland and Miranda
Clevedon Village for coffee and fresh supplies if you’re rolling out late morning. Hunua Ranges lookout pull-in for a quick forest-framed photo stop. Hauraki Rail Trail gateway near Kaiaua to get your bearings for an afternoon pedal.
Things to do in Miranda / Kaiaua
Hire bikes from Shorebird Cycles in Kaiaua and spin along the easy coastal path to the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre. The ride is flat and breezy, with tidal flats and shell banks unfolding beside you. At the Centre, slip into the hides and watch flocks wheeling over the Firth of Thames, then wander the displays to learn why these wetlands are globally important. As the sun softens, order dinner at Kaiaua Fisheries and tuck into fresh fish and chips on a picnic table with sea views.
Where to stay in Miranda / Kaiaua
Park up at Tasman Holiday Parks – Miranda. You will find powered sites, a dump station and an on-site hot mineral pool, which makes this an ideal first-night base to reset after travel and get in step with road life.
Day 2: Miranda / Kaiaua to Hot Water Beach
Distance: 110 kms
Travel time: ~1.5 hours
Trace the Firth of Thames to the Coromandel Peninsula, where pōhutukawa-framed bays and white-sand coves set the tone. Good coffee, a boat ride to one of New Zealand’s most iconic coastal arches and a natural hot-sand soak await.
Where to stop between Miranda and Hot Water Beach
Thames waterfront for a leg stretch along the Thames Coastal Walkway and Shortland Wharf, plus a quick supermarket top-up. Two Tides Bakery in Tairua for buttery pastries, excellent coffee and a couple of treats for later. Tairua Harbour lookout for a sweeping view across to Pauanui and the coast.
Things to do in Hot Water Beach
Head to neighbouring Hahei for the Hahei Explorer Cathedral Cove Boat Tour, skimming over turquoise water to sea caves, offshore stacks and the soaring arch of Cathedral Cove. Back on shore, time your arrival at Hot Water Beach to low tide, grab a spade and dig your own seaside spa where hot geothermal water filters through the sand. As evening falls, wander the beach for golden-hour shots and the sound of small waves lapping your toes.
Where to stay in Hot Water Beach
Stay at Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park for easy access to the sand, landscaped powered sites and a calm, leafy setting. It is the perfect one-night Coromandel hub before crossing the island tomorrow.
Day 3: Hot Water Beach to Raglan
Distance: 205 kms
Travel time: ~3 hours
Cross from the sheltered east to the surfy west, swapping coves for cliffs and ending the day with a harbour sunset. Today’s route is varied, with an island-and-caves stop on the east and beach time and boats in Raglan.
Where to stop between Hot Water Beach and Raglan
Whangamatā for a guided kayak or boat tour to Whenuakura (Donut) Island or nearby sea caves if the morning seas are calm. Paeroa town centre for a quirky antique browse and a quick bite if you skipped breakfast. Bridal Veil Falls short detour before Raglan for a dramatic 55-metre waterfall framed by native bush.
Things to do in Raglan
Raglan lives and breathes surf, art and relaxed hospitality. Hire a board from a local surf school and make tracks for Ngarunui Beach, where the sandy-bottomed waves are friendly for learners and cruisy for intermediates. Rinse off, then make your way to Raglan Wharf for a late afternoon wander among studios and galleries before boarding a sunset harbour cruise. Out on Whaingaroa Harbour, limestone formations, birdlife and shifting light combine for moody, cinematic scenes that are a dream to shoot.
Where to stay in Raglan
Raglan Holiday Park Papahuan places you within walking distance of the wharf and town, with powered sites, a coastal outlook and a relaxed vibe that makes it easy to linger.
Day 4: Raglan
Distance: 30 kms
Travel time: ~1 hour
Slow the pace and lean into Raglan’s restorative side. Keep the wheels close to base today with sauna steam, mindful movement and coastal wanders that balance thrills with tranquillity.
Things to do in Raglan
Begin with a morning yoga session and a sauna at a local wellness retreat tucked beneath Mount Karioi, complete with a refreshing plunge that leaves you glowing. Later, stroll the estuary paths, check out the creative scene in town or drive a few minutes to Whale Bay for rock pools and a front-row view of the region’s legendary surf. If conditions are calm, round out the afternoon with a low-tide beach walk at Ngarunui before sunset back at the wharf.
Where to stay in Raglan
Settle in for a second night at Raglan Holiday Park Papahua so you can stroll to dinner, enjoy the sunset and be ready for a short reposition tomorrow.
Day 5: Raglan to Cambridge
Distance: 90 kms
Travel time: ~1.5 hours
Leave the coast for leafy Waikato and a day of tea terraces, gentle river paths and small-town charm. With a short drive, you will have time to linger over lunch and afternoon spins beside the water.
Where to stop between Raglan and Cambridge
Zealong Estate near Hamilton for a farm-to-cup high tea overlooking manicured tea terraces. Mighty River Domain (Lake Karāpiro) for sunrise reflections if you set off early, rowing-lane symmetry and a short waterside walk. Hire e-bikes from Riverside Adventures and ride a scenic section of the Te Awa River Ride near Lake Karāpiro if you want extra miles. Lake Te Koo Utu Domain in Cambridge for a lap beneath mature trees and lakeside picnic tables.
Things to do in Cambridge
Park the camper and wander the compact town centre lined with heritage buildings, boutique stores and excellent cafes. Duck into local galleries, browse weekend markets if your timing aligns, and keep an eye out for street art and equestrian nods to the town’s sporting pedigree. If you are keen on wildlife, consider a late afternoon visit to nearby Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari ’s lower tracks for birdsong and native bush, and be sure to check last entry times so you are out before dark. Return to town for dinner.
Where to stay in Cambridge
Cambridge TOP 10 Holiday Park offers spacious powered sites, modern amenities and a peaceful base among trees just minutes from the town centre.
Day 6: Cambridge to Rotorua
Distance: 85 kms
Travel time: ~1.5 hours
From green pastures to steaming earth, today turns up the heat with geothermal landscapes, river rapids and a forest hot tub. Keep your camera handy for otherworldly textures and colours, then cap things off with a soak under ferns.
Where to stop between Cambridge and Rotorua
Tīrau for a fun photo with the corrugated-iron giants and a takeaway flat white for the road. Rotorua Lakefront for a quick orientation and a breeze across the promenade if you arrive early.
Things to do in Rotorua
Start at Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park and Mud Bath & Spas to walk among bubbling mud pools, hot springs and steaming fissures. The guided loop paints the raw power of the earth in vivid detail, while the mud and sulphur spas offer a uniquely silky soak. Head to Okere Falls Store for a relaxed lunch by the river, then gear up for Kaituna River rafting with an experienced crew. This rainforest gorge run includes a series of rapids and drops, culminating in a thundering 7-metre waterfall that delivers a heart-thumping, grin-inducing finale. After the adrenaline, unwind at Secret Spot Hot Tubs in private cedar tubs beside a forested stream. Evening light filtering through the trees makes for gorgeous, intimate frames.
Where to stay in Rotorua
Base yourself for two nights at Waipa Forest Camp, handy to the Whakarewarewa forest trailhead and a short drive from town. Sites here are for self-contained vehicles and are unpowered, which suits campers happy with a simple, trail-adjacent base.
Day 7: Rotorua
Forest flow and treetop flights take centre stage. Today is your chance to cover more ground by e-bike, then trade wheels for ziplines among native canopies.
Things to do in Rotorua
Hire e-bikes from the operators at the Waipa forest hub or in town and roll into the Redwoods Whakarewarewa network. Purpose-built trails weave through towering California redwoods and native bush, with graded options from gentle green loops to playful blue flow trails. Break for a wood-fired lunch at Eastwood Café near the forest, then head to Rotorua Canopy Tours for an afternoon of zip-lining and swing bridges. Along the way, guides share conservation stories as you glide between platforms and over forest valleys. If you have energy left, take a golden-hour stroll around the lakefront or a low-key soak in town before turning in.
Where to stay in Rotorua
Return to Waipa Forest Camp for night two. The quiet, trail-adjacent setting makes it easy to wind down and watch the stars emerge overhead.
Day 8: Rotorua to Auckland
Distance: 230 kms
Travel time: ~3 hours
Round out the trip with a classic Rotorua thrill, then point the camper north for a smooth run back to the city. With memories of surf, steam and sunsets, today ties a bow on your North Island loop.
Where to stop between Rotorua and Auckland
ZORB Rotorua on Mt Ngongotahā for a joyful, splashy roll down purpose-built tracks that deliver pure, goofy fun and great reaction shots. Lake Rotoiti lookout for a final lakescape if you fancy one more quick pull-in before the highway.
Things to do in Auckland
Time your arrival to return your campervan to the Apollo Auckland branch, then, if you are extending your stay, celebrate with a harbourside stroll and a well-earned dinner in the city.
Where to stay in Auckland
If you plan to spend a final night in the camper after drop-off day, consider a beachside holiday park with powered sites on the North Shore. Otherwise, head straight to the branch and wrap the journey with a smile.
Eight days and an album full of moments later, you will have crossed coasts, soaked in hot mineral waters, zipped through native forest and surfed the edge of a west coast sunset. From the Coromandel’s coves to Waikato’s rivers and Rotorua’s geothermal heart, this itinerary keeps drive times short and the experiences big, so you can shoot, share and still slow down together. When you’re ready, you can easily book your Apollo camper online and pick it up from your closest Apollo branch before hitting the road.