I would say that the North Island offers more variety than the South Island. The vibe of the North Island is everything from larger cities (mainly Auckland and Wellington), volcanoes, beaches, green farmlands, sand dunes, surfing, lots of volcanic activity like hot springs and more Maori cultural experiences. 

When I went to NZ, I landed in February 2023 a cyclone hit the following day. Unbeknownst to me, this is not common even in NZ. Although it wasn’t bad in Auckland, where I landed, which is located in the north-west of NZ, it did wreak havoc in the east of North Island, meaning I didn’t visit that area. All I know is that there are forests (as many were taken out by the storm) and some good surfing spots. 

Other than the far east, however, I am reasonably well-travelled for North Island. Auckland is a sprawling city; however, I found it wasn’t interesting if I’m honest and I genuinely wouldn’t recommend spending time here – if you want city life, you’re better off somewhere else. There is a cool peninsula in the north of Auckland called Northlands and this is worth a visit. At the northern tip, at Cape Reinga Lighthouse, you can see a strange line in the ocean where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet, which is definitely worth seeing because many of us (me included) are not used to seeing this sort of thing. There are also big sand dunes here, where you can sand board on, which is a lot of fun. You also have good beaches and islands in this area. You can see beautiful rolling hills like those around Hobbiton, caves and volcanoes. Places like Rotorua are also great for seeing Maori culture (although it is a bit touristy). In the far south of North Island you have Wellington, the nation’s capital. I much preferred Wellington to Auckland, as despite having a smaller population, it’s more compact and just a nicer vibe. You can also get the ferry from here to Picton on the north of South Island.