New Zealand North Island Tour - Sweet North

The Sweet North trip is designed for people who enjoy being active in the outdoors, but you don't need to be super-fit or an outdoor expert in any way. On the Sweet North trip you will walk between 3 to 5 hours each day on well-formed tracks. The average distance walked is 9km/5.6mi. If you enjoy hiking and exploring then you will enjoy this trip.

Click here to go to a handy page with a summary of the distances and approximate times for every walk and activity on our Sweet North trip!

We’ve five days in the North Island to showcase the incredible diversity of our other main island and we’ve chosen three great places for you to stay. Click here to find out more about the accommodation on this trip.

Pick up information
We can pick you up on the first day of your trip in Auckland at:

8.30am from the lobby of our city joining hotel – Adina Britomart Hotel Auckland

OR

9.15am from the lobby of our airport joining hotel - Sudima Auckland Airport

OR

9.30am from the Auckland Airport (Domestic terminal)

Drop off information
We can drop you off on the last day of your trip in Auckland at:

5.30pm at Auckland Airport

OR

5.45pm at our airport joining hotel - Sudima Auckland Airport

OR

6.30pm at our city joining hotel – Adina Britomart Hotel Auckland

When booking your flights, please make sure you:

Arrive on day one no later than 8.00am International 9.00am Domestic  
Depart on the final day no earlier than 8.00pm International 7.00pm Domestic

If your travel plans fall outside of these times please check with us before you book.

Airfares to and from New Zealand. Airfares between the North and South Island of New Zealand if you are joining one of our South Island trips too.
Airport transfers.
Travel insurance.
Visas.
Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages with lunch and dinner.

• Experienced New Zealand Trails Guides to guide you on your tour.
• Activities, hikes and guides as shown in the itinerary.
• Accommodation as indicated in your final itinerary.
• All meals.

New Zealand is not a tipping culture. If you'd like to show your appreciation to your guides with a tip it is very much appreciated but not an expectation on our trips. 

On the Sweet North trip you'll experience the variety of the terrain in the North Island on the following hikes:

• A short walk on the Tongariro Crossing in Tongariro National Park

• Mauao Summit Walk

• Karangahake Windows Walk

On the Sweet North trip you'll get to experience these unique activities in the North Island:

- Kayak to Cathedral Cove
- Maori culture experience including a hangi feast
- See glowworms and explore the Waitomo Caves

Yes – we are well connected in New Zealand! You will have access to the internet, at your accommodation whether free or for a small fee, every night on your trip. While New Zealand is quite tech savvy the wifi at some accommodation may not be of the speed you are used to back home.

Yes, all of the places we stay on the Sweet North trip have electricity.

Safety is always our top priority. We take great pride in our impeccable safety record and our safety management plans. Your New Zealand Trails Guides are highly experienced outdoors professionals who are first aid qualified and fully equipped with a satellite phone, personal locator beacon and first aid kit. Our trips have direct access to our highly experienced operations team and other outside services 24 hours a day.

Our guests are like-minded people typically from Australia, the UK, Canada and America, and come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. On average, we have a 50/50 split between men and women, with several single travellers on each trip as well as couples and friends travelling together.

If you would like to see the actual people that come on our Sweet North Island tour, check out our photo gallery.

You certainly don’t need any technical outdoors experience to enjoy your New Zealand Trails trip. If you enjoy being out and about in the outdoors and are a generally active person who enjoys hobbies like walking, cycling, golf, tennis or dancing then you will have no problems at all with the walks and activities on your trip.

The kayaking activity on your trip is suitable for beginners and is in a calm cove. There’s no need for you to have ever been kayaking before. You will be in double sea kayaks, which are very stable. A specialist kayak guide will teach you everything you need to know before you head out and will be with you out on the water.

We run small-group tours, so along with your guides, there are typically 12-14 guests in your group. We have found keeping our group sizes small is the perfect way to make sure everyone has the best time.

Our Sweet North trip is very popular and we often run two trips departing on the same date, with no more than 14 guests on any one trip. This trip has been carefully crafted to give you exclusive access to New Zealand's best walks, activities, and accommodations. By running one trip eastbound and the other westbound we are able to give every guest this exclusive experience. The published itinerary is the westbound trip, though it doesn't matter which direction you go as both trips start and finish in Auckland and the itineraries are identical, they just run in opposite directions. If for any reason you would like to be on a particular departure direction then just let us know.

If you are joining us on both a Sweet North and a South Island trip then it’s very easy to transition between the South and North Islands. Our national airline Air New Zealand operates several flights a day between Auckland and Queenstown. We leave the flights for you to organise so that you can choose where you would like to spend any extra time between your trips and the time that suits your plans. 

Coming on a guided trip with us means we take care of everything! Our small group tours have a maximum of 14 guests per trip along with your local, New Zealand guide and are designed to make it easy, fun and safe for you to explore on your New Zealand trip of a lifetime.

Before your trip:
You’ll have a friendly guest services team there to assist you every step of the way. From advising what you should pack to choosing the best flights to arrive for your trip on time and helping organize pre and post-trip accommodation. No matter when you book or how far in advance you plan your travel, our team is here to help.

During your trip:
On your trip, your dedicated local New Zealand guide will take care of everything. They provide food, snacks and safety information, as well as arrange all of your activities and make sure you get where you need to be safely and on time. They’ll also share their extensive knowledge of our country and culture and provide flexibility so you can enjoy New Zealand at the pace that’s right for you.

After your trip:
You’ll receive all the photos from your trip that your guides have collected along the way so you can cherish the memories of your adventure.

Yes, we can! Our friendly Guest Services team will be here to help every step of the way. They can advise you on which flights you should book to ensure you arrive for your trip on time, the best accommodation for you pre and post-trip and everything in between. They are here to make sure your travel experience is seamless and stress-free.

On day one of your trip, your guides will pick you up from either our joining hotel or the airport in a late-model Mercedes Benz Sprinter. This will be your vehicle for the duration of the trip and your luggage will travel with you in the luggage compartment. On the days we travel between locations we average around three hours of driving. Our trips are carefully planned to give you the most time exploring the outdoors and any travel is always broken up with hikes, activities and coffee/bathroom breaks. You'll bring your small day pack with you inside the vehicle, with just your hiking essentials (jacket, water bottle, sun hat etc) and will be all you will need to carry with you when you are out exploring. Your luggage will stay in the vehicle until we reach our accommodation for the evening. 

If you are joining us on both a North Island and a South Island trip, it is very easy to transition between the South and North Islands. Our national airline Air New Zealand operates several flights a day between Auckland and Queenstown. We leave the flights for you to organise so that you can choose where you would like to spend any extra time between your trips and the time that suits your plans. If you have any questions about the timings for your trips, or you would like any help at all, just ask us!  

The focus of our trips is spending as much time as possible, with our feet on the ground, exploring the great New Zealand outdoors. We’ve carefully crafted our itineraries to cover as much of New Zealand as we can while at the same time minimising the amount of time spent in a vehicle.

On the days we travel between locations we average around three hours of driving. We always break up the drives with walks, activities and visits to our favourite small towns. Our guides also make sure to stop every hour or so for a coffee/bathroom break. You’ll always have plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs.

If you’d like to chat more about the specific drive times for your trip, feel free to give us a call here in New Zealand :-).

It’s easy! You can book online here or give us a call and we’ll talk you through it. You’ll need to pay a 15% deposit to secure your booking with the balance due 90 days before your departure date. You can pay your deposit by credit card in US, Australian or Canadian dollars, British pounds or Euros.

To secure your spot on the tour we require a 15% deposit, with the balance payable 90 days before departure. You have the option of paying by credit card, either over the phone or through our secure online booking page.

Absolutely! You can secure your spot on the trip with just a 15% deposit. After that, the remaining balance is due 90 days before your trip departs. You're welcome to pay off the balance in as many instalments as you like - whatever suits you best. All payments can be made easily and securely through our guest portal.

When you decide to join us, you can secure your spot with just a 15% deposit.

You’ll enjoy a spacious room with a private ensuite bathroom every night except for one special evening at Kohutapu Lodge. This stop is something truly unique. Kohutapu Lodge offers a warm, modern stay with a rare opportunity to connect deeply with Māori culture. It’s a real privilege to spend time here. That night, you’ll still have your own private room, and while some rooms have their own ensuite, others share a bathroom between two rooms. It’s all thoughtfully arranged to ensure comfort and privacy.

During travel days, your guide will make regular stops at clean and convenient bathroom facilities along the way. Out on the trails, you’ll also find basic toilets at regular intervals - never too far when you need them.