9 of the best day trips from Auckland for food, wine and outdoor adventures

Gold-mining history, island and coastal escapes, and outdoor (and underground!) adventures combine for great ways to enjoy a day out of Auckland. And everywhere you go in Aotearoa (New Zealand’s Māori language name), there’s almost always the promise of good food, wine and beer.

1. Coromandel Town

Travel time: 2 hours
How to travel: by ferry

Heritage 19th-century buildings reinforce the gold-mining history of Coromandel Town – the precious metal was discovered nearby at Driving Creek in 1852. Now the verdant valley incorporates the quirky narrow-gage Driving Creek Railway, which presents views all the way back to Auckland from the Eyefull Tower, and an exciting zip line swooping through a stand of regenerating native forest.

How to get to Coromandel Town from Auckland:

Advertisement

Driving from Auckland to Coromandel Town takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, but an alternative is to catch the Fullers360 ferry from downtown Auckland. The journey across the Firth of Thames takes 2 hours, followed by a 15-minute minibus ride to Coromandel Town. Transfers covering the short distance to Driving Creek are also available.

2. Raglan

Travel time: 2 hours
How to travel: by car

West Coast surf combines with cafe culture and kayaking or paddleboarding on the sheltered waters of Raglan’s Whaingaroa Harbour. A bohemian band of local artists includes the diverse crew at Jet Collective and Māori-influenced design from Simon Te Wheoro at his Toi Hauāuru Studio.

How to get to Raglan from Auckland:

From Auckland to Raglan is just under 2 hours by car. By public transportation, travel by InterCity bus from Auckland to Hamilton, then transfer to Busit route 23, linking Hamilton to Raglan from the Hamilton Transport Centre.

3. Matakana

Travel time: 1–3 hours
How to travel: by car or bus

Visit Matakana’s excellent market – held riverside on Saturday mornings – before exploring the region’s emerging wine scene or sampling craft beer at 8 Wired Brewing or the Sawmill Brewery. Essential summertime detours include the beaches at Matheson Bay and Anchor Bay on the nearby Tāwharanui peninsula.

How to get to Matakana from Auckland:

Matakana is 1-hour drive north of Auckland. Going by bus (via Warkworth) with Auckland Transport involves multiple transfers, taking 2–3 hours.

4. Hamilton

Travel time: 90 minutes
How to travel: by car

Advertisement

Highlights in Hamilton include the superb Hamilton Gardens, featuring the entertainingly confounding Surrealist Garden, and the display of Māori taonga (cultural treasures) at the Waikato Museum. After a hit of art and culture, adjourn to Duck Island Ice Cream for seasonal flavors, or share plates at riverside cafe Gothenburg.

How to get to Hamilton from Auckland: 

By car, it’s a 90-minute drive south on the SH1, and there are also regular InterCity bus services linking Auckland and Hamilton.

5. Waitomo Caves

Travel time: 2 hours and 30 minutes 
How to travel: by car

Board a boat to drift along an underground river into Waitomo’s memorable Glowworm Cave, or embark on a black-water rafting adventure. Wetsuits are mandatory for participants steering an inner tube over underground rapids and waterfalls. Other exciting options include cave zip-lining and rappelling with Waitomo Adventures.

How to get to the Waitomo Caves from Auckland:

Driving from Auckland to the Waitomo Caves takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, or the destination can be combined with a longer visit incorporating Raglan or Hamilton (both an hour from Waitomo). Day trips from Auckland including the Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton can be booked with Bush & Beach.

6. Hahei

Travel time: 2 hours
How to travel: by car

Embark on a kayak to Cathedral Cove, a spectacular rock arch on the edge of the Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve. After rain, a natural waterfall sometimes flows from atop the arch. At nearby Hot Water Beach, visitors can dig themselves a natural hot tub in the sand around low tide. Pizza and beers at Hahei’s Pour House complete this Coromandel Peninsula day trip.

How to get to Hahei from Auckland:

Auckland to Hahei is just over 2 hours by car. From October to April, visitors to Cathedral Cove should leave their vehicles at the Park & Ride lot at the entrance to Hahei and catch the shuttle into town, where many kayak tours start. Go Kiwi shuttles to Hahei run from downtown Auckland, also stopping to pick up passengers at Auckland Airport.

7. Tiritiri Matangi

Travel time: 80 minutes
How to travel: by ferry

Venture across the Hauraki Gulf to this predator-free bird sanctuary. Tiritiri Matangi’s avian superstars are the squat and quizzical ​​takahē, a flightless bird found only on the island, in fenced predator-free sanctuaries and in the most remote wilderness areas of New Zealand’s South Island. Strolling in Tiritiri Matangi’s bush and on its beach trails may also reveal up to 30 other bird species.

How to get to Tiritiri Matangi from Auckland:

Catch the Explore ferry from downtown Auckland to Tiritiri Matangi.

8. Waiheke Island

Travel time: 40 minutes
How to travel: by ferry

Auckland’s island of wine is a favorite escape for locals, drawn to Waiheke’s vineyard restaurants and a Mediterranean-style microclimate that’s equal parts southern Europe and southern hemisphere. Challenge yourself on EcoZip’s zip line, soaring high above vineyards and native bush, before a long lunch at the Spanish-influenced Casita Miro.

How to get to Waiheke Island from Auckland:

Catch the passenger ferry with Fullers360 from downtown Auckland, then use the convenient 50A and 50B bus services from Auckland Transport to get around the island. Sealink car ferries leave from central Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter and Half Moon Bay in east Auckland.

9. Waihi

Travel time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
How to travel: by ferry

Towering Phoenix palms and stately buildings line Waihi’s main street, a legacy of the quiet Waikato town’s gold-flecked past. Explore the region’s lustrous history at the award-winning Gold Discovery Centre, join a tour to learn about the sprawling Martha Mine, or divert to nearby Waihi Beach and tackle the Orokawa Bay walk high above the surf-trimmed arc. A late lunch or early dinner at Flatwhite's beachfront location is recommended.

How to get to Waihi from Auckland:

It’s 1 hour and 45 minutes from Auckland to Waihi by car, then a further 15 minutes to Waihi Beach. InterCity buses linking Auckland to Tauranga stop at Waihi, but travelers then need to catch Baybus's 85 route, which services Waihi to Waihi Beach (Tuesday and Thursday only), or arrange a taxi.