New Zealand has been on my travel to-do list for a long time. My love of New Zealand started when I saw Fellowship of the Ring. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could watch those movies without wanting to hop on a plane to Auckland! I've been dreaming of travelling to New Zealand for such a long time that the list of things I want to do there is huge, so I'll only cover the North Island in this post and save the South Island for another day.
The North Island is home to tropical beaches, active volcanoes, beautiful and delicious wine country, and the largest city in the country. The Coromandel Peninsula, south of Auckland on the east coast of New Zealand, is filled with warm sandy beaches, lush green hillsides, and stark white cliffs. On my dream trip to New Zealand, I would spend 3 - 5 days relaxing and exploring the beaches and trails around Coromandel.
Grassy green hillsides studded with some very happy sheep
Cathedral Cove, accessible by an hour long hike, looks like the perfect beach for a relaxing day
To the southeast of Coromandel, in the Bay of Plenty is Whakaari, or White Island. The only way to get there is by private tour, but as the only active volcanic island in New Zealand, I think it would definitely be worth the trip!
The nerdy Tolkien fangirl in me wouldn't consider a trip to New Zealand complete without a visit to Hobbiton. Outside Matamata, the village of Hobbiton built for the films still exists. You can even have lunch and a beer at The Green Dragon! Normally I stay away from large guided tours, but this one would absolutely be worth it!
Follow the path into Hobbiton
Adventures begin at Bag End
The hobbit hole of Samwise Gamgee
A view of the Green Dragon
The most active day of my dream trip to the North Island of New Zealand would be spent hiking Tongariro Crossing. This difficult trek takes you through the dramatic active volcanic landscape, studded with turquoise lakes, multicolored rock, and steaming volcanic vents. At 12 miles and 2700 feet of elevation gain, this hike takes 7 - 9 hours. Find lots more info about this breathtaking adventure here.
Ngauruhoe, aka mount doom, seen up close from tongariro crossing
Emerald lakes surrounded by some very lucky hikers