Epic 282-Mile New Zealand Road Trip: Explore Glowworm Caves, Hot Springs, and Geysers

With caves lit up with glowworms, mud pools bubbling, and geysers erupting up from the ground, New Zealand’s North Island is a wonderland of stunning natural phenomena. While temperatures are starting to drop in the northern hemisphere, it’s just the early days of spring Down Under, making it an ideal time for a Kiwi road trip along the Thermal Explorer Highway.

Starting in Auckland and ending in Napier, the 282-mile route makes for an efficient and exciting way to experience the island’s highlights by following a four-day itinerary curated by Tourism New Zealand.

The journey begins with a deep dive into Māori culture—the Indigenous people of New Zealand—by first heading south out of Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau in the Māori language) to Raglan (Whāingaroa), a surf town known for the 180-foot waterfall Bridal Veil Falls (Wairēinga). Continuing on to Hamilton, visitors can explore the immaculately designed Hamilton Gardens, the 62-acre Hamilton Zoo, and the Waikato Museum, which spotlights Māori culture and heritage alongside the Waikato River.

From here, a 45-minute drive to the southeast will take “Lord of the Rings” fans to Hobbiton. Alternatively, an hour’s drive south will lead to the Waitomo Caves, where adventure seekers can walk, swim, float, or even zipline through the caves illuminated by glowworms.

Day two of the itinerary leads travelers over to Rotorua, which “sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and geothermal activity breathes through every part of the region.” This area is brimming with bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and erupting geysers—like Te Puia, shooting up to 100 feet into the sky.

With 18 lakes steeped in historical Māori significance, this region is also a haven for boating, fishing, and swimming. Adventurers flock here for activities ranging from mountain biking to strolling through the Redwoods Treewalk in Whakarewarewa Forest. Unique experiences include rolling in an inflatable park at Zorb, the world’s largest park of its kind, or pedaling in a unique foot pedal-powered monorail trail on a Shweeb Racer at Velocity Valley.

End the day by relaxing in the geothermal waters of the Polynesian Spa or enjoying a Māori storytelling experience at Te Pā Tū over a four-hour feast.

On the third day, a stop at Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave is a must on the journey south to Taupō, located on Lake Taupō, Australasia’s largest freshwater lake. Here, visitors can sail out to see the Māori rock carving at Mine Bay or engage with crustaceans at the Huka Prawn Park. Witness the tremendous power of the Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 liters of water roar over the 36-foot falls every second!

The last major stretch from Taupō to Napier is also one of the most picturesque, offering fantastic scenery with rugged hills, beautiful valleys, gentle plains, and expansive vistas. This region is known for wineries and art deco stylings in Hawke’s Bay, while Cape Kidnappers, just to the south, features golf courses and the world’s largest gannet colony.

As with any road trip, the most memorable adventures are often spontaneous. However, the Thermal Explorer Highway serves as an ideal throughway connecting many of New Zealand’s highlights, inviting road trippers to discover another world as they journey deep into the heart of the North Island.