Rotorua, Heart of North Island, only 3 hour's drive from Auckland, famous for awesome geothermal activity. Bathe in soothing thermal spas. Ruapheu , Dominating Tongariro National Park is North Island's highest peak, the active volcano, Mount Ruapehu, that occasionally provides spectacular pyrotechnic display. With high Maori population, area has some carved historic buildings. To west, Te Urewera National Park has forest walks around Lake Waikaremoana.
Natural attraction are gannets - one of few mainland colonies in world.
In north, lush farmlands dominated by almost-perfect cone of dormant volcano, Mount Taranaki . Abel Tasman National Park . Golden Bay . 800 kms from any inhabited land in South Pacific, some 850 kms east of mainland. Dominant is Mount Cook, highest mountain.