When making an itinerary for a trip to New Zealand, ... The North Island is the more urbanized of the two, with the country's two biggest cities, Wellington and Auckland.

Your ultimate travel guide to New Zealand. Discover the must-visit destinations on the North and South Islands, from Queenstown's adventures to Rotorua's culture.

This photo taken on June 29, 2025 shows the winter scenery in North Island, New Zealand. (Photo by Wu Jiaxiang/Xinhua) This photo taken on July 5, 2025 shows the winter scenery in North Island ...

And just like that, your 48 hours on New Zealand’s North Island are O-V-E-R — and that’s only scratching the surface of all it has to offer. Study cited: Vaidya, Binit, and Shweta Nakarmi.