Top 10 Views Of New Zealand's Central North Island

Hot List Inspiration Top 10

Over 220,000 litres of water gush over the cliff face every second

Visitors to the North Island of New Zealand can find some truly breathtaking views. We've shared our photos of our top 10 favourite views that you might just want to add to your itinerary...

1.  Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand's most famous and best one day hike.  The 19.4 kilometre trek takes between 6-8 hours and passes through a red crater, emerald and blue lakes, and Mt Ngauruho, which doubled up as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
2.  Lake Tarwera is is located 18 km east of Rotorua.  It's around a 10 minute drive along Tarawera Road.  There are two lookout points well worth pulling over for.  The first Lookout allows you to see the Blue and Green Lakes from one viewing point.  The next one further along is the chance to take in sweeping views of Lake Tarawera. 

3.  Wai-O-Tapu.  Rotorua is famous for its geothermal attractions.  One of the most iconic views is of 'Champagne Pool' in the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland attraction.  The rich colours of the mineral deposits located on the edges of the pool, combined with continuous rising steam, seem like a view from another world.
4.  Te Pohutu Geyser.  Situated in the geothermal valley of Rotorua's Te Puia attraction, Pohutu Geyser is the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere, erupting up to 20 times a day and shooting water upwards of 30 metres. 
5.  Huka Falls.  Huka Falls is the most popular natural attraction in New Zealand.  Head to Taupo to see over 220,000 litres of water gush over the cliff face every second.  Visitors can marvel at the sight from a foot bridge or, from the water with either a jet boat or by taking a slower paced scenic cruise.
6.  Mount Maunganui.  The main beach at Mount Maunganui is (in our opinion and many others) the best beach in New Zealand.  The beach is popular with both surfers and holiday visitors. The 'mount' itself is a 45 minute trek to the summit, offering panoramic views of the beautiful coastline and nearby islands. 
7.  Polynesian Spa.  Rotorua's geothermal activity is the main drawing card for many visitors to the region.  So, why not relax and soak in one of the 26 naturally heated hot pools in the Polynesian Spa and enjoy the views of Lake Rotorua.
8.  Taupo.  Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand. With the mountains of Tongariro National Park in the background, the views are captivating. The lake itself is a popular spot for fishing, sailing and kayaking. Huka Falls (also on this list) is close by.
9.  Hobbiton.  A part of of Waikato countryside near Matamata, has been transformed into the hobbit village that starred in the Lord of The Rings and Hobbit films.  Hobbiton Village provides film fans with the chance to step inside the real-life 'Shire' and marvel at the attention to detail of the film set that played a pivot role in the films. 

10.  Whakatane.  A town rich in Maori heritage and history, Whakatane lies around 90km east of Tauranga, and the same distance northeast of Rotorua.  The town offers stunning views of nearby Whale Island with the volcanic White Island in the distance.  The town is also next to New Zeland's favourite bech, ' Ohope'.