Isola del Nord 4: da Auckland a Wellington in 5 giorni

Golden beaches, rainforests and hidden bays shape the Coromandel Peninsula, one of the North Island's best-loved natural destinations, just a few hours' drive from Auckland. This finger of land reaching into the Pacific alternates rugged coastlines, turquoise waters and a mountainous interior cloaked in lush vegetation. Its most famous landmark is Cathedral Cove, a spectacular rock arch reached on foot, while at Hot Water Beach visitors dig their own natural pool in the sand, fed by thermal springs. Heritage towns such as Coromandel Town and Thames preserve the atmosphere of the gold-mining era, with art galleries, cafés and craft workshops. Trails through kauri forests and the scenic Driving Creek invite slow exploration. Among unspoilt nature, secret beaches and a relaxed pace, the Coromandel Peninsula is the ideal retreat for those seeking sea and tranquillity.

Begin a magical journey into the fantasy universe of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, created by Tolkien and made even more famous by the New Zealand director Peter Jackson. Traveling south, you pass through the Bombay Hills, the agricultural region of Waikato, and the historic town of Cambridge. Stop at the Shire's Rest in Matamata, the green countryside where the Hobbit trilogy was set. You will see the 37 hobbit holes, the double-arched bridge, the party tree, the Green Dragon Inn, and the door of Bilbo's house; a splendid view as far as the eye can see over the hills. Rotorua holds one of New Zealand's most extraordinary landscapes, a land of bubbling geysers, hot mud pools and volcanic lakes at the centre of the North Island. Known for the unmistakable scent of sulphur that fills the air, it is the beating heart of the country's Māori culture and geothermal activity. In the areas of Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu, visitors admire the famous Pohutu geyser and mineral terraces in surreal colours, while Māori villages offer haka dance performances, hangi feasts cooked underground and encounters with age-old traditions. Lake Rotorua and the nearby Redwoods Forest, with its towering sequoia pines, invite walks, mountain biking and canopy suspension bridges. Among geothermal wonders, ancestral culture and lush forests, Rotorua is an experience that engages every sense.

The Art Deco capital of the world, Napier was reborn after the 1931 earthquake with a complete reconstruction in the geometric, luminous style of the era, which still shapes its pastel façades today. Every February the Art Deco Festival fills the streets with 1930s costumes, cars and music. The Marine Parade waterfront accompanies strolls among palms, fountains and ocean views. Napier is the heart of the Hawke's Bay wine region, renowned for its Chardonnay and Syrah and its many wineries open to visitors. Not far away, at Cape Kidnappers, lives one of the world's largest gannet colonies. An elegant town where history, wine and sea come together.