10 Best Weekend Escapes within 3 Hours of Auckland

After weeks in lockdown, the idea of being removed from the comfort of your own home might be a little daunting, but the thought of spending one more second inside is also very frustrating! See the dilemma?

So, how can you beat the boredom of being bunkered down and still ease back into society at the same time? Baby steps! These mini trips from Auckland are all about a 3-hour drive from Auckland and should certainly hit the spot. If you're after renting a car, Klook now offers car rental in NZ too!

Hamilton is an easy 1.5-hour drive from Auckland, so if you don’t have the time for an overnight stay you could still safely make a fun day trip out of it (just remember to share the driving).

There are loads to do once you’re there; most notably a visit to Hamilton Gardens, which features a myriad of landscaping styles from Japanese to Italian to English and even a traditional Maori garden. There’s nothing like fresh flowers and bursting colour to pull you out of that post-iso slump.

Also in town is Hamilton Zoo, which provides you with an opportunity to see 600 species of birds and wildlife without straying too far on to the wild side. For more interesting things to look at and learn about, the Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato will teach you all your brain can absorb about the local area and its significance in New Zealand’s history.

Raglan is a surfing town that is a two-hour drive from Auckland. It also sits just west of Hamilton.

If you’re not much of a surfer, don’t worry, there’s more to this place than just catching a wave. Like most of New Zealand, Raglan’s charm lies in its unaffected natural sites; with beaches, cliffs, rock formations and bushland all untouched and waiting for you to pay them a visit!

Try rock climbing, kayaking, paddleboarding or hiking to make the most of this magnificent destination before you settle into an architecturally designed abode or more humble accommodations that suit early-rising surfers.

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the main beach at Mt Maunganui is worth the visit alone. When you factor in that the impressive 232 metre-tall backdrop is an extinct volcano, you’ll kick yourself for not visiting sooner!

This surf town is ripe with adventure for outdoors-y types (the climb up the volcano will take you roughly one hour) or for those who prefer to kick back, the local produce is abundant, world-renowned and begging to nourish your soul.

Best of all, this stunning location is only two hours and forty-five minutes from Auckland!

The Kai Iwi Lakes region provides an idyllic location for campers and those seeking a more isolated break. The two popular camping areas are Pine Beach and Promenade Point.

The lakes themselves are made up of so many shades of blues that you will feel like you’ve been swept away to a tropical island, and with little else to do but breathe in the fresh air, challenge yourself to a hike in the thousand-year-old forests or engage in some waters sports, you’ll return from your weekend away feeling revived and refreshed and ready for the three-hour drive back to the city.

Coromandel is where the forest meets the sea and is roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Auckland. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a fantasy novel when you take in your surroundings and will become awestruck by the pristine white beaches, turquoise waters, and the ancient Kauri forest.

With little effort, you can get amongst the rugged greenery by taking a ride on the scenic Driving Creek Railway, which traverses through the forest on its narrow track. Another highlight of the Coromandel area is Hot Water Beach – which is exactly what it sounds like! Take advantage of the warm water and dig your own ‘hot tub’ in the sand, so when the steamy water rolls in you can relax in your own natural spa bath.

If you love the sound of Coromandel but don’t feel like driving yourself, why not book an all-inclusive day trip and let someone else do the heavy lifting!

A favourite with mega celebs like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Madonna and Bill Gates, Waiheke Island is arguably one of New Zealand’s most gorgeous destinations. Driving there from Auckland (including a trip on the drive-on ferry) will take less than two hours, meaning it’s also one of the best places you can go on vacay without the worry of a long journey home at the end of the weekend.

Waiheke Island is suitable for all budgets, so while you may not have the bank balance of Tay Tay or Mr Gates, there are accommodation options ranging from campgrounds to luxe, boutique hotels and sumptuous local produce that’s as cheap and cheerful or as high end as you want.

If an overnight stay isn’t do-able, how about a food and wine-filled day out on the island? Just hop on the ferry and let your guide do the rest.

The Bay of Islands is a well known must-do, and for good reason! The natural landscapes are spectacular and the history is equally enthralling! We recommend this overnight tour, so everything is taken care of and you can simply unwind.

The tour takes you across the famous Auckland Harbour Bridge to visit the Waitangi Treaty House. The Waitangi Treaty House is the historic place where the Maori and Europeans signed a treaty formalising New Zealand's place as part of the British Empire, and the perfect place to start your tour. After a guided tour of the treaty house, visit the town of Russell and learn all about its whaling and political history. After touring the town, you'll head to the island of Paihia and enjoy the rest of your day relaxing on the waterfront.

The next day starts early with a cruise around the Bay of Islands. A highlights of the cruise is Motuakoko (Piercy Island), which has a famous 210 foot hole - tall enough for your boat to cruise through! After, the cruise, enjoy some free time to explore Paihia or relax on the beach, before being driven back to Auckland. Napping on the trip home is definitely allowed after such a fun-filled escape!

Rotorua is located just under three hours from Auckland and is dense with culture. If you’ve always wanted to understand more about Maori heritage, Rotorua is one of the best places to immerse yourself in it, with a rich and welcoming experience at Te Puia.

Te Puia is the kind of place you can spend all day at, but if you're short on time at least half a day is recommended to ensure you soak it all in – literally. Rotorua is also home to New Zealand’s famous geysers, and Te Puia features some of the best. So, for a warm and relaxing way to spend a winter’s afternoon, there’s no better way to kill two (hypothetical) birds with one stone than indulge in the hot springs at the cultural centre. Speaking of birds – there are even two fluffy kiwis on site that you might be lucky enough to catch a peek at. These super-shy creatures are rarely seen by humans and this might be one of your only opportunities to spot them.

For a little evening action, a visit to Waitomo Glow Worm Caves will warm the cockles of your heart. There’s more to these caves than just the luminescent buzz of the worms, and the Maori lore that is attached to them will be explained to you as you cruise through the cavernous space.

A little closer to the city but no less of an escape, Rangitoto Island is full of enough adventure to keep you busy all day long. The volcanic island is one of the most iconic landmarks on Auckland's city skyline. Sitting majestically off the coast, Rangitoto’s distinctive symmetrical cone rises 260 metres over the Hauraki Gulf.

Try out the walking tracks to get back to nature and marvel at the black lava caves that call this island home, and climb to the summit for epic views!

Just a short ferry ride away from Auckland, a visit to Rangitoto is baby steps out of full-on iso lockdown and the perfect way to renew your relationship with the outdoors.

A lot of people correlate New Zealand with the Lord of the Rings franchise. The lush, undulating green hills, the untouched beauty of the landscape and the mysterious air of magic all played a huge part in sucking viewers in and making the films feel like the Shire is a real place on earth. Well, it actually is (kind of).

Fortunately for movie-lovers and curious minds alike, you can visit Hobbiton, which is just a couple of hours’ drive from Auckland in Matamata. Here you can explore the famous movie sets, grab a selfie outside the tiny Hobbit homes and enjoy a beverage at the Green Dragon tavern.

Hobbiton is only accessible via a pre-booked tour, but Matamata itself is worth a stay with a handful of quaint bed and breakfasts to stay at and gorgeous countryside to see.

Whether you want a solo road trip, a weekend away with friends or you’d prefer to just leave it up to a tour guide to plan your fun, there are loads of ways to escape Auckland without straying too far from home. With so many diverse options (and the borders looking like they’ll be closed for a little while yet) you’ll be able to give all the destinations a go!