No journey to New Zealand – known as Aotearoa in the native Māori language – is complete without exploring the North Island, featured on Lonely Planet’s 2026 Best In Travel list, aka the top places to visit next year. Local guide Sonny Ngatai shows us his home, from the jagged Pinnacles of Wairarapa to the steaming Pohotu Geyser in Rotorua. See our full list of Best In Travel destinations and experiences at https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel.