The North Island Trip

Hey Guys and Girls me and the wife are coming up to the north island for a wedding in Kaitia on the 26th jan, so have desided to do a trip around the north island. the plan is to leave wellington 24th go to new plymouth for wed nite, then though to auckland thurs nite, friday kaitia, sat wedding, sunday back to aucks/tauranga, monday napier, tues back to welly,want i need is great places to stay or roads in between the locations you guys think we should/shoudnt take, thanks again ,j