1
Arrive in Auckland
‘Haere Mai’ and welcome to New Zealand.
Upon arriving at Auckland Airport you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Check in and freshen up before spending the remainder of the day exploring the ‘City of Sails’. Stroll the walkways of the Viaduct, peruse the boutique shops of the central city. Boutique shopping, Pacific-inspired markets and a passionate cafe culture make this city a charming place, enjoy an ice cream as you stroll the Mission Bay Beach board walk, choose to discover Auckland’s sparkling harbour and emerald islands on a boat cruise or ferry ride.
This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:
Explore Waiheke Island | Island Kayaking Adventure | America’s Cup Sailing |
Auckland's Sky Tower | Whale and Dolphin Safari | Rangitoto Island Cruise & Walk |
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night
2
Auckland - Bay of Islands
Depart Auckland and travel to Matakohe for a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is a New Zealand enclave encompassing over 100 subtropical islands and is known for its undeveloped deserted beaches.
This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Bay of Island - 2 Nights
3
Bay of Islands at Leisure
Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free and you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).
Excursions available in the Bay of Islands:
Diving Rainbow Warrior | 4WD Adventure Cape Reinga | |
Sea Kayaking the Bay | Giant Kauri Forest Walk |
Meals: Breakfast
4
Bay of Islands - Auckland
This morning cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island, or as it is popularly known, the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. Return to Paihia and travel south via Whangarei to Auckland where you will enjoy a city sights tour. This evening is free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night
5
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Rotorua
Enjoy a leisurely start before visiting Sky Tower, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular attractions. Depart Auckland and travel through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. This is followed by a guided tour of the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Your guide will recount details of how this beautiful piece of farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle Earth.
This afternoon continue to Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Rotorua - 2 Nights
6
Explore Rotorua & Maori Cultural Experience
Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! The next stop is Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before traveling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for.
This evening you will experience an entertaining Maori Cultural Performance which features the graceful poi dance and ferocious haka. This is followed by a Hangi feast prepared in the traditional way, over hot coals, and buried in the ground.
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
7
Masterton via Taupo & Napier
Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as “The Art Deco Capital”, where a city tour will showcase the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation Masterton - 1 Night
8
Masterton - Wellington
Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to Greytown where you see the most complete examples of original Victorian wooden architecture.
Drive through Featherston then through the Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington. A highlight this afternoon will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.
Here are some sight seeing and activity suggestions while in Wellington:
National Museum - Te Papa | Visit Cuba Street | Weta Workshop Tour |
Zealandia Wildlife Reserve | Carter Observatory |
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Accommodation Wellington - 1 Night
9
Farewell from Wellington
Haere rā and Bon Voyage!
We are sure you will enjoy this tour and our promise is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with plenty of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time in New Zealand! Have a great homeward journey, farewell and hope to see you again soon in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Meals: Breakfast
Itinerary Variations:
The provider strives to improve trip itineraries. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond their control make changes necessary, the provider reserves the right to vary itineraries and to make substitutions.
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