ITINERARY:

(B) Breakfast. (L) Lunch. (D) Dinner.

Day 1: ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Arrive Auckland International Airport where you will be met and transferred to the hotel with a central city orientation tour en-route.

Regularly named as one of the best life-style cities in the world, Auckland is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, with a busy nightlife, world-class restaurants, and diverse neighbourhoods to explore. Auckland has a plethora of great museums and galleries, and is a melting pot of cultures, with a large Polynesian and Asian population. Base Accommodation: Copthorne Auckland City – 1 night
Upgrade Accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland -1 night

Day 2: AUCKLAND / BAY OF ISLANDS (B)
Departing Auckland, travel north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to first visit the Parry Kauri Park. Here you will view some fine examples of Giant Kauri Trees which have been so important to the Northland region. Continuing you will visit the Matakohe Kauri Museum, at Otamatea. Gain an insight to the early New Zealand pioneer history, which helped form the New Zealand that you see today. Continuing our journey north, reaching Paihia in the beautiful Bay of Islands, where you’ll take a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty House where New Zealand’s history began.
Base Accommodation: Kingsgate Hotel Paihia Autolodge – 2 nights
Upgrade Accommodation: Copthorne Resort Bay of Islands – 2 nights

Day 3: BAY OF ISLANDS (B)
Today is a day of leisure. The Bay of Islands has so many options for you to discover – perhaps a day trip to the light house at Cape Reinga the most northern tip of New Zealand, followed by a safari along 90 Mile Beach on the way home. Maybe take a cruise out to the Hole in the Rock or just take time out to relax within Paihia or Russell – New Zealand’s first capital.

Upgrade Sightseeing Package: • Hole in the Rock Cruise Enjoy a scenic boat trip through the Bay of Islands cruising past the Cape Brett Lighthouse, before arriving at the Hole in the Rock, which conditions permitting, your skipper will skilfully navigate through as well as taking in the Grand Cathedral Cave. On the return to Paihia pass several remote islands, fringed with golden sand beaches. If you wish to spend some leisure time in the quaint township of Russell after the cruise, please advise staff that you wish to disembark here.

Day 4: BAY OF ISLANDS / ROTORUA (B)
Depart Paihia and travel south through undulating farmlands and the small settlements of Kawakawa and Hikurangi to the city of Whangarei. Continue south past the rural townships of Warkworth and Wellsford then pass the Hibiscus Coast before arriving in Auckland. Continue south through the dairy pastures of the lush Waikato Valley to the city of Hamilton which spans the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river. Enjoy a visit to the magnificent Hamilton Gardens set on the banks of the Waikato River. The unique theme of Hamilton Gardens is ‘the story of gardens’ which is explored through a series of five garden collections – Paradise, Fantasy, Productive, Cultivar and Landscape. The exceptional Paradise Garden Collection is a highlight of the gardens and features a Chinese Scholars Garden, English Flower Garden, Japanese Garden of Contemplation, American Modernist Garden, Italian Renaissance Garden and an Indian Char Bagh Garden.
From Hamilton climb into the bush-clad Mamaku Ranges before reaching the unique geothermal area of Rotorua. This popular tourist destination is renowned for its Maori cultural encounters and fascinating thermal reserves with boiling mud pools, geysers and steaming silica terraces.
Base Accommodation: Distinction Hotel Rotorua – 2 nights
Upgrade Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua – 2 nights

Day 5: ROTORUA (B)
This morning visit Te Puia for an exclusive guided tour which combines a premier Maori culture experience with an introduction to the magnificent geothermal activity in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. Whilst in the valley see the boiling mud pools, steaming silica terraces, hot springs and geysers including the famous Pohutu Geyser which can erupt up to 30 metres high, depending on its mood. Visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where young Maori are learning the traditional carving and weaving skills of their ancestors. Further highlights of the tour include Rotowhio Marae and Te Aronui a Rua, the sacred meeting house of Rotowhio Marae. Also travel out to the Giant Redwood Forest, for a walk on the Redwood Memorial Grove track. On this popular track you can meander through the breath-taking Californian Redwoods which were planted in 1901. Then visit the beautiful Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and Lake Tarawera before returning to the hotel. Remainder of day at leisure.

Upgrade Sightseeing Package: • Skyline Aerial Gondola Ride Ride the aerial gondola up Mt Ngongotaha for panoramic views across the city of Rotorua and Lake Rotorua. • Tamaki Tours Maori Village Hangi & Cultural Experience Experience the warmth of the Maori people during an evening of ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance, storytelling and hangi feast! Enter the replica pre-European village, witness the earth being scraped carefully away from the hangi pit and enter the Meeting House to relax as the kapa haka group entertain you with a powerful cultural performance before dining on the hangi buffet dinner. Includes return transfers with other travellers on-board.

Day 6: ROTORUA / TAUPO (B)
This morning travel south through Kaingaroa Forest plantation and the Wairakei Steamfield. Make a stop here to learn how this project was a world-first, generating electricity by tapping a natural steam field then channelling the steam to a nearby power generation plant. Nearby stop at Huka Falls and marvel as the mighty Waikato River thunders through the narrow canyon. Continue to the resort town of Taupo and on the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake and world renowned trout fishery.

Base Accommodation: Suncourt Hotel Taupo – 1 night
Upgrade Accommodation: Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo– 1 night

Upgrade Sightseeing Package: • Lake Taupo Scenic Cruise to Maori Rock Carvings Explore the largest Crater Lake in the world aboard Cruise Cat. Sit back and enjoy the picturesque northern bays of Lake Taupo and out to view the Maori Rock Carvings up close. A full commentary is given on the volcanic history and Maori mythology surrounding Lake Taupo and an informative DVD is shown. Take in the views of the spectacular snow-capped mountain peaks of the World Heritage Tongariro National Park. Being a large comfortable covered catamaran, this is a great cruise for most weathers.

Day 7: TAUPO / DEPART AUCKLAND (B)
This morning travel north along State Highway 1 passing through vast pine forests – some of New Zealand’s largest. Your journey will pass through the small forestry and rural service towns of Tokoroa, Putaruru and Tirau then will skirt above the shores of Lake Karapiro, one of the eight hydro-dams situated along the Waikato River from its source at Lake Taupo through to Port Waikato where it meets the Tasman Sea. Continue through lush Waikato farmlands before ascending the Bombay Hills into Auckland.
Check in at Auckland International Airport for your flight home and farewell New Zealand.

Note: an extra night in Auckland is recommended to allow for unexpected delays.

Please note: The day by day descriptions published are intended as an indicative guide only. Travel by nature is unpredictable. Weather patterns, road conditions, public holidays, travel restrictions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that ultimately are for the client’s benefit. It is essential that clients are flexible and open minded in this regard.