18-Day North Island New Zealand Tour

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Wellington Airport, a private shuttle driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Wellington Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

This evening enjoy a 2.5 hour walking tour, where you will be guided through the popular entertainment areas, soaking in the city’s vibrant personality, famous for its street art food and drinks culture. You will hear about the history of each bar and meet the master mixologists at each location through this fun, informal yet informative drinking tour.

YOUR DAY

Today is your day to explore the Coolest Little Capital in the World! This morning you could take the Cable Car from the city up to Kelburn, where you will be able to wander the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Late morning, perhaps hop on the free shuttle to Zealandia, the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. Tonight why not enjoy one of the delicious restaurants the city is famous for? Wellington is known as the cultural capital of New Zealand and due to its small size, the majority of the city can easily be covered on foot.

YOUR DAY

85km, 1 hour 15 minutes driving

This morning you will depart wellington and head to the gorgeous Wairarapa. This region is known for its temperate climate, rolling countryside and delicious wines, and is a favourite of James Cameron (the filmmaker) who owns a large farm in the area. Perhaps stop in Greytown, voted the most beautiful small town in New Zealand on your way to the quaint village of Martinborough. This is a great chance to stroll around the town square, enjoy some great local food and tour the nearby wineries – you can even hire a bike to take a leisurely ride to visit the local vineyards!

YOUR DAY

267km, 3 hours 10 minutes driving

Today after further checking out the Martinborough and Wairarapa Region, take the drive through to the Hawkes Bay region through the towns of Dannevirke and Woodville to the charming city of Napier. Napier was flattened by an earthquake in 1931, which led to massive rebuilds in the Art Deco Style, making this iconic city a beautiful hub of period architecture, food and wine. Spend the next 2 nights in this picturesque hub.

YOUR DAY

Today you will be exploring the city of Napier and the surrounding wine making region.

This morning you will take a guided art deco walking tour to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the city.

Afterwards, you will be taken on a winery tour, visiting several wineries around the Hawkes Bay area. The region is famous for their wines and have won international acclaim for both red and white varietals. There are over 70 wineries in the area and this afternoon you will visit 4 or 5 of the best, including wine tastings at each and a complementary cheese platter.

Tonight is free to enjoy the city – perhaps dine at one of the wonderful seaside restaurants to sample some of the region’s delicious fare!

YOUR DAY

218km, 2 hours 45 minutes driving

This morning you can venture up to Te Mata Peak by walking track or by vehicle and experience the sunrise over Hastings, Napier and the Pacific Ocean, as well as surrounding vineyards.

Return inland to reach Lake Taupō, New Zealand’s largest lake and continue to Rotorua. En route, stop at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls en route.

This afternoon visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland – a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will see New Zealand’s largest thermal mud pool, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will explore the untouched, sacred land of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe, in an intimate, small group three-hour 4WD experience. Guided by a local and highly knowledgeable Māori guide, you’ll explore a stunning marae, landscapes and never-before-seen views that look over Rotorua’s lake district. En route, you’ll learn the myths and legends of the Māori people, their rich history and fascinating ways of life.

This afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, or a visit to the spectacular Redwoods Treewalk! (all activities listed are optional).

Tonight you will enjoy a twilight kayak glowworm tour which will lead you along the shorelines of a beautiful lake during sunset/dusk en route to a small cavern home to a constellation of glow worms. Once it becomes dark you enter the cavern to be surrounded by a galaxy of glow worms. On your paddle home you will be guided to a series of another 3 small cave locations (weather dependent) before gazing at the stars if the sky as clear and making your way back to the beach you started from.

YOUR DAY

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will head towards the sunny Coromandel Peninsula. En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. At the end of the tour, enjoy at the Green Dragon Inn.

Following this, drive through lush native forest and end up in Whitianga, where the afternoon/evening is free to enjoy this beachside paradise.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy a glass bottom boat cruise from Whitianga. You’ll see Cathedral Cove and its fabulous white sandy beaches, iconic native New Zealand trees and incredible rock formations. Stunning volcanic coastline including sheer cliffs, towering pinnacles, blowholes and sea caves such as Orua Sea cave. Look through the glass panels to see a diverse amount of marine life including red snapper, red moki, leatherjackets and schools of demoiselles and blue mau mau. Look closely through the kelp forest to spot stingrays, crayfish and octopus. On the surface keep your eyes peeled for blue penguins, sea birds and marine mammals such as dolphins, orca and seals.

The rest of the day is free to explore the beauty of The Coromandel Peninsula. Perhaps take a walk to one of New Zealand’s most stunning beaches; Cathedral Cove where you wander through ancient native forest to the pristine beach that houses this striking rock formation. Other options for the day include a glass-bottom boat trip to a marine reserve, bathing at The Lost Spring, a visit to New Chum’s Beach, horse-riding at a local farm or kayaking to the idyllic other worldly paradise of Whenuakura/Donut Island (self-drive only) – (all optional).

Please note that if you choose a guided tour, your tour guide will have a full day off guiding and driving today.

YOUR DAY

193km, 3 hours driving

This morning you depart Whitianga and head to NZ’s largest city, Auckland. There may be time for a walk through one the region’s many Kauri Tree forests, where you will encounter the flora and fauna of New Zealand’s North Island at its best.

You follow the coast road to the town of Coromandel, where you will take a trip on ‘The Driving Creek Railway’- New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway, with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary (included activity).

From here continue on to Auckland where you will spend the night before driving north tomorrow.

YOUR DAY

227km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will head over ‘The Harbour Bridge’ and say goodbye to New Zealand’s largest city to be greeted by Northland ‘The Winterless North’, famous for its gigantic kauri trees, Māori culture and its stunning beaches. En route you could visit the Kauri Museum to learn all about New Zealand’s most ancient tree and how its significance has developed over time (optional).

You will then visit Whangarei, the capital of the Northland region where you can view the stunning Whangarei Falls, known as the most photographed waterfall in New Zealand due to its ease of access, picturesque bush surrounds and guaranteed 365 day of the year flowing cascade.

From here you head north to Paihia, the hotspot of the well-known ‘Bay of Islands.’

YOUR DAY

This morning is free to explore the beautiful Bay of Islands. Perhaps enjoy a walk along the beautiful Paihia School Road Track through native bush to Opua Forest Lookout. Today you will take the short ferry (car or passenger) over to Romantic Russell for lunch at the beautiful Duke of Marlborough. Enjoy delicious food and a delightful ocean view. We recommend a wander around the very pleasant village of Russell, a visit to one or several of it’s beautiful pohutukawa lined beaches and (if you go by car) a stop at the site of New Zealand’s first capital!

This afternoon you will head out on the water, enjoying the Hole in the Rock Dolphin cruise. Here you will have stunning views as you sail around the Bay of Islands, visiting Rakaumangaanga Peninsula to Cape Brett. Here you will see Motukokako, the Hole in the Rock. You will have the chance to spot a number of marine wildlife, including dolphins and whales (included activity).

YOUR DAY

112km, 1.5 hours driving

North you go! Today you can check out the quaint seaside villages of Mangonui, Coopers Beach and Taipa in the stunning Doubtless Bay, before reaching the secluded beauty of the Carrington Peninsula and Carrington Estate, where you will stay for 2 nights.

YOUR DAY

275km, 4 hours driving return

Today you will reach the very Northern tip of Aotearoa/New Zealand! Stand at the top of the cliff and observe the Tasman Sea and Pacific Oceans meeting together in harmony. Following this, head South back down the road and pull off at Giant Te Paki to see ginormous sand dunes. Here you can rent a boogie board and sandboard your way down these massive slopes. It is quite the thrill!

Return to Carrington Estate in the evening.

YOUR DAY

172km, 2 hours 15 minutes driving

Today you will head South-West towards Opononi/Omapere where you will stay facing the Hokianga Harbour and it’s massive sand dunes.

This evening you will be taken on a tour hosted by local Māori who will take you into the Waipoua Forest to see Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere – 2 of Aotearoa’s largest and most majestic trees. Learn of the significance of these trees to the Māori people as day turns in to night in this breath-taking forest.

YOUR DAY

256km, 3.5 hours driving

You will drive through Waipoua Forest where you will have another opportunity to see the impressive kauri trees by day on one of several forest walks in the area. New Zealand only has around 1 percent of its beautiful Kauri trees remaining and they can only be seen in the Northern part of the North Island.

Heading South to Auckland down the west coast through Dargaville, you arrive in the’ City of Sails’ in the afternoon/evening.

YOUR DAY

Today you will enjoy some of the best of New Zealand’s famous exports, Rugby and film! First up visit Weta for a wildly immersive experience that journeys you through our wacky world of moviemaking. this 90-minute hosted tour is centered on three fully developed and original film concepts: a nail-biting horror, a fantasy epic and a mind-bending sci-fi. Following this you will Learn the story, feel the passion and experience the All Blacks story close and personal.

The All Blacks Experience is a state-of-the-art guided encounter that showcases the All Blacks, and our national teams in Black, through exceptional innovation and technology. This full sensory and interactive experience allows you to celebrate New Zealand’s rugby heritage, achievements and culture.

YOUR DAY

Today you will transfer to Auckland Airport for your onward travel arrangements. We trust that you’ve had an excellent time in New Zealand and wish you safe travels to your next destination.

Onward flight is not included.