Auckland > Bay of Islands > Auckland > Coromandel Peninsula > Rotorua > Napier > Wellington
This Small Group Journey takes in the stunning sights of the North Island starting with a journey to the sparkling waters of the Bay of Islands. Extraordinary Rotorua, with its steaming geysers and hot mud is a must. Further south you’ll visit the Art Deco town of Napier and enjoy the wonderful wines of the Hawke’s Bay region before arriving in Wellington, ‘the coolest little capital in the world’.
Haere mai – welcome! We greet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps taking in the views from the top of the Sky Tower.
We leave by the Harbour Bridge and break our journey at Reed Memorial Park to discover a remnant of ancient Kauri forest from an elevated walkway. The Bay of Islands is the historic birthplace of New Zealand, and at Waitangi we learn of the 1840 Treaty between Maori tribes and British settlers; visit the carved meeting house, the new museum and admire a war canoe (waka). After our visit, we take a ferry to the seaside village of Russell to stay at its oldest hotel.
Today each traveller has a choice between two excursions:
Discover the Far North – Journey along ‘90 Mile Beach’ to Cape Reinga where the Tasman Sea collides with the Pacific. Includes a visit to Puketi Kauri forest and lunch.
Cruise to the Hole in the Rock – It is common to see dolphins race beside our boat as we cruise towards Cape Brett Lighthouse and (conditions permitting) thread a course through the Hole in the Rock. Return to Russell to meet a guide for an insight into the town’s rip-roaring past!
Head south along the coast and arrive in cosmopolitan Auckland for a city tour that takes in panoramic views from Bastion Point, trendy Parnell Village and vibrant Viaduct Harbour, plus impressive Auckland Museum – a treasure-house of Pacific artefacts.
A natural paradise! The springs on Hot Water Beach bubble up through the sand so that, if the tide is right, you may dig out your own warm wallow. After, a walk to Cathedral Cove is rewarded by one of the most photogenic spots in New Zealand. We leave by water taxi to Hahei, where our driver waits to take us to Cooks Beach, named after Captain James Cook, and from here you can choose to hop on the ferry back to Whitianga then walk to the hotel, or travel back with our driver.
We take the Pacific Coast Highway before turning inland for a bush walk with views over Okere River Falls. Then Rotorua: the epicentre of geothermal activity and Maori heritage! Te Puia is a unique reserve of bubbling mud and spouting geysers and the national centre for Maori arts and crafts. Hospitality (manaakitanga) is a cornerstone of Te Puia’s Maori guardians, so we have a private guide.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley – the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera was devastating for the land and its people, but created a new valley that is still evolving. Walk beside boiling craters and jewel-coloured lakes; take a boat across Lake Rotomahana and hear the story of Guide Sophia.
Visit Middle Earth – Hobbiton™, the actual set which featured in Sir Peter Jackson’s films is a treat for Tolkien fans. Our guide reveals how this farm became The Shire™ and you can see the Party Tree, visit Bag End and have a pint in the Green Dragon!
This evening we take everyone to a Maori village where we receive a formal welcome (powhiri) including the hongi, the sharing of breath. Delve into Maori culture past and present through storytelling, dance and song, followed by a Hangi (a feast cooked in the natural heat of the earth).
Journey via Huka Falls and Lake Taupo across volcanic Tongariro National Park to the east coast. From the destruction of an earthquake, seaside Napier rose like a phoenix in the 1930s to become the southern hemisphere’s Miami – an Art Deco jewel.
Our expert-led walking tour reveals how! This is also wine country, and this evening’s treat is dinner at New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate, where we eat in the restored seminary buildings.
Travel through Hawke’s Bay vineyards and orchards to the capital city. On arrival, see the quirky ‘Beehive’ Parliament building, and from the Kelburn Lookout take a Cable Car back down to visit the world-renowned Te Papa museum, which showcases the shaping of New Zealand, the cultures of its diverse peoples, its wildlife and contemporary culture.
Very much enjoyed the superb Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. Loved the jet boat trip on our day out to Arthur’s Pass and the caves at Charleston.
A wonderful holiday!Chris and Joyce Brill
The Million Dollar cruise on Lake Wakatipu was absolutely brilliant – the guide was very knowledgeable and we would highly recommend this trip.
Our meal on the Mission Estate was one of the best meals of the holiday and the gardens at Hamilton were a real surprise.
But the main highlight has to have been the Milford Mariner overnight cruise – not the best of weather, we couldn’t get out on the kayaks – but a wonderful experience.Colin and Maureen Smith
Choosing a small group tour means you don’t have to worry about organising travel at all. With every one of our small group tours, we’ll arrange all of your transportation. We can even organise your initial flights to New Zealand! If you’d like to find out more about any of our tour packages, please do get in touch.
