New Zealand Explorer - North Island 2027 - 11 Days

Our tour starts today in Auckland, New Zealand's largest and most diverse city. Surrounded by volcanoes and volcanic cones, beautiful beaches and rolling countryside, Auckland is the perfect introduction to New Zealand. Situated on the North Island, the cosmopolitan city spans a narrow isthmus, between the harbours of Waitemata and Manukau. For those arriving in time today, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Auckland at any time. We don't provide airport transfers on this tour, but you can find information on how to reach your hotel in the final documentation. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to take a stroll around the city centre and wharf or get a bird's eye view of the sprawling city with a trip up the Sky Tower. Please note, if you plan to arrive before 3pm on Day 1 you might not be able to check-in to your hotel room, but baggage storage is available if you wish to explore the city

This morning, we'll get to know Auckland better with a city tour, taking in sites such as Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay. In the late morning, we'll wave goodbye to the city and head to the heart of the North Island and the diverse landscapes of the Waikato region. We'll visit the Hobbiton movie set at Matamata where some of the original Hobbit holes from the Lord of the Rings sit amongst the fertile hills, in the shadows of the Kaimai Ranges. Here, we'll have a two-hour tour with a knowledgeable local guide to discover the real Middle Earth. The set has been completely rebuilt as it appeared in the films, and we'll see the hobbit holes and the mill amongst other structures. After our tour, we'll head to our hotel where we'll spend the next two nights. We plan to stay in a peaceful rural location on Lake Okataina as our base for exploring the attractions of Rotorua. Driving time today will be around four hours.

We'll spend today near Murupara, with the ToeToe family as our hosts. Their lodge is set within the ancestral boundaries of Ngati Manawa tribal land, historically known as the 'Eel People'. Together with our local guide we'll get to see spots like ancient Maori rock carvings. We'll also hear about the local history and the Maori family's vision for the future and how it's making waves in the local community while embracing regenerative tourism. From learning about the ancient roots of the Haka to seeing Māori weaponry and witnessing Māori performance art, today will be packed full of traditions, both old and new. We'll get to catch a glimpse of a traditional Hangi (Māori earth oven) before feasting on a buffet lunch. Plus, we'll also try Kawakawa tea (a native medicine plant brew), visit a local carved ancestral meeting house and take a guided walk through the Whirinaki Native Rainforest. This remarkable, ancient temperate rainforest, dominated by giant podocarp trees, is a direct remnant of the prehistoric forests that covered the ancient supercontinent of Gondwanaland 200 million years ago. At the end of the day we head back to the lodge with a possible stop in Rotorua town if time permits.

This morning we'll head out on the journey to Taupo. On the way, we'll make a stop at Wai-O-Tapu to discover its vibrant and colourful volcanic features, including geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pools along a self-guided route. The Māori name translate to Sacred Waters. Once in Taupo, we'll take time to explore the iconic Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. We should reach Napier around mid-afternoon, a coastal settlement beautifully positioned on the shores of Hawke's Bay. Its original commercial centre was sadly razed in a devastating 1931 earthquake but this meant that the town was rebuilt at the height of the Art Deco era resulting in a wonderful architectural identity, making it one of the most popular attractions on North Island. We have planned a Tour Leader-led walking tour upon arrival to explore a little of this heritage. Finally we check in to our hotel for the next two nights and there should be some free time to explore further. Our driving time today will be approximately four hours.

This morning, after a short scenic drive south along the coast we'll get to grips with nature, hopping into 4WD vehicles to explore spectacular coastlines, working farms, and native bush, finishing up in New Zealand's largest privately-owned nature reserve. Here, we'll come face to face with over 20,000 gannets in their natural habitat and soak up the breathtaking views across the plateau and ocean. After a decent exploration, we'll drive on to take a tour of one of Hawke's Bay's oldest and most famous and pioneering vineyards, as well as enjoying a tasting of some of their wonderful wines. Famed for its Chardonnays and Bordeaux-style superb red blends, the region is home to over 80% of the country's Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes, and produces some of the richest and most exquisite wines in New Zealand. The rest of the day has been left free to enjoy a late lunch and further exploration of Napier.

Today we'll head south, and our first stop is for a guided visit to the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. This not-for-profit breeding sanctuary and ancient podocarp forest reserve offers a good chance to experience native species up close - including the the world-famous wolf-whistling kōkako, Kahurangi. We then continue our journey to New Zealand's capital, Wellington. The cultural centre of the country, the city has an engaging mix of art, food, and craft beer, combined with stunning harbour views and a backdrop of rolling hills and forest. On arrival, the Tour Leader will conduct an orientation tour, either by bus or on foot, then after checking in to our hotel for the next two nights, we'll have free time to explore Wellington's captivating streets some more. If time permits, why not visit the Te Papa National Museum, one of the finest museums in the world, home to a staggering collection of Maori treasures, artworks, and a unique Marae. There'll be free time tomorrow for you to explore the museum at your leisure. Our driving time today will be around five hours.

Today is free to explore more of Wellington and there are several ways you could spend it. The top of the cable car, a Wellington icon running from Lambton Quay, gives a great close-up view of the city. From here, you can visit the Observatory and stroll back through the Botanic Gardens, extending all the way down to the parliamentary complex. The Parliament's Buildings, including the 'Beehive', are well worth visiting. Aside from its importance as the political centre, the city offers a large choice of museums and art galleries as well as an abundance of cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops, many situated around Cuba Street. You could visit Zealandia and see some of New Zealand's rarest birds, reptiles and insects living wild in their natural environment, including the hihi, tuatara, saddleback, kaka and (at night) little spotted kiwi. There are also guided day or night tours. Please note that following local law, this is an allocated day off for your Tour Leader. Alternatively, you could simply enjoy a leisurely stroll along the harbourside, which is particularly beautiful on a fine day or when lit up in the evening.

This morning we make an early start and the hotel will either prepare a breakfast box or serve a limited selection first thing. After driving a short distance to the ferry terminal at Wallington we'll cross the Cook Strait, a three and a half hour public ferry ride. We land at the bustling port of Picton - known as the gateway to the islands and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. Upon arrival your Tour Leader will do an orientation tour, again either on foot or by vehicle according to local conditions and preferences. After some free time for lunch we check in to our hotel and base for the next two nights. The afternoon has been left free at leisure. Options include a scenic boat tour of Queen Charlotte Sound or a quick water taxi to Kaipupu Sanctuary island nature reserve.

Today we have included a busy and full day of activity with time on the sounds, a visit to Motuara Island and the chance to walk a section of one of New Zealand's famous long distance trails. Known as being a 'long track, not a steep track', the Queen Charlotte Track offers an undulating walk through lush native beech forests and farmlands with beautiful coastal views over the sounds. We have planned a walk of approximately 11 km / 7 miles which should take around 4 hours on relatively flat ground. We recommend comfortable walking shoes or boots and layers. This area sits right on the active boundary where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide. The Marlborough Sounds, also known as a ria, were formed through a powerful combination of tectonic sinking (the northern tip of South Island is slowly being dragged down) and rising sea levels after the last Ice Age, where sea levels surged by around 130 metres (425 feet), leaving the ridges and tops of mountains as islands and jagged peninsulas with hidden coves. Māori oral tradition tells a beautiful parallel story in which the South Island is an ancient ancestor's canoe which capsized on a reef during a cosmic storm, and as Aoraki and his brothers climbed onto the hull they were frozen to form the Southern Alps while the broken, half-sunken, upturned prow of the canoe forms the maze of waterways that makes up the sounds today.

This morning, we continue our road trip south towards Christchurch. Our first stop is at Kaikōura - a coastal town famous for its dramatic landscapes, where the Seaward Kaikōura Range meets the Pacific Ocean, and marine life including sperm whales, fur seals, dusky dolphins and albatrosses. Your Tour Leader will lead an orientation walk and a visit to see a Seal Colony. We'll arrive at our final destination in the late afternoon. After an orientation tour we will check in to the hotel and there is some free time to relax a little before we share a farewell dinner (not included) to reflect on our experiences in beautiful New Zealand. Our driving time today will be around five hours.

Our trip ends this morning at our hotel in Christchurch. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Christchurch at any time. For those continuing your journey on our 'New Zealand Explorer - South Island', today is left free and the rest of the group will be joining up this evening at 6pm for an introductory briefing. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. We don't provide departure transfers on this tour, but you can find information on how to get to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) in your final documentation.