Premium New Zealand North Island - 8 Days

Welcome to New Zealand! Your adventure of the volcanic North Island begins in Auckland – New Zealand’s most populated city, fringed with beaches, harbours, volcanoes and farmland. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, you might like to uncover the story of New Zealand rugby during an interactive All Blacks experience where you’ll learn about the heritage of the sport and find out what it takes to wear the famous black jersey. After your meeting, get to know your group over dinner at a local bistro in the heart of the city, championing New Zealand producers.

Leave the bustle of the big city behind and head offshore to Waiheke Island, famed for its sandy beaches and local wine. Board a ferry from Auckland – if you’re lucky, you may even see dolphins or orcas along the way. The day will be spent sipping your way around the island, stopping off at two unique wineries to learn about their production methods, and of course tasting the goods yourself. You’ll also enjoy an included lunch on the island, not to mention a few scenic drives with plenty of opportunities for photos. Return to Auckland in the late afternoon with an evening free for your own discoveries of the city.

After breakfast this morning, hit the road and drive to the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves – an extensive underground network of tunnels and caverns decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and luminous glow worms. Join a local expert for an in-depth tour of the Ruakuri Cave, descending a spiral entrance to the world below. See the limestone formations, hear the roar of subterranean waterfalls and learn about the glow worms that light up the caves. Continue to Hobbiton, where the epic Lord of the Rings movies were shot. Take a tour around the set with a local guide, hear stories about the production of these iconic films, explore Hobbit holes and enjoy a drink (and maybe a delicious pie) at the mythical Green Dragon Inn. Finally, travel to Rotorua, where you’ll spend the evening.

Spend this morning at your leisure, perhaps relaxing at the Polynesian Spa or opting for a dose of adrenaline at the Redwoods Treetop Walkway. This evening, you will pay a visit to Te Pa Tu and be hosted by the people of Tamaki Maori Village. A local expert will guide you in celebrating the abundant harvest of this season, and you will explore concepts, rituals and stories of ancient Maori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine. Within the forest-formed amphitheatre you will hear stories relayed through haka, song and drama, before torch light guides you to an alfresco dining space where you’ll sit down to a three-course feast.

Say goodbye to Rotorua and drive to Hawke’s Bay – a region known for its abundance of wineries, acclaimed food scene, ideal weather and Art Deco architecture. On the way, visit Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, where you’ll walk through thousands of years of geothermal history and volcanic features, including New Zealand's largest mud pool and bubbling basins bursting with vibrant colours. Then, continue to Hawke’s Bay, where you’ll check into your Feature Stay accommodation at Craggy Range Winery, beneath Te Mata Peak. You’ll spend the next two nights in the heart of this acclaimed wine region, taking in the gorgeous landscapes and tasting local drops. Stay in a cosy cottage with ensuite bathrooms, a large, shared lounge and an outdoor area where you can enjoy the lush green vineyards and mountains surrounding you. Settle into your room, then join your group for a wine tasting and dinner.

Consider heading out on an optional walk to the Te Mata Peak Lookout at sunrise – the views make the early start well worth it. This morning, you’ll head to the town of Napier for an Art Deco walking tour. Napier is the self-proclaimed ‘Art Deco capital of the world’. After the devastating Hawke’s Bay earthquake of 1931, Napier town centre was destroyed and had to be rebuilt from the ground up. The result was a town that became a freezeframe of the popular architectural styles of the 1930s, including Stripped Classicism, Spanish Mission and Art Deco. After your walking tour, you’ll have a free afternoon to do some exploring at your own pace. You might like to hire a bike to see Napier and its surrounds from a different perspective, or you could join a safari to see the largest colony of gannets in Hawke’s Bay.

This morning, make tracks for Wellington – New Zealand’s trendy capital city. After settling in, you’ll head to Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, for a behind-the-scenes tour with a local Maori guide. Your guide will take you on a personal journey, sharing stories and connections from their iwi (tribe, nation or people) as they guide you through the museum’s vast collection comprising more than 40,000 artworks including paintings, embroidery, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, moving image and more. You’ll end this special tour by sharing some traditional ‘kai’ (food). Tonight, join your group for a farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant – the perfect chance to reminisce about your North Island adventure.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to spend more time exploring Wellington, just get in touch with your booking agent in advance to arrange additional accommodation.