North Island Highlights New Zealand

Day 1 ARRIVE AUCKLAND WAIHEKE ISLAND
Private Vehicle Transfer International Airport to Auckland City
Ferry Terminal
On arrival Auckland – “the City of Sails” you will be met by our local representative and privately transferred to the Ferry Terninal.
Waiheke Island Ferry Return
Accommodation
The Boatshed – Waiheke Island or similar
Waiheke Island Stay: 2 Nights
Boatshed Suite
2 x Cooked Breakfast per person
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Waiheke Island
Day 2 WAIHEKE ISLAND
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
EcoZip Zipline and Native Forest Tour
Once arriving at EcoZip HQ – located high on a hill with spectacular sea views to Auckland City – take to the skies on our unique ziplines. With dual cables each over 200m long, fly side-by-side a friend in an unforgettable shared experience. Across 3 separate lines, you’ll zip high above a working vineyard and lush, ancient forest canopies, soaking up incredible views back to the city and beyond along the way. Your ziplining adventure is followed by a magical guided nature walk, where you’ll discover ancient, stately trees and a treasure-trove of stories and Maori legends. Home to skinks, weta, eels, and glow-worms, your visit to EcoZip Adventures helps to preserve and restore this beautiful Site of Environmental Significance.
Meals included: Breakfast Overnight: Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island Auckland
 Day 3 WAIHEKE ISLAND AUCKLAND
Private Vehicle Transfer Wharf to City Hotel
Accommodation
Cordis Auckland Hotel or similar
Auckland
2 Nights
Executive Room
2 x Cooked Breakfast per person
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Auckland

Day 4 Auckland Day Tour
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Best of Both Worlds Full Day Tour Seat in Coach
Departure: 9.00am
Return: 5.00pm
Your morning Auckland city tour is designed to explore the history and sights of the city as well as see how Aucklanders live and play. Auckland is set on over 50 dormant volcanoes and between two harbours. Known as the City of Sails, it’s New Zealand’s largest and busiest city. This small group city tour includes stops at iconic landmarks such as Mount Victoria in Devonport and Westhaven marina. There is a stop at a cafe by a beautiful beach and lots of photo opportunities all day. Your afternoon eco tour is spent in the Waitakere Ranges. In just 30 minutes you leave behind the bustle of the city and step into the tranquillity of the rainforest.
Travel to the Arataki Centre, an information centre built high on the ridge of the Waitakere Ranges. From here you get breathtaking panoramic views across the rainforest to Auckland’s two harbours. The visitors centre is also home to some traditional Maori carvings and your guide will talk about them and explain their significance for the area. Continue on to the lush rainforest where you walk the easy tracks among giant tree ferns and view New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and silver ferns.
Move on to experience the power of the wild and rugged west coast. Feel the black sand of Piha beach beneath your feet as you stroll along one of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer. The perfect Auckland day trip. During the afternoon we also include a New Zealand style afternoon tea including biscuits and tea and coffee or juice.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Auckland
Day 5 AUCKLAND, WAITOMO, MATAMATA, ROTORUA
Private Vehicle One Way Inner City Transfer – Hotel to Rental
Car Depot  then Approx travel time 3 hours
Travel south through the fertile Waikato region to the cave area of Waitomo.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
WAITOMO MATAMATA and HOBBITON Approx travel time 1 hour 15 min
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour
Discover Middle-earth on a picturesque private farmland. Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogy in a two-hour guided tour.then on to ROTORUA
Approx travel time 1 hour
It is only a short drive south to Rotorua and it is recommend to travel via the corrugated town of Tirau.
Accommodation
Peppers on the Point or similar Rotorua
3 Nights
Lake Villa
3 x Cooked Breakfast per person
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Rotorua
Day 6 Rotorua
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Te Ra (Day Pass) – Guided Tour 90mins
Today visit Te Puia Geothermal Reserve to view the boiling mudpools and cascading Pohutu geyser and see local Maori carvers in action.
Haka (Cultural Performance) is included Also, enjoy Maori
Cultural Performance. A traditional welcome marks the start of 45 minutes of song and dance inside the sacred meeting house – Marae.
Cultural Performance times are: 10.15 am, 12.15 pm, 3.15 pm.
Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience
Departure Times: 8.15am and 1.15pm. Duration: 4.5 hours
Experience the unique landscape and history of Mt Tarawera. Infamous for its eruption on June 10th, 1886, Mt Tarawera created the world’s youngest geothermal valley of Waimangu, at the same destroying the legendary Pink and White Terraces. This fully guided walking experience encompasses the unique landscape and history of the area. With unmatched scenic vistas and 360 panoramic views this experience is ideal for all ages and includes an optional run in to the heart of the volcanic crater.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Rotorua
Day 7 ROTARUA
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Kaituna White Water Raft 3hrs
Raft through 14 rapids including waterfalls ranging from 1metre in size to the big 7metre drop – being a high commercially rafted waterfall. Pass through steep, bush clad canyons and beautiful New Zealand native forest. The professional and knowledgeable guides will provide a full safety briefing and quality river clothing/equipment for the journey ahead.
This river is a must – unique mix of history, culture and adrenaline overload.
Age Limit 13 years
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Rotorua
 Day 8 Rotorua Taupo
Approx travel time 1½ hours
The journey from Rotorua to Taupo is relatively short. The scenery between is entertainment in itself, thanks to the unique volcanic geography and the exotic pineforest plantations along the way..Steam plumes herald Wairakei, where geothermal steam is harnessed to produce electricity.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Hukafalls Jetboat Ride
Take 360° spins in the half hour of thrills, fun and excitement in a beautiful river environment, lined with native bush, sheer rock cliff face and natural hot springs.
Daily Scenic Cruise 1.5hrs
Explore the largest Crater Lake in New Zealand aboard Cruise Cat with full commentary. See Maori Rock Carvings which is only accessible by water. Enjoy a muffin and tea/coffee onboard.
Accommodation
Hilton Lake Taupo Hotel or similar
Taupo
1 Night
3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Apartment 1 x Full Breakfast per person
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Taupo
Day 9 Taupo to Wellington
Approx travel time 5½ hours
Travel along the shores of Lake Taupo to Turangi, before travelling over the Desert Road – dominated in the background by the three peaks of Ruapehu, Ngaurahoe and Tongariro – to arrive at the small town of Taihape. Sea views and the satellite towns and cities of the capital lead to Wellington City.
Accommodation
InterContinental Hotel Wellington or similar
Wellington
2 Nights
Deluxe Room
2 x Cooked Breakfast per person
Meals included: Breakfast Overnight: Wellington
Day 10 WELLINGTON
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING:
Introducing Te Papa Tour 60mins
Included is a short guided tour of New Zealand’s nature, art, history, and cultural heritage at Te Papa.
Hours – Open daily, including public holidays 10am-6pm
Rover Lord Of The Rings Half Day Tour Seat in Coach
Tour Times: 8.30am – 12.30pm or 1.30pm ot 5.30pm
This half day tour takes you to the best locations in Wellington City. Explore key sites in the film-making process with your specialist Lord of the Rings guide.
After we pick you up in the city, you drive past the Embassy Cinema, which hosted the world premieres of The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey. You then visit the Mt Victoria lookout for stunning views across Wellington City and Harbour, before a short descent into a unique pine forest where Peter Jackson began the filming of his epic trilogy. You see such scenes as the “Dunharrow Encampment,” “Shortcut to Mushrooms,” “Race to the Buckleberry Ferry,” and the iconic “Get off the Road” scene, where the Hobbits hid from the Black Riders.
Following this, you’ll take a short trip to Miramar, the home of the Wellington film industry, to visit Weta – the company who designed and fabricated almost everything Middle-earth. We show you the studios and post-production facilities that helped bring these films to screen before settling at the Weta Workshop. Here you have a chance to pose for photos with various characters and marvel at the craftsmanship of the sculptures, armour and weapons on display, and pick up those essential souvenirs and gifts.
Here you watch a behind the scenes documentary that details the history of the Weta company, from its origins through to present day, and enjoy an exclusive behing-the-scenes tour. This fascinating, insider’s look delves into the creativity and ingenuity needed to create the physical effects for some of the biggest and best movies ever, not just Middle-earth! You’ll be surprised by how many films have been made here. It will leave you amazed at the vast influence Weta has had on the film industry and in no doubt why we call the area
“Wellywood.”
You then finish the tour with a scenic drive around the harbour back to the city.
Meals included: Breakfast Overnight: Wellington

Day 11 Wellington at Leisure

12 Depart Wellington
Return your rental vehicle to Wellington Airport and check in for your departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Wellington