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8-Day Upper North Island Adventure

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Overview

An eight-day tour perfect for those who wish to experience as much as they can in the Upper North Island of New Zealand!

On this eight-day experience, you'll learn about New Zealand's rich history, cruise around the Bay of Islands, travel to the geothermal wonderland that is Rotorua via the Hobbiton Movie Set and travel back to Auckland via the incredible Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

This New Zealand tour from Auckland will give you multiple opportunities to experience each destination in unique ways with plenty of free time to explore!
Outdoors & Nature
Cruising
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Auckland!

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Welcome to Auckland!

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver and transferred to your accommodation to begin your New Zealand tour from Auckland. Surrounded by native bush, rainforests and an abundance of beaches, Auckland is a playground for both the city savvy and those with an eye for adventure. In the evening, you'll have the option to head out on a harbour dinner cruise. You'll enjoy your meal as you sail around the beautiful Auckland Harbour taking in the view as the sun slowly sets.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Auckland4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Harbour Cruise with Explore with Lunch/DinnerOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Auckland Airport to Auckland

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Auckland

Day 2

Travel from Auckland to Paihia with Stops at Waitangi & Russell

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Travel from Auckland to Paihia with Stops at Waitangi & Russell

Starting in Auckland, you'll travel north to the Bay of Islands. Upon arrival in Paihia, you'll visit Waitangi for a guided tour of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which gives a truly unique insight into New Zealand's early history. You'll explore the original Treaty House, one of the country's oldest and most visited historic homes. You'll then continue to Russell with a ferry ride across the harbour. After a mini-tour of Russell and a delicious picnic lunch, you'll return to Paihia.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge Paihia4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Waitangi Treaty Grounds

    Russell

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Auckland to Paihia

    Ferry from Paihia to Russell

    Ferry from Russell to Paihia

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Auckland

    Waitangi

    Russell

    Paihia

Day 3

Dune Rider to Cape Reinga with Explore

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Dune Rider to Cape Reinga with Explore

Let the driver of the purpose-built Dune Rider vehicle immerse you in the culture and history of the area while taking in the amazing scenery. Your full-day tour begins with an early morning pick-up at your accommodation and includes a freshly-prepared buffet-style lunch. The tour includes a visit to Cape Reinga lighthouse to see the meeting of the two oceans, a beach stop on 90-Mile Beach, boogie boarding down huge sand dunes at Te Paki stream and time at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge Paihia4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Dune Rider to Cape Reinga with Explore

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paihia

Day 4

Dolphin Cruise to Hole in the Rock & Travel Back to Auckland

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Dolphin Cruise to Hole in the Rock & Travel Back to Auckland

Today, you'll board your cruise and take in the stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life during your cruise, and have your camera ready as you get up close to the action. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy a relaxing sightseeing tour by coach from Paihia back to Auckland.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Auckland4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Dolphin Cruise Hole in the Rock with Fullers GreatSights

    Paihia to Auckland with GreatSights

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paihia

    Russell

    Auckland

Day 5

Drive South from Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set & Maori Evening

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Drive South from Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set & Maori Evening

Today, you'll drive south past the Bombay Hills and into the rolling farmland and pastures of Waikato. You’ll soon go through the town of Matamata where you can visit the fully intact Hobbiton film set used in the shooting of the Lord of The Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Continuing on, you’ll pass several small farming communities before telltale signs of steam and other geothermal activity signals your arrival into Rotorua. In the evening, you'll attend a cultural evening at Mitai Maori Village.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sudima Lake Rotorua3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hobbiton Movie SetOptional Activity

    Mitai Maori Village

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Auckland to Rotorua

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Auckland

    Matamata

    Rotorua

Day 6

Explore Rotorua's Sights with GreatSights

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Explore Rotorua's Sights with GreatSights

Today, you'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Rotorua, first visiting Te Puia to get an insight into Maori culture. Then, you'll enter Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, a highlight is the famous Pohutu Geyser which shoots jets of vapour up to 30 metres in the air. You'll learn about rural life in New Zealand at the Agrodome, a working farm, and you'll get close to a wide range of native and exotic wildlife at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, including New Zealand's famous flightless bird, the kiwi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sudima Lake Rotorua3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Explore RotoruaOptional Activity

    Rotorua Sights and Skyline Gondola with GreatSights

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rotorua

Day 7

Scenic Journey from Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glowworm Caves

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Scenic Journey from Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Today, you'll travel from Rotorua to Auckland with a stop at the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. You'll travel through lush farmland including the intriguing Fitzgerald Glade, a tunnel of natural greenery. In the small town of Waitomo, you'll enjoy a guided tour through the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. You'll then continue to Auckland, through the beautiful King Country and Waikato regions.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Auckland4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Rotorua to Auckland including Waitomo Caves with GreatSights

    Waitomo Glowworm Caves

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rotorua

    Waitomo

    Auckland

Day 8

Departure from Auckland

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Departure from Auckland

This morning, after breakfast, you'll be collected and taken to the airport for your departure flight.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Auckland to Auckland Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Auckland

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 8 activities
  • 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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