Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll land in Auckland and have the day to explore the city on your own terms. The harbour here really is something to see, and it's easy to understand the 'City of Sails' nickname once you're walking around. This evening you'll meet up with your travel companions for dinner and drinks somewhere local, so you can get to know everyone before the trip really kicks off.
Optional Activities
- Explore Auckland's precincts and waterfront areas
- View yachts on Manukau Harbour and Waitemata
Landmarks Manukau Harbour Waitemata Harbour - Day 2
Auckland
Start with a guided tour through the New Zealand Maritime Museum where you'll see an America's Cup replica and learn about the country's sailing and boat-building history. After that, you'll take a scenic route around Mission Bay and Bastion Point, which gives you nice views of the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial. The afternoon is yours to do whatever optional activities appeal to you, or just relax and explore at your own pace.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the America's Cup exhibition at the New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Sightseeing tour of Auckland including Mission Bay and Bastion Point
Optional Activities
- Behind-the-scenes All Blacks rugby team experience
- Cruise to Waiheke Island for local wine tasting
- Visit New Zealand ice-creamery and meet the makers
Landmarks New Zealand Maritime Museum Mission Bay Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Waiheke Island - Day 3
Auckland to Tauranga
You'll head out from Auckland into the countryside to a working dairy farm called the Red Barn for a Be My Guest experience. The farmer Dan will show you around, and you'll make your own butter before sitting down to a farm-to-table lunch prepared by the chef. Later you're off to Tauranga and the beaches of Bay of Plenty. You can climb Mauao, an extinct volcano, or just find a quiet spot on the beach. Check in at Trinity Wharf, a family-run place, for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Farm-to-table lunch with locally sourced ingredients prepared by onsite chef)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest experience at Red Barn working dairy farm
- Butter-making activity on the dairy farm
- Farm-to-table lunch with locally sourced ingredients
Optional Activities
- Explore Mauao extinct volcano
- Relax on Mauao secluded beach
Landmarks Red Barn Dairy Farm Mauao Bay of Plenty - Day 4
Tauranga to Rotorua
The day starts in Te Puke where you'll taste kiwifruit straight from the orchard, picked fresh by a local farmer. From there you'll travel to Rotorua to see geothermal features like bubbling geysers and steam vents at Whakarewarewa reserve, plus the country's only living Maori village. At Te Puia you can watch Maori artisans doing their work. Dinner wraps things up with a hangi meal cooked underground at Te Pa Tu Maori Experience.
- Meals
- Dinner (Lavish hangi meal cooked in underground ovens)
Included Activities
- Kiwifruit orchard experience in Te Puke
- Te Puia Geothermal Valley visit
- Hangi meal at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience
Optional Activities
- Visit Whakarewarewa geothermal reserve and living Māori village
- Explore Te Puia cultural centre and Māori artisans
Landmarks Te Puke Whakarewarewa Te Puia Te Pā Tū Māori Experience 
- Day 5
Rotorua
You've got options today in Rotorua. Your Travel Director can guide you toward several choices: cruise through Waitomo Caves to see glow worms lighting up the limestone formations and waterfalls, or visit Hobbiton to see the Shire from the films, or take a WWII-era Duck tour around the three lakes. If you'd rather keep things low-key, Rotorua's Polynesian Spa has thermal springs where you can just soak and relax.
Optional Activities
- Visit Waitomo Caves and cruise underground cave system with glow worms, waterfalls and limestone formations
- Hobbiton tour - Lord of the Rings filming location
- Amphibious WWII-era Duck tour of Rotorua and its three lakes
- Relax at Polynesian Spa thermal springs
Landmarks Waitomo Caves Hobbiton Polynesian Spa - Day 6
Rotorua to Wellington
You'll see Huka Falls where roughly 220,000 litres of water drop 11 meters every second, which is pretty intense. Then you get panoramic views of Lake Taupo with its bright blue water and snow-covered mountains in the distance, surrounded by alpine desert, old-growth forest, and rivers full of trout. After that you'll head across to the Kapiti Coast and into Wellington, the capital, which has tons of restaurants and bars worth checking out.
Optional Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Lake Taupo scenic drive
- Explore Wellington's restaurants and bars
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo Kapiti Coast 
- Day 7
Wellington
You'll take a guided tour around Wellington's harbour-hugging streets to see the distinctive architecture, monuments, trendy neighborhoods, and cultural spots. Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, is on the itinerary, and make sure you catch the Maori wharenui meeting house inside. This tour wraps up your New Zealand trip on a high note.
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Wellington
- Visit Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) including Māori wharenui (meeting house)
Landmarks Te Papa
