Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland and check into your accommodation for two nights in the city center. The location puts you right near the harbor, so it's easy to get oriented. This evening there's a welcome dinner organized, which is a nice way to meet other travelers and get familiar with what's coming up over the next few days.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
Landmarks/POIs Auckland Harbour - Day 2
Auckland
Today you've got flexibility to shape your own Auckland experience. Options include sailing an America's Cup yacht if you're up for it, or heading to Waiheke Island to check out the local food and wine scene there. You could also walk around the volcanic peaks in the city or visit cultural sites depending on what interests you most. By evening, you'll pick a dining spot from the selections available.
- Meals
- Dinner (Choice of Tony's Original Steak and Seafood Restaurant, Orbit Restaurant at Sky City, or Grand Millennium Ember Restaurant)
Included Activities
- America's Cup Sailing Experience (choice)
- Waiheke Gourmet Food & Wine Tour (choice)
- Waitakere Wilderness Experience (choice)
- Auckland City Revealed tour (choice)
- Flavours of our City Walking tour (choice)
- All Blacks Experience & Weta Workshop Unleashed (choice)
- Scenic Freechoice Dining - Tony's Original Steak and Seafood Restaurant (choice)
- Scenic Freechoice Dining - Orbit 360 at Sky City (choice)
- Scenic Freechoice Dining - Grand Millennium Brasserie (choice)
Landmarks/POIs Auckland Harbour Waiheke Island Waitakere Ranges Sky Tower - Day 3
Auckland to Paihia
After leaving Auckland, you'll drive north toward Paihia in the Bay of Islands, which takes a few hours. Once there, the Kauri Museum gives you some background on the region's history and those massive kauri trees. Later, a local Maori guide takes you to see Tane Mahuta, one of the biggest kauri trees around. The day wraps up with sunset drinks on your hotel terrace looking out over the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kauri Museum visit
- Tane Mahuta kauri tree visit with local Maori guide (Scenic Enrich)
- Scenic Sunset Drinks on hotel terrace
Optional Activities
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds visit
Landmarks/POIs Kauri Museum Tane Mahuta Waitangi Treaty Grounds Bay of Islands - Day 4
Paihia
In the Bay of Islands, you'll choose how to spend the day from several options. A cruise through inland waterways includes lunch and lets you see oyster farms. Or you could explore Russell, a historic settlement accessible by boat, visit the Hole in the Rock formation, or do a local food tour sampling things like avocado oil, Manuka honey, and regional wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Included lunch on Darryl's Lunch Cruise (if selected)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Darryl's Lunch Cruise with included lunch (choice)
- Russell Mini-Tour (choice)
- Discover the Bay Hole in the Rock Cruise (choice)
- Taste the Bay Tour (choice)
Landmarks/POIs Hole in the Rock Russell Christ Church Pompallier House Opua Okiato Kororareka Oyster Farms Omata Estate Vineyard - Day 5
Paihia to Cape Reinga
You're heading to Cape Reinga at the very top of the North Island. The drive takes you along Ninety Mile Beach, and you'll see the massive sand dunes that make this area so distinctive. It's one of those natural features that really stands out when you see it in person, and the journey itself is part of what makes this day work.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cape Reinga visit (Scenic Enrich)
- Ninety Mile Beach drive (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach - Day 6
Paihia to Auckland
Starting out, you'll visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a local Maori guide, which covers some critical moments in New Zealand's history. From there, you'll head south toward Whangarei to check out the Hundertwasser Art Centre before making your way back to Auckland. Your evening flight departs later, giving you time to say goodbye to the country.
Included Activities
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds tour with Maori guide (Scenic Enrich)
- Hundertwasser Art Centre visit
Landmarks/POIs Waitangi Treaty Grounds Hundertwasser Art Centre Whangarei
