Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland and have the rest of the day to get oriented at your own pace. The harbours here are filled with sailboats, which explains the 'City of Sails' nickname. Later in the evening, you'll meet the group for dinner at The Grill to get to know your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at The Grill)
Optional Activities
- Explore pretty precincts of Auckland at leisure
- Gaze out over Auckland Harbour
Landmarks/POIs Manukau Harbour Waitemata Harbour - Day 2
Auckland
This morning starts with a private tour at the New Zealand Maritime Museum covering the city's boat-building and sailing history, including an America's Cup replica. After that, you'll head along the harbour to check out Mission Bay and Bastion Point, with stops at several scenic lookouts. The afternoon is open, so you can rest up or take advantage of optional activities if something interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exclusive after-hours guided tour of the America's Cup exhibition at the New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Visit Mission Bay
- Visit Bastion Point and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
Optional Activities
- Behind-the-scenes All Blacks experience (own expense)
- Cruise on Auckland Harbour (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs New Zealand Maritime Museum Mission Bay Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial - Day 3
Auckland to Rotorua
You'll drive from Auckland to Rotorua, arriving for an after-hours private tour of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. An expert guide shows you The Devils Bath and the bubbling mud pools while you enjoy mocktails and canapes at Champagne Pool. In the evening, you'll head to Te Pa Tu Maori Experience for a three-course dinner with seasonal canapes and cultural performances that celebrate Maori traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Three-course Māori cuisine dinner with forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and chef choice aperitif at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience)
Included Activities
- Private after-hours tour of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland with expert guide
- View The Devils Bath and bubbling mud pools
- Mocktail and canapés at Champagne Pool
- Guided Indigenous Experience and Cultural Performance at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience
- Three-course Māori cuisine dinner with forest kai horotai and chef choice aperitif
Landmarks/POIs Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland The Devils Bath Champagne Pool Te Pā Tū Māori Experience - Day 4
Rotorua
Today in Rotorua is yours to shape. You can either relax in the thermal pools at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa or take an amphibious WWII-era Duck out across three lakes. Both options are available at your own expense, so pick what sounds better for the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax in thermal waters at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa (own expense)
- Amphibious WWII-era Duck tour across Rotorua's three lakes (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa - Day 5
Rotorua to Wellington
After breakfast, you'll see Huka Falls where water thunders over an 11-metre drop at a rate of 220,000 litres per second. From there, the drive to Wellington takes you through diverse New Zealand landscapes with mountains, desert areas, forest, and mountain lakes. You'll travel along Lake Taupo and the Kapiti Coast before arriving in the capital by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- See Huka Falls from a panoramic viewpoint
- Traverse Lake Taupo and Kapiti Coast
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Lake Taupo Kapiti Coast - Day 6
Wellington
Start your Wellington day with coffee at a local cafe, then join a city tour hitting the cable car, Parliament, and Mt. Victoria viewpoint. After lunch, the afternoon is open for you to visit Te Papa Museum, check out Zealandia Te Mara a Tane if you're into nature reserves, or explore Lord of the Rings filming locations at Weta Workshop. The city has plenty of restaurants and bars to try whenever you get hungry.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City sights tour including iconic cable car, Parliament and Mt. Victoria
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand (entrance fee applies)
- Visit Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne ecosanctuary (own expense)
- Lord of the Rings Movie Locations and Weta Workshop (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Wellington Cable Car Parliament Mt. Victoria Te Papa Museum of New Zealand Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Weta Workshop - Day 7
Wellington
Before you leave, you'll have breakfast with the group one last time to reflect on everything you've seen across the North Island during the week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
