Itinerary
- Day 1
Wellington
You'll arrive in Wellington and check into your hotel, then head to Te Papa to see the Māori history exhibits and other collections. Later in the day, meet the group for drinks before the North Island exploration begins.
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand (entrance fee applies)
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa - Day 2
Wellington to Napier
Start with coffee at one of Wellington's local cafes, then take a city sights tour. After that, you'll travel to Napier and see the Art Deco architecture that was rebuilt following the 1931 earthquake that reshaped the entire city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wellington city sights tour
Landmarks/POIs Napier Art Deco District - Day 3
Napier
A local Art Deco Trust expert leads a private walking tour through Napier's historic quarter, sharing details about the buildings and the earthquake's impact. In the afternoon, choose between visiting Hawke's Bay wineries or heading out to see the Gannet Colony.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private guided walking tour of the Art Deco quarter with Art Deco Trust expert guide (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of Hawke's Bay wineries (own expense)
- Tour of the local Gannet Colony, largest nesting colony of its type in the world (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Gannet Colony Hawke's Bay Wineries - Day 4
Napier to Rotorua
Drive to Huka Falls where water surges through a volcanic gorge at 220,000 litres per second, then continue to Rotorua. You'll do a Pounamu carving workshop, then head to Te Puia for the Te Pō Indigenous Experience with a cultural performance, geyser views, and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hāngī-inspired buffet dinner at Te Puia)
Included Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Pounamu (Jade) carving workshop tour (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
- Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia including cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua, views of Pohutu Geyser, and hāngī-inspired buffet dinner (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 5
Rotorua
This day is yours to plan. Relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, take a Hobbiton Movie Set tour to see Lord of the Rings filming locations, or book a scenic flight for aerial views of the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa (own expense)
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour featuring Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie locations (own expense)
- Scenic flight (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 6
Rotorua to Auckland
Travel to Auckland and take a city sights tour to see yachts on the two harbours. The highlight is the All Blacks Experience where you'll learn about the rugby team's history and perform a haka with the group front and center.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Auckland city sights tour
- Guided tour of the Interactive All Blacks Experience
Landmarks/POIs All Blacks Experience - Day 7
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Head north to the Bay of Islands with its 140 islands and turquoise waters. Visit the Treaty of Waitangi site where the 1840 treaty was signed, and your guide will point out the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with cultural performance (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Landmarks/POIs Waitangi Treaty Grounds Bay of Islands - Day 8
Bay of Islands
Explore the Bay of Islands on your own schedule. Options include driving to Cape Reinga up Ninety Mile Beach, cruising to the Hole in the Rock with an island stop, or joining a Russell tour to learn about the bay's settlement history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Travel to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach (own expense)
- Cruise to the Hole in the Rock with island stopover (own expense)
- Tour of Russell (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Russell - Day 9
Bay of Islands to Whangarei to Auckland
Travel north to Whangarei where waterfalls, beaches, galleries and museums blend together. Later you'll head back to Auckland for dinner and drinks as you return from this northernmost outpost.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Whangarei
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 10
Auckland Departure
You'll depart from Auckland, taking time to reflect on the 10 days exploring the North Island and all the experiences and memories from the trip.
