Itinerary
- Day 1
Wellington
Touch down in Wellington and get settled at your hotel. If you're interested in history, Te Papa has a solid collection of artifacts and information about Māori culture worth checking out. Later in the day, you'll connect with the rest of the group for drinks before heading out to explore the North Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Cook Grand Chancellor)
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand (entrance fee applies)
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand) 
- Day 2
Wellington to Napier
Start the morning with coffee at one of Wellington's local cafes, then take a city sights tour to get your bearings. From there, you'll travel to Napier, which earned its nickname as the Art Deco capital after being rebuilt in that style following the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. The city has some of the best-preserved Art Deco architecture anywhere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Te Pania)
Included Activities
- Wellington city sights tour
- Travel to Napier
Landmarks/POIs Napier Art Deco District - Day 3
Napier
A local expert from the Art Deco Trust guides you through Napier's Art Deco quarter on foot, sharing details about the buildings and the people behind them. After that, the day opens up. You can join an optional wine tour through Hawkes Bay's wineries or head out to see the Gannet Colony, which is the largest nesting site of its kind in the world.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Te Pania)
Included Activities
- Private guided walking tour of Art Deco quarter with Art Deco Trust guide
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of Hawkes Bay wineries (own expense)
- Tour of Gannet Colony (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Napier Art Deco District Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony - Day 4
Napier to Rotorua
Start at Huka Falls where roughly 220,000 litres per second of water pushes through a narrow volcanic gorge, then continue to Rotorua's geothermal area with its bubbling mud pools and active geysers. You'll visit a traditional pounamu workshop to learn about jade carving and what it means in Māori culture. Tonight, head to Te Puia for a cultural performance, views of Pohutu Geyser, and a hāngī-inspired buffet dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hāngī-inspired buffet dinner at Te Puia)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Rotorua city sights tour
- Pounamu (Jade) carving workshop tour
- Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia with cultural performance, Pohutu Geyser viewing, and hāngī-inspired buffet dinner
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Pohutu Geyser Te Puia 
- Day 5
Rotorua
Rotorua gives you options today. Relax in the thermal springs at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, tour the Hobbiton Movie Set to see locations from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, or take a scenic flight to see the region from above. Pick whatever appeals to you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Optional Activities
- Relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa (own expense)
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour (own expense)
- Scenic flight (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Hobbiton Movie Set Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa - Day 6
Rotorua to Auckland
Travel from Rotorua to Auckland, the 'City of Sails'. During your city sights tour, you'll see sailboats around the two harbours. Then visit the All Blacks Experience to go through New Zealand's rugby history with interactive displays and presentations, plus you'll see a traditional haka performed right in front of you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Adina Apartment Hotel Britomart)
Included Activities
- Auckland city sights tour
- All Blacks Experience with interactive displays, presentations, and haka performance
Landmarks/POIs All Blacks Experience 
- Day 7
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Head to the Bay of Islands, which has about 140 small islands surrounded by turquoise water. You'll visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your guide explains the historical importance and points out the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Bay of Islands exploration
Landmarks/POIs Waitangi Treaty Grounds - Day 8
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands gives you flexibility today. Travel to Cape Reinga at New Zealand's northernmost tip via Ninety Mile Beach, or take a cruise to the Hole in the Rock with an island stop, or explore Russell to learn more about how the Bay of Islands was settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)
Optional Activities
- Trip to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach (own expense)
- Cruise to 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 to Whangarei, the North Island's most northerly town, where waterfalls and beaches sit alongside galleries and museums. You'll see how the place blends natural scenery with forward-thinking culture. Then it's back to Auckland for dinner and drinks with your travel companions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner and drinks)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Adina Apartment Hotel Britomart)
Included Activities
- Whangarei city exploration
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 10
Auckland Departure
Head to Auckland airport and depart at whatever time works for you. After 10 days, you'll have covered quite a bit of ground and picked up plenty of memories to take home.
