Nikau - 13 Day New Zealand Small Group Tour

Travel New Zealand in luxury and style!
Golden beaches, geothermal wonders, rolling farmlands, vineyards and olive groves combine with cosmopolitan cities to offer guests a thrilling tour of the North Island. For those travelling on to Christchurch, enjoy the Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura coast and travel across the Southern Alps on the world-famous TranzAlpine Train.

Your Small Group Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Auckland
On arrival, you will be met by our representative & transferred by limousine to your city hotel. The ‘City of Sails’ is New Zealand’s largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences.
Stay Heritage Auckland Hotel (2 nights)

Day 2 Auckland sightseeing (B)
Auckland’s blend of islands, rainforest, Polynesian culture, glistening harbours and modern city environment creates an unbelievable lifestyle that is ranked amongst the highest in the world. Auckland provides visitors with so many wonderful experiences, plenty within easy reach of the downtown city centre. Today is a free day at leisure to relax & explore what Auckland has to offer.

Day 3 Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula (B)
Today, travel south to the Coromandel Peninsula, a beautiful rugged area fringed with dozens of excellent beaches that separate the Pacific Ocean from the Hauraki Gulf. It is a place where many kiwis choose to escape the hustle & hype of city life and is home to many arts & crafts people who seek an alternative lifestyle. At the quaint township of Coromandel, we ride the Driving Creek narrow gauge railway to a fascinating artist colony before crossing the divide to the eastern side of the peninsula for our overnight stay in Tairua.
Stay Pacific Harbour Lodge

Day 4 Coromandel, Rotorua (B,D)
Travel along the Bay of Plenty Coastline to Tauranga & Mt Maunganui. Then, head inland across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua, an area that has enchanted visitors from around the world for more than 160 years. On arrival at our resort, enjoy a twilight cruise across Lake Rotoiti to the natural mineral springs of Manupirua Pools before enjoying a lakeside BBQ dinner at your resort.
Stay Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay (2 nights)

Day 5 Lake Tarawera Cruise & Te Wairoa Buried Village (B,L)
Today’s highlight is an exclusive cruise aboard the luxury vessel ‘Clearwater Spirit’ across the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tarawera. You’ll have the opportunity to soak in the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach and experience some of the country’s best trout fi shing before enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch. Visit the Blue & Green Lakes and then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa.

Day 6 Lake Taupo, Napier (B)
This morning, visit Wai-O-tapu (meaning Sacred Waters), a wonderland of geothermal activity. Walk at your own pace and marvel at the reserves unique features that include the world famous Champagne Pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. Stop to view the mighty Huka Falls & Wairakei Geothermal project and then take time to wander around the popular lakeside resort of Taupo. Then, it’s on to Napier, one of the world’s fi nest Art Deco cities. Your local guide will bring this fascinating architecture to life on your walk around the town this afternoon.
Stay Te Pania Hotel (2 nights)

Day 7 Discover Hawke’s Bay & surrounding area (B)
Widely regarded as the ‘Tuscany of the South Pacifi c’, this region boasts some of New Zealand’s best and oldest wineries. You can enjoy a guided wine trail and taste some of the great wines produced locally, visit the world’s largest mainland Gannet Colony, play a challenging round of golf at Cape Kidnappers, take to the skies on an early morning balloon ride over vineyards, olive groves and orchards or simply relax and enjoy your surroundings. (B)

Day 8 Wairarapa, Mt Bruce & Wellington (B)
Travel this morning through the rural heartland of the Wairarapa region to Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealand’s National Wildlife Centre. In this beautiful setting of native forest you will see the fi nest collection of New Zealand native birds to be found anywhere, including the Takahe, the rarest & most colourful of all New Zealand’s birds. The centre also houses tuatara, various lizards and native bats in its nocturnal house. Also watch out for the enormous eels and trout which loiter under the bridges,waiting
for handouts. Later, continue on to Wellington, the nations capital, where you enjoy a brief sightseeing and orientation tour before checking into your accommodation.
Stay The Duxton Wellington

Day 9 Picton & the Marlborough Sounds (B)
This morning is at leisure to explore what Wellington has to offer. A visit to Te Papa National Museum is highly recommended. This afternoon, travel across Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The journey across Cook Strait has a dramatic beauty all of its own. Both Islands can be viewed, including the magnifi cent Kaikoura ranges, and there is often the chance to seewildlife
such as seabirds, dolphins, seals, whales and orca. On arrival in Picton, join your water taxi and transfer to your resort.
Stay The Portage Resort (2 nights)

Day 10 Overnight Wilderness Cruise on Doubtful Sound (B,D)
Travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Te Anau. On then to Manapouri where you board your catamaran & cruise across the lake to West Arm. You’ll then travel by coach through the dense rainforest of the Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove where you board your overnight vessel for a leisurely exploration of Doubtful Sound.

The Fiordland Navigator is designed along the lines of a traditional New Zealand trading scow to reflect Fiordland's heritage and you will be accommodated in private cabins with en-suite bathrooms in this purpose-built vessel. It boasts spacious deck areas for viewing the wilderness, scenery & wildlife of Doubtful Sound and activities include kayaking and excursions in the tender vessels (stabi craft) to explore the coastline.
Stay Overnight in one of Doubtful Sound’s hidden arms.

Day 11 Kaikoura Coast, Christchurch (B)
Return by water taxi to Picton. Rejoin your coach and travel through Blenheim to Kaikoura, world-renowned as the whale-watching centre of New Zealand. Later, we continue south to the “Garden City” of Christchurch, regarded as the most English of New Zealand cities. Stay Stay at Heritage Christchurch Hotel (2 nights)

Day 12 4WD High Country TranzAlpine Experience (B,L)
Travel by road through the Canterbury Plains to the Waimakariri Gorge in the foothills of the rugged Southern Alps. Travel by jet boat through the gorge deep into the Southern Alps to areas otherwise inaccessible. Rendezvous with the Unimog and travel in this unique 4WD vehicle to Flock Hill Station, viewing spectacular alpine scenery en-route. After lunch, travel by road to Arthur’s Pass National Park where you return to Christchurch aboard the world-famous TranzAlpine train.

Day 13 Depart Christchurch (B)
Sadly, your holiday is at an end and you will be transferred to Christchurch
airport today for your onward flight.

 What's Included

Departure Dates

Tour Prices
Per Person in NZ$