Grand Pacific Tours - 9 Day Classic North Island Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ and welcome to New Zealand.

Upon arriving at Auckland Airport you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Check in and freshen up before spending the remainder of the day exploring the ‘City of Sails’. Stroll the walkways of the Viaduct, peruse the boutique shops of the central city. Boutique shopping, Pacific-inspired markets and a passionate cafe culture make this city a charming place, enjoy an ice cream as you stroll the Mission Bay Beach board walk, choose to discover Auckland’s sparkling harbour and emerald islands on a boat cruise or ferry ride.

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation Auckland - 1 night

Travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy an informative talk at the Kauri Museum, then travel to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is a New Zealand enclave encompassing over 100 subtropical islands and is known for its undeveloped deserted beaches.

This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation Bay of Island - 2 nights

Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free and you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).

Excursions available in the Bay of Islands:

Meals: Breakfast

This morning travel aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. The cruise includes an island stopover at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island. Stroll along the white sand beach, or walk to the top of the hill for scenic views over the entire Bay of Islands. Keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before returning to Paihia. Travel south via Whangarei to Auckland. This afternoon includes a visit to Sky Tower at your leisure, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular attractions. 

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation Auckland - 1 night

Today enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland. Continue through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. This is followed by a guided tour of the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Your guide will recount details of how this beautiful piece of farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle Earth.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Rotorua - 2 nights 

Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is Agrodome for an action packed hour of farming entertainment and education that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for.

This evening you will experience an entertaining Maori Cultural Performance which features the graceful poi dance and ferocious haka. This is followed by a Hangi feast prepared in the traditional way, over hot coals and buried in the ground.

Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner

Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as “The Art Deco Capital”, where a city tour will showcase the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation Masterton - 1 night

*These Departures will not go via Napier - due to cyclone Gabrielle disrupted SH5 , instead having more free time at Lake Taupo: 14^th April 2023, 25^th April 2023, 2^nd May 2023

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to Greytown where you see the most complete examples of original Victorian wooden architecture. Drive through Featherston then through the Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington. Enjoy a city tour of the nation’s capital which highlights the history and culture on show here.

Here are some sight seeing and activity suggestions while in Wellington:

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation Wellington - 1 night

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

We are sure you will enjoy this tour and our promise is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a memory card full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time in New Zealand! Have a great homeward journey, farewell and hope to see you again soon in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

INCLUSIONS

PRE PAID ATTRACTIONS

• Kauri Museum*
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds*
• Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
• Auckland Sky Tower
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Lunch
• Skyline Rotorua Gondola & Luge Ride
• Agrodome
• Thermal mud pools & geysers*
• Te Puia traditional Maori Hangi & Concert
• City sights tour of Auckland, Napier & Wellington

*Guided tour is included with 1 guide per 24 travellers.

TOURING

• Personalised Meet & Greet on arrival
  Return airport transfers in New Zealand
• Modern coach travel with 2 door access, restroom, reclining seats and panoramic windows
• Professional Coach Captain
• Experienced Tour Guide
• 8 nights 4 star hotel accommodation
• 2 two night stays
• Hotel porterage
• 1 cruise
• All sightseeing and pre paid attractions
• Comprehensive documentation pack

MEALS

• 8 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
• 7 sumptuous dinners including a specialty dinner: Maori Hangi & Concert, Rotorua
• 1 Shire's buffet lunch: Hobbiton

Note: Dinner on Day 1 not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm.