Ultimate North Island Escape Itinerary

1

Welcome to New Zealand

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand!

You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel and, depending at what time you'll arrive, will then have some time to explore the city of Auckland before meeting your travelling companions over a complimentary pre dinner drink.

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Explore Waiheke Island	Island Kayaking Adventure	America’s Cup Sailing
Muriwai Surf Beach	Relax on the Beach	Rangitoto Island Cruise & Walk
West Coast Wine Tour	Whale and Dolphin Safari

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 night

Accommodation:

Crowne Plaza Auckland

Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD and entertainment hub, this hotel offers superior comfort, personal service and contemporary style. Only 2 minutes away from the Sky Tower, city attractions, entertainment and dining venues. Crowne Plaza Auckland is an award-winning Auckland hotel located in the heart of the city and offer the perfect balance of superior comfort, personal service and contemporary accommodation.

2

The Beautiful 'Bay of Islands'

Board your luxurious coach, depart Auckland and travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe then pass through Whangarei to Paihia. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Bay of Island - 2 nights

Accommodation:

Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands

Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands has a sub-tropical resort ambience, with island-influenced architecture, beautifully landscaped grounds and light airy rooms.It's a perfect base to explore the beautiful Bay of Islands. Just a short walk from Paihia's village centre and the wharf. The Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands is a 4 star hotel. The Nikau Restaurant and Lounge Bar operates within the hotel and serves a la carte or buffet breakfast or dinner.

3

A Day of Leisure

The beaches in this region are considered some of the world’s finest with their perfect white sand and crystal-clear water. Rich in culture, history and natural resources, Paihia is the place of friendly locals, happy cafes and people enjoying life whether it is swimming with dolphins, taking in a spot of retail therapy, bush walking or just lazing on the beach. The Bay of Islands, with shimmering safe waters and superb beaches has plenty of recreational activities in among the 144 islands: sail, fish, swim, dive, snorkel, charter a launch or paddle a sea kayak around the islands. Paihia is the perfect stepping stone into the Bay of Islands, and a wonderful place for people of all ages to visit.

Excursions available around the Bay of Islands

Historical Island Cruise	Diving Rainbow Warrior	4WD Adventure Cape Reinga
Sailing the Islands	Sea Kayaking the Bay	Giant Kauri Forest Walk
Cultural Tour of Waitangi	Golf at Kauri Cliffs

Meals: Breakfast

4

Morning Cruise / on to the City of Sails

Your morning starts aboard a luxury catamaran to cruise around Cape Brett and the famous 'Hole in the Rock'. This 4-hour cruise includes a stopover on Urupukapuka Island. After returning to Paihia, farewell the Bay of Islands and drive south via Whangarei, Wellsford and Warkworth to Auckland Enjoy a short city tour and free time before transferring to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 night

Accommodation:

Crowne Plaza Auckland

Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD and entertainment hub, this hotel offers superior comfort, personal service and contemporary style. Only 2 minutes away from the Sky Tower, city attractions, entertainment and dining venues. Crowne Plaza Auckland is an award-winning Auckland hotel located in the heart of the city and offer the perfect balance of superior comfort, personal service and contemporary accommodation.

5

City Tour / Hobbiton / Rotorua

This morning enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland including a visit to the Sky Tower. We continue onto Hobbiton™ for a buffet lunch before discovering the real Middle-earth when you visit the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy on a fascinating guided tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 nights (or similar)

Accommodation:

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua’s designer 5 star Boutique Hotel and Spa offers stylish luxury accommodation, with accommodation to suit most groups of travellers from Hotel rooms to 2 bedroom family apartments situated amidst the exciting attractions and experiences Rotorua has to offer. With excellent facilities such as the restaurant, heated pool, gym and mineral bathing facilities.

6

Everything Rotorua

Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua for breakfast, with spectacular views and time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the 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 the ferocious haka. This is followed by a Hangi feast prepared in the traditional way, over hot coals and buried in the ground.

This evening is rounded off by visiting the Pohutu Geyser, illuminated beneath a starry sky.

Meals: Breakfast and Special Dinner

7

Art Deco Napier

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 this afternoon to explore the MTG Hawkes Bay or to take a guided walk at your leisure (optional).

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Napier - 1 night

For the following tours - 2 nights in Wellington 5^th April 2023, 12^th April 2023, 14^th May 2023, 16^th May 2023

Mid-February, various regions of New Zealand’s north island were impacted by the extreme weather event of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle. this Grand Pacific Tours has amended any itinerary due to overnight in Napier, to now enjoy a two night stay in Wellington; and for any tour travelling through Napier for a lunch stop to take a new route direct to Masterton for their overnight stay. We are disappointed that our travellers will miss the Napier experience but the situation is beyond our control and our decision has been made in the best interest of the traveller experience.

Accommodation:

Scenic Hotel Te Pania - Napier

Styled to complement its remarkable location on the edge of the beautiful Hawke's Bay, Scenic Hotel Te Pania boasts design awards for its style and offers an unmatched level of service to leisure travellers with a high four star accommodation rating. Enjoy the central waterfront location and the extensive sea views that all rooms share. Te Pania is just a short stroll from Napier’s main art deco style street with many shops, cafes and restaurants.

8

Wellington - Our Cool Little Capital

Travel south this morning into Wellington for a city tour of the nation’s capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including selected beverages with your new found friends.

Some suggested outings while in the 'Capital of Cool'.

National Museum - Te Papa	Visit Cuba Street	Weta Workshop Tour
Zealandia Wildlife Reserve	Wellington Cable Car	Carter Observatory

Meals: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner

Accommodation: Wellington- 1 night

Accommodation:

InterContinental Wellington

The 5-star InterContinental Wellington is located by the harbor waterfront and just a short walk into the City Centre to experience the capital’s history, culture and shopping. It offers an exclusive club lounge, a fitness center, 2 restaurants and a bar. The elegant guest rooms are spacious and well-furnished.

9

Homeward Bound

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

We are sure you will enjoy the 'Ultimate New Zealand North Island Luxury Coach 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.

Meals: Breakfast

Notes

Inclusions

Pre-paid Attractions

• Kauri Museum*
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds*
• Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
• 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.

Ultimate Small Group Touring
• Ultimate Small Group Tour Coach with 20 luxury leather reclining seats on a full size vehicle, 2 door access and panoramic windows
• Professional Coach Captain
• Personalised Meet & Greet on arrival
• Return airport transfers in New Zealand
• 8 nights premium 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 2 specialty dinners: Maori Hangi & Concert, Rotorua; Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Wellington
• 1 specialty lunch: Hobbiton

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