Feathers and Forests - North Island Journey Itinerary

Ease into your New Zealand wildlife adventure with a free day to relax, explore Auckland’s waterfront, or enjoy the city’s harbour views at your own pace.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Seamless airport transfer 
• Sky Tower admission
• Auckland waterfront & viaduct precinct 
• 2 nights in Auckland

Suggested Accommodation:

Discover one of New Zealand’s most important wildlife sanctuaries with a guided visit to Tiritiri Matangi Island, home to some of the country’s rarest native birds.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Ferry to Tiritiri Matangi Island 
• Guided wildlife walk 
• Native bird sanctuary experience 
• Scenic Hauraki Gulf cruise 

Travel south through rolling Waikato countryside to Waitomo, where ancient limestone caves glow with thousands of tiny bioluminescent lights.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, dinner
• Scenic Waikato drive 
• Waitomo Glowworm Cave tour 
• 1 night in Waitomo 

Make it yours
Add a 90-minute Private Guided tour or Ancient Forest Guided Tour for a more intimate experience.

Approximate Distance: 205 km | 127 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins

Ready to make the journey yours? Enquire online or speak with a Travel Designer to personalise your ideal wildlife and nature adventure.

Suggested Accommodation:

Journey through lush farmland and river valleys toward the sunny Bay of Plenty, where golden beaches, coastal walks, and laid-back seaside charm await.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic King Country drive 
• Coastal Bay of Plenty landscapes 
• Mount Maunganui beach & walks 
• 2 nights in Tauranga 

Make it yours
Stop by to visit the infamous Hobbiton Movie Set tour on your way to Auckland – a must-see experience enjoyed by all ages.

Approximate Distance: 150 km | 93 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Suggested Accommodation:

Spend the morning on the waters of the Bay of Plenty, searching for dolphins, whales, seals, penguins, and other marine wildlife in one of New Zealand’s richest coastal ecosystems.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Dolphin & wildlife cruise 
• Marine wildlife encounters 
• Bay of Plenty coastline 
• Scenic ocean views 

Make it yours
Swap your marine wildlife experience for glowworm kayaking for a more hands-on experience. 

Travel inland to Rotorua, where geothermal landscapes, kiwi conservation, and towering redwood forests create one of New Zealand’s most unique destinations.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• National Kiwi Hatchery tour 
• Redwoods Nightlights Treewalk 
• 2 nights in Rotorua 

Make it yours
Prefer to add an adventure? Rotorua’s Canopy Ziplining tour offers adventure, conservation, and nature at its best. 

Approximate Distance: 75 km | 47 miles Total Driving Time: 1 hour

Suggested Accommodation:

Explore the ancient Whirinaki Forest on a guided birdwatching experience, surrounded by towering native trees and some of New Zealand’s rarest bird species.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, picnic lunch 
• Guided birdwatching tour 
• Rare native bird encounters 
• Ancient rainforest scenery 

Travel east past volcanic landscapes and Lake Taupō before arriving in Hawke’s Bay, a region celebrated for coastal beauty, vineyards, and elegant Art Deco architecture.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Lake Taupō 
• Huka Falls 
• Hawke’s Bay wine country 
• 2 nights in Napier 

Make it yours
Add a guided Art Deco walking experience through Napier to make the most of your time in Hawke’s Bay.  

Approximate Distance: 220 km | 137 miles Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Suggested Accommodation:

Discover one of the world’s largest mainland gannet colonies on a thrilling 4WD safari across rugged coastal landscapes and dramatic cliffside scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Cape Kidnappers 4WD safari 
• Gannet colony experience 
• Coastal wildlife viewing 

Make it yours
Prefer a more intimate experience? Upgrade to a private Gannet Colony Tour or choose to stay closer to Napier today to include a little blue penguin encounter at the National Aquarium. 

Continue south to New Zealand’s creative capital, where vibrant culture, harbour views, and native wildlife experiences combine in spectacular fashion.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Wellington harbour views 
• Zealandia night wildlife tour 
• 2 nights in Wellington 

Approximate Distance: 325 km | 202 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Visit Kapiti Island, one of New Zealand’s most important predator-free wildlife sanctuaries, home to rare native birds and regenerating coastal forest.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Light Breakfast, lunch
• Kapiti Island guided tour 
• Ferry & shuttle transfers 
• Rare native bird encounters 
• Predator-free sanctuary experience 

Make it yours
Mix things up today with the option to change your activity and explore Wellington’s rugged coastline on a New Zealand fur seal encounter. 

Your New Zealand wildlife and nature journey comes to an end, filled with rare bird encounters, geothermal wonders, coastal adventures, and unforgettable landscapes.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer 

Inspired by what you’ve seen? Let’s create a New Zealand journey that’s uniquely yours.

Speak with a Travel Designer to start planning your personalised escape.