Day 1: Arrive Auckland
On arrival into Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink as you meet your travelling companions.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Auckland
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands
Board the luxurious Ultimate Coach, depart Auckland, and travel to Matakohe to enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Māori tribes and the British.
Stay: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Bay of Islands (Free Day)
Today is a free day to explore the Bay of Islands. Your Coach Captain will assist with the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach, a spectacular scenic flight over the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Bay of Islands, or you might be interested in sailing in a classic tall ship. This evening is also at leisure; you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional) or try one of the waterfront restaurants.
Stay: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland
This morning, explore the scenic beauty of the Bay of Islands, including an island visit aboard a luxury catamaran. Cruise to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock,’ keeping an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. On return to Paihia, travel south via Whangarei before returning to Auckland. This evening is free to dine at leisure.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Auckland
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua
This morning, embark on a city sights tour of Auckland, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’. Depart Auckland and travel through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. A guided tour of the 12-acre set will take you past whimsical Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and into the Green Dragon Inn. You can now venture beyond the door and into an authentic Hobbit Hole interior for a fully immersive experience.
Stay: Regent of Rotorua (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua, where 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 is 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, experience an entertaining Māori cultural performance featuring the graceful poi dance and ferocious haka. This is followed by a Hāngi feast, prepared in the traditional way, over hot coals and buried in the ground.
Stay: Regent of Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Day 7: Rotorua - 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 the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world can be found. Board the Hawke’s Bay Express and hear informative commentary on the city’s fascinating history. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the city.
Stay: Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Napier - Wellington
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. A highlight this afternoon will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting-edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with selected beverages with your newfound friends.
Stay: InterContinental Wellington
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Day 9: Depart Wellington
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Meals: Breakfast