Holiday Schedule
Day 01 - Auckland - Paihia via the West Coast Day 02 - Bay of Islands Day 03 - Bay of Islands – Matakana – Mangatawhiri Valley Day 04 - Mangatawhiri Valley – Waitomo – Rotorua Day 05 - Rotorua Day 06 - Rotorua – Taupo - Napier Day 07 - Napier – Martinborough – Wellington Day 08 - Wellington Day 09 - Wellington - Tongariro Day 10 - Tongariro – Taupo – Cambridge – Auckland Day 11 - Depart Auckland
Auckland - Paihia via the West Coast
Day 01
This morning you will board your luxury coach at your CBD hotel and travel north to the seaside township of Paihia. Today’s journey will have you travelling via the West Coast region including Opononi. Your first stop will be the Kauri museum before enjoying lunch at the spectacular Copthorne Hokianga Hotel. After arriving and checking in at the Pahia Beach Resort a water taxi will transport you to Russell for dinner at the Kamakura Restaurant.
Bay of Islands
Day 02
Today can be spent at your leisure as you are able to participate in one of the many optional tours the Bay of Islands has to offer, such as:
- Cape Brett hole in the Rock cruise
- Swim with the Dolphins Cruise
- Cape Brett hole in the Rock by speed boat
- ½ Day Guided kayak tour (4hours)
- ½ Day tour of Kerikeri, featuring entrance to the Mission House and Stone Store Historic buildings.
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Dinner tonight is at Paihia Beach Resort's award winning "Pure Tastes' restaurant
Bay of Islands – Matakana – Mangatawhiri Valley
Day 03
After breakfast this morning you will re-board your luxury coach and bid the Bay of Islands region farewell, travelling south on State Highway #1, via the city of Whangarei and the towns of Ruakaka, Waipu, Kaiwaka towards the Matakana winery region.
Wine tasting and 2 course luncheon at the fabulous Ascension Winery awaits you upon arrival at Matakana before heading further south to the days final destination, the beautiful Heritage Hotel & Spa Du Vin. Canapés and NZ wine will greet you on the lawn before relaxing in the comfort of your luxurious accommodation.
Mangatawhiri Valley – Waitomo – Rotorua
Day 04
After breakfast this morning you will be travelling through the Bombay Hills, an area known for its light volcanic soil thus popular for market gardening. Continuing through the fertile plains of the Waikato district to Waitomo in the King Country you will visit the Waitomo Caves.
A choice awaits you in this enchanted location, you can either silently glide by boat on an underground river beneath a canopy of lights made by the minute larvae on the roof above you or be transported to the crystal cave tapestries in Ruakuri Cave where you descend a spiral staircase following the rumbling sound of the hidden waterfall to the stalactite straws, flowstone and majestic formations that abound this magical place.
The excitement of the day can then be contemplated upon when you arrive at the Novotel Lakeside hotel in Rotorua. Your evening will be spent at The Pepper’s on the Point Lodge as they welcome you to the region with canapés and NZ wine before you move on to your 4 course d’hote style dinner.
Rotorua
Day 05
After breakfast this morning you will be transferred from your hotel to the Agrodome complex. The Agrodome is nothing short of pure New Zealand, as it is here you will experience the fun and educational Authentic Working Farm Tour.
The afternoon is spent at your own leisure to experience any one of numerous activities Rotorua has to offer before gathering in the evening to be taken to Te Puia to enjoy a guided tour of the model Maori pa (village site) and close by, the Institute where young Maori are taught the skills of traditional carving. From here, you visit the Thermal Reserve to see boiling mud pools and geysers including “Pohutu” (“splashing”), the largest geyser, which plays several times a day.
The evening meal will consist of a traditional Hangi and Maori Concert before boarding the luxury coach back to your Lake View room at the hotel.
Rotorua – Taupo - Napier
Day 06
This morning you will awake to a full Buffet Cooked Breakfast at your hotel restaurant before your luxury coach journey to Napier, travelling through plantations of pine forest to Taupo, a township located on the edge of Lake Taupo. The approach from Wairakei offers spectacular views over the town, lake and distant mountains. En route a stop is made to see the pounding Huka Falls, “hukanui” in Maori meaning a “great body of spray”. After watching the waters of the Waikato River forced through a narrow gap between rocks at great force the relaxing 3 hour ‘home-style lunch’ cruise on lake Taupo will seem considerably quieter.
The journey across the fertile Esk Valley to Napier is next on the agenda where you will check in to the Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel before moving on the Sileni Wine Estate for wine and olive oil tasting. The on-site culinary school will then entertain you with a cooking demonstration of one the 3 courses you will be served there that evening.
Napier – Martinborough – Wellington
Day 07
After breakfast this morning your luxury coach will be traveling via Woodville and Masterton to the destination of the day, New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
Several stops will be made on the way including a stop in the Wairarapa district at the winery town of Martinborough. Lunch will be served at the beautiful historic Pepper’s Martinborough Hotel after which your journey will continue via some of the regions winery’s before eventually reaching the nation’s capital city and you hotel for the next two evenings The Duxton.
Wellington
Day 08
Today is at your leisure to explore this cosmopoliatn city. You may like to complete the renowned Zest Walking Gourmet tour visiting boutique cafes and meeting the baristas, coffee roasters and chef’s while tasting the multitude of delicacies before lunching at a top Wellington restaurant or café.
The afternoon will then be yours to enjoy at your leisure, of course exciting and unique activities will be available, such as;
- Red Rock Seals 4WD Excursion
- Tour of Karori Wildlife Sanctuary – 2 hour duration
- Parliament building & Te Papa Museum guided tour
You will then meet for at 3 course dinner before retiring back to the comfort and relaxation of the Duxton Hotel.
Wellington - Tongariro
Day 09
Today will be another majestic display of the country’s diverse and spectacular landscape. After breakfast the luxury coach will travel north via the scenic Kapiti Coast before turning inland towards the Central Plateau and the Tongariro National Park which is dominated by Mount Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.
Lunch will be served at a quaint chalet, The River Valley Lodge, before more photo opportunities present themselves as you travel to your day’s destination the famous and luxurious Bayview Chateau Tongariro. Situated at the base of the mountain the Chateau restaurant will be the location for tonight’s 3 course dinner.
Tongariro – Taupo – Cambridge – Auckland
Day 10
Continuing the majesty of the landscape this morning you will depart the Tongariro National park, and travel through the towns of Taupo, Tokoroa, Putaruru, Tirau (which is known for it’s variety of Antique stores) to Cambridge.
Lunch will be served at the GPO restaurant before being invited to stroll around the quiet township of Cambridge.
The luxury coach will then transport you via Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly to Auckland - the city of sails. The Westin Hotel be your enviable accommodation for the night and will be where the luxury coach will pick you up and take you to the O’Connell St Bistro. Your final night’s dinner at O’Connell’s will be one to remember at the iconic award winning Auckland restaurant.
Depart Auckland
Day 11
After waking in the “city of sails” a continental style breakfast will be served at your hotel restaurant, before being transferred by limousine from your hotel to the Auckland International Airport.