Northern Wonders

New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington is the kind of place you could easily lose yourself in for a day. Good thing you arrived early. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travel companions this afternoon for an orientation tour of Wellington where you will visit the peak of Mount Victoria, and short stroll will reward you with 360-degree views of the surrounding harbour and city. After the tour you may like to visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, home to an extraordinary collection of artefacts, including an eye-opening exhibit dedicated to Māori history (entrance fee applies). Later, meet up with your fellow adventure-seekers for a drink before your tour of the North Island of New Zealand.

The road north serves up classic New Zealand scenery, with Lake Taupō stretching wide and bright as you travel. Before long you’ll reach Rotorua, where steam rises from the earth and the air carries that unmistakable geothermal edge. Tonight, go deeper into Māori culture at Te Puia on the Te Pō Indigenous Experience. You’ll begin with an exhilarating performance inside the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Then see the powerful Pōhutu Geyser in action before sitting down to a buffet dinner of locally sourced, hāngī-inspired flavours.

Rotorua is made for choosing your own adventure. Choose a Choice Experience and ease into a slower day with a soak at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, perfect for tired legs and holiday mode. If you’re a film fan, today is also a great chance to join a Choice Experience to visit Hobbiton and step into the world of The Lord of the Rings. Even if you’ve never seen the films, the rolling farmland and cute details make it a fun countryside escape. Not sure what suits you? Your Travel Director can share tips for walks, viewpoints and local favourites. However you spend it, you’ll finish the day feeling recharged.

Time to chase some glow. Cross the Waikato region and head to the Waitomo Caves, where thousands of glowworms turn the darkness into a twinkling ceiling of light. You’ll cruise through limestone waterways and feel like you’ve stepped into another world. Then it’s onwards to Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city and a place that loves its harbours. You’ll see why from a lookout at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, with boats and yachts adding sparkle to the water below. Tonight, enjoy a free evening to explore the waterfront, grab a bite or simply relax.

Farewell to the ‘City of Sails’ as you travel north to the Bay of Islands, where turquoise water wraps around more than 140 islands. It’s a beauty spot with real significance too. At the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, learn where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your Local Guide will bring the stories to life, often with a personal connection to the site. You’ll see the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a richly carved meeting house, and gain a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s history. The views are stunning, and the meaning runs deep.

Today is all about freedom and your Bay of Islands wish list. Go big with a Choice Experience up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, travelling via the dreamy sweep of Ninety Mile Beach. Prefer to stay on the water? Cruise out to the iconic Hole in the Rock with a Choice Experience to enjoy island views, salty air included. You can also choose a tour of Russell to hear stories of early settlement and seaside life. Or keep it simple, find a great cafe, take a coastal walk and let the scenery do the work. Your Travel Director can help you pick what fits.

This morning you start heading south, with a handy stop in Whangārei along the way. It’s a quick snapshot of Northland life, where nature and modern culture sit side by side. Take a brief stroll, grab a coffee and enjoy one last hit of fresh coastal air. Then settle back in for the drive to Auckland, watching the landscapes shift as you return to the city. Tonight, raise a glass with dinner and drinks to toast your adventure from glaciers to glowworms and just about everything in between. Swap photos, swap stories and enjoy that end-of-trip glow with your travel mates.

It’s time to say haere rā to Auckland. If you’ve got a little spare time, squeeze in one last waterfront wander or a final flat white before you go. Then it’s onward to the airport with a camera roll full of highlights.