north island tour
new zealand

Auckland / Bay of Islands
OCT 2022

8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview: 

Travel to New Zealand (Aotearoa), where you’ll relax and discover the beauty of the scenic Bay of Islands, a 140 sub-tropical group of Islands next to the North Island known for its undeveloped beaches, abundant marine life and Maori culture. We will visit the must see Cape Reinga and take part in Maori cultural experience at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Before departing for the Bay of Islands, you’ll have the chance to relax in Auckland city with a full day for either Waiheke Island or Waitomo Caves & Hobbiton.

Day 1 - 2: AUS - Auckland

Depart for Auckland on Air New Zealand. Check into a beautiful 4 star hotel where a premium room awaits you with full breakfast the following morning included. The evening is your own to relax or explore; option to join the group for a late dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Day two is for you to enjoy or pick one of our optional group tours (Waiheke Island or Waitomo Caves & Hobbiton). Auckland, New Zealand's self-proclaimed "City of Sails" is the country's largest metro area. Resting between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, this urban paradise has something for everyone. Surrounded by native bush, rainforests and an abundance of beaches, Auckland is a playground for both the city savvy and those with an eye for adventure. Explore the central museums and galleries on foot, or take a drive through one of over 800 regional National Parks to see deserted beaches, waterfalls and native forest.

Day 3 - 4: Auckland - Bay of Islands - Cape Reinga

The drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands takes around 3.5 hours, but there is plenty of leeway for stops and sightseeing. As we go through Puhoi, take in the bohemian atmosphere of this historical township. Stop for a breath of fresh salty air in Whangarei and take another break at Kawakawa - home to the world famous Hundertwasser toilets. Enjoy the native bush surrounds and marvel at the endless golden beaches as we arrive into central Bay Of The Islands, Paihia.

Day 4 includes Cape Reinga and a Scenic Coach Tour via Ninety Mile Beach. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a change of clothes for sand surfing and your camera. As you travel north, enjoy a taste of New Zealand's varying and beautiful landscape: the rolling hills of Northland's rural countryside, breath-taking coastal views and native forest. We will drive along the shores of Ninety Mile Beach as the waves crash beside the custom-built coach. Feel the sand between your toes as you help your driver guide dig for shellfish (conditions permitting). 

Our off-road journey continues up Te Paki Stream, stopping at the massive sand dunes where you can experience the thrills and spills of sand surfing. Visit the Puketi Kauri Forest and get up close to ancient and majestic giant kauri trees and native bush. Stroll along an elevated walkway as these graceful giants surround you, and learn about conservation efforts to preserve the forest today. Visit Cape Reinga and hear the stories of this significant site where, according to Māori legend, spirits depart on their journey home to Hawaiki. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views, visit the iconic lighthouse, and see the point where the Tasman Sea and the mighty Pacific Ocean come crashing together.

During your Cape Reinga tour, you'll also experience another Kiwi icon: a lunch of delicious fish and chips at the historic Wagener Museum at Houhora. Your journey home will be equally enjoyable as your tour guide's combination of local insight & extensive knowledge.

Day 5 - 6: Paihia - The Waitangi Treaty Ground

Your morning on day 5 is free to discover Paihia, and your evening will be spent discovering one of New Zealand’s most historic sites - The Waitangi Treaty Ground. 

Morning: Commonly known as the ‘winterless north’ New Zealand’s Bay of Islands is made up of over 140 subtropical atolls. Renowned for its untouched beaches, abundant marine life and idyllic climate, this tropical paradise ticks all the boxes. Spend some time on a remote stretch of beach, or see the local dolphins on an ocean safari. If diving is your thing, take the morning to descend the Rainbow Warrior - The Greenpeace flagship sunk by French saboteurs in 1985. 

Wander around Russell, a whaling port founded in 1843. Learn about our culture in historic Waitangi, the site where The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the Maori and European settlers dictating the terms by which New Zealand would become a British colony. 

Evening: Included in our package, we travel as a group to Waitangi Hangi for a concert beginning at 18:00 (finishes at 20:30). Waitangi is just 2km north of Paihia in the Bay of Islands and is arguably one of New Zealand's most historic sites. It was here in 1840 that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between Maori and the British government. Still on the 400 hectare reserve is the Georgian style home of James Busby, a fully-carved Maori meeting house and Ngatokimatawhaorua, a 37 metre kauri waka (canoe). The latter is one of the largest ever carved and was crafted to mark the centenary of the signing of the treaty in 1940. 

You will experience Waitangi as part of an intimate Hangi (a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, called an umu) and concert evening. Begin at the Whare Waka Cafe with the unveiling of the Hangi, followed by a themed Cultural Performance in the carved Meeting House. After the show you will be escorted back to the Whare Waka Cafe for your Hangi dinner.

Day 6: Russell - Dolphin Cruise to Hole in the Rock

Departing from the Paihia Wharf at 10:00, we catch the ferry between Paihia and Russell, which is a fun and easy way to get out on the water in the Bay of Islands (ferry crossings take approx 15 minutes). We take a Russell Mini Tour

Known until the early 1840s as Kororāreka, Russell was the first town and sea port in New Zealand. The Bay of Islands offered a safe anchorage and by the 1830s Russell had become a lawless trading centre where whalers, seafarers and merchants mixed with adventurers, deserters and escaped convicts from Australia. Today the town once called the “Hell Hole of the Pacific” is a charming and tranquil spot. This intimate one-hour coach tour visits many of Russell’s iconic locations that make it so significant in New Zealand’s early history. Your tour will be led by an engaging guide whose combination of historical knowledge and local insight will bring the culture and history of the area to life. 

After our coach tour, we head out on a Dolphin Cruise to Hole in the Rock (3 hours). Our cruise departs from Russell and includes a picnic lunch. Please bring a hat, sunscreen and your camera. Boarding the cruise, take in the stunning views as we glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over and Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’. According to Māori legend, local warriors used to paddle through the Hole in the Rock in their canoes before departing for battle. Drops of water from the cave roof above were a good omen. If conditions permit, our skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space. Keep an eye out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life during the cruise, and have your camera ready as you get up close to the action. The purpose-built catamaran is licensed by DOC (the Department of Conservation) for dolphin viewing and the crew have years of experience locating dolphins in these waters. Dolphin Seeker has indoor and outdoor seating available, and the largest outdoor viewing decks in the Bay of Islands.

Day 7: Bay of Islands - Auckland

Heading west from the Bay of Islands, we leave the Pacific Ocean and travel through the quirky township of Kawakawa, home of the funky Hundertwasser public toilets. Continuing through rural Northland we soon arrive into the Hokianga and the wilder seas of the Tasman. The small townships of Omapere and Opononi have a great seaside feel and the perfect place to stop for an ice cream. 

Included - Manea Footprints of Kupe Guided Tour. Enter Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, a sacred cradle of tribal histories. Walk in the footprints of the Maori ancestor – Kupe the intrepid, Kupe the voyager, Kupe the discoverer. Experience a Pōwhiri (welcome ceremony) and other rituals and customs experienced through interaction with the descendants of Kupe. Explore the contemporary cultural centre with carvings and artefacts holding the stories of the past, giving you incredible insight into the history of Aotearoa. As part of the Manea experience, the Footprints Interactive Gallery and outdoor areas are self-guided spaces and have no time limits while the Centre is open. 

As we leave the Hokianga region we’ll stop at the mouth of the Hokianga Harbour, where you can walk to the heads and admire the views which are simply stunning. From there head south and into the Waipoua Forest, home to the massive Kauri trees. Waipoua Forest covers around 15, 000 hectares and is the last remaining substantial volume of the magnificent kauri forests that once covered much of the North Island. Today there are many walks and paths to explore, the most visited tree in the park is Tane Mahuta or the lord of the forest. This gigantic tree is just a 5 minute walk from the road and is over 1,000 years old. 

Continuing south along the West Coast we’ll reach one of the world’s largest natural harbours, Kaipara Harbour. The region was worked by immigrant Dalmations who toiled to make a living from the gum fields. A visit to the Matakohe Kauri Museum tells the story of the hardships and pioneering spirit during the early days and of the remarkable impact the kauri tree had on the region and the wider world.

The final leg of our journey takes us back along State Highway 1 and the North Shore suburbs before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge and into the city. The Waipoua Forest is located on the picturesque West Coast of Northland some 247kms north of Auckland. Here you can view some of the giant kauri trees, some of which are estimated to be over 2,000 years old. Waipoua Forest is also home to many other tree species, podocarps and hardwoods.

Accommodation: Auckland Airport Hotel

Day 8: Auckland - AUS

We travel back from Auckland to Australia