The
North Island
8 Days/7 Nights
Auckland, situated between two beautiful, glistening harbors; Rotorua famous for its Maori Culture, and its spectacular thermal areas; amazing Waitomo with its Glowworm Caves and beautiful Lake Taupo. Options & Rates
Lake Taupo
Day 1—AUCKLAND
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. The city occupies a superb site on a slender bridge of land astride two seas, the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. Auckland is also unique as it’s built on sloping hills, surrounded by 65 extinct volcanoes.
Stamford Plaza
Day 2—AUCKLAND
Morning private half day tour of the city and its environs including the twin harbors, the heights of Mt Eden, the Auckland War Memorial Museum situated in 200 acres of gardens, housing the best Maori collection in the world. A visit to the zoological park reveals New Zealand’s national symbol, the Kiwi bird, a strange-looking fuzz-feathered wingless creature with a hunched back and a long skinny beak. Also at the park can be found the Tuptara, a rare pre-historical reptile, and other feathered, furred and scaly inhabitants who are found nowhere else in the entire world. Afternoon at leisure.
Stamford Plaza
Rotorua hot spring
Day 3—ROTORUA
This morning you will be met by your car and driver for the drive south through verdant farmland and along the country’s longest river, the Waikato, through several “service towns” to Hamilton, known for its themed gardens and local zoo containing the largest free-flight aviary in the Southern Hemisphere. Continue south to Cambridge, the country’s center of the equestrian and thoroughbred horse industry, to Rotorua.
The Millennium
Day 4—ROTORUA
Full day private sightseeing. Here the most spectacular phenomena in the world can be seen — geysers, boiling mud, hot pools, hot springs and spouts of gushing steam. Rotorua is also the center of Maori life and culture, with a model village, displays of carving and concerts of Maori music.
The Millennium
Day 5—LAKE TAUPO
Leave Rotorua this morning for the short drive to New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, acclaimed locally as the trout-fishing capital of the world. The monster rainbow trout found in this lake descend from a single batch of eggs brought from California’s Russian River 100 years ago.
Lake Taupo Lodge
Day 6—LAKE TAUPO
A full day at leisure for independent activities at this internationally renowned resort. Activities include fishing, boating, horse-back riding, tennis, golf and sailing — or just spend the day relaxing in these luxurious and understated surroundings.
Lake Taupo Lodge
Lake Taupo Lodge
Day 7—DE REDCLIFF VINEYARD
Leave Lake Taupo this morning, driving via Te Kuti. This west coast route passes the tiny village of Waitomo, honeycombed with caves containing limestone stalagmites and stalactites twisted in amazing, distorted shapes. The high spot here is a boat trip to the famous Glow Worm Grotto, lit by an unearthly blue-green radiance given off by tens of thousands of insect larvae covering the roof and walls. After your visit, continue northwards to Auckland and the De Redcliff vineyards.
Hotel du Vin
Day 8—DE REDCLIFF TO AUCKLAND
Leave the vineyards this morning for the short drive to Auckland or Auckland airport, where your North Island adventure ends.