Overview
Explore the North Island’s most stunning landscapes while enjoying a comfortable and luxurious experience. Marvel at the majestic peaks of Tongariro, the vibrant greenery of Waikaremoana’s forests, and the rugged beauty of Coromandel’s dramatic coastlines. With exceptional accommodation, gourmet meals, and fine New Zealand wines, this walking holiday promises an unforgettable adventure.
Tour Highlights
- Small Groups, Expert Guides: Travel with a welcoming group led by experienced and knowledgeable hiking guides.
- 12 Days Surrounded by Nature: Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery over 12 days and 11 nights.
- Scenic Daily Walks: Spend between 4–7 hours each day walking some of the North Island’s most beautiful trails.
- Travel Light: Forget about carrying heavy gear—just pack your daily essentials in a daypack.
- Accessible for Most Fitness Levels: These trails are suited for moderate fitness levels, with a mix of easy, moderate, and a few short, challenging sections.
Fitness: Tour Grading: C
In most cases, the walking trails included in the Bucket List walk range from easy to moderate difficulty. They also vary from well-formed trails to less smooth tracks that include rocks, mud and tree roots. Some of the trails, like The Pinnacles and Tongariro Crossing Walks, are more challenging but there are easier trails too. In terms of your personal fitness level, you should be able to walk between 4 and 5 hours a day while carrying a daypack that holds your ater, lunch, a raincoat and jersey.
Details
Difficulty: 3
Departure Dates: Fixed departures between October and April. Please select your dates in the calendar by clicking on "Book Now."
Start: Rotorua (8:30am)
Finish: Rotorua (early evening)
Includes:
- Nutritious dinners with plenty of vegetables and salads.
- Energising breakfasts to fuel your day.
- Freshly packed trail lunches.
- Hot drinks and snacks during your walks.
- New Zealand beer and wine to enjoy after your adventures.
-
Complimentary hire of day packs, raincoats and hiking poles on request
-
Ensuite accommodation; 9 nights in 3-star, boutique lodges; 2 nights in 4.5-star hotels
What’s Excluded:
- Evening meals in Rotorua on nights 4 and 8 are not part of the tour package. This is a great chance to explore Rotorua’s local cuisine and indulge in some fantastic dining options!
Accommodation
Accommodation is based on twin share, so to secure a private room upgrade a single supplement fee will apply. There are ensuite bathrooms on each leg of the journey, you'll have an ensuite bathroom for all 11 nights of the trip.
Special Diets
We are happy to accommodate guests with specialty diets, we appreciate as much advance notice as possible. If we don’t receive adequate advanced notice, we may not be able to fully cater for dietary needs as we operate in isolated environments and it is not always possible to access specialty foods. Please ensure you advise us as early as possible if you have dietary requirements.
Pricing:
Cost per person twin share
October 2024 - April 2026
- Adult: NZ$5,850
- Child: NZ$3,900*
- Single supplement: NZ$900
* Child age 15 years and under
Bookings and Payments
- A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 NZD per person, per walk is required to confirm a booking.
- The remaining balance must be paid 40 days before the walk departure date.
- Your booking is only confirmed once the deposit is paid in full.
- Your place on the tour is not guaranteed until the full balance has been paid prior to the departure date.
Cancellations
- 61 days or more before departure: Full refund less deposit**+
- Between 60-31 days: 30% cancellation fee**
- Within 30 days: No refund
**Refund excludes credit card or payment fees if applicable, which are non-refundable.
+Deposit is non-refundable, however you can make unlimited changes to your chosen tour up to 60 days before your arrival, including changing your tour dates and changing tour participants.
Currency ConverterOverview
Explore the North Island’s most stunning landscapes while enjoying a comfortable and luxurious experience. Marvel at the majestic peaks of Tongariro, the vibrant greenery of Waikaremoana’s forests, and the rugged beauty of Coromandel’s dramatic coastlines. With exceptional accommodation, gourmet meals, and fine New Zealand wines, this walking holiday promises an unforgettable adventure.
Tour Highlights
- Small Groups, Expert Guides: Travel with a welcoming group led by experienced and knowledgeable hiking guides.
- 12 Days Surrounded by Nature: Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery over 12 days and 11 nights.
- Scenic Daily Walks: Spend between 4–7 hours each day walking some of the North Island’s most beautiful trails.
- Travel Light: Forget about carrying heavy gear—just pack your daily essentials in a daypack.
- Accessible for Most Fitness Levels: These trails are suited for moderate fitness levels, with a mix of easy, moderate, and a few short, challenging sections.
Fitness: Tour Grading: C
In most cases, the walking trails included in the Bucket List walk range from easy to moderate difficulty. They also vary from well-formed trails to less smooth tracks that include rocks, mud and tree roots. Some of the trails, like The Pinnacles and Tongariro Crossing Walks, are more challenging but there are easier trails too. In terms of your personal fitness level, you should be able to walk between 4 and 5 hours a day while carrying a daypack that holds your ater, lunch, a raincoat and jersey.
Itinerary
Open AllWe'll collect you from your central Rotorua accommodation at around 8:30 am or from your central Matamata accommodation around 9:30 am.
First, we warm up with a 4 km hike to the top of Wairere Falls, along an old Maori pack trail leading to the North Island’s highest waterfall, where we can view the verdant Waikato basin from two lookouts over-hanging 153 metres of thunderous waterfall. Enjoy a good stretch of the legs through Nikau and kohekohe forest.
As we continue north, we’ll pass over the Hauraki Plains before we reach Thames, the gold-mining gateway to the Peninsula. Sit back and enjoy views out over the mussel farms of the Hauraki Gulf from one of New Zealand’s classic coastal drives, the Coromandel west coast. We arrive in Coromandel Town, a charming seaside settlement rich in pioneering history and a bustling wee village in the summer months. If time allows, we’ll call in at Long Bay Scenic Reserve - this little-known trail circuits a grove of magnificent 330-year-old Kauri trees – New Zealand’s very own forest giants that grow up to 50 metres tall. At last we reach our lovely accommodation where we can watch the sunset from the verandah, graze over a platter of fresh fruits and cheese with a glass of wine or ice-cold brew before dinner.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours or 5 kms (3 miles)
Driving time: 3 hours with breaks
Start the day well with a hearty breakfast in the alfresco dining area of the lodge, surrounded by native manuka bush, Pohutukawa trees, and abundant birdsong.
Today we head north to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to hike one of the best coastal walks in the country. This historic trail follows an old bridle path once used by gold miners who populated the Coromandel region in colonial times.
Thanks to the joint efforts of DoC and Moehau Environmental Group, we are right in the heart of the largest predator-controlled Kiwi habitat in New Zealand with 30,000 hectares of stoat trapping, which has brought the number of kiwi back to pre-European levels! Keep an eye out for both the North Island Robin/toutouwai, a colony translocated here in 2009 after 100 years of absence, and the Brown Teal/pāteke, another translocated colony that has gone on to be the world's most prolific recovery ever recorded for an endangered waterfowl species!
We begin our hike at Fletcher Bay, a picture-perfect isolated beach, flanked by green hills and white sand. The track hugs the coastline and gives us amazing views out over the Pacific Ocean towards Aotea/Great Barrier Island and Mt. Moehau—so have your camera ready! The track is easy-going, with a short, steepish section heading down into and out of Poley Bay—a fantastic beach for a picnic! This stretch of coastline offers all the dramatic views that make coastal hiking such a wonderful experience.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–7 hours or 12 km (8 miles)
Elevation gain: 177 metres
Driving time: 3 hours with breaks
This morning we head south and enter the hidden world of the Kauaeranga Valley, home to the majestic Pinnacles range. The entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula was once a chain of volcanic cones. This chain has since been eroded and weathered to form the spectacular series of outcrops you see today. The Pinnacles trail is a challenging walk; it climbs through regenerating kauri forest, passing one of NZ’s best-preserved kauri dams, eventually cresting the top of the range to reach the Pinnacles Hut. From the hut, a heart-pumping 30-minute walk, via a series of timber staircases and a network of steel rungs embedded in the rock face, leads us to the top of the Pinnacles rock formation—rewarding you with 360° views of the entire Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.
If the Pinnacles isn't your style and you would prefer a more relaxing day, you have the option of staying in and exploring Coromandel Township. Highlights include the Driving Creek Railway, local artisan workshops, colourful cafés, and Kiwi culture.
Tonight, we dine in an award-winning local restaurant, where we'll have a chance to sample some of the region's best local food and wine.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–7 hours or 16 km (10 miles)
Elevation gain: 680 metres
Driving time: 3 hours
Please note this itinerary may be modified. We like to keep the trip flexible to make the most of weather conditions and tailor the trip to suit the group. To maximise your experience and minimise drive times, we may shuttle the vehicle, so some sections of the trail may be walked without a guide. We'll ensure you are well-prepared for this.
This morning, we'll pack up our kit, farewell our lodge hosts, and head east to one of the top twenty beaches in the world, New Chums Beach. An unforgettable white sand, crescent moon-shaped beach, fringed by pōhutukawa and nīkau palms.
Finding a secluded beach with no signs of man is an experience not to be missed! (Please note that this walk is dependent on tides.)
After a restorative café pitstop nearby, we'll carry on around for a refreshing lunch looking out over Buffalo Beach in sunny, vibrant Whitianga. Continuing around the East Coast, we'll visit the 309 Kauri walk—a 30-minute stroll to a beautiful grove of majestic kauri trees.
We'll have you safely back to our tour hotel in central Rotorua. Your evening meal tonight is outside your tour package, so enjoy maximum flexibility to go wherever your tastebuds take you. Perhaps try one of the many delicious dinner options nearby in Rotorua’s dining precinct, EAT Street. Enjoy a restful night in the excellent care of our Rotorua Hotel partners.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner by own arrangements)
Accommodation: Rotorua Hotel
Hiking time: 3–4 hours or 5 km (3 miles)
Elevation gain: 255 metres
Driving time: 4 hours
We'll pick you up from our central Rotorua hotel between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, before heading south-west alongside the Waikato River and into the heart of the North Island's mighty King Country. We'll enter the forested fringes of the Pureora Forest Park and warm up our legs on a short trail, part of the epic 85 km Timber Trail cycleway.
The Pureora Forest Park is a significant environmental area, home to the Pikiariki and Waipapa Ecological areas, and a habitat for rare, native bats. The type of forest at Pureora is old-growth podocarp, of which there is only a very small percentage left globally. You'll experience a section of forest that has remained untouched for more than 2,000 years—a taste of what primordial New Zealand was like. Huge tōtara trees dominate the canopy, hosting a plethora of fragile ecosystems and providing a home for native birdlife like the kākā, kākāriki (green forest parrot), and kākā (brown forest parrot).
Our journey southwards takes us down the scenic western coast of the North Island, with amazing views of the Tasman Sea, to the picturesque seaside town of New Plymouth. We'll get our first taste of the topography and natural character of the Taranaki area with a short 30-minute jaunt to the Lake Mangamahoe Reserve to a spectacular viewpoint to see the skyline of Mt. Taranaki and the Pouakai Crossing.
After settling into our cosy lodgings, we'll share a hearty, two-course Kiwi-style meal and a cold glass of something to toast the beginning of our Taranaki adventure as we watch the sun set from the ridgetop restaurant terrace. Put your feet up and prepare for exciting adventures that await us tomorrow!
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 2 hours or 6 km (4 miles)
Driving time: 4 hours, with breaks
This morning, we'll set off on one of New Zealand’s greatest one-day hikes, the Pouakai Crossing. This trail leads us through an incredible variety of landscapes—ferny 'goblin' forest, fragile wetlands, subalpine scrub, and reflective tarns mirroring the stunning peak of Mt. Taranaki. On a clear day, we'll be treated to north-east views across to Mt. Ruapehu and the central plateau of the North Island. Pouakai Tarns offers the most magical view of Mt. Taranaki, one of the most spectacular views in the whole country. Under the right conditions—and this is crucial—the mountain is perfectly reflected in the water, creating a scene so magical that it’s hard to believe it's real.
Fair weather and a good level of fitness are required to undertake this hike as the day is long; short sections are steep, exposed, and challenging. The track is generally well-formed underfoot, water crossings are bridged, and wetlands are traversed via a network of timber boardwalks. Care is required when crossing the loose ground on the face of Boomerang Slip—a good sense of balance will stand you in good stead here.
From the Mangorei Road trail end, we'll return to our lodgings where you can revive your weary muscles with a hot shower, before meeting in the cosy lounge for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles. Tonight, we share a delicious two-course meal in the lodge's onsite restaurant overlooking the gorgeous grounds and raise a toast to an unforgettable day on Taranaki Mounga.
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 8–10 hours or 19 km (12 miles)
Elevation gain: 900 metres
Driving time: 40 minutes
Today we travel around the south-eastern side of Mt. Taranaki to experience a different perspective of the Egmont National Park. We get started with a gentle 1-hour hike through native kāmahi forest into Dawson Falls, an 18-metre high single-drop cascade feeding New Zealand's oldest continuously operating hydro-electric power generator and likely one of the oldest in the world!
We'll visit Wilkies Pool via a 2 km loop-track through 'goblin forest,' dripping in ferns and moss to a series of clear pools formed from 20,000-year-old lava flows. The first section of this track is very easy-going, gradually becoming more challenging as we cross Kapuni Stream.
To finish things off, we'll visit the York Road Loop track—a fascinating 5.3 km loop trail steeped in history. Fueling the birth of a region, the York Road area was an integral cog in the development of the Taranaki settlement. History buffs and amateur archaeologists will love the well-preserved remnants of pioneering activity on this fascinating trail, including a huge concrete bath sand trap and a long fern-walled canyon, hand-cut for railway wagon access.
Tonight, we enjoy our final celebration dinner, glasses raised, to cap off an excellent walking adventure.
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 4 hours or 10 km (6 miles)
Driving time: 1 hour
After a hearty breakfast, we pack up our kit and farewell the majestic Taranaki Mounga. We couldn't depart New Plymouth without a brief visit to the heart of the township, Puke Ariki Museum. The museum holds a wealth of historic artefacts and precious carvings unique to the Taranaki people, and this is a chance to cement your Taranaki memories for the journey homeward.
On our way out of the Egmont National Park, we'll finish things off with a rejuvenating gentle walk along the famous Coastal Walkway. This wide, shared pathway clings to the edge of the township, bordering the tempestuous Tasman Sea. Beginning at the iconic Len Lye kinetic sculpture—a 45m fibreglass tube known as the Wind Wand—we'll make our way along the pathway, soaking up wide, uninterrupted views of the open ocean to reach the 83m long, beautifully sculptural Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. This is an important point of genealogy for Taranaki Māori. We'll enjoy our final picnic lunch near the Waiwhakaiho River before setting out for Rotorua.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner by own arrangements)
Accommodation: Rotorua Hotel
Hiking time: 2 hours or 8 km (5 miles)
Driving time: 4 hours, with breaks
We'll pick you up from our central Rotorua hotel between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, before heading south through the North Island's geothermal heartland. We'll skirt around the beautiful shores of Lake Taupō, the North Island’s largest lake, and then drive up through stunning native forest onto the mighty central plateau.
We'll get our first taste of the topography and natural character of the Tongariro National Park with a 2-hour loop walk to Taranaki Falls, which is part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk track. These falls tumble 20 metres over the edge of an old andesite lava flow, erupted from Mt. Ruapehu 15,000 years ago, into a boulder-ringed pool. You'll see a fascinating range of beech forest, alpine meadows full of red tussock, five-finger, umbrella ferns, and mountain toatoa. This is a great chance to orient ourselves amongst spectacular views of the Tongariro volcanic massif.
We'll continue to warm up and stretch out the legs with an easy, 20-minute walk to see Tawhai Falls, better known as "Gollum's Pool." If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, you'll recognise this picturesque, 13-metre-high waterfall, where Faramir and his archers watch Gollum fish.
After settling into our cosy lodgings, we'll share a hearty, two-course Kiwi-style meal and a cold glass of something to toast the beginning of our Tongariro adventure as we watch the sun set over the magnificent volcanic skyline. Have a soak in the hot tub, nurse an after-dinner tipple at the on-site bar, or just put your feet up and prepare for exciting adventures that await us tomorrow!
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 2 hours or 6 km (4 miles)
Driving time: 2.5 hours
This morning, we'll set off on one of the world’s greatest one-day hikes, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This trail leads us through an incredible variety of ethereal landscapes—lava fields, emerald-coloured crater lakes, steaming vents, alpine meadows, over an alpine pass, amidst the stunning mountain peaks—there's nothing like it anywhere else on the planet! The views across to Mt. Ngauruhoe, Mt. Ruapehu, and the central plateau of the North Island are simply spectacular and worth every step!
Lonely Planet recommends a walk amidst the Tongariro Volcanoes as "a life-changing experience not to be missed!" Your guides make this incredible hike even more memorable by sharing local stories and legends and bringing the extraordinary geological history to life. Fair weather and a good level of fitness are required to undertake this hike.
After a well-deserved trail-end celebration, we'll return to The Park and revive your weary muscles in the outdoor spa pool, before meeting in the cosy lounge for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles. Tonight, we head out to a lively local restaurant and bar for a casual meal with the locals.
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–8 hours or 19.4 km (12 miles)
Driving time: 1 hour
Elevation gain: 900 m
Today we travel around the southern side of Mt. Ruapehu to experience some of New Zealand's rail history on the Old Coach Road trail. Between 1906 to 1908, the road was used to carry passengers and goods by horse and coach, between two railheads on the main trunk line, and is steeped in interesting pioneering stories from the early days of New Zealand industry.
Heritage features on the trail include a unique cobbled stone road, massive steel viaducts, a curved tunnel, railway bridge remnants, and old workers' campsites. The 15 km walk takes around 5 hours and passes through some beautiful stands of native forest with sweeping views across the Ohakune district, known for its fertile soils and market gardens.
In consultation with the group, and if conditions allow, we can squeeze in some extra trails nearby or head up Bruce Road to explore the dramatic, rock-strewn landscapes higher up on Mt. Ruapehu. At 2,797 metres above sea level, the North Island’s highest mountain offers jaw-dropping views over the National Park with various hiking options.
Tonight we enjoy a final celebration dinner, glasses raised, to cap off an excellent walking adventure.
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 5 hours or 15 km (9.5 miles)
Driving time: 1–1.5 hours
After a final hearty breakfast, we pack up our kit and farewell the National Park and its majestic mountains. If the legs are feeling fresh, we'll begin our day with one of the many short walks nearby. Our experienced local guides love the chance to select a trail from their catalogue of personal favourites to make this particular trip a unique experience for everyone.
On our journey out of the park, we'll finish things off with a rejuvenating hike around the glistening Lake Rotopounamu (Greenstone Lake) nestled on the side of beautiful Mt. Pihanga, a mountain maiden central to the Māori legend that describes how this area was formed. From the car park, we'll make our way up a small incline to reach the lake level itself, where the track evens out to circumvent the lakeshore. We'll enjoy our final picnic lunch on Five Minute Beach in the peace and serenity of lush native forest.
Walking Legends supports Project Tongariro, an eco-trust working to restore the native birdlife to this special area by sponsoring the care of hectare #189. Let us all enjoy time amongst the abundant native birdlife that our conservation efforts have helped to revive.
We'll have you safely back in Taupō between 3–4 pm or Rotorua around 5–6 pm to meet your onward travel arrangements.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Hiking time: 3–4 hours or 7 km (4.5 miles)
Driving time: 2.5 hours
Cost per person twin share
October 2024 - April 2026
- Adult: NZ$5,850
- Child: NZ$3,900*
- Single supplement: NZ$900
* Child age 15 years and under
Bookings and Payments
- A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 NZD per person, per walk is required to confirm a booking.
- The remaining balance must be paid 40 days before the walk departure date.
- Your booking is only confirmed once the deposit is paid in full.
- Your place on the tour is not guaranteed until the full balance has been paid prior to the departure date.
Cancellations
- 61 days or more before departure: Full refund less deposit**+
- Between 60-31 days: 30% cancellation fee**
- Within 30 days: No refund
**Refund excludes credit card or payment fees if applicable, which are non-refundable.
+Deposit is non-refundable, however you can make unlimited changes to your chosen tour up to 60 days before your arrival, including changing your tour dates and changing tour participants.
Itinerary
Open AllWe'll collect you from your central Rotorua accommodation at around 8:30 am or from your central Matamata accommodation around 9:30 am.
First, we warm up with a 4 km hike to the top of Wairere Falls, along an old Maori pack trail leading to the North Island’s highest waterfall, where we can view the verdant Waikato basin from two lookouts over-hanging 153 metres of thunderous waterfall. Enjoy a good stretch of the legs through Nikau and kohekohe forest.
As we continue north, we’ll pass over the Hauraki Plains before we reach Thames, the gold-mining gateway to the Peninsula. Sit back and enjoy views out over the mussel farms of the Hauraki Gulf from one of New Zealand’s classic coastal drives, the Coromandel west coast. We arrive in Coromandel Town, a charming seaside settlement rich in pioneering history and a bustling wee village in the summer months. If time allows, we’ll call in at Long Bay Scenic Reserve - this little-known trail circuits a grove of magnificent 330-year-old Kauri trees – New Zealand’s very own forest giants that grow up to 50 metres tall. At last we reach our lovely accommodation where we can watch the sunset from the verandah, graze over a platter of fresh fruits and cheese with a glass of wine or ice-cold brew before dinner.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours or 5 kms (3 miles)
Driving time: 3 hours with breaks
Start the day well with a hearty breakfast in the alfresco dining area of the lodge, surrounded by native manuka bush, Pohutukawa trees, and abundant birdsong.
Today we head north to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to hike one of the best coastal walks in the country. This historic trail follows an old bridle path once used by gold miners who populated the Coromandel region in colonial times.
Thanks to the joint efforts of DoC and Moehau Environmental Group, we are right in the heart of the largest predator-controlled Kiwi habitat in New Zealand with 30,000 hectares of stoat trapping, which has brought the number of kiwi back to pre-European levels! Keep an eye out for both the North Island Robin/toutouwai, a colony translocated here in 2009 after 100 years of absence, and the Brown Teal/pāteke, another translocated colony that has gone on to be the world's most prolific recovery ever recorded for an endangered waterfowl species!
We begin our hike at Fletcher Bay, a picture-perfect isolated beach, flanked by green hills and white sand. The track hugs the coastline and gives us amazing views out over the Pacific Ocean towards Aotea/Great Barrier Island and Mt. Moehau—so have your camera ready! The track is easy-going, with a short, steepish section heading down into and out of Poley Bay—a fantastic beach for a picnic! This stretch of coastline offers all the dramatic views that make coastal hiking such a wonderful experience.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–7 hours or 12 km (8 miles)
Elevation gain: 177 metres
Driving time: 3 hours with breaks
This morning we head south and enter the hidden world of the Kauaeranga Valley, home to the majestic Pinnacles range. The entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula was once a chain of volcanic cones. This chain has since been eroded and weathered to form the spectacular series of outcrops you see today. The Pinnacles trail is a challenging walk; it climbs through regenerating kauri forest, passing one of NZ’s best-preserved kauri dams, eventually cresting the top of the range to reach the Pinnacles Hut. From the hut, a heart-pumping 30-minute walk, via a series of timber staircases and a network of steel rungs embedded in the rock face, leads us to the top of the Pinnacles rock formation—rewarding you with 360° views of the entire Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.
If the Pinnacles isn't your style and you would prefer a more relaxing day, you have the option of staying in and exploring Coromandel Township. Highlights include the Driving Creek Railway, local artisan workshops, colourful cafés, and Kiwi culture.
Tonight, we dine in an award-winning local restaurant, where we'll have a chance to sample some of the region's best local food and wine.
Accommodation: Hush Boutique Accommodation
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–7 hours or 16 km (10 miles)
Elevation gain: 680 metres
Driving time: 3 hours
Please note this itinerary may be modified. We like to keep the trip flexible to make the most of weather conditions and tailor the trip to suit the group. To maximise your experience and minimise drive times, we may shuttle the vehicle, so some sections of the trail may be walked without a guide. We'll ensure you are well-prepared for this.
This morning, we'll pack up our kit, farewell our lodge hosts, and head east to one of the top twenty beaches in the world, New Chums Beach. An unforgettable white sand, crescent moon-shaped beach, fringed by pōhutukawa and nīkau palms.
Finding a secluded beach with no signs of man is an experience not to be missed! (Please note that this walk is dependent on tides.)
After a restorative café pitstop nearby, we'll carry on around for a refreshing lunch looking out over Buffalo Beach in sunny, vibrant Whitianga. Continuing around the East Coast, we'll visit the 309 Kauri walk—a 30-minute stroll to a beautiful grove of majestic kauri trees.
We'll have you safely back to our tour hotel in central Rotorua. Your evening meal tonight is outside your tour package, so enjoy maximum flexibility to go wherever your tastebuds take you. Perhaps try one of the many delicious dinner options nearby in Rotorua’s dining precinct, EAT Street. Enjoy a restful night in the excellent care of our Rotorua Hotel partners.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner by own arrangements)
Accommodation: Rotorua Hotel
Hiking time: 3–4 hours or 5 km (3 miles)
Elevation gain: 255 metres
Driving time: 4 hours
We'll pick you up from our central Rotorua hotel between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, before heading south-west alongside the Waikato River and into the heart of the North Island's mighty King Country. We'll enter the forested fringes of the Pureora Forest Park and warm up our legs on a short trail, part of the epic 85 km Timber Trail cycleway.
The Pureora Forest Park is a significant environmental area, home to the Pikiariki and Waipapa Ecological areas, and a habitat for rare, native bats. The type of forest at Pureora is old-growth podocarp, of which there is only a very small percentage left globally. You'll experience a section of forest that has remained untouched for more than 2,000 years—a taste of what primordial New Zealand was like. Huge tōtara trees dominate the canopy, hosting a plethora of fragile ecosystems and providing a home for native birdlife like the kākā, kākāriki (green forest parrot), and kākā (brown forest parrot).
Our journey southwards takes us down the scenic western coast of the North Island, with amazing views of the Tasman Sea, to the picturesque seaside town of New Plymouth. We'll get our first taste of the topography and natural character of the Taranaki area with a short 30-minute jaunt to the Lake Mangamahoe Reserve to a spectacular viewpoint to see the skyline of Mt. Taranaki and the Pouakai Crossing.
After settling into our cosy lodgings, we'll share a hearty, two-course Kiwi-style meal and a cold glass of something to toast the beginning of our Taranaki adventure as we watch the sun set from the ridgetop restaurant terrace. Put your feet up and prepare for exciting adventures that await us tomorrow!
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 2 hours or 6 km (4 miles)
Driving time: 4 hours, with breaks
This morning, we'll set off on one of New Zealand’s greatest one-day hikes, the Pouakai Crossing. This trail leads us through an incredible variety of landscapes—ferny 'goblin' forest, fragile wetlands, subalpine scrub, and reflective tarns mirroring the stunning peak of Mt. Taranaki. On a clear day, we'll be treated to north-east views across to Mt. Ruapehu and the central plateau of the North Island. Pouakai Tarns offers the most magical view of Mt. Taranaki, one of the most spectacular views in the whole country. Under the right conditions—and this is crucial—the mountain is perfectly reflected in the water, creating a scene so magical that it’s hard to believe it's real.
Fair weather and a good level of fitness are required to undertake this hike as the day is long; short sections are steep, exposed, and challenging. The track is generally well-formed underfoot, water crossings are bridged, and wetlands are traversed via a network of timber boardwalks. Care is required when crossing the loose ground on the face of Boomerang Slip—a good sense of balance will stand you in good stead here.
From the Mangorei Road trail end, we'll return to our lodgings where you can revive your weary muscles with a hot shower, before meeting in the cosy lounge for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles. Tonight, we share a delicious two-course meal in the lodge's onsite restaurant overlooking the gorgeous grounds and raise a toast to an unforgettable day on Taranaki Mounga.
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 8–10 hours or 19 km (12 miles)
Elevation gain: 900 metres
Driving time: 40 minutes
Today we travel around the south-eastern side of Mt. Taranaki to experience a different perspective of the Egmont National Park. We get started with a gentle 1-hour hike through native kāmahi forest into Dawson Falls, an 18-metre high single-drop cascade feeding New Zealand's oldest continuously operating hydro-electric power generator and likely one of the oldest in the world!
We'll visit Wilkies Pool via a 2 km loop-track through 'goblin forest,' dripping in ferns and moss to a series of clear pools formed from 20,000-year-old lava flows. The first section of this track is very easy-going, gradually becoming more challenging as we cross Kapuni Stream.
To finish things off, we'll visit the York Road Loop track—a fascinating 5.3 km loop trail steeped in history. Fueling the birth of a region, the York Road area was an integral cog in the development of the Taranaki settlement. History buffs and amateur archaeologists will love the well-preserved remnants of pioneering activity on this fascinating trail, including a huge concrete bath sand trap and a long fern-walled canyon, hand-cut for railway wagon access.
Tonight, we enjoy our final celebration dinner, glasses raised, to cap off an excellent walking adventure.
Accommodation: Boutique New Plymouth Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 4 hours or 10 km (6 miles)
Driving time: 1 hour
After a hearty breakfast, we pack up our kit and farewell the majestic Taranaki Mounga. We couldn't depart New Plymouth without a brief visit to the heart of the township, Puke Ariki Museum. The museum holds a wealth of historic artefacts and precious carvings unique to the Taranaki people, and this is a chance to cement your Taranaki memories for the journey homeward.
On our way out of the Egmont National Park, we'll finish things off with a rejuvenating gentle walk along the famous Coastal Walkway. This wide, shared pathway clings to the edge of the township, bordering the tempestuous Tasman Sea. Beginning at the iconic Len Lye kinetic sculpture—a 45m fibreglass tube known as the Wind Wand—we'll make our way along the pathway, soaking up wide, uninterrupted views of the open ocean to reach the 83m long, beautifully sculptural Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. This is an important point of genealogy for Taranaki Māori. We'll enjoy our final picnic lunch near the Waiwhakaiho River before setting out for Rotorua.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch (Dinner by own arrangements)
Accommodation: Rotorua Hotel
Hiking time: 2 hours or 8 km (5 miles)
Driving time: 4 hours, with breaks
We'll pick you up from our central Rotorua hotel between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, before heading south through the North Island's geothermal heartland. We'll skirt around the beautiful shores of Lake Taupō, the North Island’s largest lake, and then drive up through stunning native forest onto the mighty central plateau.
We'll get our first taste of the topography and natural character of the Tongariro National Park with a 2-hour loop walk to Taranaki Falls, which is part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk track. These falls tumble 20 metres over the edge of an old andesite lava flow, erupted from Mt. Ruapehu 15,000 years ago, into a boulder-ringed pool. You'll see a fascinating range of beech forest, alpine meadows full of red tussock, five-finger, umbrella ferns, and mountain toatoa. This is a great chance to orient ourselves amongst spectacular views of the Tongariro volcanic massif.
We'll continue to warm up and stretch out the legs with an easy, 20-minute walk to see Tawhai Falls, better known as "Gollum's Pool." If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, you'll recognise this picturesque, 13-metre-high waterfall, where Faramir and his archers watch Gollum fish.
After settling into our cosy lodgings, we'll share a hearty, two-course Kiwi-style meal and a cold glass of something to toast the beginning of our Tongariro adventure as we watch the sun set over the magnificent volcanic skyline. Have a soak in the hot tub, nurse an after-dinner tipple at the on-site bar, or just put your feet up and prepare for exciting adventures that await us tomorrow!
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 2 hours or 6 km (4 miles)
Driving time: 2.5 hours
This morning, we'll set off on one of the world’s greatest one-day hikes, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This trail leads us through an incredible variety of ethereal landscapes—lava fields, emerald-coloured crater lakes, steaming vents, alpine meadows, over an alpine pass, amidst the stunning mountain peaks—there's nothing like it anywhere else on the planet! The views across to Mt. Ngauruhoe, Mt. Ruapehu, and the central plateau of the North Island are simply spectacular and worth every step!
Lonely Planet recommends a walk amidst the Tongariro Volcanoes as "a life-changing experience not to be missed!" Your guides make this incredible hike even more memorable by sharing local stories and legends and bringing the extraordinary geological history to life. Fair weather and a good level of fitness are required to undertake this hike.
After a well-deserved trail-end celebration, we'll return to The Park and revive your weary muscles in the outdoor spa pool, before meeting in the cosy lounge for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles. Tonight, we head out to a lively local restaurant and bar for a casual meal with the locals.
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 6–8 hours or 19.4 km (12 miles)
Driving time: 1 hour
Elevation gain: 900 m
Today we travel around the southern side of Mt. Ruapehu to experience some of New Zealand's rail history on the Old Coach Road trail. Between 1906 to 1908, the road was used to carry passengers and goods by horse and coach, between two railheads on the main trunk line, and is steeped in interesting pioneering stories from the early days of New Zealand industry.
Heritage features on the trail include a unique cobbled stone road, massive steel viaducts, a curved tunnel, railway bridge remnants, and old workers' campsites. The 15 km walk takes around 5 hours and passes through some beautiful stands of native forest with sweeping views across the Ohakune district, known for its fertile soils and market gardens.
In consultation with the group, and if conditions allow, we can squeeze in some extra trails nearby or head up Bruce Road to explore the dramatic, rock-strewn landscapes higher up on Mt. Ruapehu. At 2,797 metres above sea level, the North Island’s highest mountain offers jaw-dropping views over the National Park with various hiking options.
Tonight we enjoy a final celebration dinner, glasses raised, to cap off an excellent walking adventure.
Accommodation: The Park Hotel, National Park Village
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hiking time: 5 hours or 15 km (9.5 miles)
Driving time: 1–1.5 hours
After a final hearty breakfast, we pack up our kit and farewell the National Park and its majestic mountains. If the legs are feeling fresh, we'll begin our day with one of the many short walks nearby. Our experienced local guides love the chance to select a trail from their catalogue of personal favourites to make this particular trip a unique experience for everyone.
On our journey out of the park, we'll finish things off with a rejuvenating hike around the glistening Lake Rotopounamu (Greenstone Lake) nestled on the side of beautiful Mt. Pihanga, a mountain maiden central to the Māori legend that describes how this area was formed. From the car park, we'll make our way up a small incline to reach the lake level itself, where the track evens out to circumvent the lakeshore. We'll enjoy our final picnic lunch on Five Minute Beach in the peace and serenity of lush native forest.
Walking Legends supports Project Tongariro, an eco-trust working to restore the native birdlife to this special area by sponsoring the care of hectare #189. Let us all enjoy time amongst the abundant native birdlife that our conservation efforts have helped to revive.
We'll have you safely back in Taupō between 3–4 pm or Rotorua around 5–6 pm to meet your onward travel arrangements.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Hiking time: 3–4 hours or 7 km (4.5 miles)
Driving time: 2.5 hours
