12-Day North Island Bucket List Guided Hiking Tour

For larger groups travelling from Auckland, we can organise a private shuttle transfer. Simply reach out to our team, and we’ll take care of the arrangements for you.

• Lodging Overview:
  • Accommodation includes a mix of boutique and character lodges and hotels.
  • Each leg of the journey includes a 3-night stay at the same location, offering a relaxed and comfortable experience.
  • All accommodations are 3-star rated or higher, with ensuite rooms featuring comfortable beds, crisp linens, and a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Guests can choose between single, twin-share, or double rooms for all 11 nights of the trip.
• Rotorua Stay:
  • On night 4 and night 8, you’ll stay at a 4.5-star historic hotel in central Rotorua.
  • The hotel is within walking distance of Government Gardens and EAT St, Rotorua’s popular dining precinct.
• Room Requests:
  • As not all rooms are the same, specific requirements can be accommodated. Contact the reservations team to secure a room that meets your needs.

Additional Amenities

• Laundry Services:
  • Laundry facilities are not available during the Bucket List Walk.
  • Pack enough clothing for the full 12 days or arrange for laundry to be done in Rotorua City prior to the trip.
• Power Points:
  • All rooms have power points available.
  • Travellers using CPAP machines should notify us in advance so we can assign a room with easy access to power outlets.
• Air-Conditioning:
  • Air-conditioning is not available at all locations:
    • Coromandel: Heating appliances provided, no cooling available.
    • Taranaki: Rooms include both heating and cooling amenities.
    • Tongariro National Park: Heating provided, no cooling available.
• Refrigeration:
  • Each room is equipped with a small refrigerator.
  • If you require refrigeration for medication, you will have access to this in your room throughout the trip.

Room Sharing:

• Accommodation is based on twin-share, meaning two walkers per room.
• If you’d prefer your own room, simply select the single supplement option when completing the online booking form.
• The single supplement fee covers the entire trip, not a per-night charge, ensuring you’ll have a private room throughout the journey.
• If you’re happy to share, you’ll be placed in a twin room with another traveller of the same gender, with separate beds provided.

Most of the walking trails on the Bucket List Walk are graded as easy to moderate, making them accessible for most fitness levels. The trails vary from well-formed paths to more rugged tracks with tree roots, rocks, and occasional muddy sections. While the majority of the walks are manageable, there are a few more challenging days, such as the Pinnacles, the Pouakai Crossing, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. These harder trails are optional, so if you’d prefer not to tackle them, we can organise alternative activities to keep you entertained.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the most demanding hike on the itinerary, spanning 20.2 km and featuring a steep climb up the Mangatepopo Saddle. While it’s definitely a heart-pumping challenge, the views and the experience make it worth every step—there’s nothing else like it in the North Island. Similarly, the Pouakai Crossing is a long day with 19 km of walking and two ascents totalling 900 metres of elevation gain.

To get the most out of the trip, you should be comfortable walking 6–7 hours a day, carrying a daypack with your lunch, water, raincoat, and warm layers. To prepare, it’s a great idea to incorporate regular walking into your routine, focusing on tracks with stairs or inclines. If possible, completing a few shorter multi-day walks in the months leading up to the trip will give you confidence in your fitness. The itinerary includes 2 moderate-hard days, 5 moderate days, and 5 easy days of walking. On the more challenging days, we take plenty of short, strategic breaks to rest, rehydrate, and keep the pace enjoyable.

Every evening at dinner, your guide will provide a detailed briefing about the following day’s walk, ensuring you know what to expect. The pace is kept flexible—those who want to move faster can go ahead, while those who prefer to take it slow can enjoy the walk at their own pace without feeling rushed. If you have any concerns about heights, please let us know in advance, and we can highlight specific areas of the tracks that you may find tricky.

No. This is a lodge-based tour, so you only carry a day pack containing water, lunch, rain gear, warm layers and personal items.