5 Day Bay of Islands and Rotorua Combo Independent Coach Tour

Uncover the wild beauty of this vast and untouched region of New Zealand that is rich in Māori culture and tradition. As you travel north, enjoy a taste of the varying and beautiful landscape: the rolling hills of Northland's rural countryside, breath-taking coastal views and native forest. Your driver will take you along Ninety Mile Beach, where you will see the waves crash beside the coach. You will have the choice to experience the thrill of sand-boarding. You will also visit the Puketi Kauri Forest and explore Cape Reinga.

Drive along the sand on 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). Your off-road journey continues up Te Paki Stream, stopping at the massive sand dunes where you can experience the thrills and spills of sand-boarding. Clambering up and surfing down the dunes (if you dare!) is sure to get your heart pumping.

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. Leave a living legacy by planting a native tree at Cape Reinga (additional cost – ask your driver guide for more information).

During your Cape Reinga tour, you'll also experience another Kiwi icon: a lunch of delicious fresh fish and chips at the historic Wagener Museum at Houhora. A vegetarian option is available and can be selected when booking.

Your journey home will be equally enjoyable as your tour guide's combination of local insight, extensive historical knowledge and fantastic sense of humour create an unforgettable adventure.

Your journey will take you past scenic native forests and sub-tropical bush, before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge to arrive into the spectacular city scene of Auckland. Continue south into the rich farmland of the Waikato and onto the cultural heart of the North Island and Rotorua City.

You will be collected from Rotorua Coach Depot and transferred to your accommodation.

Stay 2 nights Rotorua

Discover Rotorua Morning Sights tour 

Experience Te Puia, a place of Maori culture and a thermal wonderland of impressive geysers and boiling mud pools. Explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park, which showcases native flora and fauna as well as the New Zealand Kiwi. Then see NZ's agricultural industry in action with a sheep shearing display and sheep dog trials at the Agrodome.

Tamaki Maori Village cultural tour and dinner
Journey back in time to a Pre-European lifestyle experience of customs and traditions. Enjoy the night's festivities with the people of Tamaki Maori Village as you are treated to a banquet of succulent foods cooked the traditional Maori way. Rediscover the Maori village as it comes alive to the sound and activities of tribal songs, dances, myths and legends and browse throughout the largest after hour's tribal market place in Rotorua. Includes dinner.

Enjoy this tour from Rotorua to Auckland including a guided tour of the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Leaving Rotorua in the morning you travel through lush farmland including the intriguing Fitzgerald Glade where the roadside trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery. On arrival in the small town of Waitomo enjoy a guided tour through the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. You finish the tour with a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - a subterranean cavern lit up by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms. At the conclusion of the Glowworm Cave tour we take a break at the magnificent Waitomo Caves visitor complex. You continue this afternoon by driving to Auckland, through the beautiful King Country and Waikato regions.

You will need at least a night in Auckland before this your.