Overview
This is the pinnacle of adventure holidays that will take you to all must-see locations in the North Island of New Zealand over the course of this 7 Day North Island Adventure Tour from Wellington to Auckland. Dreamy beaches, volcanoes, Lord of the Rings locations, glow worm caves, lush forests, bubbling mud pools, and our fascinating Maori culture all await you in this tour.
You will also see the North Island’s major visitor centres like the Coromandel, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, the country’s largest city, Auckland, and the nation’s capital, Wellington.
Details
Start: Wellington
Finish: Auckland
Includes:
- ORIENTATION TOURS We give you the low-down on every location
- COMFORTABLE TRANSPORT With plenty of room to spread out
- CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST EVERY DAY Heaps of options for everyone (you too, vegans!)
- HIGH-END HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION Dorm share, upgrades available
- CULTURAL EXPERIENCES To share New Zealand's unique Māori culture with you
- EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDE Friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about NZ
- SMALL GROUPS - MAXIMUM 16 Because you're more than just a number!
What's also included on this tour:
- 6 nights in high-end hostel accommodation, 1 night shared cultural experience*
- Optional FREE Night’s Accommodation at the end of the tour on day 7
- Journey through multiple National Parks
- Stunning walk to the spectacular arched cavern of Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove
- Learn a haka and learn to weave flax with a local iwi (tribe)
- Visit Te Puia – a local arts and culture centre – to learn more about traditional Māori culture and discover Rotorua’s geothermal wonders.
- See kiwi birds up close and personal
- Eat a traditional Māori hāngī meal cooked in an underground oven
- Follow your nose to Rotorua’s bubbling mud pools
- Discover what makes Huka Falls the most visited natural attraction in NZ
- Check out the views from Matairangi/Mount Victoria, Wellington
- Fall in love with Wellington’s cafe and craft beer culture
- Plus many surprise stops along the way
Overview
This is the pinnacle of adventure holidays that will take you to all must-see locations in the North Island of New Zealand over the course of this 7 Day North Island Adventure Tour from Wellington to Auckland. Dreamy beaches, volcanoes, Lord of the Rings locations, glow worm caves, lush forests, bubbling mud pools, and our fascinating Maori culture all await you in this tour.
You will also see the North Island’s major visitor centres like the Coromandel, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, the country’s largest city, Auckland, and the nation’s capital, Wellington.
Itinerary
Open AllKia Ora and welcome to New Zealand!
Today we meet at 8am at the reception of Wellington YHA where your guide will have set up continental breakfast. Over breakfast your guide will introduce everyone to the group and run through everything you need to know to maximise your time in New Zealand. Breakfast and the welcome meeting should take around an hour though can take a bit longer with larger groups.
Tucked away at the bottom of the North Island, New Zealand’s capital is anything but boring. A fun young city with tons of green spaces and beaches, it feels more like a small town than an urban capital. Packed with quirky bars, quaint cafes, beautiful street art and heaps of things to do, it’s impossible not to love Wellington.
In the morning your tour guide will give you a tour of Wellington city and the surrounding bays. This can include a trip to Weta Workshop, where films like Lord of the Rings have been made. We also may visit the parliament buildings, cable car and Mount Victoria.
On the way to Taupōwe drive along the Desert Road that divides the Rangipo Desert (an area with poor vegetation because of bad soil conditions and drying winds). The climate is harsh and in winter it is not unusual to see snow. However, the biggest attractions on this road are that of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, the volcano better known as Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings. On the other side of the road is the lesser noticed Kaimanawa Range, home to a breed of wild horses that can be spotted on rare occasions.
We arrive at the accommodation by evening. With a whole day to explore Taupō tomorrow, feel free to relax at the hostel or go out to experience some of the town’s best nightlife!
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Weta Workshop
Lake Taupō is actually a giant volcanic crater created 70,000 years ago in one of the biggest eruptions in history. Nowadays, it’s one of NZ’s best spots for a holiday escape. And being New Zealand, there are plenty of adventure sports to be found there too!
If you’re looking for a thrill, we suggest skydiving over the lake or bungy jumping over New Zealand’s longest river (and, for the really brave, getting dunked in). There are heaps of other activities on offer such as quad biking, cruising the lake to see Māori rock carvings, hiking along the shores, mountain biking and even the chance to soak in some of the local geothermal pools.
New Zealand’s most famous day hike is also in the area. The 19.4 km Tongariro Crossing is an alpine crossing around Tongariro, one of the country’s most famous and most beautiful volcanoes. It’s a serious leg workout, but but it’s worth every minute for the incredible views and landscape. Turquoise and green lakes greet you at the top, along with vistas that stretch all the way to the coast.
If you’d prefer to relax, jump on a boat for a sailing trip to view Māori rock carvings. Or head to Spa Park and soak until your fingers are wrinkly. However you choose to spend today we guarantee you won’t forget it.
INCLUDED Breakfast
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Lake Taupo Sailing
Skydiving
The Tongariro Crossing
Water Touch Bungy
After our morning in Taupō we head to Kohutapu Lodge in Murupara - a living Māori village - where you will be taken on a tribal tour by a village elder.
Here you’ll also have a chance to learn the world-famous haka dance, and weave your own dinner plate using flax (a type of plant).
Tonight’s dinner is a traditional hāngi meal. Cooked in an underground earth oven you can expect tender meat and delicious vegetables infused with a smoky, earthy fragrance – it will fill your puku (belly) right up!
The best part about spending the evening at Kohutapu Lodge? The majority of proceeds from this activity go back to the local community.
Available activities - Extra Cost
Lake Taupo Sailing
Water Touch Bungy
Skydiving
While the majority of the North Island is volcanic in some way, Rotorua is exceptional for its geothermal activity. With neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, active volcanoes and geysers galore, there are more unique natural wonders to be found in Rotorua than many other places in the world.
On the way to Rotorua, we stop at what really makes the town famous, along with giving it its unique smell: one of several extraordinary geyserlands and thermal parks.
There’s heaps of time to get amongst Rotorua’s diverse attractions while you're here. We’ll get you started with an orientation tour, including a stroll through the flowerfilled Government Gardens by the lakefront.
Lord of the Rings fans, channel your inner hobbit with an optional visit to picturesque Hobbiton – have a ginger beer at the Green Dragon pub for us!
If adrenalin’s your thing, the highest commercial waterfall drop in the world, on the Kaituna River, is begging to be conquered on an exhilarating rafting trip. Or let your guide coax you into thundering down grassy hills in a giant air-cushioned inflatable ball (or OGO) – you won't regret it!
Today is a free day to explore Rotorua and its surrounding area.
There are a number of optional activities you can choose from:
If adrenaline is your thing, the highest commercial waterfall drop in the world, on the Kaituna River, is begging to be conquered on an exhilarating rafting trip.
Perhaps you’d like to try thundering down grassy hills in a giant air-cushioned inflatable ball (aka ZORB)?
A day trip to Waitomo is another option today. Famous for its glowworms there are a number of ways to experience these twinkling creatures up close.
Discover the magic of both the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, as well as the enchanting Ruakuri Cave on a ‘2 cave combo’ walking/boat tour.
Or you can float along an underground river on a Black Water Rafting trip as the glow worms light your path.
Talk to your guide for the best free things to see and do in the neighbourhood (Kuirau Park’s steaming and hissing mud pools are a great option).
However you spend today, be sure to get a good night’s sleep as there are more Rotorua adventures tomorrow!
INCLUDED Breakfast
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Forest Ziplining Canopy Tour
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Mt. Tarawera Crater Hike
River Sledging
White Water Rafting
Zorb
It’s no secret that many blockbuster hits have been filmed in New Zealand due to our incredible landscapes. Around lunchtime, we head of to the Coromandel to discover them first-hand.
We’ll walk together out along the cliffs down to Cathedral Cove (which you might recognise from the Chronicles of Narnia films). Beautiful in its own right, with perfect beaches and massive rock arches and columns it’s one of the most popular spots in the Coromandel and for good reason!
Available Activity - Extra Cost
Hobbiton Movie Set
Beautiful remote beaches, dense wooded forest and clear blue waters make the Coromandel one of New Zealand’s favourite getaways. At low tide, we’ll make our way out to the world-famous Hot Water Beach.
When the tide’s out, you can dig a hole in the sand where natural hot springs bubble up to create your own personal hot tub!
Finally, we head to Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city. Auckland sits on the narrow sliver of land where the Northland peninsula tapers south to meet the rest of the North Island. So the sea is always nearby, and it isn't difficult to guess the origin of its nickname ‘City of Sails’.
We arrive around 5pm, where we'll say our final farewells. The tour officially ends tonight but you don't want to pass up the chance to sleep in! Or if you have a few spare days, why not hop on our three day Bay of Islands tour?
FREE Night Included: For those travelling on the next day, we provide a FREE night in Auckland tonight.
Available Activity - Extra Cost
Cathedral Cove Kayaking
After breakfast, check out from your Auckland accommodation for your onward journey.
Itinerary
Open AllKia Ora and welcome to New Zealand!
Today we meet at 8am at the reception of Wellington YHA where your guide will have set up continental breakfast. Over breakfast your guide will introduce everyone to the group and run through everything you need to know to maximise your time in New Zealand. Breakfast and the welcome meeting should take around an hour though can take a bit longer with larger groups.
Tucked away at the bottom of the North Island, New Zealand’s capital is anything but boring. A fun young city with tons of green spaces and beaches, it feels more like a small town than an urban capital. Packed with quirky bars, quaint cafes, beautiful street art and heaps of things to do, it’s impossible not to love Wellington.
In the morning your tour guide will give you a tour of Wellington city and the surrounding bays. This can include a trip to Weta Workshop, where films like Lord of the Rings have been made. We also may visit the parliament buildings, cable car and Mount Victoria.
On the way to Taupōwe drive along the Desert Road that divides the Rangipo Desert (an area with poor vegetation because of bad soil conditions and drying winds). The climate is harsh and in winter it is not unusual to see snow. However, the biggest attractions on this road are that of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, the volcano better known as Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings. On the other side of the road is the lesser noticed Kaimanawa Range, home to a breed of wild horses that can be spotted on rare occasions.
We arrive at the accommodation by evening. With a whole day to explore Taupō tomorrow, feel free to relax at the hostel or go out to experience some of the town’s best nightlife!
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Weta Workshop
Lake Taupō is actually a giant volcanic crater created 70,000 years ago in one of the biggest eruptions in history. Nowadays, it’s one of NZ’s best spots for a holiday escape. And being New Zealand, there are plenty of adventure sports to be found there too!
If you’re looking for a thrill, we suggest skydiving over the lake or bungy jumping over New Zealand’s longest river (and, for the really brave, getting dunked in). There are heaps of other activities on offer such as quad biking, cruising the lake to see Māori rock carvings, hiking along the shores, mountain biking and even the chance to soak in some of the local geothermal pools.
New Zealand’s most famous day hike is also in the area. The 19.4 km Tongariro Crossing is an alpine crossing around Tongariro, one of the country’s most famous and most beautiful volcanoes. It’s a serious leg workout, but but it’s worth every minute for the incredible views and landscape. Turquoise and green lakes greet you at the top, along with vistas that stretch all the way to the coast.
If you’d prefer to relax, jump on a boat for a sailing trip to view Māori rock carvings. Or head to Spa Park and soak until your fingers are wrinkly. However you choose to spend today we guarantee you won’t forget it.
INCLUDED Breakfast
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Lake Taupo Sailing
Skydiving
The Tongariro Crossing
Water Touch Bungy
After our morning in Taupō we head to Kohutapu Lodge in Murupara - a living Māori village - where you will be taken on a tribal tour by a village elder.
Here you’ll also have a chance to learn the world-famous haka dance, and weave your own dinner plate using flax (a type of plant).
Tonight’s dinner is a traditional hāngi meal. Cooked in an underground earth oven you can expect tender meat and delicious vegetables infused with a smoky, earthy fragrance – it will fill your puku (belly) right up!
The best part about spending the evening at Kohutapu Lodge? The majority of proceeds from this activity go back to the local community.
Available activities - Extra Cost
Lake Taupo Sailing
Water Touch Bungy
Skydiving
While the majority of the North Island is volcanic in some way, Rotorua is exceptional for its geothermal activity. With neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, active volcanoes and geysers galore, there are more unique natural wonders to be found in Rotorua than many other places in the world.
On the way to Rotorua, we stop at what really makes the town famous, along with giving it its unique smell: one of several extraordinary geyserlands and thermal parks.
There’s heaps of time to get amongst Rotorua’s diverse attractions while you're here. We’ll get you started with an orientation tour, including a stroll through the flowerfilled Government Gardens by the lakefront.
Lord of the Rings fans, channel your inner hobbit with an optional visit to picturesque Hobbiton – have a ginger beer at the Green Dragon pub for us!
If adrenalin’s your thing, the highest commercial waterfall drop in the world, on the Kaituna River, is begging to be conquered on an exhilarating rafting trip. Or let your guide coax you into thundering down grassy hills in a giant air-cushioned inflatable ball (or OGO) – you won't regret it!
Today is a free day to explore Rotorua and its surrounding area.
There are a number of optional activities you can choose from:
If adrenaline is your thing, the highest commercial waterfall drop in the world, on the Kaituna River, is begging to be conquered on an exhilarating rafting trip.
Perhaps you’d like to try thundering down grassy hills in a giant air-cushioned inflatable ball (aka ZORB)?
A day trip to Waitomo is another option today. Famous for its glowworms there are a number of ways to experience these twinkling creatures up close.
Discover the magic of both the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, as well as the enchanting Ruakuri Cave on a ‘2 cave combo’ walking/boat tour.
Or you can float along an underground river on a Black Water Rafting trip as the glow worms light your path.
Talk to your guide for the best free things to see and do in the neighbourhood (Kuirau Park’s steaming and hissing mud pools are a great option).
However you spend today, be sure to get a good night’s sleep as there are more Rotorua adventures tomorrow!
INCLUDED Breakfast
Available Activities - Extra Cost
Forest Ziplining Canopy Tour
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Mt. Tarawera Crater Hike
River Sledging
White Water Rafting
Zorb
It’s no secret that many blockbuster hits have been filmed in New Zealand due to our incredible landscapes. Around lunchtime, we head of to the Coromandel to discover them first-hand.
We’ll walk together out along the cliffs down to Cathedral Cove (which you might recognise from the Chronicles of Narnia films). Beautiful in its own right, with perfect beaches and massive rock arches and columns it’s one of the most popular spots in the Coromandel and for good reason!
Available Activity - Extra Cost
Hobbiton Movie Set
Beautiful remote beaches, dense wooded forest and clear blue waters make the Coromandel one of New Zealand’s favourite getaways. At low tide, we’ll make our way out to the world-famous Hot Water Beach.
When the tide’s out, you can dig a hole in the sand where natural hot springs bubble up to create your own personal hot tub!
Finally, we head to Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city. Auckland sits on the narrow sliver of land where the Northland peninsula tapers south to meet the rest of the North Island. So the sea is always nearby, and it isn't difficult to guess the origin of its nickname ‘City of Sails’.
We arrive around 5pm, where we'll say our final farewells. The tour officially ends tonight but you don't want to pass up the chance to sleep in! Or if you have a few spare days, why not hop on our three day Bay of Islands tour?
FREE Night Included: For those travelling on the next day, we provide a FREE night in Auckland tonight.
Available Activity - Extra Cost
Cathedral Cove Kayaking
After breakfast, check out from your Auckland accommodation for your onward journey.