13 Day North Island Highlights Self Drive with Northern Explorer

Arrive at Auckland Airport, where your Tourcorp driver meets you for the transfer to to Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart.

Included Experience: All Blacks Experience

Visit the All Blacks Experience in central Auckland to learn about New Zealand's national rugby teams, their history and the significance of the haka. Interactive activities include kicking, catching and line-out challenges, alongside displays and audiovisual presentations.

Spend the remainder of the day exploring the Britomart precinct, Commercial Bay or Auckland's waterfront, all within walking distance of your accommodation.

Travel by Fullers ferry from Auckland's downtown ferry terminal to Matiatia Wharf on Waiheke Island. The crossing takes approximately 40 minutes each way.

Included Experience: EcoZip Adventures Waiheke Island

EcoZip Adventures collects you from Matiatia Wharf for a guided zipline and forest experience. Ride three dual ziplines above native forest and vineyards, followed by a guided walk through regenerating native bush.

Return to Matiatia Wharf for your ferry back to Auckland. Allow additional time on Waiheke Island if you wish to visit Oneroa village, local beaches or vineyards.

Collect your rental car in Auckland and drive south through the Waikato region to Matamata for your Hobbiton Movie Set tour. Continue to Rotorua for an evening Māori cultural experience at Te Puia.

Included Experience: Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour

Depart from The Shire's Rest for a guided visit to Hobbiton Movie Set. Walk through the film location, see the Hobbit Holes and Bagshot Row, enter a furnished Hobbit Hole interior and visit The Green Dragon Inn.

Included Experience: Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience at Te Puia

Visit Te Puia in Rotorua for Te Pō, an evening programme featuring Māori cultural performances, storytelling and a hāngī buffet dinner. The experience introduces Māori traditions and the geothermal environment of Te Whakarewarewa Valley.

Spend the day visiting two of Rotorua's wildlife and forest attractions, with an optional visit to Polynesian Spa.

Included Experience: National Kiwi Hatchery Experience

Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery to learn about kiwi conservation, egg incubation, hatching and chick rearing. The guided experience explains how the hatchery supports kiwi conservation programmes across New Zealand.

Included Experience: Redwoods Daytime Treewalk & Glowworm Combo

Walk among the redwoods on elevated suspension bridges during the daytime Treewalk. The combined experience also includes a guided visit to a purpose-built glowworm eco-cave, where you can learn about the glowworm life cycle and habitat.

Suggested Activity: Polynesian Spa Family Pools

Visit Polynesian Spa beside Lake Rotorua for a family swimming session. Facilities include a large freshwater swimming pool, a toddler area, a heated hydro slide and two mineral pools maintained at approximately 37°C and 40°C. The hydro slide is heated to approximately 33°C.

Children must be supervised in accordance with the facility's rules.

Keep today free to explore more of Rotorua at your own pace. The itinerary suggests Skyline Gondola with five luge rides, Kaituna white-water rafting, or the Hell’s Gate geothermal walk, mud bath and sulphur spas. These are optional additions and require separate arrangements.

Suggested Activities

Skyline Gondola & 5 Luge Rides: Take the Skyline Gondola up Mount Ngongotahā, approximately 487 metres above sea level, for views over Rotorua and Lake Rotorua. At the summit, use your five included luge rides on the purpose-built tracks, with different routes available according to riding ability and conditions.

Restaurants and other activities are also available at the Skyline complex.

Kaituna White Water Rafting: Join a guided white-water rafting trip on the Kaituna River, near Rotorua. The route includes rapids, native bush-lined gorges and the 7-metre Tutea Falls waterfall.

Safety equipment and a briefing are provided before entering the river. Minimum age and other participation requirements apply and should be confirmed before booking.

Hell's Gate Geothermal & Spa Experience: Visit Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve for a guided or self-guided walk past steaming vents, hot pools and geothermal formations. The experience also includes a geothermal mud bath and sulphur spa bathing.

Allow time for both the geothermal walk and bathing activities. Swimwear and towel arrangements should be checked when booking.

Leave Rotorua and drive towards Taupō, stopping at Orakei Korako Hidden Valley before continuing to Napier in Hawke's Bay. Huka Falls is another possible stop along the route.

Included Experience: Orakei Korako Hidden Valley

Take a short boat transfer across Lake Ohakuri to Orakei Korako Geothermal Park. Follow the walking tracks past silica terraces, geothermal pools, steaming vents and the Ruatapu Cave area.

Allow approximately 1 to 2 hours for the visit, depending on walking pace and time spent at the geothermal features.

Suggested Activities

Triple Chocolate Dipper Tour with Silky Oak Chocolate Company: Visit Silky Oak Chocolate Company in Napier for a guided chocolate tasting and entry to the Thru' the Ages Chocolate Museum. The experience includes a hot drink with a chocolate-covered muffin or slice, plus a chocolate gift to take away.

General Admission to the National Aquarium of New Zealand: Visit the National Aquarium of New Zealand on Napier's Marine Parade. See marine and freshwater exhibits, native New Zealand wildlife and little penguins. Displays include fish, reptiles and other species from New Zealand and overseas.

Spend a full day in Hawke's Bay exploring Napier, the region's vineyards, coastal cycle trails or Cape Kidnappers / Te Kauwae-a-Māui.

The day is free for independent sightseeing, with several activities available to add to your holiday.

Suggested Activities

Hawke's Bay Half-Day Wine Tour with Grape Escape: Join Grape Escape for an afternoon tour visiting approximately four to five Hawke's Bay wineries. Learn about the region's grape varieties and growing conditions while tasting wines at selected cellar doors.

The tour also includes a cheese platter at Ngatarawa Vineyard, subject to the operator's current itinerary.

Cape Wineries Self-Guided E-Bike Tour with Takaro Trails: Collect your e-bike for a self-guided 19 km ride through the coastal communities of Haumoana and Te Awanga. Follow cycle trails beside vineyards and the Tūkītūkī River, with opportunities to stop at wineries and cafés along the route.

Winery tastings and food purchases may cost extra.

Gannet Safaris Overland: Travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle through Cape Kidnappers Station to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers / Te Kauwae-a-Māui. The approximately three-hour, 36 km excursion crosses farmland and coastal terrain before reaching the colony viewing area.

Learn about the gannets' breeding behaviour and seasonal presence. Tours operate subject to seasonal conditions and access arrangements.

Drive south from Napier through Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, passing Masterton and Greytown before crossing the Remutaka Range into Wellington.

If time permits, stop at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre near Mount Bruce to learn about native bird conservation.

Return your rental car to the designated Wellington depot before checking into your accommodation.

Suggested Activity 

Pūkaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre General Admission - Open-Dated Voucher

Visit Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, a native forest reserve and wildlife conservation facility on State Highway 2 between Eketāhuna and Masterton.

Follow the walking tracks to see native forest and conservation facilities, with opportunities to observe species such as kiwi, kākā, kōkako, takahē and whio. The centre also offers wildlife talks and feeding presentations according to its daily programme.

Your admission includes access to the visitor facilities, walking tracks and scheduled presentations.

Join a private half-day sightseeing tour of Wellington, followed by free time to visit Te Papa or Zealandia.

Included Experience: Wellington Half-Day Private Tour with Capital Personalized Tour

Visit Wellington's main city attractions with Capital Personalized Tour. The itinerary includes Mount Victoria for views across the harbour, Wētā Cave in Miramar, Wellington's south coast and a ride on the Wellington Cable Car.

The tour also visits Lady Norwood Rose Garden and passes the New Zealand Parliament buildings.

Suggested Activities

Entry to Te Papa, The Museum of New Zealand: Visit Te Papa on Wellington's waterfront to explore exhibitions covering Māori culture, New Zealand history, natural sciences and art. Displays include the colossal squid, geological exhibits and collections relating to the country's people and environment.

Allow approximately 2 to 3 hours for a general museum visit, or longer if you wish to see additional exhibitions. Some exhibitions and guided experiences have separate admission charges.

Zealandia by Night Wildlife Sanctuary Tour: Join a guided evening walk through Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, a 225-hectare fenced ecosanctuary approximately 10 minutes from central Wellington.

Learn about native species restoration while looking for nocturnal wildlife, including birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

our In Style Executive driver collects you from Adina CityLife Wellington for the private transfer to Wellington Railway Station.

Included Experience: Northern Explorer Scenic Train, Wellington to Taumarunui

Board the Northern Explorer for the northbound rail journey through the lower North Island, Rangitīkei Gorge and central volcanic plateau.

The route includes rural landscapes, river valleys, railway viaducts and views towards the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park, weather permitting.

The Northern Explorer has panoramic windows and an open-air viewing carriage for photography and sightseeing.

Optional Upgrade: Northern Explorer Scenic Plus

Scenic Plus offers an upgraded onboard experience with meals featuring New Zealand produce and regional ingredients. Availability and inclusions should be confirmed for the Wellington to Taumarunui sector.

Arrive in Taumarunui for your two-night stay at Forgotten World Motel.

Spend the day with Forgotten World Adventures on the Rail River Combo, combining rail-cart travel along a former railway line with a jet-boat excursion on the Whanganui River.

Included Experience: Forgotten World Rail River Combo

Travel aboard a self-drive rail cart along the disused railway line through the Forgotten World region. The route passes through tunnels, over bridges and across rural farmland before reaching Tokirima.

Stop for a railside picnic lunch before transferring by shuttle to the Whanganui River.

Continue by jet boat along the river, travelling through sections of the Whanganui River valley. Your excursion includes return transport to Taumarunui.

The rail carts travel on railway tracks rather than public roads, with instructions and operating procedures provided by Forgotten World Adventures.

Return to the Northern Explorer for the final rail section of your North Island Highlights Self Drive with Northern Explorer holiday.

Included Experience: Northern Explorer Scenic Train, Taumarunui to Auckland

Travel north through the King Country and Waikato regions, passing farmland, rural towns and river valleys on the way to Auckland.

The train's panoramic windows provide views along the route, while the open-air viewing carriage allows passengers to take photographs without window reflections.

On arrival at Auckland Strand Railway Station, your private driver meets you for the transfer to Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart.

Your Tourcorp driver collects you from Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart for the private transfer to Auckland Airport.

Allow sufficient time for airline check-in and security procedures, particularly for international flights.

Your 13 Day North Island Highlights Self Drive with Northern Explorer holiday concludes at Auckland Airport.