Overview
Auckland - Wellington
This is the complete North Island NZ walking experience. Maximise your time in the New Zealand wilderness yet still marvel at the iconic destinations. Enjoy true wilderness campsites followed by comfortable eco lodges. A range of activities including white water rafting and sea kayaking, complement the hikes superbly and keep this New Zealand Walking tour as diverse and exciting as the landscapes we explore!
Tour Grading: B*
- Up to 4-5 hours of physical activity per day*
- At times carrying a backpack of 4-5kgs
- Tracks generally in good condition
- Altitude gains of up to 600m (2000ft) on harder days
- No hiking experience necessary
* The full (optional) Tongariro Alpine Crossing on day 4 takes 6-7 hours and has an altitude gain of 750m.
Transport
You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The average driving timeper day is around 2-3 hours and there will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guide will often stop the vehicle for you to take photos.
Food
Almost all of the meals are included on this tour, but when staying in the cities we let you do your own thing and try some of the excellent local restaurants. Breakfast is usually (but not always) continental-style in the lodges and hotels. There are plenty of opportunities to graze the local cafes if you would prefer to explore in the morning. The lunches we prepare ourselves are often ‘on the run’ in picnic areas or on trails. Our guides usually set out lunch food for you and you simply help yourself. We provide healthy and wholesome food and include a lot of fresh produce. It is part of our philosophy to get everyone involved so there is a pretty good chance you may find yourself wielding a sharp knife or pushing the tea trolley around at lunchtime. Our customised trailers have a fold down table and cooking area that is perfect for preparing picnics at all those secret places we will take you. Included dinners are frequently in lodge restaurants (either set menu or a la carte), or in a restaurant in the town but occasionally somewhere out of the ordinary!
Accommodation
The Northern Portion hiking tour uses a range of hotels and quality lodges chosen for their good standards and wonderful locations. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Some lodges have units with two bedrooms per unit. Rooms are twin share or doubles. If you are travelling on your own you will be given a twin share room with a fellow traveller of the same gender. Single supplements are available on this tour.
Guides and Safety
An excellent guide can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and just an ordinary trip. That is why we work hard to make sure we hire the best guides. Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor and hiking experience and a passion for New Zealand's wild and beautiful backcountry. Our guides will ensure that your time with us is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and safe. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid. Please be gentle with your guide - good guides are hard to find!
Equipment Hire
We have high quality hiking equipment that you can use on your trip at no extra cost. This includes fleece jackets, thermal top and bottom, raincoat and walking poles. Requests for equipment must be made at least 7 days before the departure date.
Details
Difficulty: 2
Departures Dates
| Month | Year | Day |
| November | 2024 | 21 |
| January | 2025 | 16, 30 |
| February | 2025 | 13, 27 |
| March | 2025 | 13 |
(C) Tour Closed
(L) Limited Availability
Start: Auckland: (630am)
Finish: Wellington: (about 6pm)
Includes:
- This New Zealand adventure travel tour caters for people who want to see "the real New Zealand".
- Discover the world underground at Waitomo
- Explore the geothermal delights of Rotorua
- Hike across active volcanoes and lava valleys in the world-renowned Tongario National Park
- Sip coffee in the coolest little capital of the world – Wellington
- Excellent quality hotels and lodges and all rooms have ensuite bathrooms
- Minimum 3, maximum 11 people
- Meals as detailed in the itinerary
Included Activities
- Maori Village Experience
- Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland
Highlights
- The magical subterranean world of Waitomo
- Captivating Māori cultural performance and hangi dinner
- Surreal geothermal features in Rotorua
- The spectacular volcanic terrain of Tongariro National Park
Pricing:
Cost per person twin share
November 2024 - March 2025:
- Twin Share: NZ$4,400
- Single Supplement: NZ$600
Prices are correct at the time of publishing and may change without prior notice.
PAYMENT
- Bookings more than 4 months in advance: 30% Deposit, with balance 100 days before travel
- Bookings less than 4 months in advance: Full payment on booking
Refunds/Cancellation Fees:
- 100 days or more prior to departure - full refund of the deposit less $500 transferable deposit to future departure
- 35 to 94 days prior to departure - 50% refund of full ticket price.
- 34 days or less prior to departure - NO REFUND.
- The tour price is all-inclusive. There will be no partial refunds or credits for unused services within a tour. Any unpaid forfeited amount may be pursued as a debt.
Overview
Auckland - Wellington
This is the complete North Island NZ walking experience. Maximise your time in the New Zealand wilderness yet still marvel at the iconic destinations. Enjoy true wilderness campsites followed by comfortable eco lodges. A range of activities including white water rafting and sea kayaking, complement the hikes superbly and keep this New Zealand Walking tour as diverse and exciting as the landscapes we explore!
Tour Grading: B*
- Up to 4-5 hours of physical activity per day*
- At times carrying a backpack of 4-5kgs
- Tracks generally in good condition
- Altitude gains of up to 600m (2000ft) on harder days
- No hiking experience necessary
* The full (optional) Tongariro Alpine Crossing on day 4 takes 6-7 hours and has an altitude gain of 750m.
Transport
You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The average driving timeper day is around 2-3 hours and there will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guide will often stop the vehicle for you to take photos.
Food
Almost all of the meals are included on this tour, but when staying in the cities we let you do your own thing and try some of the excellent local restaurants. Breakfast is usually (but not always) continental-style in the lodges and hotels. There are plenty of opportunities to graze the local cafes if you would prefer to explore in the morning. The lunches we prepare ourselves are often ‘on the run’ in picnic areas or on trails. Our guides usually set out lunch food for you and you simply help yourself. We provide healthy and wholesome food and include a lot of fresh produce. It is part of our philosophy to get everyone involved so there is a pretty good chance you may find yourself wielding a sharp knife or pushing the tea trolley around at lunchtime. Our customised trailers have a fold down table and cooking area that is perfect for preparing picnics at all those secret places we will take you. Included dinners are frequently in lodge restaurants (either set menu or a la carte), or in a restaurant in the town but occasionally somewhere out of the ordinary!
Accommodation
The Northern Portion hiking tour uses a range of hotels and quality lodges chosen for their good standards and wonderful locations. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Some lodges have units with two bedrooms per unit. Rooms are twin share or doubles. If you are travelling on your own you will be given a twin share room with a fellow traveller of the same gender. Single supplements are available on this tour.
Guides and Safety
An excellent guide can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and just an ordinary trip. That is why we work hard to make sure we hire the best guides. Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor and hiking experience and a passion for New Zealand's wild and beautiful backcountry. Our guides will ensure that your time with us is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and safe. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid. Please be gentle with your guide - good guides are hard to find!
Equipment Hire
We have high quality hiking equipment that you can use on your trip at no extra cost. This includes fleece jackets, thermal top and bottom, raincoat and walking poles. Requests for equipment must be made at least 7 days before the departure date.
Itinerary
Open AllNote: Check in to your Auckland accommodation at least one day prior (not included)
Meet your North Island guide and the rest of the group in the Heritage Hotel foyer at 6.30am before driving south through classic patchwork green farming country alongside the Waikato River.
Arriving at the Waitomo Caves area descend into the vaulted galleries of the Ruakuri Cave with its limestone formations and crystals. Be enchanted by the thousands of tiny glow worms that cling to the cave ceiling and mimic a starlit night sky. Later we emerge into the sunshine and wander on a loop trail through an outstanding limestone canyon.
We arrive in the volcanically active area of Rotorua late afternoon. Rotorua is also the centre of Māori cultural tourism in New Zealand and tonight we enjoy an evening meal and cultural performance.
Accommodation: Distinction Hotel, Rotorua.
Includes lunch and dinner.
Hike alongside the beautifully clear Lake Tarawera, enjoying the shade that towering tree ferns and ignimbrite cliffs offer. Plunge into the lake to cool off at any one of the tiny pumice beaches as you wait for the others to catch up. There are astonishing views all along this trail, giving glimpses of how expansive this wilderness of forest, lakes and volcanoes really is.
In the afternoon we explore some of the amazing thermal areas located a little south of Rotorua. Wander along boardwalks that connect pools of bubbling mud, mineralised hot pools and plumes of rising steam, and wonder at the uniqueness of this area.
Grab a cuppa before we drive toward the lakeside town of Taupō. At Huka Falls feel the power as the huge Waikato River gets pinched through a narrow rock corridor. Our accommodation is in Taupō. Relax with a drink and enjoy the views.
Accommodation: Beechtree Motel, Taupō.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We drive around Lake Taupō shores to New Zealand’s first national park - Tongariro. Take a leisurely morning walk through stunning forest around the slopes of Mt Pīhanga and to the mystical Lake Rotopounamu (Lake of Greenstone).
The next two nights are spent in a hotel on the edge of the park, providing a great opportunity for you to explore the area at your leisure. In the afternoon hike to Taranaki Falls, cascading 20 metres over a 15,000 year old lava flow.
Enjoy dinner with the group in the comfort of your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Join the guide today for a full days walking on the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, regarded as one of the best day walks in the world. The well-built track climbs, steeply at times, to the craters of Mt Tongariro. Stop and admire the views of the Red Crater, Emerald Lakes and steaming vents that make this hike so outstanding.
After a sometimes long and physically challenging day celebrate your achievement at dinner with a bottle of fine New Zealand wine. Those who prefer a more restful day can find plenty to do at the village: Soda Springs walk, Taranaki Falls walk, or simply drink coffee and view the great exhibits at the Park Visitor Centre. Enjoy your second night in this village.
Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rest your legs this morning as we drive south through rolling green hill country to the capital city of Wellington. Stroll along the fabulous waterfront and absorb some of New Zealand’s history in the national museum - Te Papa, or simply get lost admiring the heritage houses along one of the many improbably steep streets. Nowhere is very far in Wellington. There is a vibrant café and restaurant scene here – enjoy. Includes breakfast.
Cost per person twin share
November 2024 - March 2025:
- Twin Share: NZ$4,400
- Single Supplement: NZ$600
Prices are correct at the time of publishing and may change without prior notice.
PAYMENT
- Bookings more than 4 months in advance: 30% Deposit, with balance 100 days before travel
- Bookings less than 4 months in advance: Full payment on booking
Refunds/Cancellation Fees:
- 100 days or more prior to departure - full refund of the deposit less $500 transferable deposit to future departure
- 35 to 94 days prior to departure - 50% refund of full ticket price.
- 34 days or less prior to departure - NO REFUND.
- The tour price is all-inclusive. There will be no partial refunds or credits for unused services within a tour. Any unpaid forfeited amount may be pursued as a debt.
Itinerary
Open AllNote: Check in to your Auckland accommodation at least one day prior (not included)
Meet your North Island guide and the rest of the group in the Heritage Hotel foyer at 6.30am before driving south through classic patchwork green farming country alongside the Waikato River.
Arriving at the Waitomo Caves area descend into the vaulted galleries of the Ruakuri Cave with its limestone formations and crystals. Be enchanted by the thousands of tiny glow worms that cling to the cave ceiling and mimic a starlit night sky. Later we emerge into the sunshine and wander on a loop trail through an outstanding limestone canyon.
We arrive in the volcanically active area of Rotorua late afternoon. Rotorua is also the centre of Māori cultural tourism in New Zealand and tonight we enjoy an evening meal and cultural performance.
Accommodation: Distinction Hotel, Rotorua.
Includes lunch and dinner.
Hike alongside the beautifully clear Lake Tarawera, enjoying the shade that towering tree ferns and ignimbrite cliffs offer. Plunge into the lake to cool off at any one of the tiny pumice beaches as you wait for the others to catch up. There are astonishing views all along this trail, giving glimpses of how expansive this wilderness of forest, lakes and volcanoes really is.
In the afternoon we explore some of the amazing thermal areas located a little south of Rotorua. Wander along boardwalks that connect pools of bubbling mud, mineralised hot pools and plumes of rising steam, and wonder at the uniqueness of this area.
Grab a cuppa before we drive toward the lakeside town of Taupō. At Huka Falls feel the power as the huge Waikato River gets pinched through a narrow rock corridor. Our accommodation is in Taupō. Relax with a drink and enjoy the views.
Accommodation: Beechtree Motel, Taupō.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We drive around Lake Taupō shores to New Zealand’s first national park - Tongariro. Take a leisurely morning walk through stunning forest around the slopes of Mt Pīhanga and to the mystical Lake Rotopounamu (Lake of Greenstone).
The next two nights are spent in a hotel on the edge of the park, providing a great opportunity for you to explore the area at your leisure. In the afternoon hike to Taranaki Falls, cascading 20 metres over a 15,000 year old lava flow.
Enjoy dinner with the group in the comfort of your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Join the guide today for a full days walking on the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, regarded as one of the best day walks in the world. The well-built track climbs, steeply at times, to the craters of Mt Tongariro. Stop and admire the views of the Red Crater, Emerald Lakes and steaming vents that make this hike so outstanding.
After a sometimes long and physically challenging day celebrate your achievement at dinner with a bottle of fine New Zealand wine. Those who prefer a more restful day can find plenty to do at the village: Soda Springs walk, Taranaki Falls walk, or simply drink coffee and view the great exhibits at the Park Visitor Centre. Enjoy your second night in this village.
Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rest your legs this morning as we drive south through rolling green hill country to the capital city of Wellington. Stroll along the fabulous waterfront and absorb some of New Zealand’s history in the national museum - Te Papa, or simply get lost admiring the heritage houses along one of the many improbably steep streets. Nowhere is very far in Wellington. There is a vibrant café and restaurant scene here – enjoy. Includes breakfast.
