New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound)

Welcome to Aotearoa (New Zealand) – the land of the long white cloud! Your adventure begins in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city on the North Island. Meet your local leader and new travel friends at your accommodation at 6 pm for a welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive with time to spare, maybe check out the beach down at Mission Bay or take a stroll along the restaurant-lined waterfront. After the meeting, maybe dip into Auckland’s nightlife with your fellow travellers.

This morning, leave the city in the rear-view mirror as you drive to the Coromandel Peninsula, following the coastline. A land of white-sand beaches and rainforests, the Coromandel Peninsula feels a world away from where your journey began. Make a stop at Hot Water Beach, named after the famous warm water that’s found beneath its golden sand. If the tide allows, you can dig a hole on the beach and enjoy your own natural hot tub! After a visit to Cathedral Cove, you’ll arrive at your accommodation in the afternoon. (B)

Hit the road and make the scenic drive along the Coromandel Peninsula. Join your local leader as they show you some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. This afternoon, maybe stop into Kuaotunu to try their famous ice cream and check out Coromandel Township. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations! (B)

This morning, watch the landscape change from beach to farmland as you drive to Waikato. Stop at Karangahake Gorge to see the remains of gold mining tunnels and railway tracks. Then, continue to Hobbiton – the living set where part of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films were shot. After wandering through Middle Earth, continue your journey to Rotorua, known for its Maori heritage and hotbed of geothermal activity with its distinctive sulphur smell (you’ll get used to it!). When you arrive, take a treetop walk through an ancient redwood forest over a network of suspension bridges, reaching 12 m at the highest point. (B)

Spend the day discovering the natural and cultural wonders of Rotorua – home to simmering mud pools, dramatic geysers and fluorescent lakes. If you’ve got a head for heights, ziplining through Rotorua’s ancient forests is an unbeatable way to take it all in. This evening, you’ll get a true taste of Maori culture during a visit to a cultural and geothermal wonderland. Here, you’ll enjoy a hangi dinner alongside a soul-stirring haka performance. (B/D)

Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa is the perfect place to unwind with your free morning. Or, maybe head to Kuirau Park to walk through a landscape of hissing natural hot pools. This afternoon, say goodbye to Rotorua and hit the road for Taupo, stopping at the thundering Huka Falls along the way. Set on the shores of the mighty Lake Taupo – New Zealand’s largest lake – this town is one of the most scenic spots in the North Island. You’ll spend two nights here, as it’s the perfect base to explore the area and the nearby Tongariro National Park. (B)

A volcanic eruption 70,000 years ago created the magnificent Lake Taupo, which now hosts visitors from around New Zealand and the world. With a free day here, you’ll have plenty of activities to choose from – maybe wander through geysers, mud pools and caves at Orakei Koako Geothermal Park and Cave, or if you’re a keen hiker, maybe complete the Tongariro Crossing – New Zealand’s most famous day hike. The path takes you around a volcano, past lakes, craters and through bushland. (B)

Wellington is calling – leave Taupo behind and drive on to New Zealand’s trendy capital city. Strung between green hills and the harbour, Wellington holds onto its small-town charm despite its capital status. Along the way, you’ll stop in the small of Taumaranui, where you’ll visit a local marae (Maori meeting house). You’ll be welcomed onto Morero marae with a traditional Powhiri. Once at the marae, you can sit down for a korero (conversation) with members of the local iwi about their way of life in this special region. After, share some kai (food) before continuing to Wellington. When you arrive, your leader will give you a brief introduction to the city. Then, you have free time to explore at your own pace. Maybe head up Mt Victoria for a the views or explore the city’s booming food scene. (B)

Kick the day off with a visit to Zealandia – a conservation project that has successfully reintroduced over 20 species of native wildlife into this area, some previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. Then, visit the Weta Workshop – this special effects studio was used by Peter Jackson for the Lord of the Rings trilogy! While here, you’ll have the chance to take an optional tour around the studio to find out how the team created movie magic. This afternoon, maybe check out the Te Papa Museum. Displaying a combination of history and cultural heritage, the exhibits feature interactive displays and there’s something here for everyone. (B)

It’s time to say a fond farewell to your newfound friends as your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to spend some more time exploring Wellington, get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time. (B)