North Island Tour for a Family of 2adults +2 children

A tour prepared for 2 adults and 2 children.

Day 1

We start our north island adventure by being greeted by our hosts at Auckland airport and from where we are shuttled to the sky city hotel to unpack and relax. The casino is nearby and a trip to the top of the sky tower is not to be missed as it offers the best view of Auckland city and Auckland harbour. You can dine at the restaurant here up near the clouds while admiring the view. A shuttle is available for a tour of the city or to go shopping or one can just kick back and relax in the nearby cinema or pool. Dinner is served at the hotel with a choice of an early night or an evening tour of this busy city.

Day 2

The tour begins after a hearty breakfast when we are driven to Kelly Tarlton’s underwater world to admire the creatures of the sea as we walk through large perspex tunnels under the water. From here we relax on the north shore beach and can take a dip in the ocean. We eat lunch while enjoying the sights of Auckland from the sea while on a harbour cruise. The afternoon is spent at the Rainbows End fun park in the south of Auckland from where we head back into the heart of the city for dinner and a comfortable bed.

Day 3

We board the over lander train for a scenic  trip south to Hamilton where our first stop is the Hamilton Zoo followed by the botanical gardens. We once again eat lunch while cruising on the Waikato River taking in the sights from the water. Once on dry land we take a short drive to Raglan Beach on the west coast where a fun filled or lazy afternoon soaking up the sun on a beach or fishing awaits. After a delicious evening meal overlooking the harbour we take a well-deserved rest.

Day 4

We breakfast overlooking the harbour then drive to Waitomo for a tour through glow-worm and stalagmite / Stalactite cave systems, some on foot and some by boat. We now don wetsuits and are issued an inner tube each and go black water rafting through the cave systems. A hot shower, Bagels and Soup await us at the end before hitting the road again to Rotorua where we take a well-deserved break and a soak in the hot pools for the rest of the afternoon before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the lake.

Day 5

A cooked breakfast is served before we leave to see the local sights at Whakarewarewa which is a local geothermal region where you can see boiling mud pools, sulphurous fumaroles and hot water geysers shooting into the sky. A local will cook some sweet corn in a boiling spring if you so desire and there is also a kiwi house in which we can see some of New Zealand’s native nocturnal residents. Steam from hundreds of vents shrouds the area in an eerie mist. We have lunch at a local restaurant followed by white water rafting down the Kaituna river with all the thrills and spills of a grade 5 river. After that we go back to the Polynesian spa where a massage and a hot soak in the thermal pools can be enjoyed.

Day 6

After breakfast we are transported to rainbow and fairy springs where one can see Kiwi’s in their natural environment and view huge trout in crystal clear spring water through the underwater viewing glass. Here you can cause a feeding frenzy by throwing fish food into ponds full of trout. You can also take a walk along one of the many pathways through lush native bush bordering the clear pools of trout filled water. Next we catch a gondola ride to the top of Mt Ngongotaha on which we enjoy the majestic view over the city of Rotorua and out to the lake. At the top we carry on enjoying the great views as we have lunch at the restaurant up there. The rest of the afternoon is then spent luging down the concrete tracks of varying difficulty, and catching a ride back to the top on a ski lift. Another ride down the mountain in the gondola takes us back to our transport from which we enjoy a delicious evening meal of local cuisine while being entertained by local Maori singing songs and performing in traditional costume.

Day 7

We start this day with a trip to the Agrodome just outside of Rotorua where a sheep shearing demonstration as well as sheep dog performance and other interesting facts about sheep are on show. Close by we then embark on some of the many adventures that are on offer such as Jet boat tours at breath-taking speeds, Zorbing, Bungee jumping, and Schweebing. After lunch we travel towards Taupo but stop off at Waiotapu thermal wonderland where we can walk amongst geysers, boiling mud and hot water pools. We then travel onwards to Lake Taupo where we arrive just in time for a sumptuous dinner in a restaurant overlooking the lake followed by a relaxing soak in the hotels spa pool before bed.

Day 8

This is a free day where we enjoy any of the following activities which include skydiving, canoeing around Lake Taupo, trout fishing with an expert guide, swimming in the lake at one of several hot springs that bubble up through the lakes shore, Bungee jumping, Golf and mountain biking. During winter there are two great ski fields to enjoy near here. Next we take an exhilarating jet boat ride up through the wet and wild Huka falls after which we travel back to our accommodation for a hot soak and a hearty meal.

Day 9

Today we depart early for the coastal city of Napier which abounds in Art Deco architecture where we can take a walking tour to look at the buildings or visit one of the many winery’s that are common in this area. We also take a trip to Marineland where dolphins and seals perform tricks in a pool. Dinner with a glass of fine wine while overlooking the bay can be a great way to spend the evening while the kids enjoy a movie or the playground.

Day 10

After breakfast we travel north along the coast with many amazing views to Gisborne where we have lunch followed by a swim at the local golden sand beach. After lunch we embark on a sea fishing adventure for the rest of the day with our hotel cooking our catch as well as other succulent seafood morsels for dinner.

Day 11

Breakfast and on the road again as we travel north along the beautiful and deserted east coast with its magnificent seaside views and lush green bush rising up to the Raukumara ranges in the background. We make several stops along the way to break up the journey and learn the area’s history and customs which include taking a stroll down Tolaga bays long wharf, picturesque Anaura bay and St Marys church at Tokomaru bay. We rough it with a bush camp in the shadow of Mt Hikurangi (the first place in the world to see the sun of the new day) for the night and stay in tents around a fire on which our meal of wild pork and watercress is cooked.

Day 12

After a hearty cooked breakfast from the campfire we get on the road again but stop off at Hicks bay for a swim in the ocean before travelling around the corner to East cape where we climb 701 stairs to get to the top of the hill upon which the East cape lighthouse sits. The views from here are spectacular as is the history of the lighthouse and the area. Now heading east we wind our way along the beautiful east coast highway next to the sea where we stop frequently along the way for swims on beautiful sandy beaches and kayak adventures along rocky coastlines as well as short bush walks to beautiful waterfalls. We stop for a rest at the Waihau bay church to learn of its colourful history. At the Motu river we take a jet boat ride that is both informative as well as exciting. We stop for the night at a lodge with beautiful gardens high above the town of Opotiki looking down as the two rivers that surround it then surge out to sea .

Day 13

After a delicious breakfast overlooking the bay we travel to the nearby town of Whakatane from which we board a boat and travel down the river and out to sea to the distant White Island which is an active Marine volcano. Sometimes dolphins escort us part of the way and on rare occasions a pod of whales can be sighted. Once at the island we are issued with gas masks and hard hats and are taken on a guided tour of the islands crater lake , sulphur coated fumaroles and  the ruins of the sulphur works which were destroyed early last century by a landslide. Walking on the island is as close as you will probably get to walking on the moon as everything is covered in ash and new rocks spewed from the volcano. Once were safe back on dry land it’s off to Awakeri hot springs for a relaxing soak in the hot pools and spas there before heading back into town for a good night’s sleep.

Day 14

After breakfast we head north along the coast to Te Puke the kiwifruit capital of New Zealand. Here we take part in a kiwifruit tour at a local orchard and cool store. On we travel toward Tauranga city, turning off just before to have lunch on mount Maunganui beach after which we can also take a dip in the sea or soak up the sun on the golden sands. After this we head north again but stop off for a short walk along some of the disused rail lines and learn about the history of logging and gold rushes of the days gone by.  From here we head north to the township of Tairua following the beautiful coast.  We do an evening walk to an old gold mine and through a tunnel and learn about the history of the area.  After which the kids can enjoy splashing around in the lagoon while the adults enjoy a cold beverage from the balcony of their hotel.

Day 15

After breakfast we drive further north to Hot Water Beach where with a shovel we can dig our own private hot pool and temper it with water from the sea.  We then have lunch before heading further north to Hei Hei to visit the beautiful Cathedral Cove.  Here we can also relax on the sandy beach or enjoy a quick swim before leaving and checking into a hotel in the township of Whitianga.

Day 16

Today we explore Whitianga and its surroundings.  We can go fishing, diving, horse trekking, try windsurfing, or cruise around the reefs on a glass bottom boat. For dinner several seafood dishes are on offer, all comprising fresh locally caught wares.

Day 17

A quick breakfast and we are off through beautiful native bush where we stop briefly to view the Waiau Falls then drive on to Water Works which comprises of all sorts of fun things to with water.  Here we can relax orswim in a pool in the stream that runs through the park.  Lunch can be eaten at one of the many cafes in the nearby town of Coromandel or the Mussel smokehouse.  After lunch we embark on a train ride on the Driving Creek Railway up the hill to be greeted by a beautiful view and snacks at the café there.  Then down the track and aboard a mussel barge for some snapper fishing before a well-deserved rest at our hotel n where we can eat our catch for dinner.

Day 18

Today we board the ferry after breakfast for a trip over to Auckland from which we will be transferred to our hotel or the airport.

Contact us today to find out if your dream tour of New Zealand is possible »