New Zealand Explorer
Auckland
This journey takes you from Auckland, New Zealand's 'City of Sails' to Rotorua with its rich Māori culture and traditions, and on to the inspiring scenery of Queenstown.
Highlights
- Explore Auckland’s city sights at your own pace
- Discover the fascinating Glowworm Grotto and Limestone Caverns at Waitomo Caves
- Immerse yourself in Maori culture at a Hangi & concert
- Soak up the views of the remarkable mountain range and Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown
- Experience the breathtaking Milford Sound on an optional cruise on the majestic fiord
- Day 1 - Welcome to Auckland
- Day 2 - Auckland - Rotorua
- Day 3 - Rotorua Free Time
- Day 4 - Rotorua - Queenstown
- Day 5 - Queenstown Free Time
- Day 6 - Queenstown Free Time
- Day 7 - Farewell from Queenstown
- Additional Information
Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand’s ‘City of Sails’. You’ll be transferred to your hotel. After you check in, you can head out and explore Auckland. Perhaps visit the Sky Tower for amazing views of the city and surrounding volcanic hills. Or take in the sunshine and enjoy the sights on Waitemata Harbour. This evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception at your hotel.
Meals Included: RoVR Queen Street - Hotel & Suites
A brand new 4.5 star hotel with an unbeatable location on Queen Street, contemporary styling and well appointed modern rooms. For the convenience of travellers and visitors to Auckland, VR Queen Street is an ideal location, situated on the prime street of Auckland CBD.
Auckland City Sights Tour and Harbour Cruise
Get to know Auckland, City of Sails, with a half-day city highlights tour followed by a Hauraki Gulf harbour cruise. Travel through the city centre and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, enjoying views back to the city from the North Shore. Visit the Viaduct Harbour and Auckland's famous Queen Street before continuing to theAuckland Domain. The Domain is the city's oldest park, situated on a 62,000 year-old extinct volcano. Within its 75 hectares are tropical gardens, duck ponds and public art, as well as the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Trace the Waikato River to the Waitomo
Caves to see the incredible Glowworm Grotto and Limestone Caverns with a local guide. Glide silently through the subterranean cavern lit by thousands of tiny glowworms. This evening join your travelling companions for a memorable Highlight Dinner. Experience the heart pounding
wero (challenge) from a Māori warrior during a Powhiri, a ceremonial welcome, at the Tamaki Māori Village. Journey into the village and gain an insight into life in New Zealand before European settlement. Feast on succulent meats and vegetables cooked in a hangi, the traditional Māori method of cooking in the earth.
Ibis Rotorua
Hotel Ibis Rotorua is located on the picturesque shores of lake Rotorua, just five minutes walk from the central business district, convention centre, cafes and restaurants and some of Rotorua's most popular tourist attractions. The fully air-conditioned hotel offers 145 rooms providing exceptional comfort and value. Room configurations can be one king or two doubles. A number of triple rooms with three single beds are also available. Bedrooms feature in-room safes, internet with broadband connectivity, showers, flat screen TV's and refrigerators. 24hr reception, an internet kiosk and guest laundry facilities. The I-Restaurant and Bar welcomes guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Conference rooms and other facilities at the neighboring Novotel Rotorua Lakeside are also available to guests.
Today is your chance to experience
the scenic wonders of the geothermal
wonderland of Rotorua. You could explore
Rainbow Springs Nature Park and take a
behind the scenes tour through the working
nursery at the National Kiwi Hatchery. Or
visit Te Puia and join a guided tour through
the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, home
to famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling
beauty of the mud pools. While there, spend time at the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where talented students carry on age-old traditions of wood carving and weaving. Later, why not spend a little more time experiencing the thermal wonders, with a soak in the hot mineral waters of the Polynesian Spas!
Ibis Rotorua
Hotel Ibis Rotorua is located on the picturesque shores of lake Rotorua, just five minutes walk from the central business district, convention centre, cafes and restaurants and some of Rotorua's most popular tourist attractions. The fully air-conditioned hotel offers 145 rooms providing exceptional comfort and value. Room configurations can be one king or two doubles. A number of triple rooms with three single beds are also available. Bedrooms feature in-room safes, internet with broadband connectivity, showers, flat screen TV's and refrigerators. 24hr reception, an internet kiosk and guest laundry facilities. The I-Restaurant and Bar welcomes guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Conference rooms and other facilities at the neighboring Novotel Rotorua Lakeside are also available to guests.
This morning you’ll fly from Rotorua to
Queenstown. On arrival, board your coach
and travel to the delightful gold-rush village
of Arrowtown, on the sparkling Arrow River,
previously one of the world’s richest rivers.
Afterwards, you’ll get a feel for Queenstown on an orientation tour. Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores on crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown’s scenery is inspiring.
Heartland Hotel Queenstown
Property Location With a stay at Heartland Hotel Queenstown, you'll be centrally located in Queenstown, steps from St Josephs Parish and Arrow River. This eco-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Church of St Peters and Queenstown Arts Centre.
Today is yours to explore Queenstown
at your own pace. You may like to consider an optional experience – you could ride the thrilling Shotover Jet boat, join a wine tour or take an excursion through Skippers Canyon. While this evening, why not enjoy a peaceful cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner. An after-dinner farm show offers you glimpses into high country life.
Heartland Hotel Queenstown
Property Location With a stay at Heartland Hotel Queenstown, you'll be centrally located in Queenstown, steps from St Josephs Parish and Arrow River. This eco-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Church of St Peters and Queenstown Arts Centre.
It’s your final day in Queenstown, and
it’s the perfect opportunity to take an optional experience to breathtaking Milford Sound for a cruise on the majestic fiord. You will travel via Te Anau through native rainforests and lush meadows of Fiordland National Park to Mirror Lakes and the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel, and marvel at the Cleddau Valley. The unforgettable Milford Sound cruise takes in cascading waterfalls, hanging glacial valleys and the sheet pinnacle of Mitre Peak.
Heartland Hotel Queenstown
Property Location With a stay at Heartland Hotel Queenstown, you'll be centrally located in Queenstown, steps from St Josephs Parish and Arrow River. This eco-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Church of St Peters and Queenstown Arts Centre.
It’s time to bid farewell to your Travel Director
and new-found friends after breakfast, as you
are transferred to Queenstown Airport for your onward flight.
Flight information
Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 3.00pm into Auckland Airport
Day 4 – Rotorua to Queenstown flight: NZ8152/NZ623
Day 7 – flights to depart anytime from Queenstown Airport
Flights are not included in the holiday price.
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