Northern Wonders
Northern Wonders
Northern Wonders
8 Days Starting in Wellington and ending in Auckland
Visiting: Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Lake Taupo, Rotorua, Te Puia, Pohutu Geyser, Polynesian Spa, Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Treaty of Waitangi, Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach, Hole in the Rock, Russell, Whangarei
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LWBA24
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
While you could spend months exploring the North Island of New Zealand on a tour, if you’re travelling in the right company, you can immerse yourself in the highlights in a week. Discover Wellington’s coolest wine bars, drop in on Rotorua’s hot springs, find a pretty perch on a Bay of Islands tour, get your glow on during a Waitomo Caves tour, then ease into Auckland’s harbour-side lifestyle.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Welcome To Wellington
Location: Wellington
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington is the kind of place you could easily lose yourself in for a day. Good thing you arrived early. Check out one of the city’s oh-so-hip cafés before exploring Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, home to an extraordinary collection of artefacts, including an eye-opening exhibit dedicated to Māori history. It's time to meet your fellow adventure-seekers for a Welcome Reception.
Day 2 : Wellington - Rotorua
Location: Kapiti Coast, Lake Taupo, Rotorua, Te Puia, Pohutu Geyser
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
The Kapiti Coast is the summer playground of Wellingtonians – for good reason. You’ll follow in local footsteps as you make your way along a road that unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, the largest (and perhaps bluest) of its kind in the country. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. This evening, explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley, and learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you’ll view one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands.
Day 3 : Rotorua Free Time
Location: Rotorua, Polynesian Spa, Hobbiton
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
If there’s a New Zealand city where you want free time, Rotorua is it. Go your own way today, perhaps blissing out in the Polynesian Spa’s thermal springs (we recommend a mud wrap). Who knew nature was this relaxing? Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway.
Day 4 : Rotorua - Auckland
Location: Waitomo Caves, Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
The Waitomo Caves are radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous underground waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. It’s a fairytale start to your day. One that only gets better as you descend on Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. You’ll discover how it got its moniker while gazing over its two yacht-studded harbours from the lookout at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Day 5 : Auckland - Bay Of Islands
Location: Auckland, Bay of Islands, Treaty of Waitangi
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Your journey north to New Zealand’s Bay of Islands is not short of drama – discover 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea at the top of the country. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical secret: this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your guide, likely a descendant of one of the original signatories, will explain the significance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
Day 6 : Bay Of Islands Free Time
Location: Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach, Hole in the Rock, Russell
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Go as fast or as slow as you like today – there’s no rush, and no agenda. Talk to your Travel Director to organise leisurely jaunts up to Cape Reinga, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, or a trip to the iconic Hole in the Rock. If you’re a history buff, you may want to join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands. The choice is yours.
Day 7 : Bay Of Islands - Auckland
Location: Whangarei, Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
You’re about to reach the very tip of New Zealand, as your tour takes you to Whangarei – the county’s northern-most city. This is and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure before sinking back into your coach seat for the mesmerising commute back to Auckland. Ask your Travel Director for tips on where to dine; Auckland is a bit of a culinary hotspot.
Day 8 : Farewell From Auckland
Location: Auckland
The only bad day in your Auckland tour is the one where you have to bid farewell. On your journey home, just remember how much pleasure you have packed into this last week.
What's Included
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights are not included in the holiday price
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Airport Transfers
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Travelodge Wellington, Ibis Rotorua Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Auckland, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands.
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.