New Zealand: Sun and Steam

5.0Based on

Carbon neutral

6 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

48 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 35 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Auckland, New Zealand

Ends

Auckland, New Zealand

Highlights

Auckland: Cameras at the ready folks, the views will be extraordinary here.

Auckland: With sailboats at every angle, this is a beaut view indeed.

Whangārei: See the work of the visionary Austrian painter, architect and ecological activist who made New Zealand his spiritual home.

Paihia: The Waitangi Treaty Grounds might just be NZ's most important historical site, marking the place where the British Crown and the Māori people signed their first accords back in 1840.

Paihia: A dinner of fish 'n' chips, enjoyed while overlooking the Bay of Islands in Paihia. Is this heaven? No sir, it's just salt and vinegar.

Rotorua: A traditional Māori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Māori feast... this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures.

Rotorua: Wait til you see 'em. Wait til you smell 'em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold.

Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, we'll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals' efforts to protect New Zealand's adorable national bird.

Rotorua: A traditional Māori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Māori feast... this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures.

Rotorua: Wait til you see 'em. Wait til you smell 'em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold.

Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, we'll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals' efforts to protect New Zealand's adorable national bird.

Itinerary

Over 20 optional adventures & a banquet of inclusions; this is going to be a week to remember. The brave will hurl themselves down a hill in an inflated Zorb ball, the more chilled will take a boat cruise around the Bay of Islands. Then we'll all compare notes of Hobbits, fish 'n' chips, the Haka over a few drinks in the city of Auckland.

day 1 - Auckland to Paihia via Whangrei

Welcome to the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand! Time to meet your Contiki crew in Auckland (Tmaki Makaurau) and cross the Harbour Bridge admiring the 'City of Sails' harbour before starting our journey north to Paihia.We'll stop off at the stunning yacht marina in Whangrei and check out the quirky exterior of the Hunderwasser art centre, a unique architectural project dedicated to the ecological activist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. After lunch we'll hit the road again towards the Bay of Islands.On arrival to the Bay of Islands we're starting off with a dose of Kiwi history on a guided tour at Waitangi Treaty grounds where in 1840 New Zealand officially became a nation of two communities. And because we like to give you that something extra, how about a free admission at the Treaty museum, in case you seek a bit more detail on Kiwi history. Tonight we'll feast like the locals as we enjoy a true Kiwiana fish'n'chips as we overlook the glittering Bay of Islands.

Meals:Dinner

Location Visited:Auckland, Whangārei, Paihia

Accommodation:Bounty Motel (or similar)

day 2 - Paihia

Whether it's parasailing or cruising the Bay of Islands while sailing on Carino - today's (idyllic) list of optionals reads like a who's who of adventure. This area is filled with natural beauty and is sure to inspire your inner wild child. Make the most of the Free Time Add-On experiences on offer - tomorrow we head back to the big city vibes.

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Paihia

Accommodation:Bounty Motel (or similar)

day 3 - Paihia to Auckland

After breakfast this morning, feeling full, salty and sun-kissed we wave goodbye to Paihia & sashay our way back down NZ in the direction of Auckland. Arriving in Auckland we've got a array of awesome Free-Time Add-Ons to choose from. Adrenaline junkies, get ready for a bungee jump, climb over the iconic harbour bridge or sky jump off the Skywalk. For those who prefer to keep two feet on the ground, why not get your taste buds tingling with a multi-sensory icecream experience at Giapo?

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Paihia, Auckland

Accommodation:Lylo (or similar)

day 4 - Auckland to Rotorua

We'll drive through the lush farmlands of Waikato, an area that produces many of New Zealand's best Rugby players for the All Blacks. We'll visit the worlds largest kiwi bird conservation project, watch the birds roam, stand in a human-sized kiwi burrow and even visit the incubation centre where over 2,100 kiwi chicks have been born. Tonight, well enjoy a traditional Mori dinner and performance (youll also have the chance to get involved in the world-famous HAKA).

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Auckland, Rotorua

Accommodation:Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)

day 5 - Rotorua

The day is yours to roam free in this geothermal paradise. Soak in a hot spring, go white water rafting or hike up a volcano. The options are limitless and the decisions are yours. We recommend the Rotorua Dawn Canopy Tour, exclusive to Contiki, where you'll watch the sun rise, eat some breakfast and drink coffee up in the towering trees as the birds make start their morning calls. Then, you'll get to soar 1200m through the forest on the ultimate zipline adventure.

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Rotorua

Accommodation:Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)

day 6 - Rotorua to Auckland

Just as we were acclimatising to that funky smell, it's time to leave Rotorua. Take one last look at the bubbling geothermic mud pools before we flee. Your Trip Manager will book you into a transfer service this morning. Arriving into Auckland, we'll say goodbye to the wolf pack (sob). NZ - you've been real.

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Rotorua, Auckland

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What's Included

Accommodation

Bounty Motel (or similar) HotelLylo (or similar) HotelSudima Lake Rotorua (or similar) Hotel

Meals

Dinner (x2)Breakfast (x5)

Transport

Travel by coach

Guide

Experienced Driver Guide

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

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5.0

based on 5 reviews

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