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NZ: North Island & Kaikōura
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5.0Based on
12 days
“
the whole was planned out perfectly and went amazing, i had some much fun and meet some amazing friends and there was a great choice of activities to do, all of the accommodation was amazing and clean
Anonymous | Traveled in March
5 - Excellent
Carbon neutral
CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Customer Reviews
5.0
based on 2 reviews
2
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.
Huka Falls: Huka falls is a jaw-jutting display of natural hydro power. Here you'll see 220,000 litres of water tumble over the waterfall... per second that is(!)
Ohakune: Tucked just 250m from the Ohakune Mountain Road, Kings Ohakune is peak Kiwiana vibes. We’re talking roaring fireplaces, classic BBQs, hot tubs with epic Mount Ruapehu views and a cosy lodge that’s been welcoming adventurers since 1913. Think: motel-style charm, retro-cute decor, sports on the telly, pool tables, karaoke, darts and local legends repping the Warriors with pride.
Mount Ruapehu: Today we'll check out Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano elevated almost 2,800 metres into the air!
Mount Ruapehu: See even more of the sights made famous by "The Lord of the Rings."
Marlborough Sounds: Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You'd wanna get your camera for this one!
Kaikōura: We'll take a spectacular drive along the Kaikōura Coast, and pay a visit to a nearby seal colony. Yup, it's a coastal cuteness overload.
Kaikōura: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, we'll meet eco-warrior Sabrina Leucht, who has dedicated many years of her life to helping New Zealand's injured native birds... and is now working to establish the region's first wildlife hospital.
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.
Huka Falls: Huka falls is a jaw-jutting display of natural hydro power. Here you'll see 220,000 litres of water tumble over the waterfall... per second that is(!)
Ohakune: Tucked just 250m from the Ohakune Mountain Road, Kings Ohakune is peak Kiwiana vibes. We’re talking roaring fireplaces, classic BBQs, hot tubs with epic Mount Ruapehu views and a cosy lodge that’s been welcoming adventurers since 1913. Think: motel-style charm, retro-cute decor, sports on the telly, pool tables, karaoke, darts and local legends repping the Warriors with pride.
Mount Ruapehu: Today we'll check out Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano elevated almost 2,800 metres into the air!
Mount Ruapehu: See even more of the sights made famous by "The Lord of the Rings."
Marlborough Sounds: Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You'd wanna get your camera for this one!
Kaikōura: We'll take a spectacular drive along the Kaikōura Coast, and pay a visit to a nearby seal colony. Yup, it's a coastal cuteness overload.
Kaikōura: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, we'll meet eco-warrior Sabrina Leucht, who has dedicated many years of her life to helping New Zealand's injured native birds... and is now working to establish the region's first wildlife hospital.
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.
What's Excluded
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent
I had so much fun on the first 5 days of the trip, I decided to extend my trip and do the full 21 days!! Highly recommend :)
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent
the whole was planned out perfectly and went amazing, i had some much fun and meet some amazing friends and there was a great choice of activities to do, all of the accommodation was amazing and clean
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Itinerary
Just how much mind-boggling can be packed into a 12-day holiday? Quite a lot when you're prancing around New Zealand. We'll sojourn our way from Auckland to Christchurch, chowing fish'n'chips and Māori hāngi meals, watching geothermic mud pools boil & signing up for adrenalin rushes that will buzz on in our minds 'til we're old and grey.
day 1Auckland 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 2Paihia
day 3Paihia to Auckland
day 4Auckland to Rotorua
day 5Rotorua
day 6Rotorua to Lake Taup via Huka Falls
day 7Lake Taup to Mount Ruapehu
day 8Mount Ruapehu to Wellington
day 9Wellington
day 10Wellington to Kaikura via Picton
day 11Kaikura
day 12Kaikura to Christchurch
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