Route: Auckland - Waitomo - Hobbiton - Rotorua - Taupo - Napier - Wellington
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Transport: By car
Description: Do you have one week only for your travel around New Zealand? We advise you to concentrate on the North Island and make your way from the largest city to the capital of the country.
Day 1
Itinerary:
Arrival in New Zealand in the morning or a day before.
14:30 – 17:30 Auckland City Sights Tour and Sky Tower. Experience some of the history, culture and scenic highlights on this half-day tour, followed by a trip up the famous Auckland Sky Tower.
17:30 – 19:30 3 Course Dinner at the Revolving Orbit Restaurant located on Level 52 over 190 metres above ground.
Day 2
Itinerary:
09:00 – 12:00 Driving from Auckland to Waitomo (196 km).
12:00 – 13:00 Tour to Waitomo Glowworm Cave where you will see the unique New Zealand glowworms, Arachnocampa Luminosa, shining like stars in the Milky Way.
13:00 – 14:30 Driving to Hobbiton (88 km).
15:00 – 17:00 Tour to Hobbiton ex Shire's Rest Cafe. Explore Bag End, where Bilbo & Frodo’s adventures began, get lost amongst all the Hobbit holes and visit the Mill and the fabulous Party Tree.
17:00 – 18:00 Driving to Rotorua (70 km).
18:00 - 18:30 You will have 30 minutes to check-in a hotel. If it's not enough we advise you to call a hotel to inform them about the estimated time of your arrival because a reception may be closed after 6 pm.
18:30 – 21:30 Mitai Maori Village Experience. Please, be aware that in summertime this tour starts at 17:30.
Day 3
Itinerary:
09:20 – 10:20 Start your day at Redwoods Treewalk. It is a half-kilometre long walkway, 12m above ground, that consists of a series of 21 suspension bridges traversing the gaps between 22 majestic 100-year old Redwood trees.
10:20 – 10:50 Make your way to Agrodome (15 km).
11:00 – 15:00 Combo-deal Farm Show & Tour at Agrodome + Rainbow Springs & Kiwi Encounter. The Farm show starts at 11:00, then there is a Farm tour from 12:10 until 13:10. When it is finished, you need to drive to Rainbow Springs park (10 minutes) where you will encounter lots of New Zealand endemics including a kiwi bird.
15:00 – 15:10 Walking to Skyline Rotorua which is on a doorstep to Rainbow Springs.
15:10 – 18:10 Make your life brighter with Skyline Half Day Adventure Pass: Gondola ride + 5 luge rides + Skyswing + Zipline.
18:10 – 18:20 Driving to Polynesian SPA.
18:30 till late: soaking in the mineral water with Rotorua lake view at Polynesian Lake Spa.
Day 4
Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu - Huka Falls - Taupo
Itinerary:
08:00 – 08:30 Driving to Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park (31 km).
08:30 – 10:00 Walking around Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Well defined tracks take you around the volcanic features, the mud pools and famous Champagne Lake.
10:00 – 10:35 Driving to Huka Falls Jet (47 km).
11:00 – 11:30 Try Huka Falls Jet Ride with 360-degree spins and terrific view to Huka Falls.
11:30 – 12:30 Why not to try king prawns at the restaurant of Huka Prawn Park? You cannot book a table for a group of less than 15 people but the queue won't be long.
12:30 – 12:40 Driving to Taupo (9 km)
12:40 – 13:30 MUST DO activity in Taupo is Taupo Bungy Jump 47m or Bungy & Swing Combo.
13:30 – 13:40 Make your way to Taupo Marina, 65 Redoubt Street.
14:00 – 16:00 Enjoy Maori Rock Carvings Cruise. Gaze up at these unique carvings which reach 14 meters up the face of the rock, and learn about their powerful cultural significance.
16:00 – 16:20 Driving to Wairakei Terraces.
16:30 – 17:00 Silica Terraces Walkway at Wairakei Terraces.
17:00 - 18:00 Relax in Mineral and Silica Enriched Thermal Pools at Wairakei Terraces.
Day 5
Itinerary:
09:00 – 12:00 Driving to Napier (141 km). Be sure that you have a full tank of petrol before leaving Taupo. There is no one petrol station on Napier highway.
12:00 – 15:00 Scenic & Wine Tasting Tour by Vintage Car. You may order a lunch at Mission Estate restaurant for an extra charge.
15:00 – 16:00 Go back in time and visit the single New Zealand historic prison.
Free evening in the Art Deco city. In summertime, it's wonderful to spend it on the beach.
Day 6
Itinerary:
Today you have to travel 322 km. We are sure you will often stop to take photographs. We recommend you to drive on State Highway 1 through Palmerston North. State Highway 2 is too steep.
Free evening in the capital of New Zealand. If you are still fresh, you can visit the Te Papa Tongareva Museum - the largest museum in Aotearoa. Keep in mind that it closes at 6 pm.
Day 7
Itinerary:
If your hotel is in the city centre, you'd better leave a vehicle in its parking and explore Wellington on foot.
10:00 – 11:00 Free Parliament tour. You may buy a ticket in Parliament building (Beehive as it called by locals). Please, be there at 9:30.
11:00 – 13:30 Walking down Lambton Quay to Wellington Cable Car. Go to the top of the mountain by Cable car and return to Beehive through Botanic Gardens. You are welcome to visit Zelandia Park.
13:30 – 17:00 Weta Cave: The Full Experience. Get up close to the props, weapons and costumes created for The Lord of the Rings, Power Ranges, The Great Wall, Avatar, District 9, and more.
Day 8
Itinerary:
You are leaving New Zealand today. Maybe you need to flight back to Auckland or you'll depart the country from Wellington international airport. In any case, we wish you a safe trip!
The End
We'll be happy to see you in New Zealand!
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