Itinerary
Day 1: Auckland
Stop At: Haka Hotel Newmarket, 9 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Kia ora (hello!) and welcome to Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Settle into your accommodation and be ready for the 6pm pre-tour meeting. Here you will get to know your Tour Manager and be introduced to your new roadtrip friends.
Afterwards, the evening is yours to enjoy. We recommend a good nights sleep to be ready for tomorrows early start, but you may want to experience Aucklands exciting nightlife - the choice is yours!
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at our very own 3-star Haka Hotel in Newmarket
Day 2: Auckland - Coromandel
Stop At: Coromandel Forest Park, Coromandel New Zealand
Rise and shine! After a continental breakfast this morning, its time to board our comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and leave the big city behind.
The Coromandel Peninsula is a paradise of beautiful beaches and misty rainforests. The drive here is truly spectacular the road twists and turns dramatically round the coastline and the ocean gets clearer and more pristine before your eyes. Cameras ready the views are magnificent.
The Coromandel is home to famous Hot Water Beach thousands visit each year to dig their own personal hot tub. If the tide times allow, well grab our buckets and spades and get busy.
We arrive in Whitianga with plenty of time for your guide to show you around. Sample the sandy beaches, take a surf lesson with the locals, or simply enjoy the vibes.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Whitianga at Albert No. 6 Motel
Day 3: Coromandel - Raglan
Stop At: Raglan Wharf, Wallis St North, Raglan 2051 New Zealand
Todays road trip to the arty surf mecca of Raglan will give you a first glimpse of the North Islands rolling tree-lined hills and valleys. Your Haka guide has some great sights to show you en route, including the 55-metre high Bridal Veil Falls.
If you have always wanted to try surfing, or if youre dying to get back on your board, Raglan is the perfect destination both for beginners and experienced surfers. Its world famous surf breaks are unmissable and your Haka guide will take care of everything you need to get in the water whether its your first or fiftieth time.
Not keen on surfing? Theres plenty to enjoy in this laid-back township. With an awesome blend of cafes, bars, surf shops and galleries, the streets here ooze character and creativity. Relax on the beach and leave any lingering jet-lag behind, or enjoy a variety of bush and coastal scenery on Raglans walking trails.
For dinner tonight, tuck into New Zealands unofficial dish fish and chips (or fush and chups, as it tends to sound in a Kiwi accent). And what better way to enjoy a tasty meal than on a sunset cruise of Raglan Harbour?
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
Dinner: Enjoy a traditional fish and chips meal on a sunset cruise at Raglan Harbour.
Accommodation included: Palm Beach Motel
Day 4: Raglan to Rotorua
Stop At: Rotorua lakes, Rotorua 3074, New Zealand
Our first stop of the day is the Waitomo Caves famous for its glow worms. There are a number of ways to enjoy these twinkling cave-dwellers up close here are some of our favourites:
For the ultimate adrenaline rush, join an epic 4-hour caving adventure, beginning with a 100-metre abseil into the caverns.
Or how about an cave tubing trip? Also known as black water rafting, this awesome activity will see you grabbing your inflatable tube and float along an underground river as glowworms twinkle above.
Alternatively, there are fantastic and informative walking tours of the caves where you can learn more about the history, geology and Mori mythology of this unique area of New Zealand.
For those who prefer to stay above ground, we highly recommend exploring the tree-studded gorges and limestone arches of the nearby Ruakuri Forest Walk; definitely a favourite amongst the Haka guides.
This afternoon well make our way to Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity and Mori culture.
Duration: 1 day
Stop At: Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest, Long Mile Road The Redwoods, Rotorua 3046 New Zealand
Redwood Forest Canopy Walk is a 700m walkway at 20m above the the ground - a walk among the amazing giant Redwood Trees!
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Lake Rotorua Hotel
Day 5: Rotorua
Stop At: Lake Rotorua, Rotorua New Zealand
Rotorua has it all: natural beauty, unique geothermal landscapes, iconic Lord of The Rings destinations, and heaps of adventure activities. We stay here a full day to make the very most of it.
This area is world-renowned for its geothermal activity, with neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, violent geysers, and bubbling mud pools galore.
A visit to the picturesque Hobbiton movie set is a must-do activity for many. Even if you havent seen the films, its impossible not to be charmed by this gorgeous hobbit village set amongst the lush green hills of Matamata.
For a truly epic brush with nature, fly high through through the lush ancient forest canopy on a zipline tour complete with swing bridges crossings and treetop platforms. What better way to get to know the native plants and birds many of which unique to New Zealand?
This evening we are welcomed to a Mori village for an unmissable cultural experience featuring combat demonstrations and of course the breathtaking haka. This experience extends beyond the performance youll have the chance to see magnificent geothermal activity and get to spot kiwi birds.
Duration: 1 day
Stop At: Te Puia, Hemo Road, Rotorua New Zealand
This evening we are welcomed to a Mori village for an unmissable cultural experience featuring combat demonstrations and of course the breathtaking haka. This experience extends beyond the performance youll have the chance to see magnificent geothermal activity and get to spot kiwi birds.
It is a cultural evening with performance and traditional hng dinner cooked in an underground oven.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
Breakfast
Dinner: A traditional hng dinner cooked in an underground oven.
Accommodation included: Lake Rotorua Hotel
Day 6: Rotorua to National Park (via Taup)
Stop At: Lake Taupo, Lake Terrace, Taupo 3330, New Zealand
A beautiful lakeside town with a stunning mountain backdrop. Its a short drive but well take our time, checking out bubbling mud pools and thundering waterfalls en route.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at the amazing Park Hotel
Day 7: National Park
Stop At: Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre (Whakapapa Visitor Centre), State Highway 48, Whakapapa, Tongariro National Park New Zealand
Decision time is today the day you brave the Tongariro Crossing?
Considered one of the worlds top 10 best one-day walks, this 19.4km mountain trek boasts emerald green lakes, venting steam, lava flows, craters and rich green bush.
Not for the faint-hearted its a challenging day! But every step of the way the views are spectacular. Our Haka guides highly recommend this activity, its definitely a highlight.
If 19.4km is a little too far for you, there are plenty of shorter walks and hikes to enjoy. However you choose to spend today in this UNESCO World Heritage Area, we guarantee you wont forget it.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
Breakfast
Accommodation included: the Park Hotel
Day 8: National Park to Wellington
Stop At: Hotel Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman, 169 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Today we head to the coolest little capital city in the world, the hip and happening Wellington.
Perched on the edge of a spectacular harbour, encircled by green, towering hills, Wellington is a stunning and compact city. Vibrant, exciting and cultured, the nations capital combines the stimulation and sophistication of a big city with the quirkiness and personality of a much smaller town.
After a quick afternoon orientation from your guide, head up Mount Victoria for some of the best views in town.
This evening, the city lights are yours to enjoy. Discover why Wellington is celebrated for its foodie culture you are truly spoilt for dining choices tonight.
Wellington is also widely regarded as the craft beer capital of New Zealand. Want to test this for yourself? Talk to your Haka guide to find the hidden gems.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
Breakfast
Accommodation included: Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman
Day 9: Wellington
Stop At: Hotel Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman, 169 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Soak up the atmosphere of vibrant Wellington. famous for being a bit on the windy side, be prepared to ditch the hairspray and go with the flow.
As always, your guide will introduce you to the city with an orientation tour including a drive around the bays through central Wellington to the Botanic Gardens and Parliament Buildings.
You will also stop by Weta Workshop, most famous for its creative contribution to all things Lord of the Rings. Take an optional tour to see prop-makers in action and learn about the immersive world of filmmaking.
Wellington has a feast of cultural attractions and its crowning glory is Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand. Situated on Wellingtons magnificent waterfront, this internationally acclaimed museum combines leading edge technology with traditional exhibits to tell the stories of New Zealands land and people. The museum is free for all.
If being outdoors is more your thing, head off to Kapiti Island for an optional nature tour. Here you can see endangered birds up close and learn more about New Zealands unique flora and fauna.
Duration: 1 day
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman
Day 10: Wellington to Kaikura
Stop At: Interislander, Picton 7281 New Zealand
This morning we say farewell to the North Island and take one of the worlds most scenic ferry journeys as we cross the Cook Strait.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Marlborough Sounds, Picton New Zealand
The South Island has a stunning welcome in store for us gliding through the Marlborough Sounds as we approach Picton Harbour, youll feel like youre in another world.
One of the best ways to explore Marlborough, the region at the top of the South Island, is with your tastebuds. Thats why we jump straight on a wine tasting, to sample some of the best vineyards in the country.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, 40 Fyffe Quay West End, Kaikoura 7300 New Zealand
After lunch, our next destination is Kaikura which literally means to eat crayfish and the area is teeming with them. The nutrient-rich waters of this area attract a wide variety of marine wildlife including the stars of the show the whales and dolphins.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: The Lobster Inn
Day 11: Kaikura to Christchurch
Stop At: Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, 40 Fyffe Quay West End, Kaikoura 7300 New Zealand
The chance to swim with dolphins in the wild is a massive New Zealand highlight for many travellers, and Kaikura is one of the best places to find them, with pods of up to 300 of these playful creatures hanging out here at any one time.
If you want to get up close to the giants of the ocean, a whale watching tour here is the way to do it. Humpbacks, sperm whales and orca all stop by at various times of year, so this is a great chance to meet some of them
Duration: 12 hours
Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
After visiting the local seals on our way out of town, our road trip continues to our home for the night Christchurch, known as the Garden City for its peaceful parklands and lazy rivers.
Duration: 12 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at boutique Hotel 115 in Christchurch
Day 12: Christchurch
Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
Today is the final day of tour, where we exchange photos and stories over breakfast before saying our goodbyes and parting ways.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.