New Zealand's Northern Gems - Small Group

Arrive and settle into your hotel in New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington. You may like to visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, home to an extraordinary collection of artefacts, including an eye-opening exhibit dedicated to Māori history (entrance fee applies). Later, meet up with your fellow adventure-seekers for drinks before you tour the North Island of New Zealand.

First, you’ll get to know Wellington on a highlights tour, then you’ll travel on to Napier, a city with a story you can see in every facade. After a massive earthquake in 1931 destroyed the commercial centre of Napier, rebuilding began almost immediately in the architectural styles of the times - Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco.

This morning, join a Local Specialist from the Art Deco Trust for an easy stroll through Napier’s compact Art Deco Quarter on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that brings the city’s fascinating design history to life. The afternoon is yours. You might choose an Optional Experience sampling Hawke’s Bay wines, or head out on an overland safari to the gannet nesting colony at Cape Kidnappers.

The scenery opens wide as Lake Taupo comes into view, the country’s largest lake and one of its bluest. Not far away, you’ll hear Huka Falls before you see it, thundering and powerful. Then Rotorua sets the senses alight, where mud pops, steam rises and the land’s geothermal heartbeat is impossible to miss. In the afternoon, you’ll visit a traditional Pounamu workshop to learn about jade carving, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, delve deep into Māori culture with the Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia. Enjoy a powerful cultural performance in the carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua, see the Pohutu Geyser and finish with a buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired flavours.

Today is yours, with your Travel Director on hand if you want tips to match your mood. Ease into the steamy thermal springs at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, chase movie magic with an Optional Experience to the Hobbiton Movie Set, or even take to the skies on a scenic flight for a fresh, bird's-eye-view of the scenery.

Today, follow the Waikato River as you make your way to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, where yachts glide across two harbours and the skyline meets the sea. Then it’s time for something truly Kiwi. Dive into the country’s national game at the interactive All Blacks Experience, exploring the team’s remarkable history through displays and presentations, before a traditional haka performance brings it all to a thrilling close.

The Bay of Islands is made up of around 140 islands dotted across turquoise water and it’s as beautiful as it sounds. It’s also one of the most important places in New Zealand’s story. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. With a Local Specialist, you’ll explore the site’s significance and see the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe alongside a beautifully carved meeting house.

This is the kind of place that makes you want to stay outdoors from morning to sunset. Today is yours to shape. You could choose an Optional Experience travelling to Cape Reinga or Te Rerenga Wairua at the very top of New Zealand via the sweeping sands of Ninety Mile Beach. Prefer to be on the water? Cruise to the Hole in the Rock, sail on an historic tall ship, or join a tour of Russell to learn more about the early days of the Bay of Islands.

Enjoy a final taste of the north as you travel south to Whangārei, the country’s most northerly city. Explore the Whangārei Basin, where riverside attractions bring together galleries, museums and an easy-going local vibe - a snapshot of New Zealand’s blend of nature and culture. Then settle back for the scenic return to Auckland. Tonight, raise a glass at dinner and drinks with your Travel Director and travel companions.

Over the past ten days, we hope you’ve filled your camera with big moments and your days with even better company. As you head home, it’s the memories that will stay with you longest, the landscapes, the stories and the new friends made along the way. Farewell for now!