Grand Pacific Tours - 9 Day Signature North Island Itinerary |

Arrive in Auckland

‘Haere Mai’ and welcome to New Zealand.

Upon arriving at Auckland Airport you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Check in and freshen up before spending the remainder of the day exploring the ‘City of Sails’. Stroll the walkways of the Viaduct, peruse the boutique shops of the central city. Boutique shopping, Pacific-inspired markets and a passionate cafe culture make this city a charming place, enjoy an ice cream as you stroll the Mission Bay Beach board walk, choose to discover Auckland’s sparkling harbour and emerald islands on a boat cruise or ferry ride.

This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.

Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Explore Waiheke Island	Island Kayaking Adventure	America’s Cup Sailing
Auckland's Sky Tower	Whale and Dolphin Safari	Rangitoto Island Cruise & Walk

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Accommodation:

Skycity Hotel - Auckland

The modern and spacious Skycity Hotel Auckland is located right in the CBD and allows you to relax in style while enjoying more than 20 restaurants, cafes and bars, a theatre, free live entertainment on selected nights and the iconic Sky Tower - all right at your doorstep. All rooms have a view of the courtyard, city skyline or Auckland Harbour.

Auckland - Bay of Islands

Depart Auckland and travel to Matakohe for a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is a New Zealand enclave encompassing over 100 subtropical islands and is known for its undeveloped deserted beaches.

This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Bay of Island - 2 Nights

Accommodation:

Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands

Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands has a sub-tropical resort ambience, with island-influenced architecture, beautifully landscaped grounds and light airy rooms.It's a perfect base to explore the beautiful Bay of Islands. Just a short walk from Paihia's village centre and the wharf. The Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands is a 4 star hotel. The Nikau Restaurant and Lounge Bar operates within the hotel and serves a la carte or buffet breakfast or dinner.

Bay of Islands at Leisure

Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free and you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).

Excursions available in the Bay of Islands:

Historical Island Cruise	Diving Rainbow Warrior	4WD Adventure Cape Reinga
Sailing the Islands	Sea Kayaking the Bay	Giant Kauri Forest Walk

Meals: Breakfast

Bay of Islands - Auckland

This morning cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island, or as it is popularly known, the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. Return to Paihia and travel south via Whangarei to Auckland where you will enjoy a city sights tour. This evening is free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Accommodation:

Skycity Hotel - Auckland

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Rotorua

Enjoy a leisurely start before visiting Sky Tower, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular attractions. Depart Auckland and travel through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. This is followed by a guided tour of the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Your guide will recount details of how this beautiful piece of farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle Earth.

This afternoon continue to Rotorua

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation Rotorua - 2 Nights

A Hobbit house at the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Accommodation:

Pullman Hotel Rotorua

A brand new build completed in late 2018, the Pullman hotel in Rotorua boasts panoramic views of the city and lake area and feature a sophisticated executive lounge - a hallmark of every Pullman hotel - business lounge, chill-out lounge, restaurant and bar, gymnasium, car parking as well as five meeting rooms catering for conference and events - This is Rotorua's latest 5 Star property.

Explore Rotorua & Maori Cultural Experience

Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! The next stop is Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before traveling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for.

This evening you will experience an entertaining Maori Cultural Performance which features the graceful poi dance and ferocious haka. This is followed by a Hangi feast prepared in the traditional way, over hot coals, and buried in the ground.

Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner

Masterton via Taupo & Napier

Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as “The Art Deco Capital”, where a city tour will showcase the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation Masterton - 1 Night

Accommodation:

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park - Masterton

One of the most luxurious in the region, Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park is nestled in the lush Wairarapa Valley. Framed by the towering Tararua Ranges, this hotel boasts 102 modern bedrooms, a delightful restaurant, gym and swimming pool.

Masterton - Wellington

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to Greytown where you see the most complete examples of original Victorian wooden architecture.

Drive through Featherston then through the Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington. A highlight this afternoon will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.

Here are some sight seeing and activity suggestions while in Wellington:

National Museum - Te Papa	Visit Cuba Street	Weta Workshop Tour
Zealandia Wildlife Reserve	Wellington Cable Car	Carter Observatory

Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner

Accommodation Wellington - 1 Night

Accommodation:

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor Wellington

Wellington's iconic hotel, James Cook Grand Chancellor is situated right in the heart of the city. The friendly staff and excellent service will help make your stay in Wellington a memorable one. With well appointed rooms that all have high speed internet access, Sky TV, in house movie system, iron and board, full minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. They also offer Bodyhaven Spa Style Boutique and a complimentary in-house gymnasium.

Farewell from Wellington

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

We are sure you will enjoy this tour and our promise is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with plenty of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time in New Zealand! Have a great homeward journey, farewell and hope to see you again soon in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Meals: Breakfast

Itinerary Variations:
The provider strives to improve trip itineraries. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond their control make changes necessary, the provider reserves the right to vary itineraries and to make substitutions.