Inspiring Journeys - 8 day Endless Shores Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand!

Upon arrival at Wellington Airport you'll be transferred to your hotel. Spend some time at leisure to relax or explore on your own. This evening, join your Journey Director for a welcome reception, followed by dinner.

Meals: Dinner with Wine

Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Wellington Airport

Accommodation: Wellington - 2 Nights

Today see Wellington your way! Perhaps visit Weta Workshop, home to the creative wizards behind ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogies or learn about New Zealand history and culture on a visit to Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand. For a unique wildlife experience you could visit the urban eco-sanctuary of Zealandia/Te Māra a Tāne, home to some of New Zealand's most rare and extraordinary wildlife. Your Journey Director can assist in booking your optional experience.

Suggested activities in and around Wellington.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel past the dairy farms of the Manawatu to Napier in Hawke’s Bay. This evening, enjoy dinner with wine at Craggy Range winery, in the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak. Spend the evening in your accommodation surrounded by the area’s majestic hills.

Meals: Breakfast, Local Dining Experience

Accommodation: Porters Boutique Hotel - 2 Nights

Enjoy a relaxed start before we venture out to explore the Hawkes Bay region. Relive the glamour and style of the jazz era with a luxurious vintage car tour. Your driver will provide a fascinating commentary as you are driven in style, through Art Deco Napier and surrounding areas. You’ll learn about the earthquake that destroyed the city, hear stories of the people that led the rebuild, and discover the Art Deco style. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Enjoy a leisurely start before continuing the journey to Rotorua. This afternoon you will have a guided cultural eco-tour of Whirinaki Forest. Armed with a packed lunch and with your local expert guide discover this vast, jurassic, podocarp rainforest on a guided cultural walking tour, including Rongoa trail, rakau rangatira, history, possibly sight some native and endangered birds, whakatauki, forest bathing and hot kawakawa tea to end.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Ascending to the breathtaking Redwoods Treewalk, enjoy an elevated bird’s eye view of the 120-year-old redwood giants and view the beautiful surrounds of the forest from a unique perspective. Next stop is the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, the national leader in kiwi husbandry, and learn about their kiwi hatchery programme. Tonight, visit Te Pā Tū Māori Experience. Tū Te Rā is a celebration of the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine. Enjoy a forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and complementary chef choice aperitif, and a seasonal three-course dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Local Dining Experience

Begin your day with a dazzling show during an exclusive five-star Eco Glow Worm experience at Caveworld Waitomo.  Your guide sets the scene for a cave experience where you will see glow worms, cave formations and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave. Later, travel through the dairy farming district of Waikato, and onto Auckland. Tonight, toast your trip together tonight at a celebration dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Celebration Dinner

Accommodation: Sofitel - 1 Night

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

Your holiday concludes this morning after breakfast, time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Have a great homeward journey, farewell and we hope to see you again soon!

Meals: Breakfast

Flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport

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.