A North Island Luxury Honeymoon

Haere Mai Welcome to New Zealand 

Relax, you are officially on honeymoon! We'll begin by meeting you at the airport and transporting you to Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland.

Artists and free-spirits mingle with the rich and famous on this blissful island. It's a haven of beautiful beaches, gastronomical treasures and award winning wineries. There's no better place to unwind after a long flight.

Today is yours to enjoy as you please. Laze on a deserted beach, stroll through the lush rainforests or browse the artisan stores to your heart's content.

 
Accommodation: Waiheke Island - 2 Nights

Wine tour of Waiheke Island

Since the late 1970's Waiheke's benign climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry.

A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. Visit three of the Island's finest vineyards for tasting and enjoy a commentated scenic tour of the Island by a knowledgeable local guide.

Included is a two hour lunch stop (lunch is at additional cost) at a a village or beachside cafe.

This morning, wave goodbye to your island paradise and take a ferry ride to Auckland, where your rental car awaits. It's time to head north to the picturesque foodie haven of Matakana.

One of Auckland's favourite getaway spots, Matakana is a great introduction to the sights and sounds of small town New Zealand. Here you can while away the hours browsing the gift shops and tasting local artisanal food and wines. The surrounding coastline is excellent with Pakari Beach offering vast stretches of white sand or you can visit the sheltered shorelines of Snells Beach nearby - a perfect place to relax.


Approximate Distance: 68 kms | 42 miles  Total Driving Time: 56 mins

Accommodation: Matakana - 1 Night

Immerse yourself in a world where art and nature intertwine at Sculptureum in Matakana. Wander through vibrant gardens adorned with captivating sculptures from local and international artists. Explore three sculpture-filled gardens: the Palm Garden, the Pink Snail Garden, and the Rose Garden. Indulge your senses in the inspiring landscape, where each step reveals a new masterpiece waiting to be discovered.

After your visit, it's time to hit the road and make your way to the boutique coastal town of Paihia in the glorious Bay of Islands - your home away from home for the next three nights.

Approximate Distance: 198 kms | 123 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 57 mins

Accommodation: Paihia - 3 Nights

With 144 islands in the "Bay", it's easy to find your own little piece of paradise. Lovers of marine wildlife will be in heaven: penguins, dolphins, marlin, whales, gannets and more flock here in droves. Many islands have walking tracks and regular ferry services.

The historic town of Russell, New Zealand's first ever capital, is only 15 minutes away by ferry. It's hard to believe this gorgeous township was once known as "The Hell Hole of the Pacific" and famed for its lawlessness!

We suggest a romantic lunch on the terrace of the legendary Duke of Marlborough hotel overlooking the water. Around Paihia itself, you can enjoy beautiful river and seaside walks or visit the mighty Kauri Tree in pristine subtropical rainforest.

Some recommended excursions available in the Bay of Islands:

Enjoy a 45 minute flight up to Cape Reinga (Lands End) via the Northlands’ spectacular harbours and bays, passing beautiful beaches such as Coopers Beach, Doubtless Bay and of course the famous Ninety Mile Beach. Landing 20km (13 miles) from the Cape Reinga, you will board a comfortable air-conditioned mini-coach for a 2½ hour tour around the top of New Zealand.

Includes

• The Cape Reinga Lighthouse where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean
• Tapotupotu Bay for refreshment and beach stroll
• Visit giant sand dunes, try “sand surfing”

The return one hour flight to the Bay of Islands includes some of the most spectacular coastal scenery Northland has to offer.

Sitting squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Rotorua's landscape is unique: arriving here is like landing on the moon! This is Earth's crust at its most exciting.

Giant geysers rocket into the air and colourful sulphur terraces hiss and boil. But Rotorua is about much more than boiling mud. Boasting ancient forests, pristine lakes and rugged volcanoes, it's a haven for outdoor and adventure lovers hikers and mountain bikers.

It's also a great place to immerse yourselves in the history and tikanga (culture) of Maori, the First People of New Zealand. You may like to check out a Maori Cultural Performance at one of the local marae (villages). Complete with traditional Hangi feast cooked underground, it's a wonderful evening out in Rotorua.

Accommodation: Rotorua - 3 Nights

The day is yours to enjoy Rotorua however you desire.

You could marvel at the alien landscapes in a geothermal park, visit the Agrodome Sheep Show for a taste of local farm life, see endangered Kiwi at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, or take a scenic flight out over Lake Rotorua for a bird’s eye view of the region. You could even hike to the crater of Mt Tarawera, the site of the largest volcanic eruption in New Zealand’s living memory!

However you choose to spend your day, the best way to end it is with a luxurious soak at the award-winning Polynesian Spa. Here you can lie back in the seclusion of your own private pool and let your cares melt away.

Some alternate excursions not included but available:

Lake Taupo is a flooded volcanic crater of immense proportions. In fact, it's approximately the size of Singapore! It's only a one hour drive from Rotorua, but there's an impressive stop along the way: Huka Falls.

Watch in wonder as a hundred-metre-wide river squeezes through a fifteen metre canyon. The explosive power of the resulting waterfall is an incredible sight.

For the ultimate view of Lake Taupo's stunning blue waters, we have arranged a Scenic Floatplane experience for you this aftenoon. The 20 minute flight will also take you soaring over the Waikato River, the steamy landscapes of the Craters of the Moon, and many more impressive sights of the region.

Approximate Distance each way: 82 kms | 51 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour each way

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage! Return your rental car to Rotorua or Auckland Airport in time for your onward flight, we bid you a warm farewell today.