North Island Culture and Heritage Tour Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand!

On arrival into the Capital City, you will be transferred to your accommodation. After checking in, head out and start exploring the beautiful city! Known for its arty, creative residents, Wellington is filled with character and colourful streets. Packed with quirky shops and great galleries, it's lots of fun to wander around. Take a walk to the top of Mount Victoria for great views across the city and the harbour. It's a great place to start exploring after you settle into your accommodation.

Te Papa National Museum - Māori Highlights Tour 
Head to the waterfront to explore the amazing Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) with a knowledgeable guide. The hosted cultural tour will weave through the Maori exhibition spaces at Te Papa to experience our unique history through stories and objects. You will follow the incredible ocean journey of our Maori ancestors as they discover New Zealand and build a life here. With incredible displays of flora and fauna throughout, Te Papa offers a great introduction to our natural history too. You'll be a New Zealand expert before you know it!

Accommodation: Wellington - 1 Night

Collecting your rental car today, you'll journey to the coastal city of Napier, whose exquisitely preserved 1930s architecture gives a unique feel and atmosphere — it's like stepping back in time.

This colourful, sunny city was flattened by an earthquake in 1931. It was rebuilt in the favoured style of the day. Today, Napier is one of the few fully intact Art Deco cities in existence.

Napier's architectural treasures are not lost on the locals: Art Deco themed festivals and parties abound throughout the year. Don't be surprised to see folks wandering the streets in the 1920s and 30s attire, as if they just stepped off the set of 'The Great Gatsby'!

Approximate Distance: 325 km | 202 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Napier - 1 Night

This morning enjoy a guided tour of the Napier's architectural gems, before journeying to Rotorua for a Maori cultural experience to be remembered.

Art Deco Walking Tour 
See Napier's heritage come to life with an easy guided stroll through the compact Art Deco Quarter. Your professionally trained Art Deco guide will tell you about the devastation of the earthquake in depth,  and you'll discover how the city came to be dramatically rebuilt in only two years.Your journey then continues to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. 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.

Maori Cultural Evening & Hangi Banquet 
In the evening you will experience the wonderful hospitality of New Zealand Maori at a Cultural Evening and Feast. Enjoy a banquet of foods cooked the traditional Maori way - on hot stones in an underground oven (a Hangi). Learn about Maori culture and spirituality through joyous song and dance performances. Seeing the Haka demonstrated right in front of you is unforgettable.

Approximate Distance: 220 km | 137 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Rotorua - 1 Night

Marvel at Te Puia Thermal Reserve's unique geothermal landscapes today, and venture north to Auckland, our City of Sails.

Te Puia Centre for Maori Culture and Geothermal Wonders
Tucked away in the stunning Whakarewarewa Valley, Te Puia's 70-hectare park is at the heart of Rotorua's geothermal action. You'll witness restless forces boiling to the surface in the superheated mud pools, and huge geysers gushing hot steam and water in spectacular fashion.

Continuing your journey north, Auckland's glittering skyline and lively harbour await you this evening. Situated amongst a cluster of extinct volcanic cones, the Auckland isthmus straddles a slim piece of land with a coastline facing both the Pacific Ocean and, on the West Coast, the wild Tasman Sea.

Crossing the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, you'll be staying bayside in the relaxed beach suburb of Takapuna, which boasts breathtaking views out across the Hauraki Gulf.

Some alternative excursions in and around Rotorua are:

Approximate Distance: 235 km | 136 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Continuing towards the Bay of Islands, discover the secrets of some of New Zealand's most beloved elders: the ancient Kauri trees of the Northlands.

Matakohe Kauri Museum
The award-winning Kauri Museum in Matakohe explores what became of Kauri trees after they were felled by humans. Their strong, durable timber and gum were highly prized by settlers, leading to a flourishing industry that shaped New Zealand's future. In addition to preserving our past, the Museum plays a vital role in conserving the future of the mighty Kauri.

Arriving in the Bay of Islands, you'll travel back in time to peaceful Russell: this exquisite historic village was New Zealand's first ever capital, known as "The Hell Hole of the Pacific" and once famed for its lawlessness!

Sleep soundly tonight at New Zealand's first ever licensed hotel – the iconic Duke of Marlborough – right by the waterfront, where you'll have a front-row seat for the sunset over the harbour and beyond.

Approximate Distance: 230 km | 143 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Russell - 2 Nights

A stunning Maritime Park spanning 144 islands, the Bay of Islands is a sub-tropical paradise brimming with hidden bays and abundant marine life. Today you'll discover the Bay in the very best way — by taking to the water.

Historical "Cream Trip" Cruise 
This fabulous day-long excursion is the most extensive historical cruise in the Bay of Islands. In 1927, Ernest Fuller began delivering mail and supplies to the bay's inner islands by boat, collecting cream from the farmers to take back to the mainland. He soon began inviting tourists to tag along for the "Cream Trip” and the rest is history.

These days the journey is more comfortable on a modern, multi-level catamaran, but you’ll experience the same idyllic bays, local homes and the prominent natural landmarks like the 'Hole in the Rock' near Cape Brett. Marine mammals are abundant so the chance to see whales, seals, dolphins and other wildlife is high. The leisurely pace allows you to get up close and even swim with the dolphins if conditions permit!

This morning you will visit the "birthplace of New Zealand": the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This multi-award-winning attraction brings our history to life before your very eyes. Find out how the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and Pakeha (European settlers) shaped the future of the New Zealand nation. After strolling the museum and grounds, you will enter a beautifully carved Whare Rūnanga (meeting house), for an awe-inspiring Maori cultural performance that will give you chills.

Join an Auckland city tour that showcases the highlights of the city of Auckland and takes you on a journey to explore the history and sights as well as to see how Aucklanders live and play. Get an insight into the Māori history of the area and the legends and stories behind some of the place names.

Experience the picturesque suburb of Ponsonby, known for its historic buildings, stroll on a beautiful beach in the North Shore with views out across the Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto Island. Travel through historic Devonport and take in the panoramic views over Auckland that you can only get from Takarunga (Mount Victoria).

Approximate Distance: 230 km | 143 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!

There maybe time for some last minute sightseeing or shopping before making your way for your outbound flight.

We know you will love the New Zealand's North Island Culture and Heritage Tour and our promise to you is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a memory card full 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.