16 Day East & West coast North Island

Welcome to Auckland and New Zealand. On arrival you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your first night’s accommodation. Or if you’ve decided to pick up your rental vehicle immediately, you pick up your vehicle at the airport and drive to your accommodation.

Your detailed tour information pack will be given to you once you arrive at your accommodation.

You’ll most likely be pretty tired from a long flight, so take the rest of the day to relax and explore the inner city. The city centre of Auckland is not too big, so you can easily walk around. Visit the Skytower to take in great views of the city, and stroll around the waterfront with its many nice bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a great meal.

Accommodation : Millennium Auckland

Today, your destination will be the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula with its secluded bays, white sandy beaches, and spectacular but rugged mountainous interiour. Follow the Hauraki Trail until you arrive in Thames. Take a side trip to the Valley, and keep driving north along the waterfront until you reach Coromandel town, a town full of history from New Zealand's early gold mining and logging days. Over the hill you reach the Coromandel's East Coast and the coastal views along this drive are amazing. Stop at the famous Hot Water Beach to dig your own spa at low tide, and walk down to Cathedral Cove.

Between Coromandel Town and Whitianga we recommend you visit New Chums beach, which was voted one of the best 10 beaches in the world!

Accommodation : Anchor Lodge

Driving distance : 167 km - Driving time : 2 hours 44 minutes

We've organized an amazing kayaking trip to Cathedral Cove this morning, no doubt one of the best in the country. This trip will show you stretches of coast line no other travellers get to see. After your kayaking experience your journey continues further south, and you'll pass a number of pretty cool beach towns on the way such as Tairua and Whangamata, where you will spend the night.

Activity : Cathedral Cove Kayaking 

Accommodation : Anchor Lodge

Today your journey takes you to Mount Maunganui or simply "The Mount" as it's called by the locals. The Mount is a relaxed beach town that occupies a peninsula at the southern end of Tauranga Harbour. At the very tip of the peninsula is a distinctive peak - Mauao - which rises to 230 metres above sea level. There's a choice of tracks leading to the summit, some more challenging than others. Huge views of the harbour, beach and Pacific Ocean make the effort totally worthwhile. 

Accommodation : Ocean Side Resort & Twin Tower

Driving distance : 174  km  - Driving time : 2 hours 49 mins 

Your drive today takes you to Hick's Bay. Hicks Bay is a small farming settlement on the northern coast of the Gisborne District and is located 44 kilometres east of Whangaparaoa. Hicks Bay is broken up into two smaller bays, Onepoto Beach (or Horse Shoe Bay) to the south and Long Beach to the north. Onepoto Beach is the smaller of the two being only 400 metres in length while Long Beach is 2900 metres in length. Onepoto Beach is a picturesque beach. It is accessed via Onepoto road.

Accommodation : Puriri B&B

Driving distance : 287 km   - Driving time : 3 hours 55 mins 

It's not such a far journey to Gisborne today. As you head out of the wilderness, and drive to the coast stop at the Mahia Peninsula, with its sandy coves, rocky bays and long expanses of surf coast. From there it's only a short drive to Gisborne. Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sunrise, and it has a reputation for great food, wine and surf beaches.

Accommodation : Portside Hotel- Heritage

Driving distance : 180 km  - Driving time : 2 hour 41 mins

Your destination today is Napier. This historic art deco city is located in the heart of New Zealand’s oldest wine-making region, Hawke’s Bay. Napier's city centre has the feeling of a time capsule - the seamless line of 1930s architecture is quite extraordinary. One of the ways to enjoy the streetscape is on a self-guided walk - ask for a map at the information centre or at the Art Deco Trust. 

Accommodation : Scenic Hotel

Activity : Half Day Wine Tour

Driving distance : 214 km  - Driving time : 3 hour 15 mins

Today you are going to Taupo, a must see are the impressive Huka Falls. This is where the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, enters a shallow ravine of hard volcanic rock. The resulting sight is nothing but spectacular. More than 220,000 liters of water per second rushes by.

A thrilling jetboat ride up to the base of the Huka Falls is not only an exciting way to see the falls, but you'll also get the best views.

Accommodation : Millennium Taupo

Activity : Huka Falls Jet

Driving distance : 141 km  - Driving time : 1 hour 58 mins

Today in the morning before going to Rotorua,you will do the Skydiving of 15.000 FT (the highest in NZ),and after that you will start your journey to "Rotovegas" on the way you will make a stop to see the geothermal of Wai-O-Tapu. Rotorua is also nicknamed Roto Vegas by Kiwis for the amount of attractions it has. In the evening you will enjoy the Maori Cultural Experience.

Accommodation : Millennium Rotorua

Activity : Skydiving 15.000 fT. Taupo

Activity: Maori Village Cultural Experience

Activity : Wai- O - Tapu

Driving distance : 81.7 km  - Driving time : 1 hour 5 mins

This morning you'll head  the lush farmlands of the Waikato, where you'll be in for a fun and exciting adventure in the famous Waitomo caves, the Waitomo Adventures Lost World Window  

Accommodation : Waitomo Caves Hotel

Activity : Waitomo Caves "Lost World 4 Hours"

Driving distance : 81.7 km  - Driving time : 1 hour 49 mins

Today you will go to one of the surf spots in the world to Raglan. Raglan is a coastal town in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s known for black-sand Ngarunui Beach and the long surf break at Manu Bay. Local history exhibits at the Raglan & District Museum include apothecary items and surfing memorabilia.

Accommodation : Solscape

Driving distance : 91.5 km  - Driving time : 1 hour 21 mins

Your next stop will be Auckland,where you will spend one night,so the next day in the morning you will drive to Bay of Islands. 

Accommodation : Millennium Auckland

Driving distance : 159 km  - Driving time : 1 hour 55 mins

You'll cross the harbour bridge going north. Northland is a region with a abundance of marine life, subtropical climate and pristine beaches, but is also a region with historical significance.

About half way between Whangarei and Paihia, at Whakapara,  we recommend you take the turn off for Helena Bay/Whangaruru. The journey to Paihia will be a little bit longer as the road winds its way along the coastline, but this stretch of coastline is absolutely stunning as you approach the Bay of Islands. 

Paihia will be your base to explore the Bay of Islands. Upon your arrival, take the afternoon to relax and explore the seaside town, make the short trip to the picturesque town of Russell, or visit the nearby Waitangi Treaty grounds.

Accommodation : Scenic Hotel Paihia

Driving distance : 227 km  - Driving time : 3 hour 4 mins

On the second day up north, you'll travel to the very top of New Zealand, Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua). Uncover the wild beauty of this vast and untouched region that is rich in Māori culture and tradition. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views, visit the iconic light house, and see the point where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean come crashing together. Ninety Mile Beach is another highlight of the tour, so make sure you stop along the way.

Accommodation : Scenic Hotel Paihia

Before your journey back to Auckland, you will join a Hole in the Rock cruise in the morning with dolphin viewing. You'll board the Dolphin Seeker, a purpose built catamaran licensed by the Department of Conservation for dolphin and whale viewing. Enjoy the large outdoor viewing decks as you cruise past the islands of the Bay. Keep a look out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life as our experienced local skippers get you up close to the action. Cruise past the Cape Brett Lighthouse, before arriving at the majestic Hole in the Rock. Admire the rock walls towering above you as the skipper navigates right through the narrow space (conditions permitting) before heading back into the inner islands of the Bay.

Accommodation : Millennium Auckland

Activity : Hole in the Rock Cruise

Driving distance : 227 km  - Driving time : 3 hour 4 mins

Today is your last morning in New Zealand,after you check out from the hotel you will have to return your rental car to teh depot at the airport. Hope to see you soon again,and have a safe flight home !