Itinerary
Day 1: Auckland – Omapere Hokianga Harbour [D]
Departing Auckland in the morning you will travel northwest through rolling farmland and small settlements along the Kaipara Harbour coast before arriving
at Matakohe Kauri Museum.
This award winning museum tells a fascinating story of pioneering days through the use of kauri timber and kauri gum. After lunch we continue to Waipoua Forest in
Northland - New Zealand's largest sub-tropical rainforest where a Maori guide will greet us with ecological and cultural information. A unique environment with giant Kauri trees up to 3,000 years
old, the largest being Tane Mahuta. Then on to our accommodation at Omapere, on the waters edge of Hokianga Harbour.
Accommodation: Omapere Copthorne
Day 2: Omapere – Cape Reinga - Russell Bay of Islands [B, L & D]
An early start to cross the Hokianga Harbour by ferry, with stunning scenery as we head north. A stop for morning
tea in the most northern town of NZ, Kaitaia where we are taken by four wheel drive vehicle along Ninety Mile Beach to Cape Reinga. This is the most northern point of New Zealand,
considered the separation marker between the Tasman Sea to the west and Pacific Ocean to the east. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch while taking in the stunning view.
After lunch we travel
south down the Aupouri Peninsula to Taipa Bay for afternoon tea by the waters edge.
We then continue south to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, crossing the Bay by ferry to Russell to check into
the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel (the first hotel in NZ to receive a license). Take our guided tour through this historic town, exploring the numerous historic buildings before returning to
the hotel for a gourmet dinner.
Day 3: Paihia Bay of Islands - Auckland [B & L]
This morning you have a choice of activities, 1 on land and 3 at sea:
- A luxury catamaran journey through game fishing waters to Cape Brett,
- Swim with the dolphins (on this ultimate adventure you get right up close)*
- High speed thrills on the power boat 'Excitor' to the Hole in the Rock.
- Prefer to stay on shore, and then visit the Waitangi Treaty House and grounds.
Here you will have a 60 minute
guided tour Maori Meeting House and Waka (canoe) followed by a Maori Traditional Performance. The grounds are the location where in 1840 Maori chiefs and British Crown representatives signed the
Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's most important historic document.
After lunch we leave The Bay of Islands and travel south to Whangarei, where you can enjoy the arts and crafts galleries
and afternoon refreshments at the redeveloped Town Basin in the harbour. We then head back to Auckland along the scenic route of Bream Bay and the Hibiscus Coast, arriving at your hotel in
the early evening.
B, L & D in brackets show which meals are included each day.
*Swim with Dolphins option is added $40
Passengers needing to be in Auckland early on
day 3 for connecting flights before 8pm may take a scenic flight at 2:30pm. |
